Nickel and the drill arm

[verrath]

So, Nickel ore... feels like it's not in my game.

Lots of older threads about this, but the other symptom always seems to be that there is NOTHING spawning in the biome in question (particularly for the nickel), and the solution there seems to be to delete a certain set of files. Since most of these threads are years old, I wonder if that is still the best option.

I have plenty of "friends" down in the lost river who think me and my Seamoth are good to eat, and all sorts of resources, Ruby, diamony, lihtium, titantium, so lack of spawns is not my problem. But even with the info that nickel is very hard to spot against the rock, I have not been able to find a single nickel node or deposit in the lost river. Also checked around the Ghost Tree and in the green brine, as far as I could go with my Seamoth.

As for the PRAWN suit drill arm - been through Aurora twice and scoured any Wreck I found. Nothing, don't even have one piece to scan. Plenty of stuff to scan that I've already built.

I feel like these two things are really really needed to get on with the game, Cyclops and Prawn suit need some updates before I want to breave the depths with them.

Help?

Ideas?

[grzegorz77]

Originally posted by verrath:

Nickel and the drill arm

So, Nickel ore... feels like it's not in my game.

Lots of older threads about this, but the other symptom always seems to be that there is NOTHING spawning in the biome in question (particularly for the nickel), and the solution there seems to be to delete a certain set of files. Since most of these threads are years old, I wonder if that is still the best option.

I have plenty of "friends" down in the lost river who think me and my Seamoth are good to eat, and all sorts of resources, Ruby, diamony, lihtium, titantium, so lack of spawns is not my problem. But even with the info that nickel is very hard to spot against the rock, I have not been able to find a single nickel node or deposit in the lost river. Also checked around the Ghost Tree and in the green brine, as far as I could go with my Seamoth.

As for the PRAWN suit drill arm - been through Aurora twice and scoured any Wreck I found. Nothing, don't even have one piece to scan. Plenty of stuff to scan that I've already built.

I feel like these two things are really really needed to get on with the game, Cyclops and Prawn suit need some updates before I want to breave the depths with them.

Help?

Ideas?

The nickel is at -900 where you say.
There is very little of it and it is very poorly visible on the walls.
It is in pools with a corrosive substance.

The answer is a strong spoiler.

Robotic arm, ... search harder you will find a few.

[verrath]

Thanks for your reply. As I already stated, I DID search harder. In fact, I spent several evenings already searching for the arm, in the wrecks that people said it would be (at least I think I have them all), and the same for nickel. scouring -- where you said.
Someone said the Tree was a safe source, but nothing. I'll go look again, but I'm getting very frustrated with an otherwise amazing game.

[Steelfleece]

I usually found nickel in the section of Lost River with the gargantuan leviathan skeleton. May have to deal with the ghost leviathan in the region before you can have an easy time searching.

[grzegorz77]

Originally posted by Steelfleece:

I usually found nickel in the section of Lost River with the gargantuan leviathan skeleton. May have to deal with the ghost leviathan in the region before you can have an easy time searching.

on the shelf above and on the shelf below is also

[Ensign Toby]

Uh, why not just build a small scanning base (or two) near the thermal vents down there?
No more searching... Just meander right over to where it tells you and pick everything up.
The vent will power both your base/scanner and (eventually) all your vehicles as well.

FYI: Scanner Range Extenders are your Friend.

You'll have more nickel than you can store in a whole flotilla of Cyclops subs.

[Ensign Toby]

Originally posted by verrath:

Thanks for your reply. As I already stated, I DID search harder. In fact, I spent several evenings already searching for the arm, in the wrecks that people said it would be (at least I think I have them all)

This interactive map will help with (and likely spoil) your search for everything:
https://mapgenie.io/subnautica/maps/world
* Click "Hide All"
* Click "Wreck"
* Click each wreak to see what items can be found there

[verrath]

Thanks everybody! I'm terrified of building anything approaching a base down there, lol. But, I guess I can try that next :D

Also, how can I "deal" with the Leviathan?

[Ensign Toby]

I'm terrified of building anything approaching a base down there, lol.

Find the nice Blue Tree with all the translucent Rays.

It'll cut down on your scanning range a bit, but it's quite safe around the Cove Tree.
You can get there in a fully upgraded Seamoth (hug the ceiling - it's almost at crush depth).
I highly recommend the Cyclops though (better depth, defense, and storage capacity).

It doesn't have to be a big base, a minimal one will do:
* Foundation
* Scanner Room
* Hatch
* Reactor (Thermal is better, but Nuclear will work as well)
* Optional Items (which will also require at least a Multi-Purpose Room):
- Fabricator, Storage, Grow Bed for Food, Water Distiller, and creature comforts

Build closer to your Big Buddy for better scanning items/range.
Build near the walls and away from the Big Leviathan Skeleton, and Stay Quiet/Sneaky.

Also, how can I "deal" with the Leviathan?

Evade, Evade, Evade... "Quick, Quiet, All Stop!!"

* Be sneaky, and you can easily avoid nearly every enemy (except Sea Dragons).
* The AI isn't out to kill you; just to scare the bejeezus outta you (which it does quite well).
* Creatures usually attack (once) and then back off - unless you engage (like an idiot).
* As long as both you and your vehicle are at full health, nothing can one-shot you.
* BRAVELY Run Away, heal/repair ASAP, and then continue being quiet/sneaky.

[Meldiron]

Okay, so most of what I would have said has been said already. I'll just reiterated a few points.
First, definitely build a small base so you can scan down there if you are having that much trouble finding the nickel. I've had to do similar in this game in the past xD
Second, there is that interactive map that was linked which will help you find the drill arm pieces (I've also had issues in some playthroughs with certain fragments seemingly not spawning) and also show you safe areas to build a base. But it is VERY easy to get spoiled if you haven't beat the game at least once before.
Third, there are technically ways to fight leviathans. But it is not suggested, especially if it is your first playthrough since it is not the point of the game. Best bet is to, as said previously, be sneaky and evade at all costs. It is possible to beat the game and never have intereacted with one well there is one you have to interact with in order to beat the game, but that's not the point.
Fourth, the most important point of them all. Have fun down there!

[admiral1018]

Nickel is not found in all parts of the Lost River. For example, the entrance from the Mountain/Bulb Zone does not have any. The parts that do have it will have it on the walls (except for the rare drillable nodes), and it blends in very well. Easiest way to find it is just to build a single room scanner room w/ hatch and a power source.

Keep in mind that you only need 11 nickel to craft every possible piece of tech in the game, so even a single node should be more than enough.

[verrath]

The map helped with the prawn arm, apparently I had NOT found that particular wreck yet. I'll go back deep next time I play. Cheers guys!

[TiefseeVeteran]

Nickel is just giga hard to se, thats pretty much it. It always takes me about 20 minutes to find 9 nickel or so but i am pretty experienced. It just takes a while

[penner3]

Good job finding the drill arm, now you will be able to drill an absolute ton of nickel. Look under the Cove Tree, in the blue brine, and also under the green brine in the next room up, the "junction" with the sea dragon skeleton in the middle. Under the brine in those two areas is so much nickel to drill.

I would also recommend a scanner room to help find these. If they really aren't there as you state, that would be extremely weird and a bug I haven't heard of before.

[verrath]

Wow, I feel stupid now, I searched and searched and went back several times before I FINALLY spotted it under the blue tree. I'd read it was hard to see but MAN, that's hard to see :D Haven't managed to get my prawn down there yet, too scared to take the Cyclops. But I have 8 pieces now which should be fine until I discover more of the story. Cheers!

[Trambambula]

Originally posted by verrath:

Thanks everybody! I'm terrified of building anything approaching a base down there, lol. But, I guess I can try that next :D

Also, how can I "deal" with the Leviathan?

Don't be afraid to build!! In my game I had about 10 different mini bases in very different locations. It helps a lot when looking for resources AND it helps so that leviathans are not a surprise. I always put 4 extras to extend the range of the scanner.

The creatures cannot destroy your base. Have fun!!