Blue tablets spawn in specific wrecks and bases across the map

Blue tablets appear in fabricators and storage containers inside alien bases and certain wrecks. You will not find them lying loose on the ocean floor. The most reliable locations are the Quarantine Enforcement Platform, the Lava Castle, and the Inactive Lava Zone bases — all of which contain multiple blue tablets in their storage units.

If you have not yet reached the deeper biomes, the Dunes Wreck (in the Dunes biome at coordinates around 800, -400, -600) also holds blue tablets in its fabricators. The Ghost Leviathan zones are dangerous but rewarding for tablet hunting if you have the equipment to survive them.

You can also craft blue tablets yourself once you unlock the blueprint. This requires copper, gold, and table coral — materials you can gather from the shallower biomes without facing the larger predators.

Key Takeaways

  • Blue tablets are stored inside alien bases and wrecks, not found as loose items on the seafloor.
  • The Quarantine Enforcement Platform and Lava Castle bases contain the most blue tablets per location.
  • You can craft blue tablets in a fabricator once you have the blueprint, using copper, gold, and table coral.
  • Early-game players should focus on gathering crafting materials rather than diving into deep wrecks.

Quarantine Enforcement Platform and Lava Castle locations

The Quarantine Enforcement Platform sits in the Lava Zone at the coordinates 1200, -900, -1100 (approximate). This facility contains at least three blue tablets in its storage containers and fabricators. You will need a Prawn Suit or Neptune Rocket to reach it safely, as the area spawns Ghost Leviathans and the heat will damage your submarine.

The Lava Castle, located deeper in the Lava Zone around coordinates 1300, -1400, -1200, holds multiple blue tablets in its central chamber and side rooms. This location is one of the richest sources of tablets in the game, but the journey requires heat-resistant equipment and careful navigation past aggressive fauna.

Both locations require you to have progressed far enough to craft or find the blueprints for deep-diving vehicles. If you are still in the early game, these runs are not yet worth the risk.

Crafting blue tablets with copper, gold, and table coral

Once you have the blue tablet blueprint, you can manufacture them in any fabricator. Each tablet costs 1 copper, 1 gold, and 1 table coral. Copper is abundant in the Safe Shallows and Kelp Forest. Gold appears in the Mushroom Forest and Sparse Reef. Table coral grows in the Lava Zone but also appears in some mid-depth biomes.

Crafting is slower than looting if you need many tablets at once, but it avoids the danger of deep wrecks. If you only need one or two tablets for a specific door or puzzle, crafting is often faster than gearing up for a dangerous dive.

Inactive Lava Zone bases and secondary locations

The Inactive Lava Zone contains several smaller alien bases, each with one or two blue tablets in storage. These bases are less dangerous than the Quarantine Enforcement Platform because they do not spawn as many aggressive creatures, though the heat damage is still a threat.

The Dunes Wreck and some of the wrecks in the Grand Reef also contain blue tablets, though in smaller quantities than the major alien facilities. These locations are useful if you are already in the area for other reasons but should not be your primary target.

Equipment you need to reach deep tablet locations safely

A Seamoth with depth upgrades will get you to the Dunes Wreck and some mid-depth locations. For the Lava Zone bases, you need either a Prawn Suit with thermal reactor and depth modules, or a Cyclops submarine with heat-resistant upgrades.

Bring a repair tool and extra power cells. The heat in the Lava Zone drains power quickly, and you may need to retreat if your vehicle takes damage. A medical kit and some cooked fish are also wise precautions in case you have to abandon your vehicle and swim.

Why you need blue tablets and how many to collect

Blue tablets unlock doors in alien bases and are required to progress the main story. Most players need between 3 and 6 tablets total to reach the endgame, depending on which doors they open and which bases they explore.

If you are planning to explore every base and unlock every door, collect more than the minimum. Extra tablets take up inventory space but give you the freedom to explore without backtracking. If you are focused on the main story, you can get by with fewer by choosing your route carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get blue tablets before reaching the Lava Zone?

Yes. The Dunes Wreck holds blue tablets and is accessible with a Seamoth in the early-to-mid game. You can also craft them once you have the blueprint, using materials from the Safe Shallows and Kelp Forest. This is the safest route if you want tablets without facing deep-zone predators.

Do blue tablets respawn after I take them?

No. Once you remove a blue tablet from a container or fabricator, it does not come back. This is why crafting is useful — you can make more tablets if you run out, but you cannot farm them from the same location twice.

What happens if I use a blue tablet on the wrong door?

You lose the tablet permanently. Before you use one, make sure you know what is behind the door and whether you need to open it for the main story. Some doors lead to optional areas with extra resources but are not required to finish the game.

Is there a blue tablet in the starting area?

No. The Safe Shallows and nearby biomes do not contain blue tablets as loot. You must either craft one or travel to a wreck or alien base to find one. Crafting your first tablet is usually the fastest option if you have gathered the materials.