As players continue exploring the various arctic biomes of Subnautica: Below Zero, it could be beneficial to invest in a supply of batteries for their expeditions. Whether they are searching for valuable tool and vehicle fragments, or even mining raw material, sooner or later equipment will begin to lose power. To craft these portable energy sources, players will need to collect a glowing, deep-sea vegetation known as the Ribbon Plant.
One of the first things players should note is that the previous recipe for crafting batteries has been altered for Subnautica: Below Zero. While in Subnautica, players were able to craft batteries using Acid Mushrooms, the recipe now utilizes the acidic core of the Ribbon Plant.
This Subnautica flora species can be described as a highly-concentrated, bioluminescent orb surrounded by long, yellow leaves that wrap around the glowing center. These leaves anchor the core to the seafloor. The plant also has a very long, black ribbon-like tendril with a glowing tail attached to the top. This feature is perhaps where the plant gets its name.
The Ribbon Plant is a raw material that can be found growing in small caves, sea shelves, and dark crevices. Both the Shallow Twisty Bridges and the Twisty Bridges offer a good supply of them. The plant emits a low glow from little patches of sea vegetation, so they should be fairly identifiable.
In addition to the Shallow Twisty Bridges, Ribbon Plants can also be found in other biomes including the Main Crystal Caves, the Underwater Caves of the Glacial Basin, the Fabricator Caverns, the Glacial Connection, as well as the Lilypad Island Caves. But be careful. Some of these regions are home to a number of terrifying deep-sea Subnautica creatures. The Ribbon Plant can sometimes be one of the resources offered to the player by the Sea Monkeys.
After collecting enough Ribbon Plants, players will be able to stock up on batteries. Constructing a single battery requires the combination of 2x Ribbon Plants with 1x Copper Ore. Copper can be found in numerous biomes, so players should not find much difficulty locating this material. With the necessary resources, batteries can be crafted using the Fabricator. Players can now continue on their adventures through the vast open-world of the game without fearing their equipment's energy levels.
In addition to crafting batteries, the Ribbon Plant's energy potential is also used in crafting Benzene, one of the ingredients needed to construct the Prawn Suit Grappling Arm. However, players only require a 1x Ribbon Plant for the Benzene recipe, as well as 2x Flowering Spores which can be found floating in the Deep Lilypad Caves.
Subnautica: Below Zero is available for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.