My Epic Platinum Journey: Conquering Death Stranding 2's Most Brutal Trophies

Discover the challenging trophies of Death Stranding 2, an epic adventure demanding skill, strategy, and perseverance for true gamers seeking mastery.

As I sit here in July 2025, still recovering from what can only be described as a trophy hunting marathon, I can't help but reflect on my journey through Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Having platinum'd the original game twice—once on the now-delisted 2022 Xbox PC version and again on the 2024 Xbox Director's Cut—I foolishly thought I was prepared for what Kojima had in store. I was wrong. So very, very wrong.

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The Six Trophy Titans of DS2

When I first looked at the trophy list, it seemed like a natural expansion of the first game. But don't be deceived—DS2 is a beast that demands dozens of extra hours compared to its predecessor. According to PSNProfiles data, fewer than 10% of players have managed to earn the six hardest trophies. Let me walk you through my personal nightmare with each one.

A Premier Porter (9.59%)

Remember how in the original game we had to reach grade 60 in all five delivery categories? Well, DS2 technically lowered this to grade 40, but don't celebrate yet. The level scaling has been adjusted so that grade 40 is just as challenging to reach as 60 was in the original.

Combat and stealth categories were my personal demons. While combat leveled naturally as I cleared facilities, stealth was trickier. I discovered something interesting, though. After beating the main story, activating the Q-pid removes ghost mechs and reduces BT threats, which seemed to affect the stealth XP system in a curious way:


🔍 Stealth XP Trick:

- Activate Q-pid after story completion

- Run basic deliveries

- Earn 100+ stealth XP despite avoiding enemy areas

My theory? The game still counts those ghost mech and BT areas in your XP calculation, even when they're inactive. This strange quirk saved me hours of tedious sneaking.

Showdown At The Tar Lake (6.39%)

This trophy nearly broke me. To max out The Fisherman facility, you must ultimately face the Lord of the Tar Lake—a monstrosity that makes previous bosses look like training exercises.

I learned the hard way that you can't just summon any large BT to trigger this fight. You specifically need the one mentioned in the sub-order. My first attempt was a complete waste of time because I tried using a BT I'd already captured.

"Why can't I just fish for it?" I remember shouting at my screen. It's honestly baffling that a game set around water bodies doesn't include fishing mechanics—a massive missed opportunity by Kojima Productions.

When I finally faced the Lord, I was woefully underprepared. Its health bar seemed endless, and its multi-hit spit attack nearly one-shotted me from full health on Normal difficulty. I burned through every rocket I had brought and barely scraped through.

Master Builder (4.40%)

Here's where DS2 actually shows mercy compared to the original. In DS1, we had to fully upgrade all structures and fabricate all weapons and equipment—a grind that still haunts my dreams.

DS2 simplifies this by removing fabrication trophies and the upgrade requirements. You just need to build all structures, tools, a deployable shield, an electric trap, and any sign—18 items total.

The catch? The game doesn't track which ones you've already built. I had to create my own checklist:


✓ PCC Structures (clockwise on wheel menu)

✓ Ladder

✓ Guidepost

✓ Climbing anchor

✓ Shield

✓ Electric trap

✓ Sign (any type)

Remember that safehouses and bridges need additional resources after initial placement, so build them near facilities for easy resource access.

People Also Ask

Q: Is Death Stranding 2 harder than the first game?

A: Absolutely. The trophy requirements are more time-consuming, the map design makes efficient delivery more challenging, and certain trophies like "Connecting Hearts and Minds" include brutally difficult challenges not present in the original.

Q: How long does it take to platinum Death Stranding 2?

A: From my experience, expect to invest 10+ more hours than the original game. I spent approximately 120 hours total, with most of that time dedicated to maxing out all 42 facilities.

Q: What's the hardest trophy in Death Stranding 2?

A: "Connecting Hearts and Minds" is statistically the rarest (1.88% of players), primarily due to the "impossible challenge" at Mr. Impossible facility, which requires navigating the entire Australian map within a strict 50-minute time limit.

Seasoned Porter (3.04%)

This trophy requires getting 10 unique standard order S ranks per category on Casual difficulty or above. With only three categories instead of four, you'd think this would be easier than DS1's equivalent trophy. You'd be wrong.

The elimination/destruction orders barely spawn, making this trophy a nightmare of patience. I nearly maxed out all facilities and still needed one more elimination order. After days of frustration, I finally triggered my last required mission by killing three BTs for an F5 East Distribution Center recovery order.

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Pro tip: If you're struggling to find specific mission types, look up a complete standard order list online. It'll give you clues on how to trigger hidden orders by completing related missions in the same area.

Savior Of Terminal Fort Knot (2.98%)

This trophy requires completing all sub-orders for The Ghost Hunter facility—which you can only interact with when the Q-pid is turned off. This alone makes it more challenging than other facilities, but the real time-sink is waiting for standard orders to reappear to continue building the connection.

My strategy was to start working on The Ghost Hunter shortly after beating the main story, allowing me to multitask with other facilities while waiting for orders to refresh. The Pioneer's 350+ kg deliveries were particularly helpful for building connection quickly.

The culminating BT boss fight is mercifully easier than the Lord of the Tar Lake—its attacks aren't nearly as deadly, and I managed to take it down on my first attempt.

Connecting Hearts And Minds (1.88%)

This is it. The ultimate challenge. The platinum-defining trophy that separates the casual porters from the legends.

DS2 has 42 facilities to max out—three more than the original game. But the real killer is the map design. DS1's vertical layout allowed for efficient road transportation, while DS2's circular design makes it far more time-consuming to deliver orders to multiple facilities.

Then there's Mr. Impossible's "impossible challenge"—a fitting name if ever there was one. Starting from this facility, you must navigate the entirety of Australia, collecting cargo from all seven enemy encampments within a strict 50-minute time limit.

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I barely made it with two minutes to spare, my heart pounding as I delivered the final package. Though brutally difficult, it still doesn't reach the sadistic heights of Metal Gear Solid 2's VR missions—Kojima clearly has a history of torturing completionists.

The Platinum Porter's Toolkit

After 120+ hours of connecting America (again), I've compiled some essential tips for fellow trophy hunters:

  1. Start facility connections early: Begin working on The Ghost Hunter and other challenging facilities as soon as they become available

  2. Map your route: For the "impossible challenge," plan your path meticulously and use vehicles strategically

  3. Exploit the Q-pid trick: Use the Q-pid's effect on stealth XP to level up faster

  4. Track your progress: Create external checklists for structures and S-rank deliveries

  5. Prioritize elimination orders: Complete these whenever they appear, as they're the rarest

As I finally watched that platinum trophy pop, I couldn't help but think back to where my journey began. From the delisted 2022 Xbox PC version to this mammoth sequel, I've traversed every inch of Kojima's bizarre post-apocalyptic landscape. The journey was longer, harder, and more frustrating than I expected—but somehow, that made the victory even sweeter.

For those brave porters following in my footsteps: may your packages stay secure, your BB stay calm, and your patience remain intact. You're going to need every ounce of determination to join the 1.88% club. But trust me, the view from the summit is worth the climb.

Keep on keeping on, fellow porters. I'll see you on the beach. 🌊👶🦶