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.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odradek Scanner | S | Route planning before every delivery and locating BTs in Timefall while crouched and holding breath. | The shoulder mounted scanner is the most used tool in the game. |
| Bola Gun | A | Clearing MULE camps to steal their cargo and vehicles without triggering a crater. | A non lethal restraint launcher that ties up MULEs and terrorists without killing them. |
| Blood Grenade | A | BT territory crossings and the tar pit boss fights where hematic damage is the only thing that works. | Grenades filled with Sam's own blood, which is one of the few things that harms BTs. |
| Portable Chiral Constructor | B | Building zip lines, generators and postboxes that turn a hostile route into a commuting lane. | Not a weapon but the most important piece of equipment Sam carries. |
| Maser Gun | B | Early game MULE encounters before the Bola Gun and stun grenades are properly stocked. | A Director's Cut addition that fires an electric shock to stun human enemies, unlocked after clearing Order 77 at the K2 West Distribution Center. |
S-Tier: Odradek Scanner
The shoulder mounted scanner is the most used tool in the game. A ground scan colours terrain by how safely Sam can cross it, and near BTs the arms unfold and point, with the clicking rate telling you how close the threat is.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Route planning before every delivery and locating BTs in Timefall while crouched and holding breath. |
| Key Mechanic | Weight and balance |
| Recommended Build | Speed Runner Porter |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Odradek Scanner: Pairs naturally with Speed Runner Porter thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Bola Gun
A non lethal restraint launcher that ties up MULEs and terrorists without killing them. Since corpses cause voidouts if left alone, non lethal tools are the practical default rather than a moral option.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Clearing MULE camps to steal their cargo and vehicles without triggering a crater. |
| Key Mechanic | BT encounters and Timefall |
| Recommended Build | Heavy Hauler |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Bola Gun: Pairs naturally with Heavy Hauler thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Blood Grenade
Grenades filled with Sam's own blood, which is one of the few things that harms BTs. Throwing them drains his blood gauge, so cryptobiotes and blood bags are part of the ammunition supply chain.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | BT territory crossings and the tar pit boss fights where hematic damage is the only thing that works. |
| Key Mechanic | Chiral Network connection |
| Recommended Build | Vehicle Courier |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Blood Grenade: Pairs naturally with Vehicle Courier thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Portable Chiral Constructor
Not a weapon but the most important piece of equipment Sam carries. It converts chiral bandwidth into permanent structures, and every one you place also appears in other players' worlds.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Building zip lines, generators and postboxes that turn a hostile route into a commuting lane. |
| Key Mechanic | Social Strand structures |
| Recommended Build | Zip Line Engineer |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Portable Chiral Constructor: Pairs naturally with Zip Line Engineer thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Maser Gun
A Director's Cut addition that fires an electric shock to stun human enemies, unlocked after clearing Order 77 at the K2 West Distribution Center. It arrives early enough to change how the first MULE camps play.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Early game MULE encounters before the Bola Gun and stun grenades are properly stocked. |
| Key Mechanic | Portable Chiral Constructor building |
| Recommended Build | Combat Porter |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Maser Gun: Pairs naturally with Combat Porter thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Capital Knot City
- Bola Gun → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Blood Grenade → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Odradek Scanner → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying. One strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Scan the ground with the Odradek before every departure. The colour coding shows which slopes Sam can descend without falling, and reading it properly saves more time than any piece of gear.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
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 Combat Guide
- DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT Boss Guide
- DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT Maps & Locations
- DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT Crafting Guide
- DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT, check out these related guides:
- Red Dead Redemption 2 Weapons Guide: adventure game with similar mechanics
- Sea of Thieves Weapons Guide: adventure game with similar mechanics
- Dredge Weapons Guide: adventure game with similar mechanics
