Vortex Gaming

· Subnautica is an adventure game where you explore and survive in an alien deep-sea environment.
· The game features various creatures with unique designs and ecosystems, collectively known as 'Leviathans'.
· In this video, we'll provide a detailed explanation of one of these Leviathans: the 'Caliceate'.

· The Caliceate is a Leviathan-class 3 creature that inhabits the shallow areas of coral biomes, possessing a hard exoskeleton and powerful organs.
· It's the fifth largest Leviathan in Subnautica: Below Zero and serves as the first major threat players encounter early in the story.
· Its estimated total length is around 40 meters, and it's just as dangerous as the Shadow Leviathan.
· Its upper body is covered in a red exoskeleton, while the lower part is a pale beige.
· The jaw structure features four large mandibles that interlock from behind, allowing it to secure prey effectively.
· Between the mandibles is a beak-like mouth with two rows of teeth.
· Below its head are a total of four eyes; the larger ones have visible whites, while the smaller ones do not.
· The exoskeleton is divided into 12 segments, with sharp spines protruding from its back.
· It has a transparent membrane, similar to a dorsal fin, used for steering and maintaining balance.
· The second segment features long, jointed pectoral fins, also equipped with transparent membranes.
· The abdomen also has transparent membranes, which it uses for rapid movement.

· There's another variant of the Caliceate called the 'Void Caliceate', which resides in an area known as the 'Dead Zone'.
· While its basic body structure is the same, its coloration is primarily white and black, with blue and brown spots that make it resemble a creature attached to decaying bones.
· Its overall appearance is quite zombie-like.
· Its eyes glow yellow, the transparent membranes are blue, and its dorsal fins are black.
· The Void Caliceate reaches a length of 65 meters, making it the third largest creature among the Leviathans in Below Zero.

· Caliceates patrol large areas and primarily hunt medium-sized creatures.
· Upon spotting prey, they emit a massive roar, open their jaws wide, and charge at high speed.
· Players can also become targets. If caught without a vehicle, you'll take 75% damage and be instantly swallowed if your health drops below 77%.
· While in a Seatruck or Prawn Suit, you'll be caught by its mandibles and take continuous damage.
· The Void Caliceate doesn't exhibit these behaviors; it only performs charge attacks towards its target.
· The Caliceate's roar has a disorienting effect on nearby creatures, even capable of stunning smaller ones.
· Roaring before an attack seems to be a tactic to ensure a successful capture.
· The Caliceate's exoskeleton is thick and durable, yet also flexible, allowing it to protect itself and pursue prey in various environments.
· Its mandibles are composed of bone-like tissue, enabling them to easily crush and sever the bones and muscles of its prey.

· Initial concept art depicted it as roughly shark-sized, but it was later upgraded to Leviathan-class 3.
· While its current 40m size is considered small among Leviathans, information about its previous size has not been disclosed.
· As its name suggests, it's believed to be modeled after actual crustaceans, with a design that appears to combine elements of mantis shrimp, horseshoe crabs, sea scorpions, sharks, and shrimp.
· Regular Caliceates respawn when the game is reloaded, but Void Caliceates do not respawn as long as you remain in the Dead Zone, allowing for freer exploration.
· However, they may respawn if you leave the Dead Zone.
· This phenomenon has led to speculation that it suggests 're-colonization' where new individuals occupy a territory after the previous ones disappear.
· While only Void Caliceates appear in the Dead Zone in Below Zero, the possibility of other Leviathans, like the Ghost Leviathan from the previous game, has not been mentioned.

· Margaret Maeda's Prawn Suit is equipped with a Caliceate mandible as a weapon.
· Just as she used a Reaper Leviathan's tooth as a knife in the previous game, it's presumed she has also defeated several Caliceates in this installment.

· The video creator recalls being terrified of the Caliceate during their playthrough of Below Zero due to their thalassophobia.
· The creature's roar and charge towards the player, along with the eerie atmosphere of the Dead Zone, were particularly frightening.
· Once you get used to it, it might feel more like a nuisance, but scanning it proved challenging.
· They mentioned wishing they had the Stasis Rifle, recommending that beginners prepare the environment and scan the creature after defeating it.
· The Void Caliceate's zombie-like appearance was initially scary but also felt somewhat like a 'recycled' design.
· Some players find its smaller size compared to the Ghost Leviathan from the previous game disappointing.
· Regular Caliceates can even seem a bit cute once you're accustomed to them. While they might feel relatively weaker compared to other formidable Leviathans, they are considered a compelling enemy.