Scanner to Habitat Builder — Step-by-Step Guide

Direct Answer

The path from Scanner to Habitat Builder follows five stages: gather basic resources, craft the Scanner, scan two degraded Habitat Builder targets, craft the Habitat Builder, and build a powered first base with a full Fabricator. This guide walks each stage in order.

Requirements

Before you start the Scanner-to-Habitat-Builder path, you need these tools and materials:

Where to Find Early Resources

• Titanium: Small gray rock nodes on the seafloor near the Lifepod. Metal Salvage (large metal chunks near wrecks) converts to 4 Titanium at the Fabricator.
• Quartz: Inside orange Coral Domes in the shallow starting area. Swim inside and look up — Quartz grows on the inner walls.
• Copper: On cave walls and ceilings near the Lifepod. Check the cave directly below the Lifepod and the larger cave system east of it.
• Acidic Raion Pouches: Cut from purple/green plants on the seafloor and in caves using the Survival Multitool.

Stage 1: Craft the Scanner

The Scanner recipe appears in the Fabricator immediately — craft it as soon as you have the materials.

Recipe

Crafting station: Fabricator (Tools tab).

Craft Steps

1. Open the Lifepod Fabricator.
2. Navigate to the Tools category.
3. Select the Scanner recipe.
4. Confirm materials are available and craft it.
5. Add the Scanner to your hotbar.

Stage 2: Learn to Scan

The Scanner lets you unlock blueprints by scanning objects in the world.

How Scanning Works

1. Equip the Scanner from your hotbar.
2. Point at a target — a blue scanning reticle appears when a scannable object is in view.
3. Hold the scan button (right mouse button on PC) until the progress bar fills.
4. Check your progress — a pop-up on the left side of the screen shows scan count vs. required count.

What to Scan

Most blueprints need 2–3 scans of the same object type. You can scan:

• Equipment fragments — broken tools and devices in ruins
• Structural fragments — base-building parts and wreckage
• Flora and fauna — unlocks Databank entries
• Story objects — terminals, black boxes, and NOA targets

Battery Management

The Scanner uses charge over time. Press R (PC) to open the charge menu and swap the depleted Basic Battery for a fresh one. Carrying a spare Basic Battery is recommended.

Stage 3: Find and Scan the Habitat Builder Fragments

The Habitat Builder blueprint unlocks after scanning two degraded Habitat Builder targets.

Where to Look

The primary early location is a ruined structure southeast of the Lifepod. A black cable running from the Lifepod toward the structure helps guide the way.

• First target: Near or inside a container at the structure entrance.
• Second target: Below the structure, through a lower opening or cave-like area.

Scan Checklist

• Equip the Scanner on your hotbar
• Search ruined buildings near the starting area
• Look for highlighted objects on the Scanner HUD
• Scan the first degraded Habitat Builder
• Find a second target in a different area
• Scan the second target
• Check the Fabricator — the Habitat Builder recipe should now appear

Each target can only be scanned once. You need two separate targets for a complete unlock.

Stage 4: Craft the Habitat Builder

After both scans are complete, the Habitat Builder recipe appears in the Fabricator.

Recipe

Copper tip: The Habitat Builder needs a total of 4 Copper (2 for the Basic Battery + 2 for Copper Wire). Gather extra while you are in the caves.

Craft Steps

1. Open the Fabricator.
2. Go to the Personal or Tools category.
3. Select the Habitat Builder recipe.
4. Craft it and add it to your hotbar.

Stage 5: Build Your First Base

With the Habitat Builder equipped, right-click (PC) to open the build menu. You can now place base structures.

Recommended Build Order

This sequence gets you a powered base with a fully functional Fabricator as quickly as possible:

What the Full Fabricator Unlocks

The base Fabricator is a fully functional crafting station. It removes the Lifepod’s crafting restrictions, giving you access to the complete recipe list — including the Processor for ingots, advanced materials, and vehicle progression.

Power Notes

• One Solar Panel is enough to keep life support and a Fabricator running during the day.
• Solar panels stop working at night. Add more panels or plan for an alternate power source (such as a hydroelectric turbine in a nearby ocean current) for 24-hour power.
• Place solar panels on the top or side of your base where they are exposed to light.

Common Mistakes

• Skipping the Survival Multitool — You need it to harvest Acidic Raion Pouches and Fibrous Pulp. Craft it before the Scanner.
• Only scanning one Habitat Builder fragment — Both scans are required. If the recipe has not appeared, find and scan the second target.
• Not bringing enough Copper — The Habitat Builder alone needs 4 Copper total. The first base Fabricator needs another Copper. Gather at least 5 Copper before returning to craft.
• Building too far from resources — Place your first base near Titanium nodes, Coral Domes, and cave entrances within return range of the Lifepod.
• Forgetting a Hatch — You cannot enter a sealed room without one. Always build a Hatch on an exterior wall.
• Placing the Fabricator without power — The Fabricator only works in a powered base. Build a Solar Panel first.

Next Steps

Once your first base is powered and equipped with a Fabricator, your next goals are:

• Craft a Processor for ingots and advanced materials
• Build a Scanner Station to track nearby resources
• Explore the Lifepod-area caves for Silver — needed for the Standard Air Tank and Wiring Kits
• Follow NOA missions from your Lifepod for story progression and new unlocks

See the Beginner Guide for a complete overview of the early game, including food, water, air management, and the full tool progression.