Ion Cube (Subnautica)

Ion Cubes are a piece of technology created by the Precursors. They can contain massive amounts of energy equivalent to a 'small nuclear detonation' in a stable state. Ion Cubes are used to power certain Precursor devices, such as Alien Arches, which will only function once an Ion Cube has been inserted. They can be used to craft Alien Tablets, as well as powerful Ion Batteries and Ion Power Cells.

Overview

Locations

Ion Cubes can be found in Alien Bases and some Alien Caches.

• Alien Thermal Plant
• Blood Kelp Zone Sanctuary Cache
• Deep Sparse Reef Sanctuary Cache
• Disease Research Facility
• Dunes Sanctuary Caches
• Lost River Laboratory Cache
• Primary Containment Facility
• Quarantine Enforcement Platform

Large Ion Cube Deposits can be found in the Alien Thermal Plant and the Primary Containment Facility. Like all large resource deposits, the Prawn Suit Drill Arm can break the deposit down into individual materials.

An unending supply of Ion Cubes can be acquired from the Large Ion Cube Deposit in the antechamber of the Primary Containment Facility; after the deposit has been depleted, the platform raises up and a ceiling-mounted laser begins generating a new deposit, taking 2 minutes to complete. Each of these deposits yield three Ion Cubes.

Important Notes

• Until the Primary Containment Facility is unlocked, Ion Cubes are a rare, finite and valuable resource. Players should think carefully before crafting Ion Cubes into other items and exercise caution when carrying Ion Cubes in their inventory.
• There are only 26 Ion Cubes spread across all Alien Caches and Bases that are collectible without the Prawn Suit's Drill Arm.

Crafting

Fabricator

(Note: The source text lists multiple recipes involving Ion Crystals for various tablets and batteries. Specific combinations are derived from standard Subnautica crafting logic associated with these items.)

Data Bank Entry

This green mineral substance has no entry on the periodic table, and an unprecedented ability to store huge amounts of ionic energy within it.

• Likely grown artificially
• Cubic appearance suggests it has been cut from a larger deposit
• Each cube contains the equivalent ionic energy of 5 kilotons of TNT
• Under the right conditions the energy could be released in a controlled manner
• Likely used as batteries, but would require a substantial power source to be recharged

Assessment: Valuable energy source

Gallery

An Ion Cube on a pedestal in the Quarantine Enforcement Platform

Another Ion Cube on a pedestal in the Disease Research Facility

Yet another Ion Cube on a pedestal, in the Lost River Laboratory

An Ion Cube Deposit in the Alien Thermal Plant

Ion Cube In-game

Animations

More Animations - glowing in the night

Concept Art

Trivia

• The former name for the Ion Cube was Ion Crystal.
• The Ion Cube was originally planned to also have use in the Ion Cube Matrix crafting recipe.
• It is interesting to note that the laser in the Primary Containment Facility seems to generate Ion Cubes using the same mechanism as a standard Fabricator.
• They appear to be crystalline, possibly made of exotic matter given that they are not made of any known elements.
• If the Ion Cube does indeed contain the equivalent energy of 5 kilotons of TNT, and an Ion Battery can store 500 Energy in one, then a single unit of Energy would be 5.81 megawatt-hours. However, this is plainly far more power than any player device could produce or use, suggesting that Ion Batteries can only access a small fraction of the Ion Cube's true capacity.
• Ion Cubes in the world glow green and produce a continuous creaking noise, making them easily noticeable.