If you’ve spent hours trekking across the post-apocalyptic United Cities of America in Death Stranding 2, you’ve likely stumbled on vague hints about the elusive Inventor NPC tucked away in a remote mountain region. I spent three separate playthroughs missing this location entirely before I mapped out the exact, hazard-free route, and I’m breaking it down here so you don’t waste half a dozen repair kits and lost cargo like I did. This guide covers exactly how to get to Inventor in Death Stranding 2, no spoilers for main story beats included, so you can follow along no matter where you are in your playthrough.
What You Need to Prepare Before Heading to the Inventor
You can’t just set off for the Inventor’s location with an empty exoskeleton and a handful of energy drinks, unless you want to get stuck halfway up a blizzard-battered mountain with a pack of BTs on your tail. I tested three different loadouts for this route, and the one below is the only one that got me to the location without losing any cargo or using emergency fast travel.
Your minimum required loadout should include:
- Level 2 all-terrain skeleton to handle steep, icy slopes without draining your stamina too fast
- 3+ blood bags and a hematic anti-BT pistol to clear small BT clusters without wasting heavy ammo
- 2 PCC level 2 units to build bridges or zip line anchors if you hit unpassable terrain
- A stack of temperature-resistant cargo covers if you’re bringing delivery requests for the Inventor with you
If you’ve already unlocked the road network between Mountain Knot City and the northern snowy region, you can also bring a truck with extra supplies, but don’t rely on it entirely—parts of the route are too steep for even upgraded vehicles to navigate. I made the mistake of bringing a fully upgraded truck on my first attempt, and I had to abandon it 2km from the Inventor’s hideout when I hit a stretch of vertical ice I couldn’t drive over.
Step-by-Step Route to Follow When You Want to Get to Inventor in Death Stranding 2
Start your journey at the Mountain Knot City distribution center, right after you’ve completed the main story mission that unlocks access to the northern mountain range. You don’t need to complete any side quests first to unlock the Inventor’s location, but you will get a vague hint about his location if you speak to the Elder at the Mountain Knot City outskirts first.
First, head due north from the distribution center, sticking to the paved road as long as you can. You’ll pass a small MULE camp about 3km in—you can either sneak around it to the west, or take out the MULEs if you want to steal their extra cargo supplies. I usually sneak around, because wasting ammo on MULEs isn’t worth it when you might need it for BTs later on.
When you hit the end of the paved road, you’ll see a narrow valley leading up to the snow line. Stay to the eastern edge of this valley, because the western edge is full of deep ravines you can easily slip down if you’re not paying attention. You’ll hit a small BT zone about 1km up the valley—hold your breath and move slowly through it, or use a hematic grenade to clear the area if you’re carrying fragile cargo.
Once you pass the BT zone, you’ll see a small, partially hidden cave entrance on the left side of the valley, marked with a blue chalk drawing of a wrench on the rock outside. That’s the entrance to the Inventor’s hideout. Walk inside, and you’ll trigger the cutscene that introduces you to the NPC. It’s important to note that if you visit this location before you finish the sixth main story mission in the Mountain Knot City region, the cave entrance will be blocked by fallen rock, so you can’t get in early no matter how hard you try. I tested this on my new game plus playthrough, and the rock doesn’t move until you hit that story checkpoint.
Common Mistakes to Avoid on the Trip to the Inventor
I made almost every possible mistake on my first two attempts to reach this NPC, so I can tell you exactly what not to do if you want to save time and supplies.
First, don’t ignore weather alerts before you leave. If a timefall storm is forecast for the northern mountain region, wait it out at the distribution center instead of pushing through. Timefall in that area is twice as strong as it is in lower elevations, and it will degrade your gear and cargo in minutes if you don’t have proper protection. I once lost a fully upgraded exoskeleton to a surprise timefall storm halfway up the valley, and I had to walk the rest of the way with no stamina boosts.
Second, don’t bring fragile standard delivery cargo with you on this trip unless it’s specifically marked for the Inventor. The route has too many steep slopes and BT zones, and you’re almost guaranteed to damage any unprotected cargo you bring along. Save the other delivery requests for trips you take on the main road network, where you can use a truck to keep cargo safe.
Third, don’t forget to set up a zip line anchor just outside the Inventor’s cave entrance once you arrive. This lets you fast travel back and forth whenever you want, without having to trek through the valley and BT zone every time you need to pick up new upgrades from him. The zip line only takes one PCC level 2 to build, and it will save you hours of travel time later in the game.
What You Get Once You Reach the Inventor
A lot of players skip this trip because they think the Inventor only gives minor side rewards, but that’s far from the truth. Unlocking this NPC gives you access to some of the most useful upgrades in the entire game, many of which make late-game deliveries far easier.
First, you’ll get the level 3 exoskeleton upgrade blueprint as soon as you complete his first side delivery request. This exoskeleton lets you carry 50% more cargo without extra stamina drain, and it’s waterproof so it doesn’t degrade in timefall. I use this exoskeleton for almost every long delivery trip I take now, it’s easily the most useful gear upgrade in the northern region.
You’ll also get access to his custom repair spray blueprint, which fixes damaged cargo and gear in half the time of standard repair sprays. This is a game-changer for trips through heavy timefall zones, where you might need to repair your gear multiple times in one run. If you raise your connection level with the Inventor to 5 stars, you’ll unlock the portable timefall shelter blueprint, which lets you set up a temporary shelter anywhere on the map to wait out storms. This is perfect for players who like to explore remote areas off the main road network, where there are no permanent shelters to use.
You don’t have to complete all his side quests right away, of course. Even if you just visit him once to unlock the location and set up a zip line, you can come back later to finish his quests whenever you have extra time.
If you’ve been putting off tracking down this hidden NPC because you thought the trip was too much hassle, I promise it’s worth the extra effort. The upgrades you get from him cut down on delivery time and reduce the risk of losing cargo on long trips, and the route itself is far less dangerous once you know what to prepare for. Now that you know how to get to Inventor in Death Stranding 2, you can pack your bag, check the weather forecast, and head out whenever you’re ready—just don’t forget to bring extra blood bags for the BT zone.
