Saturation Diving Black Mound Walkthrough

How do you beat Black Mound?

Approach Black Mound as an extraction problem, not a complete exploration challenge. Establish a visible return chain, complete the nearest high-priority objective, and leave before cold, darkness, pressure, cargo, or a blocked lane consumes the emergency margin.

What should be proven before entering?

The team should already clear Abyssal Hollow without using its emergency reserve. Black Mound adds environmental and navigation pressure to the same oxygen and equipment limits.

Readiness check	Required result
Pressure	Suit rating exceeds the deepest planned point
Oxygen	Bottom time remains after return and contingency
Hazard response	Crew has a stop condition and regroup action
Navigation	Two landmarks preserve extraction direction
Cargo	Salvager can discard a low-value tier immediately

How should the crew move through darkness?

Move from anchor to anchor and keep one light reference behind the formation. Avoid long open-water crossings unless the exit and far-side cover are known. Review the monster overview before an exposed lane.

What happens when terrain or temperature changes?

Stop optional work and recalculate the route immediately. A collapse, low-temperature delay, or blocked passage changes travel time. Engineer checks pressure, Spotter checks one alternative, Captain chooses, and Salvager removes weight.

What is the best Black Mound team?

Use all four roles when possible. In a duo, Engineer plus Spotter provides the safest coverage; in solo play, shorten the route aggressively. See the class tier list.

When should mining stop?

Mining stops when the planned work window ends, not when inventory is full. Use the Sanguinite guide as the verified objective baseline, then prioritize deposits that improve net value without creating a new route.

What counts as a successful run?

Success means the objective, crew, and chosen cargo reach extraction within the planned reserve. Record actual travel and recovery time after each run before the next attempt.