10 Death Stranding Tips for Beginners

Death Stranding is a third-person action game starring Sam Porter Bridges, a delivery boy on a mission to save the world from extinction. This is a game in which Sam must, quite literally, deliver the goods to connect the UCA’s chiral network throughout North America. Sam must survive in a world filled with BT’s, Mules, and terrorists, all of which can get in your way when trying to deliver cargo to intended recipients. Here are some Death Stranding tips to help beginners become legendary mailmen.

Get Scanning

Sam is equipped with an Odradek with which you can scan terrain. This is the best tool Sam has because it really helps for spotting lost cargo with pings. Make sure you scan the terrain with regularity to spot lost cargo and building materials (metal, resins, ceramics, chemicals, and Chiral Crystals) to pick up. The additional building materials you can find by scanning are important for equipment fabrication and structure construction.

Scanning also provides important environmental information about land and water with blue, yellow, and red color codes. Terrain highlighted in blue is safe to traverse. Yellow means transverse with caution. Red means dangerous or impassable terrain, and you should also try to avoid it. Never try to walk across red areas, and tread carefully when walking across yellow terrain.

Embrace The Community

Death Stranding has a Social Strand System that makes structures built by other players appear within your game world. Embracing the community will increase the number of additional player-built structures for you to utilize in your Death Stranding game. To embrace the community in Death Stranding, show your appreciation for player-built structures you utilize by giving them likes, which will strengthen your connections.

Establishing strand contracts with players you’ve interacted with is another good way to embrace the community. Stand contracts increase the visibility of structures in your game world for those players you establish them with. To establish more strand contracts, go to the Bridge Links menu. Then, select the Make Strand Contract option for specific players.

Get Building

You can build numerous structures with PCCs (Portable Chircal Constructors) with the required materials for them. Generators, bridges, watchtowers, timefall shelters, safe houses, and zip lines are some of the things you can build in Death Stranding. Building more of those structures in good places will help you and other players you’re connected with throughout the game.

Bridges, safe houses, and zip lines are the three best things you can build. Adding bridges to impassable areas will help you get across the map better. Building safe houses beside all preppers will enable you to fast travel between them later in the game. Zip line networks can also be invaluable structures for moving across the map faster, particularly in mountainous terrain.

Contribute to Road Expansion

Players can build roads with auto-pavers across the Central Region. Although it can be time-consuming, it’s worth expanding the highway system with your metal, ceramic, and Chiral Crystal materials. Having a highway to ride on will enable you to move across the map much faster, with or without vehicles, by evading tricky terrain. I recommend building the highway that connects Lake Knot City, Distribution Center South, and South Knot City. Then, you can ride along a highway that connects the north and south of the Central Region.

Organize Cargo With Auto-Arrange

You can organize how you carry your cargo in a few different ways. However, the easiest and best way to organize your cargo is to select Auto-Arrange (press F on keyboards). The Auto-Arrange option will automatically organize your cargo most optimally, with heavier items placed at the bottom for gravity stabilization.

Plan Your Routes for Deliveries

Have a good look at the map to plan your delivery routes before setting out. To do so, set A, B, and C waypoints to reach longer delivery paths. Remember that the shortest route isn’t necessarily always the best, particularly if it means walking through Mule camps and Timefall zones. Mule camps can cover large areas, but it’s always better to walk around them to avert scraps that will likely damage your cargo. When you unlock the Timefall Forecaster, utilize that map tool to assist you with averting BTs.

Never Utilize Lethal Weapons Against Mules

One of the most important Death Stranding tips of all is: never use lethal force. When lethal weapons become unavailable to you in Death Stranding, do not be tempted to utilize them against Mules or terrorists. Utilizing lethal weapons against Mules can trigger voidouts, and you’ll receive messages to dispose of the corpses at incinerators if you do (which can be very annoying). So, it’s always better to equip non-lethal assault rifles and shotguns when heading into Mule or terrorist camps to avoid necrosis nightmares.

Unwind in Hot Springs

Death Stranding’s Central Region map includes several hot springs in which Sam can unwind. Taking a bath in those hot springs can regenerate health and stamina, recharge batteries, and even repair damaged cargo containers. So, walk into and bathe in those hot springs whenever you can. This interactive Death Stranding map shows where you can find those hot springs.

Unlock and Equip the Power Skeletons

The Power Skeleton is a must-have gear for Death Stranding because it enables you to carry more cargo and also enhances balance and stability. You can also shake off BT grabs somewhat more easily with a Power Skeleton equipped. There are three levels of Power Skeletons you can obtain by delivering more goods to the Engineer prepper near Lake Knot City.

Tread Carefully in Rocky Terrain

Don’t try to rush (run) through rocky terrain when carrying precious cargo. Sam will often stumble and fall over if you try to rush your way through rocky areas, which can both damage cargo and drain stamina. It’s usually more important to deliver cargo in good condition rather than in a quick time (unless the contract has a time limit). So, slow down and take your time when walking through more rocky damage. If the terrain is very bumpy, consider crouching and moving for perfect stability.

Carrying less cargo will also make it easier to move across rocky terrain. Don’t overload yourself with a lot of excess cargo or gear beyond what you need to deliver. If you must take on multiple orders, two or three should be your limit, depending on their cargo requirements.

I hope those Death Stranding tips help you become a more efficient delivery boy. Remember that Death Stranding is primarily about delivering goods rather than high-octane combat action. So, avoid the Mules and terrorists whenever you can and focus on delivering cargo in good condition and on time.