Quick answer
Current Dexerto data lists Tadpole Dock as a Builder Tool construct using Titanium Ingot x2, Silver Ingot x1, and Copper Wire x2. AllThingsHow shows the dock as a Moonpool add-on, and PC Gamer warns that the Moonpool setup needs space below the base because the dock extends downward. Build the Moonpool in open water first, reserve Copper Wire before base pieces eat it, then place the Tadpole Dock where the vehicle can enter without clipping terrain or base parts.
Field notes for docking without regret
Space below matters
A Moonpool that looks fine from inside can still be awkward underneath. Check terrain, kelp, and base pieces before placing the dock.
Ingots should have a destination
Titanium and Silver Ingots are expensive early. Do not craft them until Moonpool placement and dock direction are decided.
Test the entry line
The dock is only useful if the Tadpole can enter calmly. Swim the approach once before committing the final placement.
Tadpole Dock placement route
Pick open water before crafting
Do not start with the recipe. Start with the spot. If the base is too close to rock walls, coral, or shallow terrain, the dock can become technically placeable but awful to use.
Leave clearance under the Moonpool
PC Gamer notes that the Moonpool needs enough room below it because the dock drops down. Think of it as a hanging vehicle bay, not a flat room extension.
Craft the dock materials together
Dexerto currently lists Titanium Ingot x2, Silver Ingot x1, and Copper Wire x2. Copper Wire is easy to spend on other base parts, so put two wires aside before the build session starts.
Keep a Power Cell plan nearby
Dock placement is only half the vehicle push. Keep Power Cell and Tadpole materials in the same project box so the bay is ready when the craft chain opens.
Place Dock and Vehicle Fabricator as a pair
AllThingsHow treats Tadpole Dock and Vehicle Fabricator as part of the same Moonpool setup. Place them with the Tadpole route in mind, not just wherever the preview turns green.
Test the approach before long trips
Once the Tadpole is built, pilot in and out a few times. If the dock path feels clumsy now, it will feel much worse when you return low on oxygen or power.
Dock fit check
Below
clear
The dock needs space under the Moonpool.
Wire
2
Copper Wire disappears fast in base projects.
Test
drive
Pilot in and out before trusting the bay.
Tadpole Dock checklist
| Need | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Moonpool | Enough space below for the dock to hang downward. |
| Titanium Ingot x2 | Current public recipe data for the dock. |
| Silver Ingot x1 | Do not spend the Silver chain before docking prep. |
| Copper Wire x2 | Reserve two wires before base building eats them. |
| Power Cell plan | Keep Tadpole power materials near the dock project. |
| Vehicle Fabricator | Works with the dock as part of the Tadpole bay. |
| Clear approach | No terrain or base parts blocking vehicle entry. |
A green placement preview is not the same as a good dock
If the Tadpole has to scrape past terrain every time it enters the bay, the base location is fighting you. Move the dock early, while the mistake is still cheap.
FAQ
What is the Tadpole Dock recipe in Subnautica 2?
Dexerto currently lists Titanium Ingot x2, Silver Ingot x1, and Copper Wire x2 as the Builder Tool recipe.
Where do you place the Tadpole Dock?
Place it on a Moonpool with enough clearance below and a clean approach path for the Tadpole. Avoid tight terrain, shallow water, and cluttered base layouts.
Why will the Tadpole Dock not place?
The usual cause is space: the Moonpool may be too close to terrain or too shallow underneath. Move the Moonpool or rebuild that bay in more open water.
Do I need Vehicle Fabricator before Tadpole Dock?
Plan them together. The dock handles vehicle support while Vehicle Fabricator handles the craft chain, so a clean Moonpool bay should make room for both.