Abyss

	Data is potentially outdated
	Last updated for version 0.13.3.11 Last mentioned in changelog 1.4.4.1 The current game version is 1.4.6.0

In Barotrauma, The Abyss is the void of primarily empty water beneath the surface ice where the majority of the game takes place, and it manifests beneath the navigable tunnels and chasms that make up the relatively branched interior of each passageway or mission. Factors to consider when navigating each passageway are the starting depth and passage length, as well as level design. As a general rule, passing into the abyss occurs at ~700m-1100m below a mission's Start Depth, however this number can vary greatly, as longer more horizontal passageways tend to have shallower Abyssal depths, where passageways that contain many vertical chasms tend to have deeper Abyssal depths.

While none of the native inhabitants of The Abyss produce any items themselves, large floating islands containing caves and rare minerals can be periodically found here, though the difficulty of their acquisition renders them out of reach for all but the most heavily armed subs, staffed with an equally skilled crew.

It is strongly recommended to avoid The Abyss entirely whenever possible, and some passages will briefly take the sub down into its blackened depths, likely without any crew ever taking notice. However, if a mission or passageway does require prolonged exposure to the abyss, large amounts of nuclear ordinance, supplies, and the ability to keep calm under pressure are absolutely required.

Crush Depth

A submarine's Crush Depth is determined by two factors - the number of hull upgrades, and if it's class is set to Deep Diver or not.
The default crush depth value is 3500 meters. Hull upgrades give an additive bonus of 6% extra crush depth per upgrade level, and the Deep Diver class gives an additional bonus of 20% to the submarine's crush depth.
Therefore, the equation for the submarine's crush depth is 3500 * (1 + (upgradeLevel * 0.06)), or 3500 * (1 + (upgradeLevel * 0.06) + 0.2) for a Deep Diver.

Crush depth for characters works slightly differently.
The maximum allowed depth for characters with different gear/talents/afflictions are listed below. The highest depth value takes priority.

• Default - 0 meters
• Diving Suit - 4,000 meters
• Combat Diving Suit - 6,000 meters
• Slipsuit - 6,000 meters
• PUCS - 6,000 meters
• Abyss Diving Suit - 10,000 meters
• Water Prankster with Clown Power - Immune to pressure
• Pressure Stabilized - Immune to pressure

If a character descends below these depths without the proper gear, they will implode and die almost instantaneously.

Creatures

Despite having no smaller forms of life to prey upon, the denizens of The Abyss are among the largest and most terrifying creatures that Europa's oceans have to offer. First and foremost is the monstrous Charybdis - a betentacled leviathan the size of a small submarine. This creature comes equipped with unusual speed for its size, a great, spear-like tail, and a cavernous crimson maw filled with iron-hard teeth. These creatures resemble a bottlenose dolphin on sonar and have exceptional eyesight and hearing - they are best navigated around whenever possible.

Greater still than the mighty Charybdis is the utterly apocalyptic Endworm - a gargantuan species of polychaete worm sheathed in a nigh-impenetrable stone-like armor, and able to outswim any other organism living in the Oceans of Europa. At almost twice the length of a WH4-L3 Humpback, these impossibly massive creatures will circle their victim at range before B-lining at breakneck speed towards the submarine, grabbing hold using their huge granite-like mandibles, and slamming it with cataclysmic force into a rockface. This titan of the deep is so massive that its roars will ping across the sonar screen well before the sub is within engagement range, and they are to be avoided at any cost.

Fortunately, each of these beasts is less-than common, allowing most submarine crews to pass through The Abyss relatively unmolested, assuming they're quick about it.

Gallery

• A darkening background lets you know that you're approaching the Abyss.

  A darkening background lets you know that you're approaching the Abyss.

History

In previous versions, The Abyss had a relatively fixed starting depth of ~1600m depending on level size and continued all the way to the bottom of each level. As of 0.11.0.7 (Uncharted Depths) There is no longer a general average abyssal depth, as the mission starting depth varies from level to level and only gets further down as submarines progress through the campaign.