There are plenty of preppers and facilities that Sam needs to bring online as part of the Chiral Network in Mexico and Australia for Death Stranding 2, but only some of these facilities are worth player investment in the early game. For the first 10 hours or so of gameplay, players should really focus on these upgrades in Death Stranding 2 so that they are more efficient at cargo deliveries.
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Whether it’s tools to help them cross the country or weapons that will help against MULEs and BTs alike, these are the upgrades that every player should get before moving on to the next prepper they need to connect with in Death Stranding 2.
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SL Machine Pistol
A Silenced Pistol for Stealth Encounters
- How to Get: Obtain Connection Level 4 with Ciudad Nudo del Norte (C1)
The SL Machine Pistol is essentially the same as the Machine Pistol, except it comes with a suppressor upgrade. The SL Machine Pistol makes for great company for players who are starting out, as players are rarely going to encounter armored and armed enemies so early in the game. The SL Machine Pistol allows for a fast rate of fire, along with MP bullets that can easily knock out humans. With its lightweight design and holster, players have an effective weapon upgrade before they leave for Australia.
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Blood Grenade Level 2
An Upgraded Variant of a BT-Killer
The Blood Grenade is the perfect early weapon for killing BTs, Grabbers, and Catchers alike. With the Blood Grenade, players will be able to counter the most deadly of enemies with a simple throw, and that can be enhanced further with the Blood Grenade Lv2. Having this upgrade prior to entering Australia is great, especially since this upgraded variant provides greater damage at a continuous rate while also obscuring enemy vision.
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Assault Rifle MP Level 2
Faster and More Intense for a Reliable Gun
- How to Get: Obtain Connection Level 4 with C1 South Distribution Center
While players will have an Assault Rifle from the start of the game, they can get the first upgrade in Mexico’s C1 South Distribution Center. While it might take a few connection levels to get, it’s very much worth it. The Assault Rifle [MP] Lv2 provides players with an even greater variant that’s necessary for BTs, MULEs, and Ghost Mechs, with a large magazine size and ammo capacity, along with a great fire rate and even a grenade launcher attachment so players can go blasting.
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Battle Skeleton Level 3
Increased Movement Speed, Cargo Capacity, and Reduces Incoming Damage
- How to Get: Obtain Connection Level 4 with Western Environmental Observatory
The Battle Skeleton is the first skeleton that players will get in Death Stranding 2, so why not stick around the Western Environmental Observatory to upgrade it before heading on? With the Battle Skeleton Lv3, players will have a boost to their movement speed while sprinting, along with a reduction to incoming projectile damage to make it all the easier when it comes to combat encounters against other humans. With this upgraded version, the Battle Skeleton will weigh less and aid players with an extra 100kg of carry weight.
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Large Spare Ammo Container Level 2
Long Distance Battles to Put Enemies to Sleep
- How to Get: Obtain Connection Level 4 with The Government’s Base
The Government’s Base is the first connection that Sam will make when he gets to Australia through the Plate Gate, and it’s one of urgency. Not only is this the first of many connections, but it’s the first place players should try and get to connection level 4, since it will reward them with the Large Spare Ammo Container. This backpack attachment allows players to hold more ammunition in their weapons, which is perfect for players who know they are about to clear out an army of MULEs or take on the most fearsome of BTs.
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LW Tranq Sniper Rifle
Long Distance Battles to Put Enemies to Sleep
- How to Get: Obtain Connection Level 4 with The Lone Commander
Reaching the Lone Commander in Australia can be a bit of a nightmare, since the area is protected by Giant BTs that are hard to kill and make for easy voidouts. Since the Lone Commander is in an isolated and dangerous spot, players should try to get a high connection here straight away, especially when the reward is a lightweight variant of the Tranq Sniper Rifle, which provides a reduction in weight to make it more portable and easy to use. The Tranq Sniper Rifle is great for players who want something that can take out human enemies at a long range, and the lightweight variant helps to reduce cargo consumption.
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Bola Stun Gun
Instantly Knock Out Enemies with Ease and Silence
The Inventor is another prepper in Australia who’s hard to reach, and even harder to level up since acquiring enough cargo is going to take quite some time. The default Bola Gun is already good as it can incapacitate enemies and tie them up, but this invention from the Inventor is grand for how it fires electrically binding charges that will instantly incapacitate enemies, regardless of their armor. This makes it an effective weapon to get early on against Ghost Mechs and MULEs, especially since it’s also a stealth variant.
1
Boost Skeleton Level 3
Speed and Jump Height are Bolstered for Sam’s Legs and Carry Capacity
- How to Get: Obtain Connection Level 4 with The Dowser
The Boost Skeleton is rather easy to obtain thanks to the fact that it’s an automatic unlock for connecting the Dowser as part of the main story. Players will want to continue working for the Dowser once she’s connected to the Chiral Network, as at Level 4, she’ll be able to craft players the Boost Skeleton Lv3. With this skeleton variant, players will be able to reach such high speeds and long-distance jumps, and the higher level upgrade will consume fewer batteries and allow players to carry heavier cargo.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Released
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June 26, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Violence, Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Publisher(s)
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Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Engine
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Decima
- Franchise
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Death Stranding
- Number of Players
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Single-player
