Human enemies are everywhere in Death Stranding 2, and these hostiles don’t care about adding one more BTs to the world. Across Mexico and Australia, players will come across a multitude of MULEs and bandits that want to kill Sam on sight so that they can steal his cargo, so why not defend yourself?

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There are plenty of weapons to use, and the best guns in Death Stranding 2 are perfect to fight human enemies with because they’re non-lethal and extremely effective, and knocking enemies out so that there’s no risk of a voidout or another BT to infect the area.
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Strand
Bind Human Enemies in Stealth and With Parries
Strand is a non-lethal weapon that can be used by Sam almost always. It never expires, and never runs out of thread, so Sam can go around and tie up human enemies without having to worry about his ammo or cargo condition. With Strand always at the ready and accessible, players have a constant weapon that can aid them, especially since Strand is effectively used to parry enemies and capture them in a tight bind, regardless of whether players are playing in stealth or going in loud.
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Combat Power Gloves
Punch and Shock Enemies to Sleep
- How to Get: Complete Main Order 19 at the F2 South Distribution Center in Australia
These gloves were designed for the Golden Fist, which, in short, means they were built with combat in mind. With the Combat Power Gloves equipped, players can unleash devastating flurries of strikes which can be extremely effective against human opponents, as each punch will deal vicious damage, which is only further bolstered by the electric charge provided. The Combat Power Gloves are also great during stealth playthroughs, as players can get behind an enemy and with the click of a button (Circle), they can zap an enemy into sleeping.
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Tranq Sniper Rifle
Keep a Safe Distance
- How to Get: Complete Sub Order 100 (Government Base) at the Lone Commander in Australia
Not every fight has to involve Sam so close to his target, which is why the Tranq Sniper Rifle is a nice change of pace. With this weapon, Sam has a weapon that can be used effectively at long and medium ranges thanks to its variable scope with two zoom settings, and the addition of a mechanism to hold Sam’s breath for a better aim. While it’s not silenced, it’s still a great weapon for players who want to put their enemies to sleep without worrying about being in the middle of an enemy base.

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5
Shotgun
Get Close and Personal With Cargo Thieves
- How to Get: Complete Main Order 11 at the Musician in Australia
If short-range weaponry is to the player’s style, then the Shotgun is what they will want. This weapon is extremely effective for players who like to get close to their enemies, so run and charge in with armor plates and a Boost Skeleton to get in the thick of it and blast faces with a non-lethal Shotgun, providing high damage to tear through consciousness and armor alike to make sure not a single MULE is left standing with such rapid fire blasts.
4
Machine Gun
A Heavy Amount of Ammo Makes an Effective Weapon of War
- How to Get: Complete Main Order 24 at the Pizza Chef in Australia
If players want something a tad beefier than the Assault Rifle, then the Machine Gun is a solid choice to pick. With the Machine Gun, players have a weapon with plenty of ammo, but they will be limited in terms of movement. The Machine Gun isn’t the lightest weapon, and its high kick and recoil might prevent accuracy, but the plentiful ammo count means that there are more than enough shots involved to take out every enemy in a MULE base.
3
Assault Rifle
Rubber Bullets Help MULEs Say Night-Night
- How to Get: Automatic unlock at the start of the game
There’s nothing more reliable than an Assault Rifle. It’s sleek, with a decent ammo count, satisfying recoil, damage, and rate of fire. The Assault Rifle is here to get the job done, so if players want to storm into enemy headquarters with the ambitious desire to leave no MULE standing, then they have found the right weapon to use as this is a gun that won’t let them down with nearly every aspect of its easy-to-get and easy-to-use design.

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2
SL Tranq Handgun
Silenced to Help Enemies Into a Permanent Sleep
- How to Get: Reach Connection Level 3 with the Lone Commander in Australia
Not only is this lightweight weapon able to put human enemies to sleep easily, but it also does so without making a sound. Holstered in Sam’s pocket, this is a very light weapon that requires little space in Sam’s cargo, making it efficient and effective for use in combat. It’s great for stealth, even if it has limited range. Using the SL Tranq Handgun is a lot of fun due to its versatility as a light weapon that can instantly put enemies into a deep slumber.
1
Bola Stun Gun
Instantly Stun Enemies Regardless of Gear
- How to Get: Pick up lost cargo for The Inventor in Australia and Complete Connection Level 4
While the Inventor doesn’t offer any interesting connection rewards at the start, the Bola Stun Gun is an entirely new project that he’s been working on that works beautifully for players in search of a non-lethal weapon. The Bola Stun Gun is electrically charged, firing bolts of strand that will bind to targets to make them immobile and unconscious. Its new and upgraded design allows it to stun human enemies instantly, and every shot fired is quiet, so it’s the perfect choice for stealth.