Death Stranding 2: 10 Best Tips for Beginners

Humanity still needs saving from extinction, as Sam Porter Bridges embarks on yet another grueling journey across post-apocalyptic Australia. On your way, you’ll build strong human connections, explore a strange but surreal world, and even go head-to-head with vicious enemies. 

But no matter what, your package deliveries must arrive safely, keeping in mind that lots of survivors are depending on your success. Thus, it’s best to prepare adequately beforehand and maximize every tool at your disposal. And with our Death Stranding 2: best tips for beginners, you should have every i dotted and t crossed ahead of your new journey beyond the United Cities of America.

10. Pull Up the Weather Forecast

Lots of dangers await you in the wasteland of Death Stranding 2. Among the worst are drastic weather changes. And these hazardous events vary deeply, from sandstorms to quakes and even dangerous rainfall, each with its own devastating effects. 

The good thing is you can anticipate possible weather changes by checking your map. Make sure to set up the map filter for weather forecasts before taking any route that could potentially descend into weather chaos.

9. Be Wise When Fighting BTs

The most dangerous enemies you’ll encounter in Death Stranding 2 are BTs (Beached Things), who are vengeful souls stranded on Earth. Essentially, ghosts that are pretty hard to kill, the best way to survive as a beginner is to watch out for their potential encounter and run. You’ll notice time slow down and the screen grow more dim or red. You’ll see the Odradek spin around and point toward a BT before you can see them yourself. Gazers and Watchers, too, will appear, pulling you into tar pits. 

If you don’t have the weapons’ ammunition or grenades to deal with BTs, it’s best to run. Otherwise, getting forced into a fight with a BT could take up your resources, or result in a voidout explosion that destroys your vehicle, and even damages your parcels. 

Timefall Shelters are pretty handy for hiding from BTs. Alternatively, if you have to fight BTs, you might want to use Blood Grenades and Blood Boomerangs. If you don’t have space in your inventory, then make sure to unlock new gear and upgrades that are more suited to taking down BTs. 

8. Manage Your Inventory

Speaking of inventory, Death Stranding 2 doesn’t just challenge you to carry only what you need, but also balance the weight, too, so Sam saves his stamina. You want to distribute your parcels evenly for the best posture on the long trail. Otherwise, the inventory management tips for other games apply. You want to drop any items you don’t need to save cargo space, for instance.

7. Expand the Chiral Network

Chiral crystals won’t add weight to your cargo. So, don’t be afraid to collect them. They are crafting materials that will come in handy when fabricating items and building structures like roads and mines. As soon as you enter a Chiral Network, be sure to build new structures based on priority. They can be Timefall Shelters, watchtowers, and more. 

In turn, NPCs and online players will contribute their own structures to the Chiral Network, allowing access to more advanced structures, faster travel, and more efficient network connections. And gradually, you’ll be able to fulfill one of Sam’s primary missions to develop, expand, and improve the wasteland.

6. Fast Travel Within the Chiral Network

Next up on Death Stranding 2: best tips for beginners is to make the most of fast travel via the Chiral Network. The sequel is far more ambitious in scale and content. So, make sure to save time and resources traveling as far as from Australia back to Mexico, etc.

Besides fast travel, you can explore the world faster by driving around. Alternatively, you can build Monorails, which allow you to transport heavier and more cargo. They can even carry entire vehicles.

5. Keep an Extra Pair of Boots

Yup, it matters. You don’t want the pair of boots Sam Bridges is wearing to wear out mid-journey. Your stamina will quickly run out, and you may even sustain wounds. So, make sure to keep an extra pair of boots with you. 

4. Plan Your Route Ahead of the Journey

Death Stranding 2: Best Tips for Beginners includes taking the best possible route. And you have the tools to make the right choice. Make sure to pick a starting and an ending point. Then, use the map to show you the potential threats you might face along the way. And proceed to adjust your route accordingly based on the resources you have on hand.

3. Take Plenty of Rest

Rest is crucial during Sam’s long, hazardous journey, not only to restore stamina but also to replenish ammo. Stop and hold the Square button to regain energy to carry cargo. 

Alternatively, you can use the canteen to hydrate. Or visit private rooms to drink from tea cans, sleep, eat, heal sunburns, and shower. Further, you can customize your clothes and style, change the wallpapers, and even spend time at the firing range. 

2. Scan Nearby Environments

The scanner in Kojima’s Death Stranding 2 is a pretty handy tool. It reveals any nearby guns you can pick up from enemy drops. Moreover, you can spot chiral crystals and cargo left by other porters. 

Besides loot and lost cargo, you can identify hazardous terrain, taking note of any steep slopes, rocky areas, and tall grass you can hide in ahead.

1. Check the Corpus for In-Game Tips

Did you know that the best tips for beginners in Death Stranding 2 are found in the game itself? It’s in the Corpus, the in-game encyclopedia that frequently updates itself with valuable tips for beating the game. It serves as a tutorial, too, explaining core mechanics and how vital features work. 

Moreover, the Corpus will inform you of fascinating lore about the game. It’ll have background information about missions and characters that further enrich your journey.