How to Use Signs in Death Stranding 2

In Death Stranding 2, signs aren’t just markers, they’re the DNA of a shared universe. When you’re exploring Hideo Kojima’s incredibly detailed and eerie post-apocalyptic setting, signs serve as the breadcrumbs, or in this case, guidance that other players had left in their wake by using the games’ unique Social Strand System. They can be the lifesavers, the mischief-makers, the mood-boosters of life. Here’s how to use signs to your advantage and in a responsible manner.

Signs as Silent AlliesPicture climbing a dangerous mountain only to discover a cheery sign of approval: “You made it, adventurous climber! It’s not simply a “flex”— it’s a powerful signal that this uncharted path, no matter how daunting, is passable. Players litter cryptic messages to lead other players down paths to hidden quests, safe havens, or just past forgotten souls. Whether we are local or far-flung, these messages foster a unique kind of asynchronous camaraderie. You are not alone, even if no one is around you.


Illusory wayfinding signs such as “Go Left” or “Point of Interest” often temporarily and subconsciously change the course of your ride. Look At This Cool Thing! could be the difference between finding an elusive in-game collectible or walking by it without ever noticing. Think of each indicator as advice from a person who has walked this path already because that’s precisely what it is.

Support, Encouragement, and Buffs in the WastelandAll signs don’t need to be purely functional either. Some are more emotional and mechanical. Deeper functions served. Cheer communication cues such as “Keep on Keeping on” or “You Got This!” don’t merely boost morale. They actually recharge energy. Some provide useful community resistance to environmental threats like “Stay Warm!” Protect yourself against the cold, and “Don’t Let the Heat Get You Down! provides relief from extreme heat and cold.


If you’re zooming around on a tri-cruiser, watch out for “Speed Up” signs. These strategically located upgrades not only speed up delivery runs, making them more efficient, but they create a delivery run environment which is safer or, at worst, more dangerous depending on where these popular new in-game boosters are deployed. The rub? You are only allowed to put so many of them down, forcing you to prioritize which speed zones get the special treatment.

How to Create SignsIt’s pretty easy to just put down a sign. Press and hold the D-pad, select your sign from a wide array of categories, Communication, Fun, or Symbols, and place it down wherever you feel it’s necessary. Bear in mind that signs may otherwise serve as beacons of hope or guidance, they can be commandeered to mislead.

Other players set up signs by cliffs with upbeat messages such as “Bon Voyage!” or “Go Forward” to guide unsuspecting friends into deadly landscapes. move fast and break things It’s cavalier at a minimum, reckless at maximum. Sign with a purpose Rather than simply uploading a sign template or graphic, sign with the goal of creating engagement. Inspire others, brighten someone’s day, lead them to a natural wonder, but do not game the system.

Likes, Legacy, and the Human ElementFor each time you walk by or engage with a sign, it typically directly gives a Like to the initial player that placed it. It’s an easy, wordless salute of gratitude, a fleeting instant of mutual acknowledgment. In a game as fixated on building bridges over loneliness as Death Stranding, every thumbs-up you send—or accept—brings your fellow players closer to the society that Kojima dreamed of building.


Signs have a purpose in our world. In Death Stranding 2, they aren’t simply tools. They’re manifestations of trust. What you decide to discard may become another person’s lifeline.