The Tadpole Dock is unlocked after you unlock the Tadpole blueprint, and then you can build it with a Habitat Builder in your base. It costs 2 Titanium Ingots, 1 Silver Ingot, and 2 Copper Wire, and it recharges the Tadpole when your habitat is powered.

How to get it

  1. Unlock the Tadpole first by scanning the required Tadpole fragments.
  1. Once the Tadpole blueprint is in your PDA, the Tadpole Dock recipe is added automatically.
  1. Build a Moonpool and place the Dock where the Tadpole can line up and attach cleanly.

Practical setup

The easiest layout is a larger base with a Moonpool and the Dock built close together, because the Vehicle Fabricator also needs to go inside the Moonpool area. If the Dock feels awkward to place, expand the base a bit first so the Tadpole has enough clearance to dock smoothly.

Why it matters

Without the Dock, the Tadpole can run out of energy and become inconvenient to use, so most guides recommend building it soon after you unlock the vehicle. In practice, it works like a charging station: park the Tadpole there and it recharges while your habitat has power.