Anyone who’s spent even a few hours exploring Death Stranding 2’s post-apocalyptic United Cities of America knows that good gear isn’t just for show. Every jacket, backpack, and boot you equip directly impacts how smoothly your delivery runs go, and few items have generated as much hype as the Death Stranding 2 trench coat. It’s a sleek, practical upgrade from Sam’s original outerwear, with nods to both Bridges and Fragile Express branding that feels true to the game’s lore. I’ve been using it as my default outer layer for months now, and it’s made even the most brutal timefall storms and BT-infested routes feel far more manageable.
What Makes the Death Stranding 2 Trench Coat Worth Hunting For?
You might assume a high-profile cosmetic item like this only looks good, but that’s far from the truth. The coat comes with a stacked set of passive perks that make it one of the most useful mid-game apparel unlocks in the entire game. It’s designed for long-haul delivery runs, which makes it perfect for players who prefer exploring the open world over rushing through main story missions. Weather resistance is the coat’s biggest selling point, as it cuts timefall damage to both you and your cargo by 60% compared to standard starter jackets. BT detection range is boosted by 25% when you’re wearing it, so you’ll get earlier warnings if you’re wandering into an infested area. Extra cargo storage pockets sewn into the lining let you carry three additional small items, like blood bags or repair spray, without taking up space in your main backpack. It also cuts stamina drain by 15% when you’re running in rain or snow, which makes steep mountain climbs far less frustrating. It looks great too, of course. The cut is a little longer than Sam’s original coat, with reinforced elbow patches and a detachable hood that you can flip up during storms. You’ll also spot little lore-friendly details, like a hidden Fragile Express logo stitched inside the collar, that make it feel like a meaningful part of the game’s world rather than a throwaway cosmetic.
Step-by-Step Process to Unlock the Trench Coat
You don’t have to beat the entire main story to get your hands on the coat, but you will need to progress far enough to unlock key locations and faction levels. I unlocked mine around 22 hours into my first playthrough, and you can get it even faster if you prioritize the required side deliveries over random exploration. The full unlock requirements are:
- Complete the main story mission "Southern Distribution Center Reconnection" to unlock the apparel vendor at Mountain Knot City
- Reach connection level 5 with Fragile Express to get the initial trench coat blueprint sent directly to your fabrication menu
- Deliver 15 high-priority long-distance orders with a 5-star rating to unlock the upgraded, stat-boosted variant of the coat
- Collect 30 chiral crystals and 20 units of weather-resistant fabric to craft the coat at any distribution center or prepper shelter
Best Customization Options for the Trench Coat
One of the best parts of the coat is how customizable it is, both for style and function. You can tweak almost every part of it at any apparel vendor, and all your customizations save to the blueprint, so you don’t have to redo them if you lose the coat or need to craft a new one. For cosmetic tweaks, you can choose from 7 base colorways, including classic olive drab, matte black, Fragile’s signature light blue, and a glowing chiral white that unlocks after you beat the main story. You can add up to 4 patches to the coat, including official Bridges, UCA, and Fragile Express logos, plus custom patches you unlock from preppers and special event deliveries. The detachable hood also has 3 different options: standard lined, mesh for hot desert areas, and chiral weave that adds extra BT detection. For functional upgrades, you can add extra cargo straps to the back of the coat to carry two more small cargo items, upgrade the weatherproofing to cut timefall damage by an extra 20% for arctic and high-altitude runs, and add a hidden BT sensor lining that makes your detector vibrate earlier when threats are nearby. Customizations don't reset if you die or lose the coat, so you can experiment with different setups as much as you want without worrying about wasting materials. Some of the rarer customization options only unlock when you reach connection level 6 with remote preppers, so it’s worth stopping at every shelter you find during your runs to see what they have to offer.
When to Use (and Avoid) the Trench Coat During Runs
As great as the coat is, it’s not the right pick for every single delivery run. Knowing when to swap it out for other gear will save you a lot of frustration, especially on more challenging routes. The coat shines on long cross-country runs that cover multiple terrain types, especially if you’re going through areas with frequent timefall or high BT activity. It’s also perfect for runs where you’re carrying fragile, high-value cargo, since the extra weather protection will keep your goods safe even if you get caught in an unexpected storm. I always wear it for cross-continental delivery orders that take me from the southern desert all the way up to the northern snow peaks, since it works well in both extreme heat and cold. You’ll want to swap it out for a lighter jacket if you’re doing short, fast delivery runs on flat, paved roads. The coat adds a small amount of extra weight that slows your sprint speed by 5%, which adds up over repeated short runs. You should also avoid wearing it if your route requires wading through deep water, since the heavy fabric absorbs water and doubles your stamina drain until it dries. The BT detection boost only works if you have the coat fully zipped, so if you leave it unzipped for style, you’ll lose that passive perk entirely. Make sure you zip it up before you head into any infested areas to get the full benefit.
At the end of the day, the coat is one of those rare unlocks that lives up to all the pre-release hype. It looks great, has practical perks that make almost every run easier, and has enough customization options to make it feel uniquely yours. It doesn’t take that much work to unlock, even for newer players, and it’s easily one of the best mid-game gear upgrades you can get. If you’re looking for a gear upgrade that balances style and function perfectly, the Death Stranding 2 trench coat is easily one of the best unlocks in the game, and well worth the small effort it takes to add to your collection.
