If you’ve spent any time digging into pre-release footage and official teases for the upcoming Hideo Kojima title, you’ve probably stumbled on mentions of the tar therapist death stranding 2 has advertised as a core new cast member. Unlike the one-note supporting NPCs we met in the first game, this character fills a unique niche that ties directly to both the game’s central lore of BTs and chiral matter, and practical gameplay loops you’ll rely on for cross-country deliveries. I’ve spent hours combing through every official trailer, Kojima’s social media hints, and verified playtest leaks to put together everything we know so far about this mysterious figure, so you don’t have to sort through misinformation online.
Who Is the Tar Therapist in Death Stranding 2?
First shown briefly in the 2022 reveal trailer, the Tar Therapist is a former Bridges medical researcher who was caught in a massive BT tar event shortly after the events of the first game. Instead of succumbing to the tar or being turned into a BT, they developed a rare tolerance to chiral matter, letting them handle and even manipulate raw tar without suffering negative side effects. They now operate out of an unmarked bunker in the southern coastal region of the United Cities of America, refusing to take direct orders from Bridges leadership following a dispute over their experimental BT coexistence research. They are the only NPC in the game that can directly interact with tar-based BTs without triggering a confrontation, a skill no other character in the Death Stranding universe has ever been shown to have. Their design reflects their unusual living situation too: they wear a modified chiral suit lined with cured tar fabric, and a custom half-mask that filters out chiral dust while letting them breathe normally when working in tar pits. Most playtesters note that their dialogue is surprisingly dry and sarcastic, a nice break from the overly serious tone of many other core NPCs.
Core Gameplay Perks of Working With the Tar Therapist
Unlocking the Tar Therapist’s full suite of services is completely optional, but skipping them will make some of the game’s harder late-game zones almost impossible to beat, especially the tar-covered coastal areas that have high concentrations of giant, aggressive BTs. I’ve seen playtest notes from players who tried to push through those zones without unlocking their upgrades, and most had to restart their runs three or more times to get through without damaging high-priority cargo. For example, if you’re trying to deliver a fragile order of anti-timefall medicine through the southern tar belt, the Tar Therapist’s upgrades will let you walk straight through shallow tar patches without damaging your cargo or draining your stamina. All their services unlock gradually as you raise your connection level with them, and include:
Common Misconceptions About the Tar Therapist
As with any highly anticipated game, there’s a lot of false information floating around about the Tar Therapist right now, most of it based on out-of-context trailer clips and fake leaks. The most common myth I’ve seen is that they’re a secret villain that will betray you late in the story, helping BTs attack major UCA settlements. That’s not backed up by any verified information, and playtesters have confirmed that their story arc does not include a betrayal twist. The Tar Therapist’s loyalty stays with you for the entire game, as long as you don’t intentionally destroy tar deposits or kill friendly BTs, actions that will make them refuse to provide services until you complete a special make-up delivery of rare research supplies. Another common misconception is that their services are only useful for stealth players. That’s not true at all. If you prefer to fight BTs head on, their tar-resistant upgrades let you stay in battle longer without taking stamina damage, and their lures let you group BTs together to take them out with a single anti-BT grenade. I’ve also seen a lot of people online claim you have to pick between supporting the Tar Therapist or supporting Fragile’s new delivery company, but that’s a false choice. You can max out your connection level with both, and get exclusive rewards from each that work together perfectly, like Fragile’s fast travel upgrades paired with the Tar Therapist’s tar protection for cross-country runs.
Tips to Unlock the Tar Therapist Early in Your Playthrough
The Tar Therapist’s bunker is hidden in a small valley on the southern edge of the map, and it’s not marked on your default map when you start the game. A lot of players miss it entirely on their first playthrough, because the quest to unlock it is marked as optional. You can unlock the location as early as your third hour of play, if you take the optional delivery order from the Timefall Farm to deliver medical herbs to a “hidden research site”. The quest doesn’t mention the Tar Therapist by name, but that’s exactly where it sends you. When you head out for that first delivery, there are a few things you should keep in mind to avoid wasting time. First, make sure you have at least two Lv. 2 ladders with you, because the valley leading to their bunker is blocked by steep rock faces you can’t climb without them. You also want to carry at least three blood bags, because there are a few low-level BTs patrolling the path to the bunker, even if you go during the day when BT activity is lower. Don’t bring any anti-BT weapons with you on your first visit. If they see you carrying hematic grenades or a BT-specific rifle, they’ll refuse to talk to you, and you’ll have to come back later without any weapons in your inventory to complete the quest. Once you finish that first delivery, they’ll add their bunker to your permanent map, and you can start taking orders from them to raise your connection level.
There’s still a lot we don’t know about the tar therapist death stranding 2 will introduce, but everything we’ve seen so far points to them being one of the most useful and lore-rich new characters in the game. Taking the time to unlock their services early will save you hours of frustration later, and their side story adds a whole new layer of depth to the game’s exploration of coexistence with the post-Death Stranding world. Don’t sleep on their quest line when you first boot up the game, even if you’re just rushing through the main story to see how Sam’s journey ends.
