If you’ve spent hours hauling cargo across the post-apocalyptic United Cities of America in Death Stranding 2, you know hitting that perfect 5 star rating on a tricky delivery feels like a huge win. But what a lot of new players don’t realize is that those high scores don’t just give you bragging rights—they unlock some of the most useful, exclusive Death Stranding 2 5 star rewards in the entire game. I’ve spent 70+ hours testing every delivery type, tracking what bonuses you get for each region and delivery category, so I’m breaking down exactly what you can earn, how to get it, and which rewards are worth grinding for first.
What Exactly Are Death Stranding 2 5 Star Rewards?
5 star rewards are tiered bonuses you get for hitting maximum rating on standard orders, premium orders, and even region-wide connection ratings. They’re split into two core categories: one-time delivery-specific rewards, and permanent region unlocks that apply to all your future playthroughs too. I used to think 5 star ratings only gave extra likes, but once I got my first 5 star on a time-sensitive fragile cargo order, I realized I was missing out on tons of useful gear I couldn’t get anywhere else.
Each delivery type has a separate reward pool. Standard orders give smaller, consumable rewards like extra repair sprays or hematic grenades, while premium orders give rarer, permanent items like exoskeleton upgrades or vehicle skins. Hitting 5 star connection with an entire Knot City gives you region-exclusive perks that make traveling through that area far easier. Unlike random drops from BT areas or loot from MULE camps, 5 star rewards are 100% guaranteed once you meet the rating requirements, so you don’t have to waste time farming for random drops. Many of these Death Stranding 2 5 star rewards also give you permanent stat boosts that make every subsequent delivery much easier.
How to Consistently Hit 5 Star Ratings for Every Delivery
Getting a 5 star rating isn’t as hard as it looks, once you know what the game judges you on. The core criteria are cargo condition, delivery time, extra cargo delivered, no major BT or MULE encounters that damage goods, and optional request completion. Even small mistakes like dropping a package once can knock you down to a 4 star rating, but following these simple tips will help you hit 5 stars almost every time:
- Check cargo weight and fragility before you leave: Always pack fragile items on the top of your backpack, and use a support frame if you’re hauling more than 80% of your maximum weight limit to avoid falling damage.
- Map your route first to avoid high-risk areas: Mark BT zones, steep cliffs, and MULE camps on your map before you depart, even if it adds 10 minutes to your travel time. A safe, slightly late delivery will almost always get a higher score than a fast one with damaged cargo.
- Bring extra repair sprays and battery packs: Even if you plan a perfect route, unexpected timefall or a surprise BT encounter can damage your cargo or drain your exoskeleton battery mid-trip. Keep at least 2 repair sprays and 1 extra battery in your inventory for every delivery longer than 30 minutes of in-game time.
- Pick up lost cargo along the way: Delivering extra lost cargo to its intended destination adds a huge bonus to your final rating, and gives you extra likes from other players too.
I used to skip mapping my route to save time, and I’d end up getting stuck in a timefall storm halfway through a delivery, ruining a batch of fragile medical supplies. Once I started spending 2 minutes planning my path before every trip, my 5 star rate jumped from 30% to over 90%. Also, don’t forget to use other players’ structures like bridges, zip lines, and safe houses—they don’t just make your trip easier, they also give you a small bonus to your final score for using community resources. You don’t need to hit every optional request to get a 5 star rating, but completing even one extra request (like delivering a specific item to a side NPC) will make it much easier to hit that maximum score, even if you’re a few minutes late on the delivery window.
Top Most Valuable 5 Star Rewards to Grind First
Not all 5 star rewards are created equal. Some are just fun cosmetic items, while others completely change how you play the game. I’ve tested every single unlockable reward, and these are the ones I recommend going for first to make your gameplay far smoother:
All-Terrain Exoskeleton V2: You get this from hitting 5 star connection with Mountain Knot City. This exoskeleton cuts fall damage by 70%, lets you climb 60 degree slopes without slipping, and increases your maximum carry weight by 30kg. It’s by far the most useful reward in the game for long, tricky mountain deliveries. I use it for 90% of my runs now, and it’s cut my average delivery time for mountain routes almost in half.
BT Repellent Spray XL: Unlocked from 5 star premium deliveries for the Edge Knot City medical team. This spray lasts 3 times longer than the standard version, and it doesn’t alert BTs when you spray it, so you can walk through even heavily infested BT zones without having to hold your breath or use a hematic grenade. It’s a total game-changer for time-sensitive deliveries that go through lowland BT areas, and it saves you tons of resources you’d otherwise spend on grenades.
Customizable Delivery Truck Gold Skin: This looks like a simple cosmetic reward, but it comes with a hidden bonus: the gold skin truck has 20% more cargo space than the standard truck, and it’s 40% more resistant to timefall damage. You get it from hitting 5 star on 10 consecutive premium long-distance deliveries. I was shocked by the hidden stat boost when I first unlocked it, so it’s worth grinding for even if you don’t care about flashy cosmetics.
There are also fun quality of life rewards, like exclusive music tracks for your truck and private room, or extra customization options for Sam’s outfit. Those are nice to have, but they don’t impact your gameplay nearly as much as the three rewards listed above, so save those for later once you’ve got all the useful gear unlocked.
Common Mistakes That Stop You From Unlocking 5 Star Rewards
A lot of players grind for hours trying to hit 5 star ratings, but they keep missing out on rewards because of small, avoidable mistakes. I’ve made almost all of these myself, so I’m sharing them to help you skip the frustration.
Forgetting to check the delivery’s hidden requirements: Some deliveries have unstated requirements, like not using a vehicle, or not using other players’ structures, to get a 5 star rating. You can see these hidden requirements by hovering over the order in the delivery terminal for 2 seconds—most players miss that trick entirely. I lost out on a rare exoskeleton upgrade once because I used a truck on a delivery that required you to travel on foot, so I always check for hidden requirements now.
Another common mistake is leaving damaged cargo in your inventory when you turn in the delivery. Even if the damaged cargo isn’t part of the order, it will lower your final rating. Make sure you store any damaged lost cargo in a safe house before you turn in your delivery, so it doesn’t count against you. Also, don’t turn in deliveries during a timefall storm: Timefall doesn’t just damage cargo while you’re traveling—it also lowers your rating if you turn in the order while the storm is still active. Wait out the storm in a nearby safe house for 5 to 10 in-game minutes, and you’ll get a much higher score.
You also don’t want to ignore likes from other players. The more likes you have from other players for building structures or delivering lost cargo, the higher your base rating is for every delivery, so it’s easier to hit 5 stars even if you make a small mistake. I used to think player likes only mattered for leaderboards, but they actually have a direct impact on your delivery ratings, so it’s worth taking 2 minutes to place a bridge or a ladder in a high-traffic area every now and then.
At the end of the day, grinding for 5 star ratings isn’t just a way to show off how good you are at hauling cargo—it’s the best way to unlock some of the most useful and unique Death Stranding 2 5 star rewards that you can’t get anywhere else in the game. You don’t have to grind all of them at once, either. Start with the all-terrain exoskeleton first, then work your way through the rewards that fit your playstyle, whether that’s more BT protection, better vehicles, or fun cosmetic items. Even if you only play a few hours a week, following the tips we covered will help you hit 5 star ratings consistently, without all the frustration of failed deliveries and damaged cargo. Next time you log on, pick one premium delivery to aim for a 5 star rating on, and see what reward you unlock—you might be surprised by how much it improves your gameplay for future runs.
