Low-risk scan · Tadpole behavior watch

Hammerhead

A round-bodied herbivore covered in radiating fin-spines, giving it the sunburst silhouette that earned its name. For a diver, the Hammerhead remains one of the safer early scan targets. For vehicles, use the Hotfix 3 wording carefully: it no longer attacks unpiloted Tadpoles, but it can still take an interest in Tadpoles.

Quick read. Approach calmly and scan. If you are testing Tadpole behavior, record whether the vehicle is piloted, unpiloted, lit, docked, near a base, or near a flare before calling the behavior fixed or broken.

Updated 2026-06-02.

Cropped official Subnautica 2 Steam screenshot showing a scanner-view fauna subject.

Media note. The page uses official Steam fauna/scanner media. We are not copying community or third-party creature cards; a dedicated Hammerhead scan can replace this once it is available or licensed.

Core facts

Class

Herbivore / vehicle-interest watch

Threat level

1 / 5 to divers; Tadpole behavior patch-sensitive

Primary biomes

Multiple — shallow and mid-depth

Notable for

Safe scan target, Hotfix 3 Tadpole behavior

Behaviour

Hammerheads graze on kelp and algae beds and remain low-risk when approached by a diver. Multi-biome distribution means you do not need a specific destination to scan one: they show up across shallow and mid-depth zones, often near food vegetation.

The sunburst silhouette can confuse new players into treating the Hammerhead as a simple predator. Behavior is more specific after Hotfix 3. Unknown Worlds says unpiloted Tadpoles are no longer attacked, Hammerheads can still take an interest in Tadpoles, and flare attraction should be more reliable.

Scan and sample tips

Approach low and slow rather than head-on; the Hammerhead silhouette can make scanner angle awkward.
Multi-biome distribution makes the Hammerhead a "scan of opportunity" rather than a destination scan. Tag one whenever you cross paths.
Keep biomod claims separate from scan behavior until a source row is verified.
Do not reduce current Hammerhead behavior to "harmless" in Tadpole testing. Vehicle state, lights, flares, and pilot status now matter.

Questions people ask

Is the Hammerhead dangerous in Subnautica 2?

Usually not to a diver. It is still best treated as a low-risk herbivore and scan target, but Hotfix 3 added important vehicle wording: Hammerheads no longer attack unpiloted Tadpoles, while they can still take an interest in Tadpoles.

Where do Hammerheads spawn?

In multiple biomes ranging from shallow Kelp Forest grazing areas to mid-depth transitions. The "Multiple Biomes" tag suggests a generalist distribution — a useful trait for filling scan-data gaps without a specific biome run.

Why is it called a Hammerhead?

For the sunburst silhouette: a round body covered in radiating fin-spines that splay out like a hammerhead profile when viewed head-on. The name reflects body shape, not the predator association from Earth biology.

Is there a DNA Modification linked to the Hammerhead?

Not confirmed at a publishable standard. The Hammerhead is a low-risk scan target, but any specific biomod claim still needs a Bioscanner unlock check, current-build confirmation, and a source row before it belongs in the catalogue.

What changed for Hammerheads in Hotfix 3?

Unknown Worlds says Hammerheads no longer attack unpiloted Tadpoles, can still take an interest in Tadpoles, and should now be attracted to Flares more reliably. That makes vehicle state, lights, flares, and whether the Tadpole is piloted important test notes.

All Creatures

Browse the rest of the confirmed creature roster.

Hotfix 3

Official patch summary for Hammerhead, Tadpole, flare, and creature tuning changes.

DNA Modification

How biomod verification works.

Vehicles

Tadpole behavior, Haul Chassis notes, and current vehicle review rules.

Beginner Tips

Tip 2 covers why early scans like the Hammerhead pay off twice.