In Death Stranding, exploration and connection are the heart of the journey. Every delivery you make and every relationship you build contributes to the growing web of humanity known as the Chiral Network. Central to this system are Preppers, reclusive individuals scattered across America’s desolate terrain. Each Prepper provides valuable rewards—ranging from vital gear and weapons to unique cosmetic items and holograms—that help Sam Bridges survive his cross-country mission.
Finding and completing deliveries for these Preppers is key to unlocking the game’s most useful tools. By strengthening your bond with each Prepper through repeated successful deliveries, you’ll gain access to increasingly powerful equipment and even some hidden items that make traversal safer and combat more manageable.
Understanding Preppers and Their Rewards
Preppers are essentially quest-givers in Death Stranding. Each one lives in a private bunker and represents a fragment of pre-apocalypse society. When Sam makes deliveries to their shelters, their trust level—or connection level—increases, unlocking new gear tiers, schematics, and cosmetic bonuses.
At level 5, Preppers often grant hologram data, the ability to rest at their shelter, and a cosmetic star for your uniform, marking full trust. Many also provide exclusive items that can’t be found elsewhere in the game.
Key Gear and Upgrades by Location
The following rewards are obtained as part of your progression through the main story and by strengthening relationships with various Preppers across the Eastern and Central regions.
Essential Story Progression Gear
- Waystation West of Capital Knot City: Postbox (PCC Level 1)
- Distribution Center West of Capital Knot City: Container Repair Spray, Bridge (PCC Level 1)
- Wind Farm: Generator (PCC Level 1)
- Capital Knot City: Blood Bag, Hematic Grenade Level 1
- Lake Knot City: Smoke-emitting Decoy Cargo
- Engineer: Power Skeleton Level 1, Smoke Grenade Level 1
- Craftsman: Bola Gun Level 1
- Distribution Center South of Lake Knot City: Delivery Bot, Truck, and Backpack Customization
- Weather Station: PCC Level 2, Floating Carrier Level 1
- Chiral Artist: Anti-BT Handgun Level 1
- Junk Dealer: Power Skeleton Level 1, Smoke Grenade Level 1
- South Knot City: Handgun Level 1, Assault Rifle Level 1, Grenades
- Lake Knot City (Secondary Visit): Sticky Gun
- Waystation North of Mountain Knot City: Armor Plate Level 1, Non-Lethal Assault Rifle Level 1
- Knot City: Stabilizer
These core rewards mark your journey’s progression, introducing the game’s crucial mechanics—cargo stability, defense, and traversal tools.
Eastern Region Preppers and Rewards
- Capital Knot City: Bridges Baseball Cap (Connection Level 3)
- Ludens Fan: Ludens Jumbo Nendroid (Level 2) and Ludens Fan Hologram (Level 4)
- Distribution Center West of Capital Knot City: Benjamin Hancock Hologram (Level 4)
- Musician: Harmonica (Unlocked on first delivery)
The Eastern Region serves as a training ground for connecting early Preppers and familiarizing players with delivery routes and terrain challenges.
Central Region Preppers and Rewards
Once you reach the Central Region, the number of Preppers expands significantly, and the rewards grow more powerful.
- Lake Knot City: William Lake Hologram (Level 4)
- Engineer: Power Skeleton upgrades (Levels 2–4) and Engineer Hologram
- Craftsman: Bola Gun upgrades (Levels 2–3), Custom Hematic Grenades
- Elder: Vog-emitting Decoy Cargo (Level 2), Hologram (Level 4)
- Distribution Center South of Lake Knot City: Windmill Backpack Accessory, Delivery Bots, Bridges Boots, Truck (Levels 1–5)
- Collector: Backpack Cover (Level 1)
- Junk Dealer: Speed Skeletons, Smoke Bombs, Custom Chiral Ladders, Remote Stun Bombs, Holograms
- Chiral Artist & Film Director: Anti-BT Handguns, Chiral Boots, and exclusive Holograms
- Weather Station: Weather Talisman, PCC Level 2, Floating Carriers
- Cosplayer: Otter Hood, Omnireflector Backpack Color, Utility Holograms
- South Knot City: Handguns, Assault Rifles, Grenades, and Vehicles
- Timefall Farm: Odradek Upgrades, Goose Hologram
- Veteran Porter / First Prepper: Rare crafting materials and performance boosts
- Paleontologist, Geologist, Heartman, Evo-devo Biologist, Roboticist: Range of holograms, structural upgrades, and improved traversal tools
These Preppers embody the thematic core of Death Stranding: rebuilding human connections through effort and persistence. By uniting them under the Chiral Network, you not only strengthen the story’s emotional impact but also equip yourself with vital tools for survival in increasingly hostile terrain.
Tips for Building Stronger Prepper Relationships
- Deliver Perfectly: Minimize cargo damage and deliver quickly for higher connection bonuses.
- Use Zip Lines and Carriers: Efficient routes increase delivery ratings, especially in mountainous regions.
- Share Structures: Building useful bridges and generators benefits other players and boosts your likes, indirectly improving your overall standing.
- Revisit Key Preppers: Some only unlock their best rewards after key story events or repeat deliveries.
- Always Recycle Lost Cargo: Returning lost cargo improves your reputation across connected areas.
Why These Rewards Matter
Each Prepper contributes to Sam’s growing arsenal. Early upgrades like the Power Skeleton and Floating Carrier enhance traversal, while advanced weapons like the Anti-BT Handgun and Sticky Gun prepare you for tougher missions. Vehicles, delivery bots, and backpacks streamline your runs, turning once-tedious routes into efficient networks.
Even cosmetic unlocks such as holograms and badges showcase your achievements across the Chiral Network, symbolizing the restoration of civilization in a fractured world.
