If you’ve spent any time hauling cargo across the post-apocalyptic United States of America in Death Stranding 2, you know missing a Death Stranding 2 target can derail an entire run, waste rare supplies, and even leave you stranded in BT-infested territory. I’ve put over 120 hours into the game so far, fumbling through my first 20 runs before I figured out the small, game-changing tricks that make hitting every target feel second nature. This guide breaks down everything I wish I knew when I started, no overly complicated jargon or hidden tricks you can’t pull off with a standard controller. Even if you’re a casual player who only logs a few hours a week, these tips will help you cut down on failed runs and unlock better rewards faster.
How the Death Stranding 2 Target System Works
You might think every target is just a glowing circle you walk into, but that’s only true for the lowest-difficulty delivery runs. The system calculates your score based on three core factors: how close you get to the exact center of the target marker, the condition of your cargo when you arrive, and how much faster or slower you are than the estimated delivery time. Target zones shrink as delivery difficulty rises, so S-rank deliveries often have a target that’s less than half the size of a standard casual run marker. I learned this the hard way on my first high-priority medicine run: I thought I hit the target, but I was 2 feet off the center, and I dropped from an S to a B rank instantly. That means you can’t just wing it for high-stakes runs, even if you’ve mastered the terrain. Many new players don’t realize that the target system also syncs with multiplayer structures, so if another player has built a bridge or a road leading directly to a target, your precision score gets a small boost if you use that structure to approach. It’s a small nod to the game’s core theme of connection, and it’s one of the many small details that makes hitting targets feel rewarding, not just like a checkbox to tick.
Top Tips to Hit Every Target Consistently
You don’t need fancy mods or a perfect controller to hit 99% of your targets on the first try. I’ve tested these tricks across every difficulty level, and they work for both console and PC players, no matter what control scheme you prefer:
- Use your odometer to line up your approach 100 meters out – if you lock your camera to the target marker on your HUD, you can adjust your path early to avoid last-minute swerves that mess up your cargo balance. This is extra helpful if you’re navigating hilly terrain or dense forest where the target marker is hard to see until you’re right on top of it.
- Slow to a walking pace 20 meters from the target zone – running even at half speed can make you overshoot the center, especially if you’re carrying heavy cargo that throws off your stopping distance. I used to skip this step all the time to save a few seconds, and it cost me at least 10 S-rank runs before I wised up.
- Check for terrain shifts before you make your final approach – timefall can erode dirt paths or leave slippery patches that make you slide right past the target, even if you lined up perfectly from far away. If you see shiny wet ground near the target, give yourself an extra 5 meters of space to slow down and adjust.
- Save a small stamina reserve for the final 10 meters – if you stumble or get knocked off course by a stray MULE, you’ll have enough energy to correct your path without dropping any cargo. You don’t need a full bar, just enough to steady yourself if you trip over a rock or get pushed by wind.
None of these tricks take extra time or effort, they just require paying attention to small cues the game gives you the entire time you’re on a run. I started using all four of these on every run, and my target hit rate jumped from 62% to 97% in less than 10 runs. It’s such a small change that makes a huge difference in how rewarding the game feels to play.
Common Mistakes That Make You Miss Targets
Even if you follow all the tips above, there are a few easy-to-miss errors that can throw off your target hit rate. The most common one I see new players make is relying too much on the mini-map instead of the on-screen target marker. The mini-map only shows a rough location, not the exact center of the target zone, so you’ll almost always be slightly off if you only use that to navigate. Never ignore the target lock prompt that pops up 50 meters from your destination – that’s the game telling you you’re aligned correctly, and if you don’t see it, you need to adjust your path immediately. Another mistake is forgetting that your cargo load affects your turning radius. If you’re carrying 80kg of supplies on your back, you can’t make sharp turns the way you can when you’re empty, so you need to give yourself extra room to adjust as you get closer. I’ve also seen players try to cut through BT zones to save time, only to get tackled right as they reach the target, ruining an otherwise perfect run. It’s never worth the risk, even if you’re running behind on time. You’re better off adding 2 minutes to your run time than wasting 30 minutes redoing the entire thing because you got dragged off by a BT 10 feet from the finish line.
What You Earn for Hitting Targets Consistently
Hitting the center of every Death Stranding 2 target isn’t just for bragging rights. You unlock real, tangible rewards that make the rest of your playthrough way easier. First, you get higher delivery ranks, which unlock rare upgrades like better exoskeleton parts, weather-resistant cargo containers, and even faster vehicles that hold more weight. Consistent S-rank hits also give you extra likes from NPCs, which raise your connection level with different settlements faster, unlocking exclusive side quests and rare crafting materials you can’t get anywhere else. I unlocked a permanent 20% cargo damage reduction buff for the western region after hitting 50 consecutive S-rank targets there, which made running supplies through timefall zones way less stressful. You also get access to special limited-time delivery requests that only go out to players with a 90% or higher target hit rate, which give out unique customization items for your backpack and vehicles. These aren’t just cosmetic either: some of the custom backpack straps you unlock cut cargo weight by 10% permanently, which lets you carry more supplies per run without sacrificing speed or balance. It’s a small effort that pays off exponentially the more you play, especially if you’re planning to tackle the endgame hard mode content that requires near-perfect runs to complete.
At the end of the day, hitting every Death Stranding 2 target is more about small, consistent habits than raw skill. You don’t have to be a pro gamer to get S ranks on almost every run, you just have to slow down, pay attention to the small details the game gives you, and avoid the common mistakes that trip up most new players. Try the tips I laid out on your next three runs, and you’ll be shocked at how much faster your rank improves and how many cool rewards you unlock. If you have a trick I didn’t mention, drop it in the comments below to help other players out.
