Upon the launch of the first Death Stranding, it was clear that Kojima Productions was trying to make a game like no other. However, after an outpouring of constructive feedback following the first game, changes have been made in the sequel -Death Stranding 2: On the Beach- that add some more traditionally game-like features.
One of the most obvious examples of this is the APAS Enhancements, which you’ll quickly notice resemble a standard skill tree. Sam will be working with a limited amount of Memory that grows gradually throughout the game, so which abilities are worth seeking out first?
9Emergency Vehicle Charger
90 Memory
When making longer deliveries throughout Death Stranding 2, it’s easy to get ahead of yourself and overestimate justhow far your vehiclewill be able to travel before running out of battery. Perhaps you were expecting a generator and none over appeared, or maybe you’re outside of the Chiral Network and stranded.
In these circumstances you’ll want to have access to the Emergency Vehicle Charger. This augment will drain Sam’s own personal battery (used to power devices like the exo skeletons) to instead charge the car. It’s manual so verify to remember the button toggle, and should only be used in emergencies as the name suggests since it’s a pretty harsh conversion rate from Sam’s battery to the vehicle.
8Increased MP Firing Rate
100 Memory
One of the most notable changes between the first Death Stranding and the sequel is the increased relevance of combat. Instead of being encouraged to avoid direct conflict when possible, there are now plenty more options for taking out enemies throughout the game.
For the majority of these encounters, you’ll be blasting through your supply of MP bullets, but if you’re annoyed at how slowly they fire, it’s worth aiming for the Increased MP Firing Rate enhancement as quickly as you can. As the name suggests, your fire rate increases, but beware: this also means you’ll run through your ammo much quicker too.
7Swift MULE Postbox Hacking
20 Memory
As you rebuild Australiathroughout your journeyin Death Stranding 2, you’ll quickly realize that you’ll need plenty of materials to complete your quest, especially if you’re looking for 100 percent. While mines are handy, one of the best sources of resources are enemy camps.
If you’re looking to get in and out unspotted, and want to avoid patrolling guards without combat, then the Swift MULE Postbox Hacking is a necessity. As you’d expect, the previously slow unlocking process will be significantly boosted, letting you easily steal goods before being noticed.
6Faster Scanner Recharging
40 Memory
In the early hours of Death Stranding, you’ll probably not be using the scanner too often, only needing to use the device every few seconds at most to get your bearings. However, the further you get in, the more likely you are to want to do more frequent readings to quickly scan everything around you.
In these situations, you’ll likely run up against the short cooldown period for the scanner, and end up frustrated with the wasted time. To avoid this, and for a relatively cheap Memory cost, it’s worth investing in Faster Scanner Recharging to make this cooldown practically non-existant.
5Simple Noise Canceller
While combat is definitely more encouraged throughout Death Stranding 2, there are still just as many opportunities for stealth, and with BTs especially, this is usually the best way to go. Even though Sam isn’t particularly clumsy,at his default level, you’ll realize that enemies in the game are pretty effective at hearing when he’s nearby, occasionally jeopardizing your stealth efforts.
This is why the Simple Noise Canceller, at only 20 Memory, is one of the best early game enhancements to invest in right away. The ability makes Sam’s movements notably quieter, and the more you use it, the better it gets. So, if you sneak regularly during the early-game, you’ll be silent by the time you’re in the end-game stealth sections.
4Sharing Boost
60 Memory
Sharing truly is caring, a mantra that definitely rings true when you realize just how many resources you’ll be spending on various building projects throughout Death Stranding, and how much you can save with the help of the Strand system.
Need to build a watchtower, generator, or timefall shelter? There’s a good chance someone else already has, and you may spare them a like for the trouble. Sharing structures between players is one of the many joys of Death Stranding, and if you want more of these boons, then Sharing Boost will increase the odds in your favor.
3Improved MP Bullets
The further you get into Death Stranding 2, the more resources you have access to, and the various enemies around the map will get more powerful as well. With extra shields and a whole arsenal of new weapons every time, Sam will need as much firepower as possible.
That’s why you’ll want to grab the Improved MP Bullets enhancement as soon as you can. The simple upgrade makes your MP bullets deal more damage, as well as making them more accurate. There’s no downside, so if you’re using MP bullets, which you likely are, this ability is a no-brainer.
2Instant Cargo Binding
One of the first high-cost enhancements you’ll spot on the skill tree is Instant Cargo Binding, and while it seems like a high cost so early in the game, it’s still best to unlock it as soon as you can.
As soon as you have it, all the cargo held on your backpack will be connected by an electric cargo binding. It means that your cargo won’t spread out and get even more damaged if you trip, and makes recovery a lot quicker. While it uses a miniscule amount of your battery, the benefits are well worth the tiny sacrifice.
1Optimised Transfusions
While Sam is pretty beefy and can take a good few hits during combat, as you make it to the late-game, you’ll realize that Sam will be relying on his stock of blood bags more often than you might like.
Once Sam loses health, his active blood bag will start to slowly tranfuse blood to refill it, but this process is pretty slow, and requires him to have not taken damage for a short while. If you want Sam’s healing process to be sped up, then Optimised Transfusions is ideal since it makes the transfer between health and blood bag much more efficient.
