Radiation

Radiation is a damaging effect in Subnautica that surrounds the Aurora. Once the player enters the Radiation zone, a warning will appear on the HUD and the noise of a Geiger counter can be heard. The player will gradually take damage from Radiation exposure, which will stop once the player exits the Radiation zone. As the player gets closer to the ship the screen will become fuzzy, green, and blurred. The player can craft a Radiation Suit, which when fully equipped with a helmet and gloves, negate all damage from radiation.

Prior to the explosion of the Aurora, the Radiation will have a range of 675m from the point of origin, located at the coordinates (1038, -3.4, -163.1). Following the explosion its radius will grow over time to 950m. At no point will it ever reach Lifepod 5.

The Radiation zone will stay at this range until the player repairs the drive core breaches in the drive room with the Repair Tool. After repairing the leaks, the Radiation zone will disappear completely after three days and ten hours, allowing exploration of the Aurora and the Crash Zone without the Radiation Suit.

Biomes Affected

Biomes most affected by Radiation are:

• Crash Zone (Only southwestern edge is free from radiation.)
• Bulb Zone, southern half
• Eastern Mushroom Forest
• Eastern Safe Shallows
• Northeast Grassy Plateaus
• Southeast Kelp Forest

Biomes with partial exposure on their easternmost edges are:

• Northeast Kelp Forest
• Central Safe Shallows
• Southeast Grassy Plateaus
• Jellyshroom Cave

Radiation Zone Map

Radiation Zone Map. The initial radiation radius is shown in dark green and the maximum in light green, with the potential spawn areas for Lifepod 5 highlighted in red.

Radiation effect with two pieces of the Radiation Suit equipped

Radiation effect with one piece of the Radiation Suit equipped

Radiation effect without any pieces of the Radiation Suit equipped