Acid Mushroom

Acid Mushrooms are a hazardous species of flora used as a raw material to manufacture Batteries. They are commonly found on the seabed across various biomes.

Overview

Acquisition

The player can pick Acid Mushrooms by hand. Alternatively, striking one with a Survival Knife kills it instantly and yields four Acid Mushroom Spores.

Warning: Striking an Acid Mushroom releases acid into the water, which can cause damage to the player, structures, and nearby fauna and flora. Be cautious when harvesting spores.

Farming

Acid Mushrooms and their spores can be planted in an Exterior Growbed or Alien Containment. Planted spores take time to mature. Once mature, they can be picked like wild specimens or slashed with a knife to produce 4 spores.

Harvesting Strategy: To minimize risk, pick all nearby mushrooms before knifing one for spores. Since each mushroom drops four spores, you can pick three mushrooms and collect spores from the fourth to restock your supply safely.

Appearance

Acid Mushrooms appear as stout purple-colored fungi growing on the seabed. There are two variations:

1. A small variant with a purple hue.
2. A larger variant with a bright magenta cap fading to dull violet.

Both variants emit faint bioluminescence at night.

A cluster of Acid Mushrooms

Bioluminescence

A cluster of Acid Mushrooms in the outskirts of the Safe Shallows

Behavior

As a defense mechanism, the Acid Mushroom bursts open and releases acid when damaged, harming the player and destroying itself. Vehicles like the Seamoth can take heavy damage from ramming into or colliding with them. An explosion may also trigger chain reactions if multiple mushrooms in a cluster are destroyed without precautions.

Uses

Crafting

Acid Mushrooms are used to craft Batteries.

• Recipe: Acid Mushroom + Copper Ore → Battery (via Fabricator)

Energy

Acid Mushrooms have one of the highest energy densities of all flora, making them excellent fuel for the Bioreactor.

• Bioreactor Output: +210 Energy per Acid Mushroom
• Spore Output: +21 Energy per Acid Mushroom Spore

Acid Mushroom In-game Model

Data Bank Entry

A common, spore-bearing fungi species. The flesh contains a highly acidic compound which leaches into the water if the outer skin is penetrated.

It is not clear which predator species necessitated such extreme counter-measures, but the acid mushroom's numbers suggest it has successfully deterred most of them.

Assessment: Inedible - Acid has applications in battery fabrication

Trivia

• The Acid Mushroom has a deep-sea subspecies called the Deep Shroom, found in the Blood Kelp Zone, Sea Treader's Path, Inactive Lava Zone, and Lost River.
• Acid Mushrooms were edible in older versions of Subnautica.
• Originally named "Purple Mushroom" in early 2014 versions.
• Originally called "Puffshrooms." Upon being touched, they were intended to shrink, a feature present in early builds.
• One of only three hazardous flora the player can harvest for seeds (others: Deep Shroom, Tiger Plant).

Concept Art

Acid Mushrooms as seen in the Concept art of the Grassy Plateaus

Acid Mushroom seen alongside Jordi's Tung in the Concept Art for the Mushroom Forest

Acid Mushrooms in the Concept Art for the Safe Shallows