This article is about the Flare in Subnautica. Click here for information on this subject in Below Zero.
Flares are tools that are crafted with the Fabricator.
This allows the player to illuminate dark areas like caves with a stationary light source, thus making it easier for the player to defend themselves or to spot resources.
Two of them can also be found in the storage within Lifepod 5 at the start of the game.
Controls[]
| Action | Mouse & Keyboard | Xbox One | PlayStation 4 | Nintendo Switch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ignition and Throwing | 
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Uses[]
Flares are less useful in the game compared to Below Zero, but still find use, especially at the start:
- First and foremost is that the flares can be held in the player's hand (by selecting it on the toolbar) and used as a consumable handheld light-source, which acts as a early-game alternative to the Flashlight by illuminating the area around the player while held.
- Flares can be also be thrown to act as a permanent (i.e., non-despawning) light source by pressing the right mouse button (while it is selected on the toolbar) which will ignite the Flare and cause the player to throw it slightly forward, then the Flare will sink until it finds another object to rest on all while giving off illumination; this acts as an early-game version of the Light Stick.
- The player can also pick up a Flare after it has been ignited/thrown and the ignited Flare will stay lit in the player's hand.
- Given the fact that Flares will not despawn after being thrown, the player can regularly throw flares when exploring intricate cave systems, leaving an easy-to-follow trail of flares leading back to safety. This may be seen as a low-tech early-game alternative to the Pathfinder Tool.
Recipe[]
×5Gallery[]
Flare
A Flare made on the Fabricator
The Flare's first-use animation
Flare illumination at day
Flare illumination at night
Flare Concept art