Summary
Both thefirst game andDeath Stranding 2are hard to describe, as Hideo Kojima blended multiple genres to shape the experience. This sequel introduces an even more ambitious world, filled with strange and often surreal events in Sam Bridges’ life, which he must resolve throughout his journey to reconnect humanity beyond the UCA.
For newcomers and returning players alike, somebeginners' tips and tricks inDeath Stranding 2are essential, especially during the early hours. Since the game slowly introduces its many mechanics and features a unique gameplay loop, certain elements might feel confusing at first. Still, taking a few precautions is key to ensuring a smoother path along Sam’s long and challenging trek.
10Drink Sam’s Tea Drinks
Tip Is Essential For Managing Sam’s Stamina In Death Stranding 2
Keeping the stamina bar full is vital for survivalinDeath Stranding 2, especially when navigating rough terrain or escaping enemies. If the bar starts flashing, stopping immediately is crucial to avoid accidents, such as losing all cargo, especially near water. In addition to using the canteen to refill stamina, players should drink all available energy tea cans found in private rooms.
Drinking Sam’s energy tea grants direct stamina bonuses, increasing total capacity by up to 25%, with 10% added from each of the first two cans and 5% more with the third. While it might seem excessive, the game rewards this habit by making movement safer and more efficient during long treks. It’s a small detail, but essential for avoiding setbacks during deliveries.
9The Game Is About Managing The Inventory
Information Players Must Keep In Mind
Although many systems underlie the core ofDeath Stranding, one of the most important things in both the original and the sequel ishow players arrange and balance the inventory. Mastery should start early, making full use of the opening hours to test different layouts for the parcels Sam must deliver and to learn how an even spread improves posture and gait over long hauls.
Besides watching the maximum weight Sam can carry, players must track where the weight sits, because a heavy skew to one side will tilt the frame and drain stamina faster. Therefore, one of the best tips is to experiment tirelessly until every package is distributed evenly and balanced; the game offers an auto-arrange option, yet that shortcut is not always precise.
8Focus On The Main Story For A While
It Matters For Unlocking New Mechanics
Even though the vast and dramatic setting devised by Hideo Kojima is one of the most tempting attractions inDeath Stranding 2, most newcomers gain far more valuable progress by spending their initial hoursclearing main-story objectives instead of exploring. Each milestone in the narrative unlocks fresh mechanics and, more importantly, devices that make exploration easier, so advancing early yields ropes, ladders, and vehicles sooner.
Wandering off the route to chase stash points or accept side jobs for the many NPCs scattered across the frontier can be alluring, yet ignoring such distractions during the fragile early game saves precious time and frustration. As vehicles and other traversal aids emerge, those optional orders turn into simpler and more satisfying targets that fit neatly between critical deliveries.
7Prepare Well Before Every Mission
The Essential Tip Is To Carry Only What Is Needed In Death Stranding 2
Because the entire gameplay loop revolves around the deliveries Sam must handle, wise players pause before every order to review each factor that will shape the trip, from slope grade to rain forecast. The title peppers the path with subtle yet decisive variables, including auxiliary gadgets to haul and environmental hurdles that demand forethought if cargo is to stay intact.
The holographic map itself previews key risks, marking steep ascents, zones of Timefall, or hazards such as broad rivers, and this advanced data should guide the loadout planning stage. Selecting gear according to that preview avoids manufacturing unnecessary items, frees carrying capacity for resources found along the trail, preserves Sam’s balance throughout the mission, and reduces fatigue in the long run.
6Choose To Play Online
The Core Vision Of Death Stranding Relies On It
Although primarily a single-player experience,Death Stranding 2places strong emphasis on its online elements, as the game’s central theme is all about restoring human connections. For players unsure about enabling online features, it is highly recommended to keep them active, as they greatly enhance the journey and make the adventure more rewarding overall.
Even without direct player interaction, the online mode leaves visible traces of others' exploration. For instance, certain sections of the map may be quite difficult to cross, but if another player builds a bridge in a key location, it becomes available to others. This makes traversal smoother and encourages indirect cooperation, something that fits perfectly with the game’score vision created by Hideo Kojima.
5No Need To Prepare So Much For Bosses
Death Stranding 2 Offers Plenty Of Resources For These Battles
Even though the boss fightsinDeath Stranding 2are well produced and have a cinematic flair, players do not need to worry so much about preparing Sam properly to handle these encounters. That is because, despite the warnings the supporting characters give whenever the protagonist heads toward a dangerous place, several resources are available that allow these enemies to be defeated even when preparation was not perfect.
Therefore, even if Sam runs out of ammunition for the weapon he is currently using during the battle, simply activating the scanner will reveal whether another gun has been dropped nearby, because the bodies that usually appear from the tar often leave equipment behind to aid the player. Thus, while greater preparation before facing a boss is recommended, players are not severely punished for mistakes made on the way.
4Keep Equipment Up To Date
Challenges Get Harder As Progress Continues
One detail players must monitor inDeath Stranding 2is whether theequipment they are using is truly the bestfor the current moment, because Sam Bridges occasionally gains access to new items that are fundamental for progression. From combat firearms to exploration tools, keeping the protagonist’s loadout optimized is critical for maintaining efficiency and safety along increasingly demanding routes.
In fact, crafting is one of the most important pillars ofDeath Stranding 2, and players should take advantage of practically every opportunity to build new tools whenever the option appears. Although the feature cannot be accessed everywhere, several specific structures scattered across the map exist for that purpose, making it essential to stock up in segments where resources drain quickly or combat erupts frequently.
3Always Watch For Other Routes Along The Way
Alternatives Can Make The Trip Easier
Even though mission preparation prompts players to plot a path showing how Sam should reach the objective, he is never forced to follow that predetermined line exactly, because the overlay serves mainly as a guide to indicate general direction and highlight potential hazards. Indeed, the game itself consistently encourages porters to actively search for detours while exploring the open terrain.
One of the most valuable tips for newcomers is therefore to think outside the box whenever possible, because if the current route proves awkward to follow or some obstacle blocks advancement, the best tactic is to pull back briefly and scout for ground that affords a smoother passage. This flexibility often saves time, preserves cargo integrity, and reveals hidden zip-lines, ladders, and resources left by fellow travelers.
2Carry An Extra Pair Of Boots
Odd But Fundamental For Exploration
Few games give real attention to the footwear the protagonist is wearing,withKingdom Come: DeliveranceandDeath Strandingstanding out as notable exceptions, which makes boot management an unusual yet vital part of inventory preparation before the next delivery. Therefore, players should constantly inspect the condition of the pair Sam Bridges has equipped and, when necessary, craft a fresh spare that can be swapped in on the fly.
If the pair on Sam’s feet breaks mid-journey, the courier may suffer irritating problems such as injuries and even faster stamina depletion, both of which complicate every subsequent kilometer. To avoid these setbacks and keep attention fixed on the more engaging aspects ofDeath Stranding 2, it is always wise to have a pristine pair ready in the pack, because no one can predict when rough terrain will tear the soles apart.
1Look For MULE Postboxes
They May Hold Good Items For Sam
Found primarily in enemy outposts, MULE Postboxes almost always store goods that can be looted by observant players, making every detour through a bandit camp worthwhile. Whenever Sam spots one of these yellow cases, taking a moment to hack it open often yields components, materials, or parcels that lighten upcoming stretches of the trek and sometimes even shorten the list of objectives waiting back at a distribution center.
Although the haul is not always essential, the boxes frequently supply situational assets that prove decisive on specific segments, such as Blood Bags for fast healing or Stairs for surmounting cliffs and ravines. Cultivating the habit of rummaging through every cache gradually provides a subtle yet meaningful edge that adds up over the long haul and turns difficult deliveries into routine walks.
