Kojima Productions and 505 Games brought the Director's Cut to PC on 30 March 2022, adding the Buddy Bot, the Maser Gun, the Cargo Catapult, support skeletons, a firing range and the Ruined Factory missions on top of the 2019 original. You are Sam Porter Bridges, hauling cargo across a broken United Cities of America and switching each facility onto the Chiral Network one delivery at a time. Weight distribution, terrain reading and route planning carry more of the game than shooting does, which is still the most argued about design decision of its year.
DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capital Knot City | Episodes 1 to 2, Eastern region | The first cargo orders, the Bridges suit, the initial Chiral Network link | Heavy Hauler |
| 2 | Port Knot City | Episode 2, Eastern region | Story progression west, the BB pod arc, first large scale BT confrontation | Heavy Hauler |
| 3 | Lake Knot City | Episode 3, Central region | Central region Chiral Network access, vehicle blueprints, the road building network start | Speed Runner Porter |
| 4 | South Knot City | Episode 3 onward, Central region | Major story beats, dense BT crossings, high value standard orders | Speed Runner Porter |
| 5 | Mountain Knot City | Episodes 5 to 6, mountain region | All terrain skeleton, the mountain prepper chain, the best zip line anchor points in the game | Speed Runner Porter |
Capital Knot City: Starting Area
The eastern hub and the base Bridges actually operates from after Central Knot City is lost. It sets the pattern for every knot: an incinerator, a private room, a terminal with standard orders, and a five star connection to grind toward.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Episodes 1 to 2, Eastern region |
| Key Rewards | The first cargo orders, the Bridges suit, the initial Chiral Network link |
| Recommended Build | Heavy Hauler |
| Key Equipment | Bola Gun |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Weight and balance. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Port Knot City.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Port Knot City: Early Game
A harbour city reached across water rather than land, and the point where the eastern chapter closes and the map opens up properly. The delivery there involves the game's first real BT set piece.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Episode 2, Eastern region |
| Key Rewards | Story progression west, the BB pod arc, first large scale BT confrontation |
| Recommended Build | Heavy Hauler |
| Key Equipment | Bola Gun |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering BT encounters and Timefall. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Bola Gun if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Lake Knot City.
Lake Knot City: Mid Game
The first central region city and the practical start of the open middle of the game. From here the map fans out to the Wind Farm, the Distribution Center and the long chain of preppers who supply the best blueprints.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Episode 3, Central region |
| Key Rewards | Central region Chiral Network access, vehicle blueprints, the road building network start |
| Recommended Build | Speed Runner Porter |
| Key Equipment | Bola Gun |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Odradek Scanner becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Chiral Network connection for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
South Knot City: Late Game
A southern city surrounded by BT heavy ground and MULE territory, which makes the approach harder than the delivery. It is also where the story turns from logistics toward the people running the network.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Episode 3 onward, Central region |
| Key Rewards | Major story beats, dense BT crossings, high value standard orders |
| Recommended Build | Speed Runner Porter |
| Key Equipment | Odradek Scanner |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Odradek Scanner should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Portable Chiral Constructor building mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Mountain Knot City.
Mountain Knot City: Endgame
The highest and most punishing knot, sitting past snowfields where vehicles are useless and Timefall never really stops. It is the region that justifies building a zip line network instead of walking.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Episodes 5 to 6, mountain region |
| Key Rewards | All terrain skeleton, the mountain prepper chain, the best zip line anchor points in the game |
| Recommended Build | Speed Runner Porter |
| Key Equipment | Odradek Scanner |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Combat Porter for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: Capital Knot City → Port Knot City → Lake Knot City → South Knot City → Mountain Knot City. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment: Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT Guides
- DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT Overview
- DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT Best Builds
- DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT Tier List
- DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT Walkthrough
- DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT Beginner's Guide
- DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT Tips & Tricks
- DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT Weapons Guide
- DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT Combat Guide
- DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT Boss Guide
- DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT Crafting Guide
- DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT Classes & Characters
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