Death Stranding 2 Connection Mechanics Explained: Your Blueprint for Achieving 5 Stars

 

Death Stranding 2: Unlock 5-Star Connections Fast with These Pro Tips

If you’re deep into Death Stranding 2 and striving to unlock those coveted five-star connections, you’ve come to the right place. After spending over 130 hours navigating the toughest challenges, exploring every nook and cranny, and grinding through the most intense Bal Mode difficulty, I’m here to share the strategies that will help you secure the best rewards and connections in the game.

This guide isn’t just about reaching 5 stars — it’s about maximizing your efforts without wasting time. I’ll walk you through the tools, methods, and strategies that work best to achieve 5-star ratings with each prepper. If you’re curious about the five-star rewards for every prepper before you dive into the grind, check out the linked Google Sheet in the description or the other videos in the series. But, without further ado, let’s get started.

How Many Likes Do You Need for 5 Stars in Death Stranding 2?

The first question on everyone’s mind when grinding for connection levels is: How many likes does it take to hit five stars?

The short answer: it varies. But let’s break it down so you know exactly what you’re getting into.

• Smaller-tier preppers will generally hit five stars once you’ve accumulated between 3,000 to 5,000 likes. These are usually early-game or low-profile characters, and reaching their max connection level is a bit more forgiving.

• For mid-tier preppers, you’ll often see five stars unlocked in the 6,000 to 7,000 likes range. This is where the grind starts to get real, but it’s manageable if you stay focused.

• For the biggest facilities (especially those in mountainous or difficult-to-reach areas), the likes required can go as high as 10,000 to 15,000. These preppers have bigger rewards at stake, but the grind is much heavier.

There are a few standout exceptions, though. Some characters, like the Adventurer, the Ghost Hunter, Mr. Impossible, and the Pizza Chef, will require you to complete specific sub-orders before they’ll start accumulating likes. This means you’ll need to wait for certain story progressions to unlock these characters fully. Patience is key here.

Don’t Stress About 5 Stars — 4 Stars Are Perfectly Fine

Here’s my first piece of advice: unless you’re a completionist with an unhealthy obsession with perfection (like me), you don’t necessarily need to max out every prepper’s connection to five stars. Four stars is usually more than enough for most preppers and will get you the vast majority of the game’s benefits.

Here’s why:

• Stars 1 to 3 are relatively easy to achieve, often only accounting for about 20% of the total likes you need to max out the prepper.

• However, stars 4 and 5 are where the grind really becomes painful, as the likes required escalate exponentially. Trust me, getting from 3 stars to 5 stars isn’t just a slight step up — it’s a massive leap.

That said, there are five-star rewards that are worth considering if you’re determined to push through the grind:

1. The Artist Prepper unlocks additional color data for your customizations.

2. The Lone Commander gives you the silent lightweight tranquil laser rifle — one of the best tactical tools for stealth.

3. The Pizza Chef rewards you with the whole pizza outfit (a fun, but largely cosmetic item).

Let’s be honest, outside of the Lone Commander’s rifle, these rewards are mostly for flair. If that’s what you’re after, great. But if you’re looking for the most efficient use of your time, it’s wise to focus on getting four stars and moving on.

Strategies for Maximizing Likes Without the Grind

Even though reaching five stars with each prepper is no small task, there are ways to make the process more efficient and less tiresome. You’ll need to think about quantity, size, and quality when it comes to deliveries. So, how do you do that?

You essentially have two options for maximizing likes:

1. Go Big or Go Home — Deliver large packages in bulk with great care. This is where the pickup rotor comes in handy (more on that later).

2. Swarm Them with Small Deliveries — Focus on small and medium-sized packages, including standard orders, aid requests, and lost cargo. It might not seem like much, but it adds up over time.

One of the easiest and most straightforward ways to grind for likes is by completing standard orders. These orders are less story-driven but are unlocked as you progress through the main story or by fulfilling specific orders from the prepper.

My advice? B-line straight to the endgame to unlock as many of these standard orders as you can. Once you’ve done that, hit them all at once when you have the most efficient setup available.

If you're more into the "methodical" grind, you can focus on each prepper one by one as you reach new story zones. Preppers usually have orders confined to a specific zip code, so you can methodically clear the area, complete all orders, and max out connection before moving on. While it might seem tedious, I prefer this method because it lets me finish what I started before progressing forward.

Keep Track of Missed Orders

There’s nothing more frustrating than finishing a prepper’s connection only to realize you missed an order and can't go back to it. Thankfully, you can easily keep track of any missed deliveries through the order menu. By performing a quick search, you can see which orders you may have missed and stay up to date with every prepper’s needs.

When reviewing orders, pay special attention to the cargo count. Bigger orders with more packages generally translate into more likes per delivery. Don’t be afraid to grab orders that seem minor, either — they can be stored and delivered later when you’ve got the time.

Use Private Lockers Wisely

Private lockers are game-changers. Since Death Stranding 2 heavily focuses on managing your cargo and deliveries, private lockers provide a convenient way to store extra supplies without the risk of losing them.

Don’t hesitate to use these lockers to stash smaller deliveries that you don’t have time for right now. That way, you can free up cargo space for the bigger, more important items and keep your inventory streamlined. Whether you’re on the road or in a private facility, private lockers will save you from carrying unnecessary clutter.

Lost Cargo: A Hidden Goldmine

Here’s a little-known secret: lost cargo can be your best friend when trying to rank up with preppers. After all, lost cargo is just sitting there, waiting to be collected and delivered to its rightful owner. More often than not, these packages are worth a decent amount of likes, and they’re an easy way to boost your connection levels.

One of the best ways to approach lost cargo is by scanning packages as you find them. The larger the number on the package, the more valuable it is. Once you’ve collected enough of these, you can deliver them to the relevant preppers to quickly rack up the likes and connection points.

The Essential Tools for Ranking Up Fast

So, what are the must-have tools for reaching five-star connections? Thankfully, most of the essential tools are unlocked fairly early on in the game. These include:

1. Pickup Rotor – Unlock it by completing Order #13 in the main story. This handy tool helps you carry large and heavy packages more efficiently.

2. Floating Carrier – Available at Level 1 and 2, unlocked by completing Order #12 and reaching 3 stars of connection in West for Not. These carriers will make large-scale deliveries easier than ever.

3. Sticky Gun – This tool is unlocked after reaching South Distribution Center, and it’s perfect for attaching cargo to your floating carrier.

As you progress, you’ll also want to restore monorails or invest in zip lines to avoid damaging your cargo. If you rush through the main story, though, don’t worry — roads and infrastructure will gradually be built as you approach the endgame. Save your resources and effort for the areas that truly need it.

A Key Tip for Ranking Up Faster

Here’s a final tip: don’t deliver everything all at once. It may sound counterintuitive, but there’s a hidden mechanic at play here. When you dump a large load of cargo, you’ll often see your connection meter rise dramatically, but you can’t rank up by two levels in a single delivery.

Here’s the trick: if you have a massive cargo dump ready to go, save one package for last. By doing this, you’ll be able to rank up twice in a single delivery by splitting the reward into two stages. It’s a small trick, but it made a huge difference in speeding up my own grind.

Wrapping Up: Work Smarter, Not Harder

There you have it, fellow porters! Death Stranding 2’s connection mechanics aren’t just about mindlessly grinding away. By working smarter, optimizing your deliveries, and utilizing the right tools, you can rank up preppers quickly and efficiently — without breaking a sweat. Remember, you don’t need to aim for five stars with every prepper. Four stars will get you nearly everything you need, and for the rewards that require five stars, the grind is definitely worth it if you're up for it.

Be sure to check out the rest of my Death Stranding 2 content, where I dive deeper into other gameplay mechanics, tips, and tricks. Let me know in the comments if there’s anything you’d like to add, or if you think I missed a crucial step!

Happy delivering, and enjoy the ride!

FAQ

1. How do I achieve 5 stars with each prepper in Death Stranding 2?
To reach 5 stars, focus on delivering large packages in bulk or complete many smaller orders. Use tools like the Pickup Rotor and Floating Carrier for efficiency. You can also utilize lost cargo for easy boosts in likes.

2. How many likes are needed for 5 stars?
Likes required vary by prepper, with smaller preppers needing around 3,000–5,000 likes, mid-tier around 6,000–7,000, and larger preppers needing 10,000–15,000 likes.

3. Is it necessary to reach 5 stars with every prepper?
No, four stars is often enough for most preppers to get useful rewards. Five stars are only necessary for specific cosmetic or gameplay rewards.

4. Can I use lost cargo to increase my connection level?
Yes! Lost cargo is a great way to boost likes. Collect as many as you can and deliver them to preppers for easy rank-ups.

5. What’s the best tool to help with deliveries?
The Pickup Rotor, Floating Carrier, and Sticky Gun are the essential tools to efficiently carry and deliver heavy cargo, especially for larger deliveries.

6. Should I deliver all cargo at once for a fast rank-up?
Avoid delivering everything at once. If you save one package for last, you can rank up two levels in one delivery, speeding up the process.

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