Propulsion Cannon (Subnautica)

The Propulsion Cannon is a tool used to lift and remotely move around objects nominally weighing up to 25 kg, at a range of up to 20 m, including many things the player could not lift by hand. When suspending something with the propulsion cannon, the player can choose to either drop the object or launch it away forcefully; the latter can cause damage to creatures by striking them with the launched object. It is crafted with the Fabricator.

The Propulsion Cannon takes up four slots in the player's Inventory. In Creative mode, the player starts with a Propulsion Cannon in their inventory.

Usage

When aimed at an object and fired, the Propulsion Cannon can be used to suspend the object and pull it closer to the player. Suspended objects can then be launched or dropped softly. It is also possible to add suspended objects directly to the player's inventory or to load objects directly from the player's inventory into the cannon's beam.

The Propulsion Cannon is able to suspend most small-to-medium-sized objects within a range of 19 meters from the player, including small Fauna, Flora, Harvesting Nodes, and various debris found in the Aurora and in wrecks. This makes the Propulsion Cannon useful for navigating wreckage, obtaining hard-to-reach items, and catching fish. The Propulsion Cannon is even capable of grabbing Bleeders latched to the player's arm and blasting them away.

Objects that are buoyant in water can be moved, even if they weigh more than 25 kg. For example, a Seamoth with a dead battery stopped below a Moonpool could be moved into the dock using a Propulsion Cannon. The Propulsion Cannon can also be used to reposition the Seamoth should you find yourself stuck on the beach of the Floating Islands.

Because the Propulsion Cannon is able to load and launch items directly from the player's inventory, it can also be used as a weapon. Anything launched from the Propulsion Cannon will deal damage, but Acid Mushrooms, Deep Shrooms, and Crashfish deal extra splash damage, and Gas Pods deal extra damage due to the gas cloud.

Controls

Action	Mouse & Keyboard	Xbox One	PlayStation 4	Nintendo Switch
Grab Object	RMB
Launch Object	RMB	-	-	-
Drop Object	F			-
Add Object to Inventory	LMB
Load Object from Inventory	F	-	-	-
Change Battery	R

Energy

The Propulsion Cannon uses energy from a Battery, which can be replaced. While picking up objects does not use any energy, suspending objects with the Propulsion Cannon uses 1 unit of energy every 1.43 seconds (41.96 energy per minute, 143 seconds for a full Battery or 715 seconds for a full Ion Battery). Launching objects uses 4 units of energy.

The Propulsion Cannon can be recharged with the Swim Charge Fins.

Spoiler alert: The following section contains story-related material.

An Ion Battery can be used to power the Propulsion Cannon.

Recipe

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Uses in Crafting

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Data Bank Entry

The propulsion cannon allows technicians to manipulate gravitational forces at ranges of up to 20m. It is commonly used in construction and mining to move materials.

Operating Instructions:

• Pull the trigger once to lock onto and attract a single targeted object weighing less than 25kg
• The object can now safely be retrieved from the gravitational beam
• Alternatively, pull the trigger a second time to propel the object at speed away from the device
• Not recommended for use on organic subjects

"The Prop Cannon: Some species are telekinetic. For everyone else, there's Alterra."

Gallery

• Back
• Front
• The player holding the Propulsion Cannon
• Propulsion Cannon when changing the Battery
• How it looks when a Propulsion Cannon is made in the Fabricator
• Propulsion Cannon holding a Bleeder
• The Propulsion Cannon holding a Gas Pod from a Gasopod
• Propulsion Cannon holding a Slanted Shell Plate
• The player using the Propulsion Cannon
• Propulsion Cannon Model from Sketchfab

Trivia

• The Propulsion Cannon has many similarities to the gravity gun from the Half-Life series. The developers have admitted to using it as a design inspiration.
• The largest object that can be grabbed is the Seamoth, although it is difficult to move.
• The Propulsion Cannon's first model, used in early access, was reused for the Stasis Rifle.
• When you acquire the Propulsion Cannon blueprints, it shows the image for the Prawn Suit Propulsion Cannon instead of that of the Propulsion Cannon.
• The Propulsion Cannon is referred to as the "gravcannon" in the sound files.
• An unused reload sound effect exists within the game's files.
• Unlike most tools, the propulsion cannon lacks any animation for node breaking.

Spoiler alert: The following section contains story-related material.

The Propulsion Cannon used to be one of the only ways the player can grab Enzyme 42, but has been removed.

Bugs

This section contains bugs related to Propulsion Cannon (Subnautica).

• If you pick something up with your propulsion cannon in a flooded base, it may increase the speed of your Seaglide.
• Picking up an Air Bladder with the cannon may make the player rise on the Y axis into the air.