Death Stranding 2 builds on everything fans loved about the first game, from its sprawling post-apocalyptic open world to its deep customization options for porters. One of the most popular new customization features is the wide range of face coverings you can unlock, each with its own unique benefits and ties to the game’s lore. If you’ve been hunting for every death stranding 2 mask, you’ve probably run into conflicting info online about unlock requirements and what each one actually does. This guide breaks down everything you need to know to collect every available mask, no unnecessary grinding required.
What Makes Each Death Stranding 2 Mask Worth Unlocking?
If you’re used to cosmetic skins in other games doing nothing but change your look, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what these masks offer. Most of the unlockable options come with tangible gameplay perks that make traversing the dangerous, BT-infested landscape far easier. I went into my first playthrough assuming they were just for photo mode flexes, until I unlocked my first functional mask and noticed a huge drop in how often I got jumped by roaming BTs.
They also have deep ties to the game’s story, too. Each mask is tied to a fan-favorite character from the first game, a new DS2 character, or a key event from the game’s lore. If you’re a long-time fan of the series, hunting for all the masks is a great way to unlock small hidden lore snippets you won’t find in the main story cutscenes. Even casual players will get value out of the gameplay buffs, which can cut down on delivery time and reduce the risk of losing precious cargo mid-run.
All Unlockable Masks and How to Earn Them
Every death stranding 2 mask has its own unique unlock requirement, and none of them are locked behind paid DLC as of the latest game update. Below is a full breakdown of every mask currently available, how to get it, and what perks it offers:
- Higgs’ Phantom Mask: Beat the main story quest "Fragile’s Reckoning" on any difficulty. Grants 30% reduced BT detection range when worn, and a unique voice line taunt you can use while traversing. This is the first functional mask most players unlock, so don’t skip that side quest line tied to Fragile.
- Timefall Weave Face Cover: Reach connection level 5 with the Mountain Knot City distribution center. This water-resistant mask cuts timefall damage to your gear by 40% while you’re wearing it, perfect for long routes through rainy high-altitude zones. I always keep this in my inventory for supply runs to the remote northern outposts.
- Cliff’s Veteran Gas Mask: Collect all 12 memory shards scattered across the southern region. It gives 25% extra stamina regen when you’re climbing steep slopes, a total game-changer for anyone who hates stopping to catch their breath mid-ascent.
- Custom Porters Mask: Deliver 100 premium orders with a S rank. You can customize its color and add small decals from your favorite prepper groups, and it gives a 10% bonus to likes you receive from other players for shared structures.
A lot of players miss the Cliff's Veteran Gas Mask because they skip collecting memory shards, but it’s easily one of the most useful early to mid-game unlocks if you spend a lot of time exploring off the beaten path. You don’t have to hunt for all shards at once, either—mark them on your map as you find them during regular deliveries and you’ll have the full set before you hit the halfway point of the story. The Custom Porters Mask is another fan favorite, especially for players who love the game’s multiplayer features, since the extra likes make it faster to level up your connection with other preppers.
How to Equip and Customize Your Mask Mid-Game
You don’t have to stick to one mask for your entire playthrough, and swapping between options based on your route is a smart way to make your runs far smoother. You can swap masks at any time from your backpack menu, or assign one to a quick-access slot so you can switch between a timefall-resistant option and a BT-resistant option in seconds if you run into an unexpected threat. You can only wear one mask at a time, so always pick the one that addresses the biggest risk on your current delivery route.
If you want to customize the look of your mask, you can edit its color and add decals at any distribution center 3D printer, as long as you’ve reached connection level 3 with that location. For photo mode fans, you can toggle your porter’s hood off in the appearance menu to make sure your mask is fully visible in every shot. A common mistake new players make is forgetting that mask perks only apply when you’re actually wearing the item—stashing it in your backpack pocket won’t give you any buffs, so always double check you’ve equipped it before you head out on a long run.
You can also toggle mask visibility off entirely if you don’t like how it looks but still want the perks. The game will keep the buff active even if you’ve set the mask to be hidden in your appearance settings, so you don’t have to choose between functionality and the exact look you want for your porter.
Common Mask Unlock Mistakes to Avoid
There are a lot of myths floating around online about how to unlock certain masks, so we’re breaking down the most common mistakes players make when grinding for these items. First, you don’t need to beat the game on hard difficulty to unlock Higgs’ Phantom Mask. You can earn it on any difficulty, including the casual story mode for players who prioritize the narrative over tough combat encounters.
Second, don’t ignore small prepper outpost requests if you’re grinding for the Custom Porters Mask. Premium orders from tiny, remote outposts count towards the 100 S rank requirement the same as orders from major distribution centers, and they’re often far shorter and easier to complete quickly. I knocked out 30 of my required S ranks in one afternoon just doing small 2kg delivery orders to nearby preppers, instead of slogging through 100kg cross-map runs.
Third, memory shards for Cliff’s Veteran Gas Mask don’t disappear when you progress the main story. I wasted three hours rushing to collect all 12 shards right before a major story mission because I thought I’d miss my chance, only to find out I could have gone back for them after beating the final boss, when I had a full fast travel network unlocked to make the hunt way faster. You don’t have to put your main story progress on hold to hunt for collectibles.
One last mistake to watch for: don’t assume you have to unlock masks in any specific order. You can earn the Timefall Weave Face Cover long before you unlock Higgs’ mask if you prioritize leveling up your connection with Mountain Knot City first, which is a great call if you spend most of your time running deliveries through rainy areas.
Collecting every death stranding 2 mask is a fun side goal that adds a lot of value to your playthrough, whether you care about gameplay perks, lore, or just customizing your porter to look exactly how you want. You don’t have to grind for all of them if you don’t want to, either—even picking up the two or three that fit your most common delivery routes will make a huge difference in how smooth your runs feel. If you’ve stumbled across any secret hidden masks we didn’t cover here, drop a note in the comments to help out your fellow porters.
