Death Stranding 2: Beginners Guide

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach drops you into a vast, interconnected world where every delivery matters and every step counts. Whether you're new to Sam Porter Bridges' journey or returning after years away from the first game, mastering the fundamentals will transform your experience from overwhelming to extraordinary.

This comprehensive guide breaks down everything you need to know to become an efficient porter, from managing your first cargo load to surviving hostile encounters across Mexico and Australia's dangerous landscapes.

Getting Started

Before venturing into the wilderness, take advantage of your Private Room facilities. These safe havens offer more than just rest - they house crucial VR Training modules where you can practice combat techniques, test new weapons, and earn valuable Likes without risking your precious cargo.

The Corpus serves as your in-game encyclopedia, accessible anytime (even during cutscenes) by pausing. This invaluable resource explains terminology, character backgrounds, and story elements you'll encounter. Check it regularly as entries update throughout your journey.

Death Stranding 2 Porter

Mastering Cargo Management and Balance

How you arrange your cargo has a direct effect on your stability and overall delivery ratings. If your load is poorly balanced, you’ll be more likely to fall during travel, which can result in damaged packages and lower performance scores. To avoid this, you can use the Auto Arrange feature by holding the Triangle button in either the Final Preparations screen or the Cargo Management menu. This tool automatically adjusts your cargo layout for better weight distribution and improved balance.

Although manually organizing your cargo gives you more control over the placement of each item, Auto Arrange becomes especially useful in certain situations. When you're carrying a large number of packages, facing time pressure, or already loaded beyond safe weight limits, letting the system optimize your setup can save time and help prevent accidents.

Lost Cargo

Throughout your travels, you'll discover Lost Cargo scattered across the landscape - packages abandoned by other porters. These opportunities provide:

Always collect and deliver lost cargo to appropriate destinations for substantial rewards that compound over time.

Navigation and Terrain Assessment

Your Terrain Scanner, activated by pressing L1 by default, provides valuable environmental information that can greatly improve your navigation. Using it regularly allows you to identify safe paths across difficult terrain, spot hidden zip lines and equipment, detect cargo being carried by enemies, and avoid dangerous slopes or unstable ground that could lead to accidents.

When moving through challenging landscapes, it’s important to assess your surroundings carefully. Simple features like shallow rivers or narrow gaps are usually easy to cross, but more complex terrain demands a more deliberate approach. Pay close attention to the steepness of slopes, the placement of obstacles, and the stability of the ground before making your next move. Taking the time to scan and plan can help you avoid setbacks and keep your deliveries on track.

Combat Fundamentals for New Porters

Using stealth to approach unaware enemies from behind allows you to perform silent takedowns by pressing Circle. Choosing non-lethal methods not only helps preserve the integrity of your cargo by reducing damage during encounters, but also earns you additional Likes. This tactic is especially effective when you're transporting fragile packages, where avoiding direct combat becomes critical to a successful delivery.

Strand Rope

Your Strand rope is more than just a tool for securing cargo. When equipped by holding L2, it becomes a versatile defensive weapon. You can use it to parry melee attacks by timing your R2 press just as the enemy swings. A successful parry stuns the opponent, making them vulnerable to follow-up actions. Once an enemy is stunned, you can move in for an instant takedown using the rope to bind them and finish the encounter quickly and quietly. This technique is useful for maintaining control in hostile zones without resorting to lethal force.

Weapons and Vehicle Combat

When you find yourself without proper weapons during combat, cargo can serve as an effective improvised tool. By holding L2 or R2, you can grip a piece of cargo and then press Circle to swing it at enemies. This method often results in heavy damage and can even lead to one-hit knockouts, making it a surprisingly powerful option in tight situations.

Vehicles also offer several useful combat advantages. You can ram enemies directly for instant knockouts or reverse over them using Tri-Cruisers to clear space around you. Additionally, pressing the right directional pad allows you to shoot from the driver’s seat if your vehicle is equipped with weapons. Combining movement and aggression through hit-and-run tactics is particularly effective for clearing outposts or dispersing groups of enemies quickly.

Vehicle Combat

Building Your Network Connection

The Social Strand Service (SSS) is a key feature that enhances your experience in the field by connecting you with other players. By checking the SSS regularly, you can benefit from valuable information shared by fellow porters, such as warnings or tips left throughout the terrain. Interacting with these messages by giving or receiving Likes helps boost your Porter Grade over time, reinforcing the cooperative spirit of the network.

Social Strand Service (SSS)

You can also contribute to the world by supporting community-built structures. Buildings such as bridges, postboxes, and shelters created by other players will appear in your own game. Using your resources to upgrade these shared structures, especially those in high-traffic areas, improves their functionality for everyone. For example, upgraded bridges become sturdier and more reliable, while shelters may provide enhanced recovery options.

To further assist others, you can use the Sign Menu by pressing Down on the D-Pad to place markers in the environment. These signs can offer route suggestions, warn of potential hazards, provide encouragement, or give directional guidance. Placing helpful signs in areas where other players frequently travel can make a meaningful difference and strengthen the sense of community within the porter network.

Survival Strategies

Before heading out on any delivery, it’s important to check the weather forecasts available at terminals. Environmental hazards such as Timefall, sandstorms, earthquakes, avalanches, and wildfires introduce unpredictable challenges that can impact your journey. These threats may damage your cargo containers, force you to reroute, put your safety at risk, or cause delays in urgent deliveries.

To deal with these conditions effectively, always carry Container Repair Spray. It's an essential item for fixing damage caused by falls or harsh environmental exposure, helping you maintain the condition of your cargo and avoid penalties.

Cryptobiotes

During your travels, make it a habit to collect useful resources like Cryptobiotes and Chiral Crystals. While Cryptobiotes offer minor benefits, Chiral Crystals provide a more practical advantage by gradually reducing the weight of your cargo. Each crystal may have a small effect individually, but over time, they can make a noticeable difference in your load management and overall efficiency.

BT Encounter

Before venturing into BT territories, check your weapon stats to ensure you're carrying anti-BT equipment. Many weapons only affect human enemies, making proper preparation crucial for survival.

Blood Grenades create temporary clouds that can be exploited - throw a grenade at a BT, then fire normal bullets through the blood cloud to create makeshift hematic rounds for emergency situations.

Blood Grenades

Advanced Tips for Efficient Delivery

Mastering route planning is essential for efficient and safe deliveries. The Pathfinder system allows you to analyze your path before setting out by highlighting various hazards such as difficult terrain, incoming weather patterns, zones with BT activity, and areas where bandits may be active. By planning routes that avoid or minimize these risks, you can conserve stamina and protect your cargo from unnecessary damage.

Exploration outside of your main delivery objectives is also highly rewarding. The open world is filled with hidden opportunities for those who take the time to look. Searching through ruins, mountain passes, and along riverbanks often leads to the discovery of rare crafting materials, unique pieces of equipment, hidden story elements, and other valuable resources. These rewards not only enhance your capabilities but also enrich your overall experience in the game.