If you’ve spent any time hauling cargo across the broken, BT-infested landscapes of Death Stranding 2, you know connection is the core of every part of the gameplay. Every delivery you drop off, every player structure you repair, every lost cargo you return contributes to your standing with settlements, preppers, and even other porters across the network. The best part of putting in that work? Death Stranding 2 connection level rewards, which range from minor quality of life buffs to game-changing gear that makes even the toughest cross-country runs feel trivial. I’ve spent over 80 hours testing different ways to rank up and unlock every reward available, so I’m breaking down exactly what you can earn, how to get it, and which rewards are worth prioritizing first.
Breaking Down Every Tier of Death Stranding 2 Connection Level Rewards
Every settlement and independent prepper on the map has their own connection level scale, running from 1 to 10, and each tier unlocks new rewards specific to that location. Your progress with individual locations also contributes to your global porter network rank, which unlocks universal rewards that apply to all your deliveries. One thing to note is that Death Stranding 2 connection level rewards are account-bound, so you won't lose access to them if you start a new game plus run. Some Death Stranding 2 connection level rewards are also tied to your overall global network rank, so you'll unlock extra perks as more players connect to the network in your region.
- Levels 1-3 (New Connection): Basic rewards like extra Chiral Crystals, common repair supplies, and access to the location’s delivery terminal for public orders. You’ll also get small discounts on supply purchases from the location’s store once you hit level 3.
- Levels 4-6 (Trusted Partner): Exclusive gear blueprints, increased storage space at the settlement, and discounted upgrades for your tools and vehicles. Many locations also start offering special limited-time delivery orders with bonus payout at level 5.
- Levels 7-9 (Honored Porter): Rare cosmetic items for your porter and vehicles, unique side quest lines, and priority access to high-paying, low-risk delivery orders. You’ll also get free small supply refills every time you visit the location starting at level 8.
- Level 10 (Connected Family): Legendary exclusive gear, unlimited free supply refills at that location, and a permanent 10% buff to all connection points earned from deliveries to that region. Some preppers will also send you occasional free care packages of rare materials after you hit max rank.
Not all rewards are the same across locations, either. For example, the mountain prepper gives you a cold-resistant suit when you hit level 10, while the port city settlement gives you a hover truck blueprint that lets you cross shallow water without damaging cargo. You don't lose your connection level if you mess up a delivery, but you will slow down your progress, so it's always worth taking a little extra time to make sure cargo arrives undamaged.
Fastest Ways to Raise Your Connection Level to Unlock Rewards
A lot of new porters grind low-value standard deliveries to rank up, but that's a massive waste of time. The fastest way to earn connection points is to prioritize premium lost cargo deliveries first, because they give 2x more connection points than standard orders, even if the cargo weight is low. You don't have to grind for hours to get the best Death Stranding 2 connection level rewards, as long as you're focusing on the right activities.
Repairing other players' structures also gives connection points with the nearest settlement, so if you're passing a broken bridge or ladder near a prepper hut, fixing it will give you a quick boost without having to carry cargo anywhere. Delivering high-value, fragile cargo with 0 damage gives a 30% connection point bonus, so it's worth using extra cargo protection and taking slower, safer routes for these orders instead of rushing.
I tested both methods to compare: grinding standard orders took me 12 hours to get a remote prepper to level 10, while focusing on lost cargo and perfect deliveries took me just under 4 hours, so the difference is huge. If you're playing with friends, completing co-op deliveries will also give you a bonus to Death Stranding 2 connection level rewards progress, so it's worth teaming up for large cargo runs. Just note that using a porter bot to deliver small orders won't give you full connection points, so you should do all premium orders yourself to maximize gains.
Most Valuable Connection Level Rewards to Prioritize First
Not all rewards are made equal, and some will make your entire playthrough far easier if you unlock them early. Many new players don't realize how much of a difference Death Stranding 2 connection level rewards can make to their overall gameplay experience, so it's smart to focus on high-impact rewards first before chasing cosmetics.
First on the list is the Chiral Jump Drive blueprint, which you get from hitting level 7 with the central regional distribution center. It lets you teleport between any connected settlement for 100 chiral crystals, cutting cross-country travel time by 90% for long deliveries. Second is the auto-repair exoskeleton from the mountain prepper at level 6, which automatically fixes minor damage to your cargo while you walk, so you don't have to stop constantly to fix dings from rough terrain or falls.
The permanent 10% connection point buff you get from hitting level 10 with high-traffic settlements applies to all deliveries you make in that region, so it's worth ranking those up first before you tackle more remote preppers. If you're not sure which Death Stranding 2 connection level rewards you've already unlocked, you can check your progress in the porter menu under the connection tab. I made the mistake of ranking up a remote beach prepper first for the cosmetic surfboard accessory, and I regret wasting 3 hours that I could have spent unlocking the jump drive to make all my later runs faster. Cosmetic rewards are fun, but they don't affect gameplay, so you can save those for later when you've unlocked all the functional perks you need.
Common Mistakes That Slow Down Your Reward Unlock Progress
Even if you're putting in a lot of deliveries, small mistakes can hold you back from getting the rewards you want fast. Most of these mistakes are easy to avoid once you know what to look for, and skipping them will cut your grind time in half. Avoiding these common mistakes will help you unlock all Death Stranding 2 connection level rewards far faster than if you're learning as you go.
First, a lot of players don't realize that leaving cargo abandoned in the world will lower your connection point gain for 30 minutes, so if you pick up lost cargo you can't deliver, drop it off at the nearest terminal instead of leaving it on the side of the road. Second, ignoring other players' requests for help with building structures will make you miss out on huge connection point bonuses: if you see a request for materials to build a road near a settlement, donating even 50 chiral crystals will give you as many points as completing a medium-sized delivery.
Third, using the wrong vehicle for terrain can damage your cargo even if you drive carefully, so always check the route before you accept a delivery to make sure you're using a truck for flat ground, a bike for rough trails, or your exoskeleton for steep mountain climbs. I lost a full load of fragile medical cargo once because I took a truck up a mountain trail, and that set back my connection level progress with that prepper by almost a full level, so it's always worth checking the route first. If you do mess up a delivery, don't stress too much—you can always make up the lost points with a couple of perfect lost cargo runs later.
At the end of the day, Death Stranding 2 is all about building connections with the world and the people in it, and the rewards you earn for that work are just a nice bonus for engaging with the core of the game. If you follow the tips above, you'll be able to unlock every Death Stranding 2 connection level rewards in half the time it takes most players, and you'll get far more out of every delivery you make along the way. Take your time, help other porters when you can, and don't stress if you mess up a delivery every once in a while—you'll still get where you're going eventually.
