Subnautica Below Zero: Assembling Al-An (Architect) a new Vessel - Mae Polzine (2024)

One of the main plot points in Subnautica: Below Zero is helping an Architect named Al-An. First by finding the member of the Architects, who is only the consciousness of the being uploaded to a data hub. The power of that hub started to fail and Alterra did not want to assist. Robin however becomes the new storage medium as Al-An uploads themselves into her head when she tries to help. This resists in the two talking and coming to the agreement that Robin will help Al-An make a new vessel. Which is what I’m going to be sharing details on where to find and build in this post.

Early Access Information

Note: This is no longer correct. But I didn’t feel like removing this section as it’s fun to look at changes to the game sometimes as things were moved around. So, this information was accurate as of February 2020 but no longer as of May 2021.

Subnautica Below Zero, while in Early Access as of February 2020, centers around the Architect (previously called the Precursor) — he names himself Al-an after the designation Alien — that had uploaded their mind to a sanctuary prior to the death of organic life on Planet 4546B. His storage module fails and gets uploaded into Robin Goodall’s mind (your character). So, one of the primary goals is finding and assembling a new vessel to transfer Al-An to.

There are three main caches that you need to go to in order to find the blueprints for this new vessel:

1. Crystal Caves Cache (550 -762 -551): Location of Architect Organs.
2. Arctic Spires Cache (-1890 24 -110): Location of Architect Skeletal Structure.
3. Deep Lilypads Cave Cache (541 -619 -1099): Location of Architect Component.

Once you’ve collected these blueprints, they can be assembled in the Fabricator Base (1204 -950 -310). The materials that you need are as followed:

• Architect Tissues: 1 plasteel ingot, 1 benzene, and 1 polyaniline.
• Architect Skeleton: 1 plasteel ingot, 1 benzene, and 1 polyaniline.
• Architect Organs: 1 ion cube, 1 plasteel ingot, 1 benezene, and 1 polyaniline.

As the game is in early access all of this is subject to change during the final release of the game as far as materials needed, but most likely not the rest since it is fully animated with a cinematic cut-scene at this point. I feel like they might change the ingredients considering it’s three identical recipes for three different things with only one variation, but I could be wrong.

Once you construct the three parts, you just have to transfer Al-An into the new vessel and then he’s an NPC in the world that you can interact with. Robin will still be able to communicate with Al-An at distances mentally, though it’s going to be messages that come across rather than something the player can control.

Full Release Information

The game has been fully released! Or it was fully released on May 14, 2021. I decided just to come back and update this post, rather than make a brand new post. The assembly of Al-An is still the three components but their locations have changed slightly along with what is required for each part. So, here is the new information for what is all needed and where to find those things.

There are three main caches that you need to go to in order to find the blueprints for this new vessel:

1. Crystal Caves Cache (517 -828 -696): Location of Architect Organs.
2. Arctic Spires Cache (-1011 21 720): Location of Architect Tissues.
3. Deep Lilypads Cave Cache (541 -619 -1099): Location of Architect Skeletal structure.

Once you’ve collected these blueprints, they can be assembled in the Fabricator Base (1204 -950 -310). The materials that you need are as followed:

• Architect Tissues: 2 root globule, 1 synthetic fiber, and 2 gel sacks.
• Architect Skeleton: 3 diamonds, 1 plasteel ingot, and 1 polyaniline.
• Architect Organs: 1 ion cube, 2 ribbon plants, and 3 kyanite.

Al-An once restored to their new body becomes an NPC. I’m not going to share spoilers for the story, but there’s more that happens with Al-An after transferring them to their new body.

Love ya,

Mae Polzine

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