Subnautica’s Leviathans: Your Go-To Guide to the Ocean’s Apex Predators (and How Not to Become Lunch)
So, you have entered the aquatic world of Subnautica. Amazing choice! But it is not all coral and friendly fish. Lurking in the depths are Leviathans. They make sharks seem small. These creatures are huge, cranky, and mad when you invade their space. This is your guide to survive.
Ghost Leviathan: Ethereal Terror
First, we have the Ghost Leviathan. It is enormous, making your Cyclops look tiny. These ghostly monsters are not just big; they are angry. Meeting one feels like seeing a massive ghost. It’s better to avoid these encounters entirely if you can.
Taming the Untamable?
Taming Ghost Leviathans? Forget it. Subnautica does not allow that. Your best chance is to stay away from them.
Dispatching the Ghost: Is it Possible?
Brave players can kill Ghost Leviathans and their Reaper relatives. It’s much harder to take down a Sea Dragon Leviathan. The smaller Ghost Leviathans are easier to manage with good gear and some bravery. Remember, “smaller” is relative here.
Ghostly Haunts: Where to Find Them
Finding a Ghost Leviathan? Head to the Lost River, near the Giant Cove Tree area. This area serves as their nesting ground, yet they won’t be relaxing there. For more direct encounters, go to the Crater Edge. They aren’t rolling out the red carpet for you.
Size Matters: Ghost Leviathan Dimensions
These massive leviathans can reach 107 meters in length. Juveniles measure 65 meters long. An adult is like a football field, while a juvenile exceeds a blue whale’s length. They are immense creatures.
HP and Prawn Suit Combat
If you dare to fight, note that Ghost Leviathans have 8000 HP. The Prawn Suit does only 50 damage per hit. Think about it. This will take time. Bring some food… and maybe a spare Prawn Suit.
Juvenile Aggression: Cyclops Beware
Juvenile Ghost Leviathans may be smaller, but they cause chaos. They enjoy ramming your Cyclops, pushing it against cave walls. You might even take damage from being tossed around inside your own sub. Quite rude.
Respawn Roulette: Crater vs. Crater Edge
When it comes to respawns, kill a Ghost Leviathan in the Crater, and it is gone forever. However, the adults at the Crater Edge return after death. If you’re hunting, stick to the Crater for better results.
Other Notable Leviathans: A Rogues’ Gallery
The ocean of Subnautica is full of Leviathan-class monsters. Each has its unique terror. Let’s explore a few well-known ones you might find.
Sea Dragon Leviathan: Fire and Fury
The Sea Dragon Leviathan serves as the ultimate boss among Leviathans. Do not get too close.
- Attacks: Get near its sides, and it can hit you with its arms for 40 damage. With its mouth, you’ll experience instant loss if swallowed, even with a good suit on. Avoid it.
- Killing? Good Luck: Taking down a Sea Dragon is nearly impossible. Focus on surviving rather than defeating these giants.
Reaper Leviathan: The Scream Machine
The Reaper Leviathan strikes fear into players’ hearts. Ask any Subnautica pro, and they will mention the Reaper.
- Scariest of the Scary: Aggressive? Yes. Terrifying roar? Yes, again. It can grab you and shake you like a toy. Panic is its design. Many players find them terrifying.
- Permanent Deaths: If you kill a Reaper, it stays dead. Hard-earned victory.
- Egg-less Mystery: Reaper eggs remain hidden from sight. Where do they come from? Better not to ask; just stay away from them.
Sea Emperor Leviathan: The Gentle Giant
In contrast to the Reapers and Sea Dragons is the Sea Emperor Leviathan. It is enormous yet peaceful.
- Friendliest Leviathan: This creature is wise, telepathic, and non-aggressive. It acts as the sage of the deep.
- Hatching Eggs: You can hatch Sea Emperor eggs! However, it requires crafting hatching enzymes in the Primary Containment Facility.
- Size Supreme: The Sea Emperor is not just large; it is the largest creature in Subnautica, both in size and lore.
Gargantuan Leviathan: The “Cute” One?
The Gargantuan Leviathan is surprisingly called “cute.” Rumors say there is a baby that defends players. This sounds more like a protective pet than a monster. More intel is needed on this charming creature.
Void Leviathan (Ghost Leviathan Adult): Edge of the Map, Edge of Sanity
The Void Leviathan is just a name for the adult Ghost Leviathan at the Crater Edge – known as the Void. All stats for the Ghost apply here: it’s massive, ghostly, and dislikes visitors. Learn more about Leviathan classifications here.
- Size: The length remains 107 meters for adults and 65 meters for juveniles. The name just adds to their fear factor.
Anctonious Leviathan: Deep Void Dweller
The Anctonious Leviathan lives about 900,000 meters deep. It is large but not as massive as the Void Leviathan. Yet it’s bigger than the Gargantuan. A family of them exists in deep waters.
Reefback Leviathan: Peaceful Giants, Barren Eggs
The Reefback Leviathans are serene, like gentle buses of the sea. They have reefs covering them and are harmless. However, their eggs do not exist in-game. They only serve as majestic creatures carrying mobile ecosystems on their backs.
Sea Treader Leviathan: The Stomping Nomads
Sea Treader Leviathans roam around with a unique stomping step. They forage rather than fight and leave trails across the seabed. Their size and stomping can unsettle nearby players.
Shadow Leviathan: Lava Zone Lurker
Shadow Leviathans dwell in dangerous Lava Zones. As expected, these predators are perilous.
- Shadowy Demise Possible: Yes, you can defeat a Shadow Leviathan with skill and proper Prawn Suit upgrades.
- No Shadowy Respawn: They do not respawn once killed, much like Reapers.
Butterfly Leviathan: Land-Based “Taming”?
Butterfly Leviathans introduce a bizarre taming concept. To tame one, lure it onto land during rain, wait for its lightning attack, and then feed it raw meat until it befriends you. This sounds more like extreme bribery than taming.
Leviathan Lore: Beyond the Teeth
Leviathans are not merely terrifying beings; they form a key aspect of Subnautica’s universe.
Leviathan Defined: Giants of 4546B
In comparison to creatures on Earth, Subnautica’s Leviathans belong to a different league. They are the living sea monsters of legend.
Growth Spurt: How Big Do They Get?
Leviathans grow like all life forms,
Leviathans grow. There’s a limit to their size. Food availability caps their growth. Even massive Leviathans are bound by their ecosystem. Life progresses in a large, toothy cycle.
Leviathan Eggs: The Great Mystery
The question remains: “Can you hatch Leviathan eggs in Subnautica?” The answer is both yes and no. Sea Emperor eggs can hatch with enzymes and a quest. Reefback and Reaper eggs? No luck. Leviathan reproduction is a key mystery in Subnautica.
Tameable Titans? The Dream vs. Reality
Can you tame a Leviathan? Most say NO. Butterfly Leviathans have a strange taming method. Sea Emperors are friendly but not tamable. For the rest, it’s best to avoid them or use weapons if needed.
Game Mechanics: Leviathan Wrangling 101
Want to mess with a Leviathan? Here’s how to understand Leviathan combat mechanics.
Leviathan-Slaying Arsenal: Tools of the Trade
Sea Dragons are invincible, yet Ghost and Reaper Leviathans can be attacked with weapons. Subnautica requires strategic tool usage, not constant violence.
Prawn Suit Power: Mech vs. Monster
The Prawn Suit assists in fighting Leviathans. For Shadow Leviathans, use Drill and Grapple Arms. Mobility and force are necessary in battles against giants.
Stasis Rifle Savior: Time-Out for Titans
Build a Stasis Rifle. It’s useful when a Leviathan targets you. Freeze it briefly to escape, change position, or attack. It is your emergency “pause button” against underwater threats.
Vehicular Ventures: Submarines vs. Leviathans
Your vehicles matter in Leviathan territory but differ in handling encounters.
Cyclops Calamity: Big Sub, Big Target
The Cyclops is large but a target for Juvenile Ghost Leviathans. They might damage it and complicate your journey. Maneuver the Cyclops in infested waters carefully and rely on luck.
Cyclops in the Lost River: Navigating the Depths
The Cyclops reaches the Lost River through its entrances, risking encounters with territorial Leviathans. Prepare for rides influenced by these creatures.
Subnautica Endings: Escape or Stay?
Subnautica offers routes to “completion,” but none let you tame or befriend Leviathans. Key choices involve survival or escape.
Rocket to Freedom (and Debt)
The main ending includes launching a rocket to exit Planet 4546B. Congratulations! You owe Alterra money now. Space travel costs a lot.
Sunbeam Save or Fail: The Alternate Path
An “alternate ending” allows you to save the Sunbeam by disabling the Quarantine Enforcement Platform. It ends poorly, but you attempted heroism.
Subnautica Series: Expanding the Depths
If Subnautica’s adventures thrill you, more awaits.
Subnautica vs. Below Zero: Which Dive to Take?
If you liked the original Subnautica, Below Zero extends the experience. The map is smaller, but expect new dangers and surprises.
Subnautica 2: Multiplayer Mayhem on the Horizon
An exciting future lies in Subnautica 2! Launching in 2025, it uses Unreal Engine 5 and offers co-op play for up to four players. Imagine battling Leviathans alongside friends! It’ll be available on Xbox Series X|S and PC via Xbox Game Preview.
Biblical Leviathan: The Mythical Ancestor
Creation and Chaos: Leviathan’s Origins
Jewish midrash tells of two Leviathans, one male and one female, created by God. The female was destroyed to avert chaos. Her remains will be served at a banquet for the righteous.
Slaying the Beast: Divine Control
The demise of the female Leviathan represents divine control over chaos. This symbolizes power over destruction, even involving sea monsters.
Symbol of… What Exactly?
The Leviathan often symbolizes chaos or evil in biblical tales. The story of two Leviathans and the female’s downfall echoes divine order defeating chaos.
Talmudic Feast: Leviathan on the Menu
The Talmud Baba Bathra 75 describes a future feast where the righteous will eat the slain Leviathan’s flesh. From beast to delicacy, quite the transformation.
Old Testament Appearances: Multi-Headed Mayhem
Psalms 74:14 depicts the Leviathan as a multi-headed serpent killed by God. The context remains unclear but probably isn’t positive.
Leviathan: Evil Incarnate? Not Always
Often seen in a negative light, the Leviathan’s biblical portrayal isn’t strictly evil. It symbolizes chaos and nature’s untamed power, akin to chaotic neutral morality.
Leviathan Shield: Defense Against the Deep
Sometimes, the Leviathan stands as both monster and protector. In various contexts (not Subnautica), you might craft a Leviathan Shield.
Crafting the Shield: Components Required
Crafting a Leviathan Shield at the Beast Hunter station requires: 1 Mirror Fractal, 30 Leviathan Scales, 10 Electric Wings, and 20 Fool’s Gold. Collect materials and carry a shield named after the creatures you survive against.
In-Game Leviathan Hotspots: Danger Zones
Want to encounter a Leviathan? Visit these sites (with caution).
Aurora’s Shadow: Reaper Territory
The Aurora wreck houses Reaper Leviathans—eight of them. Gather resources there but expect unwelcome company from them.
Lost River Nesting Grounds: Ghostly Presence
The Giant Cove Tree in the Lost River serves as a Ghost Leviathan nesting area. They aren’t visible nesting, but juveniles may roam. The Lost River appears lovely yet remains perilous.
Other Oceanic Oddities: Kraken and Behemoth
Leviathans aren’t the only legendary sea beasts out there. Let’s briefly explore other mythic creatures.
Behemoth: Earthly Giant
In the Book of Job, Behemoth is paired with Leviathan. Behemoth is described as a huge land creature, tied to elephants or hippos. While not a sea menace, it’s still a giant mythical being.
Kraken: Scandinavian Terror
The Kraken is a famous sea creature from Scandinavian folklore depicted as a giant squid or octopus that can sink ships. Although absent from Subnautica, it shares the same fears and myths surrounding deep-sea monsters as Leviathans. Perhaps akin to a tentacled cousin?
This is your guide to Subnautica’s Leviathans. From ghostly giants to fiery dragons, they create terror and fascination in the game. Now explore the depths, but watch out—avoid becoming Leviathan lunch!
