Ready to move beyond basic survival and start building real technology? Your journey begins with a simple, colorful coral. Subnautica Table Coral is an essential early-game resource in Subnautica that looks like a bright, flat coral formation you’ll find on rock faces in shallow waters. It might seem like just a decoration, but this single resource is the secret gateway to crafting advanced electronics. Most importantly, it’s a key ingredient for the Computer Chip, a fundamental component required to unlock critical devices such as the Habitat Builder and Scanner Room. Without it, your progress stalls early on, making Table Coral your top priority for collection.
Quick Guide:
- Find colorful, flat coral growing on rocks in the Safe Shallows.
- Harvest it using your Survival Knife.
- Craft a Table Coral Sample used to make the Computer Chip.
- Use Computer Chips to unlock blueprints like the Habitat Builder.
This guide will walk you step-by-step from identifying Table Coral to harvesting it safely, and finally, using it to build the essential tools that open Subnautica’s deeper gameplay.
What is Subnautica Table Coral ?
Table Coral is a vibrant, flat-sheet coral you can harvest early in Subnautica to obtain Table Coral Samples. These samples are one of the most important crafting materials in the game’s technology tree. Visually, Table Coral appears as bright red, disc-shaped formations attached to vertical rock surfaces or reef walls. In contrast to other corals like Brain Coral, which is round and bulbous, Table Coral’s plate-like structure makes it easy to spot.
Table Coral’s primary significance is its use in the fabrication of the Computer Chip. Unlike ambient or decorative ocean flora, Table Coral provides an essential resource that cannot be substituted. The in-game encyclopedia describes it as a resilient, synthetic-friendly coral species, supporting advanced circuit production. Understanding this coral’s appearance and role lays the foundation for locating and harvesting it efficiently.
- Table Coral: Large, flat, bright red coral formations on rock faces.
- Table Coral Sample: The harvested unit used in crafting.
- Difference from Brain Coral: Brain Coral is irregular, rounded, and yellowish, while Table Coral is flat and red.
Where to find Subnautica Table Coral
Table Coral is abundant in several biomes near the game’s start zone, making it accessible even to new players. Here are the best locations and tips for spotting it:
- Safe Shallows: The safest and most accessible biome, with abundant Table Coral growing on rock ledges.
- Grassy Plateaus: Found at moderate depth with rich coral formations, including Table Coral.
- Mushroom Forest: At deeper depths, Table Coral is less common but still present on rocky cliffs.
Look for bright red, flat coral colonies growing in clusters, often attached to vertical rock surfaces rather than flat seafloor sand. Table Coral typically spawns between 0 and 30 meters depth, frequently near your starting area around Lifepod 5. It does not regrow once harvested, so be thorough during your collection run.
Player community hotspots include rock walls near Safe Shallows caves and ledges at the edges of reefs. Early patch notes confirm spawn consistency in these zones. Below is a concise location summary for quick reference:
- Safe Shallows: 0–20m depth, near Lifepod 5.
- Grassy Plateaus: 20–50m depth, rocky outcrops.
- Mushroom Forest: 50–100m depth, cliff faces.
Table Coral in the Safe Shallows: The best early-game location
The Safe Shallows biome offers the fastest and safest path for beginners to gather Table Coral. Around Lifepod 5, look for bright red flat coral attached to vertical rock shelves and reef walls. Start by swimming close to the lifepod, then explore nearby rocky areas with plenty of visible red discs. They often appear in clusters, easily spotted against the muted underwater landscape.
From Lifepod 5, swim southwest towards the nearby cave entrance at coordinates roughly 20, -10 (X, Z axis) to find dense Table Coral patches. Use the vibrant red color as your visual cue. This proximity means you don’t have to risk venturing into deeper, dangerous waters for your first Table Coral Sample.
How to harvest Table Coral in Subnautica
Harvesting Table Coral is simple but requires the correct tool and technique.
- Equip your Survival Knife: Table Coral cannot be harvested by hand or with other tools.
- Approach the coral slowly: Swim close to the flat red coral formations attached to rock walls.
- Cut the coral: Use the Survival Knife to carefully slice a Table Coral Sample from the larger coral patch.
- Collect the sample: It will automatically be added to your inventory if space allows.
Important tips and troubleshooting:
- Always use your Survival Knife. Other tools like the Scanner or bare hands won’t work.
- Ensure you have at least one free inventory slot before harvesting.
- Be mindful of local fauna; Reaper Leviathans don’t enter Safe Shallows, but smaller aggressive creatures may be nearby.
- Remember, Table Coral does not regrow after harvesting. Gather enough during your visits.
The Critical Uses of Table Coral Samples: Unlocking Core Technology
Table Coral Samples serve as the backbone for crafting many critical components and tools:
| Input | Output | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Table Coral Sample + 2 Copper Wire + 1 Gold | 1 Computer Chip | Unlocks blueprints for advanced tools like the Habitat Builder |
| Computer Chip + other materials | Advanced Wiring Kit | Used in higher-tier electronics |
| Computer Chip + Titanium | Scanner Room Upgrade Modules | Improves scanning capabilities |
Without Table Coral Samples, crafting the Computer Chip is impossible, effectively halting technological progression. This makes Table Coral one of the earliest and most vital bottlenecks in the game’s resource chain. By mastering its collection, you open doors to creating everything from the Habitat Builder—enabling base construction—to devices that improve exploration and survival.
Essential Tools Table Coral Helps You Build (Habitat Builder, Scanner Room, etc.)
| Tool | Unlock Effect |
|---|---|
| Habitat Builder | Allows creation of underwater bases and modules |
| Scanner Room | Magnifies scanning range and reveals new resources |
| Advanced Wiring Kit | Essential component for many high-tier electronics |
| Scanner Room Upgrades | Enhances scanning features and range |
Each item represents a key milestone in gameplay, from expanding your habitat to enhancing your ability to explore and gather. Collecting Table Coral Samples early ensures you can craft these tools without delay.
Table Coral FAQs and Troubleshooting (2025 Update)
- Can Table Coral regrow? No, once harvested, Table Coral does not regenerate. You must gather enough during initial collection phases.
- What does Table Coral look like? Bright red, flat, disc-shaped coral attached to vertical rock faces.
- Why can’t I pick it up by hand? You need to use a Survival Knife to cut Table Coral Samples; bare hands or other tools won’t work.
- Is Table Coral spawning affected by patches? Recent 2025 patches maintain consistent spawns in Safe Shallows; community confirms no major changes.
- Confused between Table Coral and Brain Coral? Table Coral is flat and red; Brain Coral is rounded and yellowish.
Supplemental Content: Quick Comparison & Visual Reference of Table Coral vs. Other Corals
| Coral Type | Appearance | Use | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Table Coral | Flat, bright red discs | Crafting Computer Chip | Rock faces, Safe Shallows |
| Brain Coral | Round, yellowish with folds | Primarily decorative | Shallow reefs |
| Creepvine | Long green strands | Basic crafting materials | Safe Shallows, Kelp areas |
This side-by-side helps new players quickly distinguish Table Coral from other ocean flora and prioritize harvesting the correct resource for progression.
Supplemental Content: Reference Links & Advanced Reading
Conclusion
Table Coral in Subnautica is far more than just a colorful piece of scenery-it’s the foundation of your technological progression. Without harvesting it early, you won’t be able to craft Computer Chips, and without Computer Chips, tools like the Habitat Builder and Scanner Room remain locked, keeping your survival stuck at the most basic stage.
By recognizing its unique flat red shape, knowing exactly where to look in biomes like the Safe Shallows, and mastering the simple harvesting method with your Survival Knife, you can secure a steady supply of Table Coral Samples before venturing into deeper, riskier waters.
The key takeaway is simple: prioritize Table Coral collection during your first hours of gameplay. Stockpile enough samples so you never stall your crafting tree, and always remember that this coral doesn’t regrow-plan your harvesting runs wisely. Once you’ve secured Computer Chips and unlocked your Habitat Builder, your journey truly shifts from mere survival to thriving exploration, with bases, scanners, and advanced modules expanding your control over Planet 4546B’s alien ocean.
Mastering Table Coral means mastering Subnautica’s early game. Collect it, craft with it, and let it open the door to your first real steps into technology, exploration, and long-term survival. For more Subnautica survival strategies, be sure to check out the latest guides on Softbuzz–your go-to hub for detailed walkthroughs and pro tips.
