➤ Death Stranding: how to deal with the stranded creatures 🕹

Death Stranding it's not one of those games that feature particularly tough enemies to deal with. The challenge of Hideo Kojima's new work lies in completely different mechanics. Consequently, even at the maximum level of difficulty, it will not be too difficult to defeat the evil entities that stand between Sam and his goal: to reconnect America. However, initially coming face to face with the Stranded Creatures (or CA), one of the most mysterious and intriguing enemies in the game, is certainly awe-inspiring and even a little dreadful. This is why we have decided to draw up a guide that can explain to you how to deal with stranded creatures in Death Stranding, even if it's up to you to find the best strategy to get the better of the battlefield.

Manage the Bridge Baby

Being the CAs of incorporeal entities, man needs a Bridge Baby (or BB) connected to a particular scanner, the Odradek, to be able to see them. In this case, Sam is able to perceive their presence even without the latter, but he still needs his faithful travel companion BB-28 to be able to face them on "equal terms".

Consequently, in Death Stranding the management of the Bridge Baby becomes essential in order to survive outside the UCA (United Cities Of America). We must always remember that even the BB is a "load" that we carry with us, so we must do pay attention to the ground that we choose to walk so as not to shake it too much and make it shake. It goes without saying that every fall will inevitably start crying. As much for the child's sake as for Sam's safety (in case we are in enemy territory), it is advisable to calm him down immediately. To do this, just open the compass with L1 and press the square button, to then simulate with the gampad the movement you would do to cradle a baby. Watch out, though. Shaking the pad too hard will make the BB shake even more.

Death Stranding: how to deal with the stranded creatures

Beware of the rain time

The stranded creatures are inextricably linked to rain time. It is not difficult to spot the areas infested by them in the distance, since, in addition to the iconic rainbow on the contrary, there are also cords that descend from the sky. If you enter the areas affected by the rain time, the hood it will automatically activate to protect Sam from its effects. This is the first sign that warns us of the presence of CAs. The most sensible thing to do would be to retrace your steps and find an alternative path, but for this tactic we refer to the next paragraph.

Continuing in the pouring rain, i sensi at Sam they will sense the presence of the CAs (a slow motion will start, the screen will be slightly tinged with blue and the game room will move back a little). This is the second warning that should make you want to back off. If, on the other hand, you are reckless or, as will often happen initially, you cannot avoid the area invaded by CAs, another one will start. slow motion (this time with the game room close by) where the Odradek will activate, all accompanied by heartbreaking (and, at least initially, chilling) screams. We are now definitively in CA territory. This should always make us keep in mind that we are not the predator, but the prey.

Avoiding CAs is always the most sensible choice

Initially Death Stranding does not offer too many alternative paths that allow you to avoid CAs. This is mainly to make you familiar with them and to be able to face them in the best possible way during your American "odyssey". Not knowing their behavior, in the first hours of the game it is difficult to understand when one has been discovered by one of them. It has happened more than once to make us panic and run away, convinced that our presence was now known to all the enemies of the area, when instead standing still and holding our breath would have saved our lives. Over time, however, we begin to understand the dynamics behind these creatures and it becomes almost a joke to go unnoticed among them. However, it is always advisable to find alternative routes that make us avoid the infested areas.

As you progress through the game, you will unlock new items and technologies that will help you more easily locate the boundaries of territories invaded by CAs. Once you have these, don't hesitate to avoid the Stranded Creatures. Sometimes it is more rewarding to play conservatively and pursue a more arduous and long path than to choose the easy way and risk damaging, or worse, losing the load due to a CA that has escaped you. For this, it is important to always have at least a couple of stairs and ropes for climbing, so as not to be caught unprepared when the rain time hinders your path.

In the den of wolves

Once the BB is activated, the Stranded Creatures will materially enter the game map and we will be able to see them by scanning the terrain through theOdradek or simply remaining in place (even in the first case, in order for the scan to be successful, you do not have to move). The range of the BB is not infinite, so you can only see the CAs closest to Sam. It is good to take a few steps and stop to see if there are other enemies in the area that can hinder our path. It goes without saying that in these areas it is a must to move in a crouch, so as to make less noise.

The closer you get to the CAs, the more the device connected to the BB will start to move to alert us of its presence. If the light is blue, the Creature is close, but at a distance that allows us to move at a normal pace (always crouching, of course). If, on the other hand, the light turns orange and the Odradek starts spinning, it's time to hold your breath, always paying attention to the strength bar, which will drop very quickly. Exhausted the latter, i blood values Sam's will begin to plummet until unconscious. So, hold your breath only when absolutely necessary and for the shortest time possible.

From what we have seen, thehovercarro or a very heavy load doesn't affect the noise that the ACs perceive that much, which is certainly great if we can't help but avoid the haunted area.

Getting out of the rain time as soon as possible is of vital importance

In Death Stranding the real challenge that the close encounter with the CA offers us is the load management that we have to deliver. In fact, we must never forget that the rain timer is always present and represents a constant danger for the integrity of the breakage that we are carrying. Consequently, it is fine move away from the area as soon as possible without being discovered by the CA. It is therefore necessary to move quickly, preferably between one shelter and another, if there are artificial or natural ones. Needless to say, the more load we have on our shoulders, the more difficult it will be to move stably and, above all, nimbly. Therefore, our advice is to enter the places of the CA only if you are traveling "light".

I mini-boss

If we are discovered by the Stranded Creatures, a chase will begin, which represents the last chance to escape confrontation with one of the bosses featured in Death Stranding. Once captured, we will be transported to a large CA that will try to engulf us, leading to the creation of a crater.

At the beginning there is little to do. Thinking of facing such a beast in punches seems irresponsible at best. The only thing we can do is escape, trying to use as much as possible the surfaces that protrude from the chiralium. Once out of the arena, the boss will vanish, along with the other stranded creatures and the rain timer.

If, on the other hand, you have already started to unlock the first ones offensive weapons, you can try your luck and face the boss. The clash, once well armed, is by no means difficult. It is complex only at the level of the various ways we can use to defeat the Stranded Creature (firing normal bullets through the blanket of particles released by the blood grenade in such a way as to do damage to the enemy is a continuous satisfaction). The simplest way is always to bomb the beast of explosives made from various body fluids of Sam, the most effective of which are the devices created with his blood.

At first glance, getting caught would seem like the most sensible thing to do, as just escaping the upper CA will make the area safe and easier to navigate. However, the load you carry on your shoulders will be severely damaged if you are caught and could easily fall into it, perhaps even losing it permanently in the heat of the situation. However, we have a trick that might come in handy if you really don't have the time and you have to go through the haunted area.

A trick for those in a hurry ...

Getting caught by stranded creatures it can be a great way to quickly pass through a territory plagued by the rain time, making it disappear (at least momentarily). However, the cargo you have with you would be irreparably damaged, which could even result in mission failure and loading at the last checkpoint. To avoid this, leave all the load in a safe area far from the rain show. Then enter CA territory by doing more noise possible and let yourself be "embraced" by otherworldly entities. Once face to face with the boss, escape (don't worry, no one will give you cowards). Once outside the arena, savor the victory and watch the Stranded Creature disappear along with the time trial, clearing the sky.

Let yourself be warmed for a few seconds by the sun's rays filtering through the clouds while you think back to your "glorious" undertaking and then return to retrieve the load, hoping that you have left it far enough away from the rain time. If not, perhaps it is better if next time you find a place that is perhaps also sheltered from the weather conditions as well as far from them. Or simply create an alternative route and enjoy the view. As Herodotus said, "haste breeds error in everything".