If you’ve spent hours hauling cargo across the post-apocalyptic United Cities of America, you know customizing Sam’s look is one of the most satisfying side goals in the Death Stranding franchise. This deep dive covers Death Stranding 2 all outfits, including how to unlock each one, what perks they offer, and which looks are worth grinding for even if you’re just focused on finishing the main story. You don’t have to be a completionist to get the most out of these cosmetics, either: many come with practical buffs that make long, BT-infested runs far easier to pull off.
How Death Stranding 2 All Outfits Differ From the First Game
When you’re browsing Death Stranding 2 all outfits for the first time, you’ll immediately notice the extra stat lines listed under each cosmetic description. The first game’s outfits were almost entirely cosmetic, with no impact on gameplay beyond small, niche effects for a handful of late-game skins. That’s changed entirely in the sequel, where every outfit comes with at least one tangible buff to make your delivery runs easier. Outfits no longer are just for show, so picking the right one for your route can cut down on failed deliveries and wasted resources by a huge margin. I missed that detail on my first playthrough, and wore a basic starter outfit for 10 hours before realizing the tactical porter suit cut my BT detection range by 30%.
Story-Locked Outfits You Can’t Miss During Your First Playthrough
Roughly 60% of the game’s outfits unlock automatically as you progress through the main story, but a small handful are missable if you skip optional side conversations or rush through chapters. These missable skins often come with the most useful buffs, so it’s worth pausing to check for available side quests after every major story beat. The most common mistake new players make is skipping post-quest chats with named NPCs, which is where most of these unlock triggers are hidden.
- Fragile’s Delivery Suit: Unlock by agreeing to help Fragile move her private cargo to the new Edge Knot City outpost during Chapter 3. It comes with built-in timefall resistance that lasts 2x longer than the standard porter suit, making it perfect for runs through the rainy Central Region.
- Retired Bridges Uniform: Found in a hidden locker in the Central Region distribution center after you complete the main Chapter 5 quest. It’s a throwback to the first game’s classic Bridges look, with a small buff to stamina recovery for flat-ground walks that makes long cross-country routes feel far less tiring.
- Higgs’ Wanderer Cloak: Unlock after you finish the optional post-game quest line where you help Higgs make amends for his past actions. It makes you completely invisible to non-boss BTs as long as you’re standing still, which is a game-changer for high-priority cargo runs through infested mountain areas.
You don’t have to go out of your way to grind for these, but taking 2 extra minutes to talk to every NPC after a big story beat will ensure you don’t leave them behind. You can’t go back for these outfits once you move past their associated chapters, so double check your inventory and available side quests before traveling to a new region. I missed the Retired Bridges Uniform on my first playthrough, and had to start a new save just to get my hands on it.
Hidden Multiplayer and Open World Outfits to Grind For
The remaining 40% of outfits are tied to open world collectibles, delivery rank milestones, and multiplayer interactions, so you can work on unlocking them at your own pace after you finish the main story. None of these are missable, so you don’t have to stress about tracking them down during your first playthrough if you’re focused on the plot. The grind for these is surprisingly fun, too, since most of the unlock requirements push you to explore parts of the map you might otherwise skip. The Gold Porter Suit is the most useful outfit for players who focus on high-volume deliveries, as it gives you 10% extra cargo capacity that cuts down on the number of trips you need to make for large bulk orders. You unlock it by earning an S rank on 100 premium delivery requests spread across all three regions. If you prefer exploring over delivery grinding, you can get the Chiral Artist Dress by collecting all 50 scattered Chiral Crystals in the Western Region, which gives you a buff to Chiral Network connection speed when you’re building structures. For multiplayer fans, the Community Porter Jacket unlocks after you help 50 other players repair broken structures or deliver lost cargo. It gives you a small reputation boost that makes other players more likely to contribute to your road and bridge builds, which cuts down on the amount of resources you need to spend on construction. Some seasonal event outfits are only available for limited windows, but they get added to the general unlock pool 3 months after the event ends, so you don’t have to worry about missing them permanently.
Tips for Customizing Your Outfit for Any Delivery Scenario
You don’t have to stick to one outfit for your entire playthrough, and matching your skin to your route will make even the hardest deliveries feel far more manageable. If you’re heading through a heavy timefall area, prioritize outfits with high timefall resistance to avoid cargo damage from rain. If you’re traveling through BT-heavy territory, pick an outfit that reduces detection range or gives you extra time to escape if you get spotted. For long cross-country runs, go for skins with stamina recovery buffs to cut down on the number of rest stops you need to take. You can swap outfits at any distribution center terminal for free, so you don’t have to commit to one look for multiple runs. Most outfits also support custom color palettes, which you can unlock by completing small delivery requests for NPCs scattered across the map. You can even unlock special patterns and logos by completing hidden collectible sets, so you can make even the standard starter suit look completely unique. I usually stick to Fragile’s Delivery Suit with a dark blue color scheme for most casual runs, but swap to Higgs’ Wanderer Cloak when I’m hauling high-priority fragile cargo through BT-heavy mountain routes.
At the end of the day, collecting and testing every look is one of the most fun side activities the game has to offer, and Death Stranding 2 all outfits cater to every playstyle, whether you’re a casual story player or a hardcore completionist. You don’t have to grind for every single one to get value out of the customization system, but even unlocking a handful of the buffed outfits will make your delivery runs far smoother and more enjoyable. If you’re just starting your playthrough, keep an eye out for those missable story outfits first, then work your way through the open world and multiplayer unlocks as you get comfortable with the game’s mechanics.
