How To Change the Submarine on Your Barotrauma Server
Learn how to change the active submarine on your Barotrauma server and how to add custom submarines.
The submarine is the heart of your Barotrauma server. You can switch to any built-in sub or add custom ones downloaded from the Steam Workshop.
Built-in Submarines
Barotrauma ships with several submarines at different sizes:
| Submarine | Size | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Humpback | Small | Beginners, small crews (2–4 players) |
| Dugong | Medium | Mid-size crews (4–6 players) |
| Typhon | Large | Experienced crews (6–10 players) |
| Typhon 2 | Extra Large | Large crews (8–16 players) |
| Kastrull | Medium | Outpost-style exploration |
| Berilia | Large | Alternative late-game option |
Changing the Submarine
Method 1: Via serversettings.xml
- Stop your server
- In the XGamingServer Panel, click Files and open
serversettings.xml - Find the
Submarinesetting and change it:
Submarine="Dugong"The value is the exact filename without the .sub extension — case-sensitive.
- Save the file and start your server
Method 2: Via the Lobby
An admin can change the submarine in the lobby before starting a round using the sub selection UI — no restart needed.
📝 Note: This requires
SubSelectionModeto not be locked. Checkserversettings.xmlif the option is grayed out.
Adding a Custom Submarine
Standalone .sub File
If you have a custom submarine as a .sub file (e.g. from the in-game Submarine Editor or downloaded directly):
- Stop your server
- In Files, navigate to the
Submarinesfolder - Upload the
.subfile - In
serversettings.xml, set the submarine name:
Submarine="MyCustomSub"The name must match the filename exactly (without .sub), including capitalization.
- Save and start your server
Workshop Submarine Mod
If the submarine is packaged as a Steam Workshop mod (has a filelist.xml), follow the Install Mods guide instead of copying the raw .sub file.
Campaign: Changing Submarine Mid-Campaign
In Campaign mode, the submarine persists between rounds with all its upgrades. You can purchase a new submarine at certain outposts during the run — look for the Submarine Merchant NPC.
⚠️ Warning: Switching submarines in campaign transfers the crew but not items stored on the old sub. Make sure to move important equipment before buying a new one.
💡 Tip: Not sure which sub to start with? The Humpback is the most beginner-friendly. The Dugong is the best all-rounder for most groups.
💡 Tip: Need help? Join our Discord for support.
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