Surviving the Abyss Building Guide

Our Surviving the Abyss Building Guide will tell you how Building works and what is required for all of the Buildings in the game.

How Surviving the Abyss Building Works

For the most part, Surviving the Abyss Building is fairly freeform. You can place most Buildings anywhere as long as you meet the following conditions:

Buildings must be placed under the light.
Most Buildings require a Power connection.
Populated Buildings must be connected to Oxygen generators with Tunnels.
Crew can only move between Buildings with Tunnels or through Docks with Transport Subs.

Some Buildings -- especially Power generation Buildings -- can only be placed on specific points of interest. For example, the Coal Extractor can only be placed on a Coal Extraction Point.

Surviving the Abyss Building Guide - Buildings in Close Quarters

Surviving the Abyss Building List

Here is a list of all of the Surviving the Abyss Buildings in the pre-launch release of this Early Access game.

Note: This list of Buildings was created using cheats in the Early Access version of Surviving the Abyss. These numbers may change, and some of these Buildings may not be available until a later update (or at all).

Surviving the Abyss Building Guide - Resources Buildings

Resources Buildings

Mining Relay

Building Cost - N/A
Power Required - 0
Oxygen Required - 0
Crew Required - 0
Building Function - N/A

Designates an area for Mining Subs to collect resources.

Alloy Furnace

Building Cost - 15 Concrete
Power Required - 3
Oxygen Required - 1
Crew Required - 2 Generalist
Building Function - Steel Production +1, Rate of Production 1 Per 12S, Air Quality Impact -16

Converts Iron Ore into Steel.

Drill Extractor

Building Cost - 12 Concrete
Power Required - 1
Oxygen Required - 1
Crew Required - 3 Generalist, 1 Engineer
Building Function - Chance of Succesful Mine +75%, Rate of Production 1 Per 40S, Air Quality Impact -10

Harvests resources from Extraction Points (except for Coal and Oil).

Coal Extractor

Building Cost - 12 Concrete
Power Required - 2
Oxygen Required - 1
Crew Required - 3 Generalist
Building Function - Chance of Successful Mine +100%, Rate of Production 1 Per 16S, Air Quality Impact -8

Extracts an infinite amount of Coal at a steady rate from a Coal Extraction Point.

Food Stockpile

Building Cost - 12 Steel
Power Required - 0
Oxygen Required - 0
Crew Required - 0
Building Function - +50 Low-Quality Food Storage, +50 High-Quality Food Storage

Stores 50 of each type of Food.

Blast Extractor

Building Cost - 20 Steel
Power Required - 2
Oxygen Required - 1
Crew Required - 3 Generalist, 2 Engineer
Building Function - Chance of Successful Mine +60%, Rate of Production 1 Per 25S, Air Quality Impact -10

Harvests resources from Extraction Points (except for Coal and Oil).

Impact Extractor

Building Cost - 10 Concrete, 30 Steel
Power Required - 3
Oxygen Required -1
Crew Required - 2 Generalist, 3 Engineer
Building Function - Chance of Successful Mine +100%, Rate of Production 1 Per 32S, Air Quality Impact -5

Harvests resources from Extraction Points (except for Coal and Oil).

Oil Drill

Building Cost - 8 Steel
Power Required - 0
Oxygen Required - 0
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - Foundation for Oil Well

An Oil Drill is placed on an Oil Field. It serves as the foundation for an Oil Well, so you'll have to build this on an Oil Field first before you can start harvesting Oil.

Oil Well

Building Cost - 12 Aluminum, 15 Steel
Power Required - 0
Oxygen Required - 0
Crew Required - 2 Generalist, 2 Engineer
Building Function - Harvests Oil, Foundation for Oil Refineries

An Oil Well is placed on top of an Oil Drill and acts as a platform for Oil Refineries which actually produce usable Oil.

Oil Refinery

Building Cost - 20 Concrete, 15 Aluminum
Power Required - 2
Oxygen Required - 1
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - Rate of Production 1 Per 60S

Oil Refineries convert Crude Oil from an Oil Field into usable Oil for Power generation. Up to three Oil Refineries can be placed atop an Oil Well.

Building Material Stockpile

Building Cost - 12 Steel
Power Required - 0
Oxygen Required - 0
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - +100 Steel Storage, +100 Concrete Storage, +100 Quartz Storage, +100 Iron Storage, +100 Aluminum Storage, +100 Copper Storage, +100 Lead Storage

Stores 100 of each type of Building Material.

Fuel Stockpile

Building Cost - 12 Steel
Power Required - 0
Oxygen Required - 0
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - +100 Coal Storage, +100 Oil Storage

Stores 100 of each type of Fuel.

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Surviving the Abyss Building Guide - Power Buildings

Power Buildings

Coal Generator

Building Cost - 10 Concrete
Power Required - 0
Oxygen Required - 1
Crew Required - 3 Generalist, 1 Engineer
Building Function - Power Output +20, Air Quality Impact -10

Generates Power from Coal.

Advanced Coal Generator

Building Cost - 8 Concrete, 10 Copper, 10 Steel
Power Required - 0
Oxygen Required - 2
Crew Required - 3 Generalist, 2 Engineer
Building Function - Power Output +28, Air Quality Impact -24

Generates more Power from Coal.

Power Line

Building Cost - 1 Steel per 3 Tiles
Power Required - 0
Oxygen Required - 0
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - Transmits Power from Generators to Buildings.

Power Lines transmit Power. They're placed on the ocean floor, so you can put them anywhere. Each Power Line extends to a radius of 1 Tile on either side.

Biomass Generator

Building Cost - 10 Concrete, 15 Steel
Power Required - 0
Oxygen Required - 1
Crew Required - 2 Generalist, 1 Engineer
Building Function - Power Output +18

Generates Power by consuming and destroying a Habitat. Costs no Fuel to generate Power.

Oil Generator

Building Cost - 10 Concrete, 15 Aluminum, 25 Steel
Power Required - 0
Oxygen Required - 1
Crew Required - 3 Generalist, 1 Scientist, 1 Engineer
Building Function - Power Output +50, Air Quality Impact -24

Consumes Oil to generate Power.

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Surviving the Abyss Building Guide - Life Support Buildings

Life Support Buildings

Oxygen Generator

Building Cost - 10 Concrete
Power Required - 4
Oxygen Required - 0
Crew Required - 2 Generalist
Building Function - Oxygen Output +8, Air Quality Impact +7

Generates Oxygen and provides a small Air Quality improvement.

Nutritional Paste Production

Building Cost - 5 Concrete, 12 Quartz, 10 Aluminum
Power Required - 1
Oxygen Required - 2
Crew Required - 3 Generalist, 1 Scientist
Building Function - 1 Low-Quality Food produced per 5S

Hospital

Building Cost - 15 Quartz
Power Required - 3
Oxygen Required - 1
Crew Required - 2 Generalist
Building Function - Heals injured Crew.

Hospitals heal injured Crew over time. Each Hospital has beds for 4 injured Crew.

Advanced Oxygen Generator

Building Cost - 15 Concrete, 20 Quartz, 8 Copper
Power Required - 7
Oxygen Required - 0
Crew Required - 3 Generalist, 1 Engineer
Building Function - Oxygen Output +22, Air Quality Impact +15

Generates a large amount of Oxygen and seriously improves Air Quality.

Carbohydrate Farm

Building Cost - 10 Concrete
Power Required - 1
Oxygen Required - 1
Crew Required - 2 Generalist
Building Function - 1 Low-Quality Food produced per 12S

Protein Harvester

Building Cost - 15 Quartz, 5 Steel
Power Required - 2
Oxygen Required - 2
Crew Required - 2 Generalist, 1 Scientist
Building Function - 1 High-Quality Food produced per 20S

Produces High-Quality Food from Aquatic Life. Must be placed on a Habitat. The Protein Harvester will deplete Aquatic Life in a Habitat unless a nearby active Marine Stabiliser is replenishing the Habitat.

Molecular Protein Lab

Building Cost - 15 Concrete, 15 Quartz, 15 Copper
Power Required - 4
Oxygen Required - 3
Crew Required - 4 Generalist, 2 Scientist
Building Function - 2 High-Quality Food produced per 15S

Produces High-Quality Food from Aquatic Life. Must be placed on a Habitat. The Molecular Protein Lab will deplete Aquatic Life in a Habitat unless a nearby active Marine Stabiliser is replenishing the Habitat.

Basic Air Purifier

Building Cost - 10 Quartz, 5 Aluminum, 10 Steel
Power Required - 2
Oxygen Required - 1
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - Air Quality Impact +10

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Surviving the Abyss Building Guide - Population Buildings

Population Buildings

Living Quarters

Building Cost - 10 Concrete
Power Required - 1
Oxygen Required - 1
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - Crew Housed +4

Modern Living Quarters

Building Cost - 10 Concrete, 15 Quartz
Power Required - 2
Oxygen Required - 1
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - Crew Houses +8

Garden Dome

Building Cost - 15 Quartz
Power Required - 2
Oxygen Required - 0
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - Oxygen Output +2, Air Quality Impact +2, Provides Recreation

Mess Hall

Building Cost - 10 Concrete, 10 Quartz
Power Required - 1
Oxygen Required - 0
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - Provides Recreation, Prevents detrimental effects of Low-Quality Food

Physical Maintenance

Building Cost - 15 Concrete, 15 Quartz, 10 Aluminum, 15 Steel
Power Required - 1
Oxygen Required - 0
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - Provides Recreation

Inebriation Pavilion

Building Cost - 15 Concrete, 15 Quartz, 10 Copper
Power Required - 1
Oxygen Required - 0
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - Provides Recreation

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Surviving the Abyss Building Guide - Exploration Buildings

Exploration Buildings

Light Tower

Building Cost - 12 Quartz, 8 Steel
Power Required - 5
Oxygen Required - 0
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - Provides light to allow Building.

Halogen Light

Building Cost - 15 Quartz, 12 Copper, 5 Steel
Power Required - 3
Oxygen Required - 0
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - Provides light to allow Building.

The Halogen Light is supposed to provide a larger area of light for Building, but it actually provides less in the pre-release version of Surviving the Abyss. Avoid using this Building until this bug is fixed.

Submarine Factory

Building Cost - 12 Quartz, 12 Steel
Power Required - 2
Oxygen Required - 1
Crew Required - 2 Generalist
Building Function - Allows the construction of submarines.

The Submarine Factory allows you to build additional submarines for the following construction costs:

Construction Sub - 5 Quartz, 10 Steel
Mining Sub - 5 Quartz, 10 Steel
Exploration Sub - 10 Quartz, 15 Steel
Transportation Sub - 10 Quartz, 15 Steel

Sonar Tower

Building Cost - 12 Steel
Power Required - 2
Oxygen Required - 0
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - Finds items in the darkness.

The Sonar Tower can be used to launch one of four different Beacons in order to find different things in the darkness:

Fuel Beacon - Locates Coal and Oil deposits.
Resource Beacon - Locates Steel, Concrete, Quartz, Iron, Aluminum, Copper, and Lead deposits.
Point of Interest Beacon - Locates Points of Interest that can be explored by an Exploration Sub.
Habitat Beacon - Locates Habitats of Aquatic Life.

Using these Beacons is key to deciding where to use your resources to build Lights.

Submarine Command

Building Cost - 10 Concrete, 15 Steel
Power Required - 2
Oxygen Required - 1
Crew Required - 2 Generalist
Building Function - Automates repairs, allows Exploration Subs to be sent on Expeditions. Increases Submarine capacity by 2.

Outpost

Building Cost - 15 Concrete, 30 Coal, 15 Quartz, 15 Steel
Power Required - 0
Oxygen Required - 0
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - Power Output +4, Oxygen Output +4

Allows you to establish a new base in a new location. Bases placed at longer ranges require an Expedition to launch a Flare that temporarily illuminates a new area.

Docks

Building Cost - 7 Concrete
Power Required - 0
Oxygen Required - 0
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - Allows Transport Submarines to dock and move Crew between bases. Increases Submarine capacity by 1.

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Surviving the Abyss Building Guide - Research Buildings

Research Buildings

Basic Research Lab

Building Cost - 15 Concrete, 15 Steel
Power Required - 5
Oxygen Required - 1
Crew Required - 2 Generalist, 1 Scientist
Building Function - Research Data Per Day +20

Has 1 Research Module Slot.

Standard Research Lab

Building Cost - 20 Concrete, 15 Steel
Power Required - 13
Oxygen Required - 1
Crew Required - 1 Generalist, 3 Scientist
Building Function - Research Data Per Day +30

Has 2 Research Module Slots.

Multiplier Research

Building Cost - 15 Quartz, 10 Steel
Power Required - 1
Oxygen Required - 1
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - Research Data Effect 1.2X

Placed on top of a Research Lab. Multiplies Research by 20%.

Rate Per Day Attachment Module

Building Cost - 5 Concrete
Power Required - 1
Oxygen Required - 1
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - Flat Rate RD Effect +8

Placed on top of a Research Lab. Increases Research Data generation by +8 per day.

Power Efficiency Module

Building Cost - 10 Quartz, 20 Copper, 20 Aluminum, 20 Steel
Power Required - 1
Oxygen Required - 1
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - Research Data Effect 1.6X

Placed on top of a Research Lab. Multiplies Research by 60%.

Fauna Capture Rate Module

Building Cost - 10 Quartz, 10 Aluminum, 10 Steel
Power Required - 1
Oxygen Required - 1
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - Research Data Effect 1.4X, Affect to Capture Times +5%

Reduces Capture Rate on Fauna Traps and increases Research Data output.

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Surviving the Abyss Building Guide - Genetics Buildings

Genetics Buildings

Cloning Lab

Building Cost - 10 Concrete, 10 Quartz, 10 Steel
Power Required - 8
Oxygen Required - 1
Crew Required - 2 Generalist, 1 Scientist
Building Function - Increases base population through Cloning.

Fauna Trap

Building Cost - 10 Steel
Power Required - 0
Oxygen Required - 0
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - Captures Aquatic Life to be used for Cloning.

Marine Stabiliser

Building Cost - 15 Quartz, 10 Steel
Power Required - 2
Oxygen Required - 1
Crew Required - 2 Generalist
Building Function - Replenishes Aquatic Life that is drained from a Habitat.

Trench Extractor

Building Cost - 10 Concrete, 10 Quartz
Power Required - 2
Oxygen Required - 1
Crew Required - 3 Generalist, 1 Engineer
Building Function - ? Production +1, Rate of Production +16

Extracts Resources from Trenches.

Advanced Fauna Trap

Building Cost - 5 Copper, 10 Aluminum
Power Required - 7
Oxygen Required - 0
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - Captures Aquatic Life to be used for Cloning.

An improved version of the Fauna Trap.

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Surviving the Abyss Building Guide - Tunnels Buildings

Tunnels Buildings

Tunnel

Building Cost - N/A
Power Required - 0
Oxygen Required - 0
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - Connects Buildings.

Elevator Shaft

Building Cost - N/A
Power Required - 0
Oxygen Required - 0
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - Connects Tunnels on different elevations.

Junction

Building Cost - N/A
Power Required - 0
Oxygen Required - 0
Crew Required - N/A
Building Function - Provides several connection points for Tunnels.

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We're all done with our Surviving the Abyss Buildings Guide, but there's plenty more to explore -- check out our other guides below!

More Surviving the Abyss Guides

General Guides

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Robert N Adams | Senior Writer

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