Subnautica 2: How to Find Necrolei Cysts and Strong Acid

Strong Acid is something you will need before you can build the Tadpole in Subnautica 2, and getting it requires tracking down Necrolei Cysts first. The game tells you what ingredient you need but gives you absolutely no clue where to actually find it, which is where most players hit a wall.

Necrolei Cysts grow on Stilt Orbs, small green bulb-shaped plants with long neon pink tendrils sitting in a specific biome northwest of the Lifepod. In this guide, I will show you exactly where to find them and how to turn them into Strong Acid.

Where to Find Necrolei Cysts and Get Strong Acid

From the Lifepod, head straight northwest and keep going until the biome around you starts to change. You will know you are in the right area when you start seeing purple coral and a large structure comes into view. This biome sits roughly 300 meters northwest of the Lifepod.

Once you are there look around for clusters of Stilt Orbs. These are the floating green bulb-shaped plants with long neon pink tendrils trailing around them. They grow in clusters so once you spot one you will usually find several nearby. To harvest the Necrolei Cysts you need to use your Survival Multitool on the top of the Stilt Orb. The cyst will pop out and you can collect it.

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Crafting Strong Acid

Once you have collected enough Necrolei Cysts, head back to your base and use the Processor to craft Strong Acid. Each Strong Acid requires two Necrolei Cysts to make.

There is also an alternative recipe for Strong Acid that uses 1 Sulfur and 1 Gold instead. Both of these materials are found in the lava biome to the southeast, which is a lot further out and harder to reach early on. The Necrolei Cyst method is the much more practical option when you are just getting started.

That’s It

Strong Acid is one of those resources that unlocks a lot once you have a steady supply of it coming in. Between Power Cells, the Rebreather, and other key upgrades it feeds into a good chunk of your mid game progression.

If you are working towards building the Tadpole and still need the blueprint pieces, check out my Tadpole Fragments Location guide to track them all down.