Death Stranding is a game filled with intricate mechanics, some of which are not explicitly explained or can be easily overlooked. While many players learn the basics through trial and error, optimizing your experience requires understanding the finer details of movement, cargo management, combat, and the online aspects of the game. This guide compiles essential quality-of-life improvements to make your journey as smooth and efficient as possible.
Quick-Saving Without the Menu
While opening the system menu to manually save is straightforward, there’s a more immersive way to secure your progress. Simply come to a stop, hold the Circle button for a few seconds, and the game will automatically save. While doing this, you can also take a quick rest to restore some stamina—saving you the need to consume water from your canteen, which contains something you probably wouldn’t want to drink in real life.
Efficient Sprinting With Heavy Loads
Managing balance is crucial when carrying towering stacks of cargo. While holding both grip buttons (L2 + R2) prevents you from falling, it also restricts sprinting. The solution? If your cargo is well-balanced and you’re on flat terrain, press directly forward on the analog stick without making lateral adjustments. This allows you to sprint effectively, even with an absurdly large load. When a turn is necessary, grip both triggers, adjust your direction, and then continue moving straight forward.
Using the 3D Map for Better Route Planning
The overhead map can be misleading when assessing elevation changes, potentially leading to unforeseen obstacles. By holding the touchpad and using the controller’s gyro function, you can tilt the map to reveal a three-dimensional view of the terrain. This helps you plan routes more effectively and reduces reliance on watchtowers to scout ahead.
The Secret Double Jump
Although unexpected in a game like Death Stranding, a double jump exists. If you’re carrying a light load, you can perform a small mid-air boost while sprinting. This maneuver is particularly useful when trying to clear gaps without relying on ladders, allowing for greater mobility in certain areas.
Optimized Melee Combat & Container Tactics
If you anticipate melee combat, dropping all your cargo beforehand allows for better maneuverability. However, if you prefer a more aggressive approach, containers make excellent weapons. Swinging or throwing one does significant damage, and the game’s slow-motion effect after a knockout lets you seamlessly grab an enemy’s fallen cargo and immediately use it against another foe.
Additionally, equipping the Strand tool enables parrying. Timed correctly, this allows for quick and effortless takedowns against human enemies.
Maximizing Stamina With Monster Energy
Whenever you return to your private quarters, drink three Monster Energy drinks to boost your stamina by 25% beyond its maximum limit. If you’re in a hurry, pressing the Options button allows you to skip the animation and get straight to the benefits.
Cargo Placement Strategies for Protection
Cargo attached to your shoulders or hips takes more damage from falls and enemy attacks. To minimize the risk to important deliveries, place easily replaceable items like ladders or repair sprays in these slots, keeping essential cargo securely strapped to your back. Additionally, ensure critical packages are below the securing harness rather than stacked on top, as higher items are more susceptible to damage.
Leveraging Online Player Signs for Benefits
While player-placed signs often provide information or jokes, some also offer in-game boosts. Running through certain symbols grants stamina recovery, strengthens your bond with BB, and may provide other hidden benefits. Even if you don’t interact with the signs, make a habit of walking through them whenever possible.
Proper Use of Blood Bags
Blood bags, essential for restoring health and acting as ammunition for certain weapons, take up space in your backpack unless stored properly. Instead of carrying them in large crates, transfer them to your utility pouch, where multiple bags can be stored without taking up additional inventory slots. This method optimizes space while ensuring quick access during combat.
Enemy Post Boxes: Hidden Treasure Troves
Mule camps contain post boxes filled with valuable supplies and materials. Always check your map for these locations and visit them when you have ample storage capacity. Mules hoard items just as much as Sam does, and raiding their camps can provide a significant boost to your resources. However, these areas are heavily guarded, so proceed with caution.
Don’t Forget Your Hat!
Each time you visit your private quarters, headgear must be manually re-equipped. Wearing a hat marginally reduces stamina consumption, making it a small but worthwhile advantage. Plus, it just looks cool.
Hematic Grenades: Offensive and Defensive Uses
Hematic Grenades are primarily used to damage BTs, but they also serve a defensive role. If you’re spotted, throwing one at your feet will temporarily paralyze nearby BTs, giving you a window to escape safely.
Container Repair Spray: Maximum Efficiency
Container repair spray is essential for maintaining cargo integrity, especially in timefall areas. To maximize its efficiency:
- Turn around and spray yourself to cover multiple packages at once.
- Aim at clusters of cargo instead of spraying individual items to preserve spray canisters.
- Always carry at least one can after Episode 2, as weather conditions become more hazardous.
Early Game Vehicle Priority: Mule Trucks
Before you gain the ability to fabricate vehicles, stealing a Mule truck provides a major advantage. Though they cannot be repaired at facilities, they can still be recharged using charging stations or generators. Mule trucks offer immense storage capacity and allow you to transport bulk materials quickly, making them invaluable in the Central Region.
Quickly Transferring Cargo Between Vehicles
If you have multiple vehicles nearby, their cargo storage can be accessed simultaneously, allowing for fast transfers between them. This feature is especially useful when switching from a damaged truck to a newly acquired one or when optimizing cargo between a truck and a floating carrier for better mobility.
Conclusion: Streamline Your Death Stranding Experience
By implementing these quality-of-life improvements, you can optimize your playthrough for greater efficiency, smoother traversal, and enhanced resource management. Death Stranding rewards strategic thinking, and mastering these nuances will significantly improve your ability to complete deliveries while minimizing unnecessary struggles.
Have additional tips? Share them with fellow porters and keep pushing forward—because in Death Stranding, every optimization makes the journey just a little easier. Keep on keeping on!
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