Getting around in Death Stranding 2 can be tough early on—especially without a vehicle. Whether you’re playing offline or online, this guide explains when and how you unlock your first ride, where to find vehicles early, and what alternatives exist to help speed up your journey across the harsh terrain of a fragmented world.
When and How to Unlock Vehicles
If you’re playing Death Stranding 2 without the online features enabled, you won’t have access to vehicles right away. In fact, for the first few hours, you’ll be exploring the terrain entirely on foot as the game slowly introduces its core mechanics. It might take anywhere from three to five hours—depending on how you play—before you can finally build your first vehicle.
This milestone comes shortly after you complete Order No. 6. Once that’s done, the game will alert you that vehicle crafting is now available at terminals. Just head over to one, and you’ll see an option to create a vehicle.
Your First Vehicle: The Tri-Cruiser
In the beginning, your only available choice is the Tri-Cruiser. While it’s a pretty basic vehicle, it’s incredibly helpful for speeding up your travels across large areas of the map.
Unlocking Vehicles Through Online Sync
That said, story progression isn’t the only way to get a vehicle. If you’re playing online, you might score one earlier through a bit of luck. Since the game uses a shared-world system, items and structures left by other players can randomly appear in your game—including bikes or other vehicles someone else left behind. There’s no guarantee, but if the server syncs just right, you could find yourself cruising long before expected.
Enemy Camps as a Vehicle Source
Another option is to raid enemy outposts. Occasionally, these brigand camps will have a vehicle you can use temporarily. However, like player-dropped vehicles, there’s no promise you’ll find one, and these particular rides can’t be repaired—so they’re best used in the short term.
Should You Take the Risk?
For anyone finding the early-game treks a bit too slow, exploring these alternate methods might be worthwhile. A bit of luck or risk-taking could land you a ride that makes a big difference in how you get around.
