If you’ve ever spent 20 minutes carefully stacking cargo only to watch it all tumble down a muddy slope, or gotten cornered by a giant BT right before reaching a delivery destination, you know how unforgiving Death Stranding 2 can be for new and returning players alike. I’ve put 120+ hours into the game across two playthroughs, and these Death Stranding 2 tips and tricks cut my average mission time by 40% while cutting lost cargo incidents down to almost zero. None of these require cheating or exploiting glitches, just smart use of the game’s existing mechanics that most players miss in their first 10 hours.
Must-Know Death Stranding 2 Tips and Tricks for Cargo Management
Cargo management isn’t just a random chore in the game—it’s the core of every successful delivery, and messing it up can derail even the simplest side mission. I used to just throw all my items into my backpack randomly until I realized how much extra stability I was missing out on. That means you don’t have to grind for hours for new exoskeleton upgrades to carry more, you just have to adjust how you pack. Here are the three most impactful packing rules I follow for every run:
- Place heaviest cargo closest to your back: This keeps your center of gravity low and forward, so you’re 60% less likely to stumble when climbing steep slopes or running through rocky terrain. If you put heavy items on the outer sides or top of your pack, even a small slip can send you tumbling.
- Use cargo ties for fragile deliveries: Most new players ignore these cheap, reusable items, but they stop fragile items like medical supplies or rare art from taking damage even if you fall from a 10-foot height. You can buy 10 ties for just 20 chiral crystals at any distribution center, so there’s no reason not to stock up.
- Leave non-essential items in your private locker: You don’t need to carry four rocket launchers and 20 blood bags for a simple short-distance delivery in a low-BT zone. Extra weight slows you down, uses more stamina, and makes you more prone to falls, so only pack what you actually need for the specific mission you’re running.
For extra long cross-country runs, I also recommend attaching smaller cargo to your boots and suit arms instead of your backpack. Most players don’t realize those slots exist, and they can add up to 15 extra pounds of carrying capacity without throwing off your balance. Just don’t put fragile items in those slots, since they take more impact if you fall.
How to Avoid or Beat BTs Without Wasting Rare Resources
BTs are one of the biggest frustrations for new players, and it’s easy to burn through all your blood bags and hematic grenades in one bad encounter. But you don’t have to fight every BT you see, and most encounters are completely avoidable if you pay attention to your surroundings. First, always keep your odradek active when you enter a BT zone—if it starts flashing red and beeping rapidly, stop moving immediately, don’t even turn your camera fast.
If a BT spots you, don’t panic and run—that just draws more of them to your location. Instead, walk slowly out of the area while holding your breath, and only use a blood bag if you start getting dragged down by tar. For larger BTs that you can’t avoid, aim for the glowing orange core on their chest with hematic grenades, not their body. That takes them out in one hit instead of three, so you save half your ammo. You can also use chiralium lures to draw BTs away from your delivery path if you’re carrying extra fragile cargo that you don’t want to risk damaging in a fight.
If you’re running a delivery in a high-BT zone, try to plan your route around timefall storm shelters. You can wait out heavy BT activity there for just a few minutes, and most shelters also have free supplies left by other players that you can use if you run low on ammo or blood bags.
Optimize Multiplayer Structures to Cut Traversal Time in Half
One of the best parts of Death Stranding 2’s multiplayer is that you can use structures built by other players, and they can use yours. I used to ignore these until I found a zip line network that let me cross an entire mountain range in 5 minutes instead of 45, and it completely changed how I play the game. First, always make sure you have your online structure visibility turned all the way up in settings, so you don’t miss useful bridges, ladders, or rest stops built by other players.
Always leave a like on structures you use—the more likes a structure gets, the more durable it becomes, and the more likely it is to stay visible for other players. If you have extra chiral crystals, you can also upgrade other players’ zip lines to extend their range, which benefits everyone on the server. When you build your own structures, place them in high-traffic areas like river crossings or the base of steep mountains, so more players will use them and give you likes that unlock special cosmetic and gameplay rewards later on.
Don’t rely entirely on other players’ structures, though. Always carry at least one portable ladder and climbing anchor in your pack for areas that haven’t been built up yet. You never know when you’ll run into a sudden cliff or river crossing that has no existing structures to use, and having those items on hand can save you from having to backtrack 20 minutes to find another path.
Hidden Quality of Life Settings You Should Toggle Immediately
Most players just stick with the default settings when they start the game, but there are a handful of hidden toggles that make every run way less frustrating, and you don’t have to mod the game to access them. I found most of these by accident when I was trying to fix my camera controls, and I can’t imagine playing without them now.
First, turn on the auto-stabilization toggle for traversal. This automatically adjusts your balance when you step on uneven ground, so you’re way less likely to stumble when you’re carrying heavy cargo. It doesn’t work for extreme slopes, but it cuts down on random falls by almost 70% in moderate terrain. Second, turn on the cargo damage alert, so you get a pop-up notification as soon as any of your cargo takes damage, instead of finding out when you reach the delivery location. Third, adjust your stamina bar to stay visible at all times, so you don’t run out of stamina mid-climb without noticing.
One bonus tip for controller players: map the hold breath function to one of your back paddles if you have them, or to a shoulder button that’s easy to reach. Having to fumble with the D-pad to hold your breath when a BT spots you is the number one reason most players get caught, so making that function easy to access will save you dozens of failed encounters. You can also map the cargo scan function to a quick access button, so you can check for lost cargo or hidden items near you without opening your menu.
You don’t need to grind for the best exoskeletons or rarest weapons to have a smooth, fun experience with the game. These Death Stranding 2 tips and tricks work for every playstyle, whether you’re a casual player who just wants to enjoy the story or a completionist working to get S rank on every delivery. Take one or two to try on your next run, and you’ll notice the difference immediately. And if you find a trick that works especially well for you, don’t forget to share it with other players on your server—after all, connection is what the game is all about.
