Death Stranding 2: How to Reach 5★ Connection Ratings & Unlock Gear Fast ~ HaploGamingChef

Introduction: How to Reach 5★ Connection Ratings & Unlock Gear Fast

In Death Stranding 2, raising your connection levels with each facility is the key to unlocking powerful gear—like electrical power gloves, sticky‑cannon upgrades, back‑flipping ramps, and exotic weaponry. All of these require 5‑star facility status, and that hinges on accumulating likes by delivering cargo and completing requests. After more than 100 hours of play, I’ve refined the fastest methods to earn likes, maximize lost cargo gains, and climb every hub’s rating quickly. This guide strips out all filler and focuses only on the essential tips and tricks—no fluff, just results.

Let’s dive into smart strategies you can start using today to boost your connection level, farm the best lost cargo, and unlock top-tier items in Death Stranding 2—fast.

Connection Level Basics

Raising your connection level revolves around likes earned at each facility. You can check your current rating by hovering over a hub on the map or via the social strand service menu. Simple story deliveries usually push you to one star, but to hit 5★, you’ll need a mix of standard orders, lost cargo retrievals, and aid request completions. Larger, heavier shipments grant more likes, but lost cargo—especially XL containers—deliver the best return per trip.

Farming Lost Cargo Near Hubs

When you’re near a facility, use scanning frequently to uncover nearby lost cargo within a 500–1,000 m radius. Investing in the Apass scanner upgrade expands range significantly. Focus especially on clusters of medium and XL cargo. Route back-to-back runs around each hub ensure that you capitalize on every container without doubling back inefficiently.

Mule Camp Exploits

Enemy mule posts often house 2–3 packed containers in their mailboxes. Scan thoroughly (they often appear as holograms) and—after clearing enemies—collect them. You can build watchtowers in these locations to mark enemies and cargo automatically on your scanner. Each mule camp run yields hundreds or even thousands of likes once delivered.

Clearing BT Zones for XL Yields

BT zones frequently spawn XL lost cargo—up to 12–15 major containers in a single area. Identify recurring BT hotspots (like those near the lone commander location) by scanning and mapping them as you play. Equip blood grenades or weapons to bait or defeat BTs, then sweep in to grab the containers. Clearing a zone’s boss drops Chyro crystals and unlocks cleaner retrieval conditions for full star-level gains.

Entrusted Delivery Trick

After gathering cargo, go to a hub (any facility) and entrust everything—even lost cargo not meant for that facility—to a porter. In Death Stranding 1, entrusted packages returned reduced likes—but DS2 appears to grant nearly full likes. Delivery takes 1–2 hours real-time or offline time. You can play other missions while porters handle transport, getting all likes without physically hauling cargo.

Leveraging Shared Lockers

Playing online gives access to shared lockers at facilities. Check “share cargo with other porters” to see unclaimed entrusted items logged by others. You can pick up locker cargo destined for that same facility and entrust it back for fast, repeated credits. Or claim, haul, and deliver it yourself. Either way, this doubles down on your connection-level gains with minimal effort.

Standard Orders & Star-Level Consistency

Standard delivery orders vary in weight and distance. Longer hauls and heavier packages yield more likes. When designing courier routes—especially using zipline, road, or monorail networks—you can string together mid-weight deliveries efficiently. Just make sure to equip exoskeletons or floating carriers to stay mobile yet powerful under load.

Pickup Off‑Roader & Load-Out Efficiency

The pickup off-roader truck lets you haul more cargo and stash up to XL containers. Use sticky-cannon and climbing-glove upgrades to load deliveries without having to exit the vehicle. Exoskeletons add mobility and carry weight, especially useful when the floating carrier alone can’t. There’s a trade-off if you rely on zipline networks—off-roader mechanics differ when off-road—but overall the storage capacity is unmatched.

Zipline, Monorail & Road Network Synergy

Once you’ve unlocked zipline routes, roads, and monorails, they offer fast, no-risk corridors. You can optimize long-haul standard deliveries without damage. Heavy cargo loses less durability on these routes, so pair longer-distance orders with your transportation networks for easy high-like drops. Plus, the added speed shortens trip times—meaning more hops in less session time.

Optimizing Aid Requests

Aid requests are simple missions like handing over building materials or retrieving small items. They give consistent likes and can be done in bulk, if you bring the required kit materials ahead of time (check the menu!). Since they’re quick and often local, they’re perfect side-ops while you're farming lost cargo or traveling between hubs.

Star‑Boost Strategy: Spread Your Deliveries

Here’s a top-tier trick: each hub allows only one star-level increase per delivery, but extra likes carry over behind the scenes. Instead of dumping 5,000 likes in one go, spread that same cargo across multiple drops. That triggers star-ups one after another, advancing you faster. Just hold back a few packages after each delivery, and you can double- or triple-up star-levels with successive trips.

Final Wrap-Up & Unlockable Gear

Once you've hit 5★ status at a facility, unlocks like:

Electrical Power Gloves (carry heavy cargo effortlessly)
Zipline Rampettes (back-flip launch ramps)
Sticky-Cannon upgrade (multi-cargo pickup tool)
Exosuit variants (for load and mobility)
Chyro-crystal gear (earned via BT bosses)

Track your remaining items in each hub’s supply list. Then move on to the next facility and rinse‑repeat with these methods.

Conclusion

Mastering connection levels in Death Stranding 2 isn’t just about hauling cargo—it's about optimizing your routes, leveraging entrusted deliveries, and making use of every tool the game gives you. By consistently farming lost cargo, clearing out BT zones, and sharing deliveries via lockers and porters, you can reach 5★ ratings across all facilities without burnout. These high connection levels reward you with essential upgrades and gear, which make every future run easier and more efficient.

Keep experimenting with your strategy, blend offline and online techniques, and prioritize smart deliveries over pure volume. With the right approach, you’ll unlock the full potential of Sam’s toolkit and speed through those connection levels without wasted effort.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the fastest way to get 5-star facility levels in Death Stranding 2?
Farm XL lost cargo near BT zones and enemy camps, then entrust it via hub terminals or deliver it directly using optimized routes.

Can entrusted cargo still earn you likes in Death Stranding 2?
Yes. Unlike the first game, you receive nearly full likes for entrusted cargo, making it a passive but effective method for leveling up.

How do I know when a BT zone will have XL cargo?
Explore frequently—these zones are semi-random, but some locations near major characters tend to spawn high-value cargo often.

Does online mode affect cargo delivery efficiency?
Yes. Online porters can sometimes be slower, but shared lockers and other players’ infrastructure can greatly speed up your progress.

What gear unlocks at max connection level?
Items like sticky cannon upgrades, power gloves, exosuits, advanced zipline tools, and rare weapons become available at 5★.

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