Death Stranding 2 is a slow-burn survival game with a beautifully bleak landscape teeming with danger, discovery, and, of course, connection. These Death Stranding 2 beginner tips will help you manage your cargo weight, fight BTs, and use vehicles to survive the journey from Mexico to Australia. If you’re wondering how to survive in Death Stranding 2 or looking for a solid early game guide, this walkthrough has you covered. So grab your BB, check your boots, and let’s get into these Death Stranding 2 tips.
1. How to Catch Up on the Story Recap
You can find the recap in the main menu.
Death Stranding 2 offers a recap in the main menu of the game, so you can catch up on everything you may have missed or forgotten about in the first Death Stranding game. Death Stranding, in general, is very story-heavy, and there is a lot of lore to keep on top of. Even if you did play the first game, unless it was somewhat recently, watching the recap is well worth the seven minutes it will cost you and is one of the most important starting tips for Death Stranding 2.
- Use the Main Menu Recap to review key events from Death Stranding 1.
- The recap helps new players understand Chiral Network, BBs, and Voidouts.
2. Why You Should Leave Mexico Early
There is a big wide world waiting for you outside of Mexico!
Mexico is just the beginning of your adventure in Death Stranding 2, quite literally. It is the tutorial area, and while exploring every nook and cranny of Mexico is tempting, there will be better weapons, loot, and story progression waiting for you in Australia.
Once you progress through the story enough, you will unlock fast-travel. That way, you can head back to poke around Mexico some more if you would like, but we definitely recommend progressing through the story to begin with.
- Mexico is the tutorial zone; it lacks advanced weapons and gear.
- Important items like Anti-BT weapons and vehicles unlock in Australia.
- You can return later via fast travel.
3. Best Gear to Pack Before Leaving Base
PCCs are one of the most important pieces of gear to bring with you.
One of the most essential things you can do to make your experience in Death Stranding 2 easier is to make sure you are prepared before you head out. There is no way to craft items when you’re on the road, so if you need something urgently and you’re out of reach of, well, anything, you might be in some serious trouble.
Essential Equipment Checklist
- Ladders – to climb cliffs and cross rivers.
- Container Repair Spray – to protect cargo from Timefall.
- PCC – for building shelters and generators.
- Extra Boots – prevent foot damage.
The Scanner shows you much more than just your destination.
Use the Scanner Pulse Often
It’s easy to get a little discombobulated when you’re trekking your way through the deserts in both Mexico and Australia. With so much ground to cover, one wrong step can send you off on the wrong trajectory, and you might not notice until you are miles from your destination. Making sure to use your Scanner Pulse regularly will keep you on track and help you navigate the wilderness.
Read the Terrain Safely
Your Scanner will point you toward your destination, which is an excellent feature, but that isn’t even where the Scanner’s helpfulness ends. You can also see what is considered safe terrain to walk on and what is more treacherous. That way, you can properly plot your course and not end up accidentally rolling down a hill at the cost of your cargo.
5. How to Manage Load Weight and Balance
Press L2 and R2 to regain your balance.
Distribute Your Load Correctly
If Sam is carrying too much or his load is unbalanced, so will he be. You can easily trip and fall, and you don’t want to always be chained to the L2 and R2 buttons to balance him. Taking items and placing them on Sam’s arms and legs is a great start to spread the load a little. And once you unlock them, other items, like grenade and ammo pouches, give you even more places to stash your goods so they don’t all end up on Sam’s back.
Tips for Better Load Balance
- Use auto-arrange to balance cargo across back, legs, and arms.
- Add grenade pouches or ammo belts when available.
- Keep heavier items low to avoid tipping.
6. Best Structures to Build and Upgrade
Watchtowers let you map out entire enemy camps.
How to Use the PCC
If you’ve been wondering how to build structures in Death Stranding 2, the PCC is your answer. A PCC is an essential tool that is used to build all sorts of structures to help you out on the road. But the best part about PCC structures is that they’re not just helping you. Other online players can also use your structures and vice versa, making everyone’s lives a little easier out there.
Why You Should Upgrade Structures
Timefall Shelters, Generators, and Postboxes are some of the most helpful structures, but they are not immune to Timefall. Make sure to take the time and resources to upgrade your structures so they last longer and can help out more than just one weary traveler.
Most Useful Structures
- Timefall Shelters – protect you and cargo from decay.
- Generators – recharge vehicles and suits.
- Postboxes – drop off or pick up gear and cargo.
7. How to Avoid Foot Damage and Replace Boots
Don’t forget about those boots.
Why Boots Are Vital
It may sound simple, but boots are some of the best gear in Death Stranding 2, and for good reason. As your boots wear down, Sam essentially ends up walking on his bare feet, which can cause severe damage and even bleeding. You are able to walk some decent miles in your boots, but that makes checking them all the more important since it’s easy to forget about it.
How to Replace Boots in the Field
If you do wear through your boots while you’re on the road, you can loot them off of MULEs or Bandits, but a lot of the areas you will be walking through are largely deserted and relying on enemies being on every route you take isn’t the best idea. If you’re looking for better ways to survive in Death Stranding 2, keeping an eye on your boots is one of them.
8. Why You Should Always Play Online
Walk through someone’s sign to give them a like!
You can play the entirety of Death Stranding 2 offline if you prefer a more solitary experience. That’s fine, but you will be missing out on a lot if you play that way. Playing online gives you access to other players’ shared structures, like Bridges, Timefall Shelters, Postboxes, and Generators, that can drastically improve your life on the road.
Players can ditch things like ladders, container repair sprays, vehicles, and maybe even spare boots that you can pick up if you’re desperately looking for some aid. Not only that, but playing online creates a unique sense of community support that makes Death Stranding 2 a special experience.
9. Best Early Game Weapons for BTs
Blood Grenades are the best early game weapons for BTs.
Why Regular Weapons Don’t Work
BTs are the thorn in every Death Stranding player’s side, always sneaking around and popping up when you least expect them. The worst part about BTs, besides the devastating Voidouts that occur if they get their ghostly hands on you, is that regular weapons don’t affect them at all. As soon as you unlock BT weapons early on in the game, make sure you always have a stash in your pack and you’ll be a well-prepared beginner!
Early Game BT Weapons
- Blood Grenades – best early-game BT weapon (comes in packs of 5).
- Anti-BT Handgun – unlocks later in the story.
10. How to Unlock and Use Vehicles
Vehicles are the best way to move around.
Unlocking the Tri-Cruiser
Unlock the Tri-Cruiser by completing order 6, and craft it at the terminal. The required resources are:
- 220 Metals
- 160 Ceramics
- 10 Chemicals
You can travel on foot easily at the beginning of your adventure, but as your cargo load increases and you have to cross greater distances, moving on foot becomes much harder. Not only that, but driving around in the swift Tri-Cruiser is way more fun — and faster — than plodding along on Sam’s two legs. And the Tri-Cruiser is just the beginning — there are many more Death Stranding 2 vehicles to unlock.
How to Use Vehicles Efficiently
- Tri-Cruiser – fast desert transport.
- Vehicles reduce boot wear and travel time.
- Always carry a PCC to build a Generator when driving long distances.
There are many things to learn and master during your travels in Death Stranding 2, but these tips will surely prove useful to you when getting started. Make sure you comment any other essential tips you can think of on the comments below!
