How to raise Porter Grade stats in Death Stranding 2

Your Porter Grade might initially seem like a fluffy little throwaway system in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, just a way to get new tags that show up when other players interact with your objects in the world. It’s much more than that, though. Increasing your Porter Grade unlocks new APAS enhancements once you make a bit of progress in the main story, and those let you customize Sam’s abilities to fit certain playstyles or even specific jobs.

Below, we explain how to raise Sam’s Porter Grade stats and why you’d want to.

How to raise Porter Grade stats in Death Stranding 2

Sam has five Porter Grade stats, and these are independent from his normal ones, such as efficacy with assault rifles or ability to navigate terrain well. Death Stranding 2 tells you how to raise those in the stat description, but it’s not quite so forthcoming with Porter Grade stats. Here’s how to improve those:

• Porter — Complete delivery missions. Main story quests count toward this as well
• Servicemanship — Increases when the quality of your cargo delivery is high, so don’t hand over damaged stuff if you can avoid it
• Bridge Link — Increases when you give “likes” to another human player’s constructs in the world, and increases more when your constructs get “likes” in return
• Stealth — Improves when you clear encounters stealthily. That includes using the strand to incapacitate enemies or defeating them another way without them or nearby enemies realizing you’re there. 
• Combat — Improves when you win a fight

Your stealth stat also increases if you approach a combat area and are close enough for the Obradek scanner to mark enemies, but you avoid the location and don’t engage in combat. If you’re in a hurry to raise stealth or combat, check your map for bandit camp icons, and make sure to clear out BT areas.

What does raising your Porter Grade stats in Death Stranding 2 do?

Not much, initially. You get a Porter Grade evaluation every time you complete an order, but until you reach Australia and connect the Plate Gate there, the only thing that changes when your Porter Grade increases is the little nametag next to each stat.

After bringing the Plate Gate online and accessing the Magellan’s terminal for the next job, you’ll unlock APAS Enhancements. These are basically skills for Sam, and your Porter Grade determines which ones you can unlock and how many you can have. New enhancements seem to unlock every five grade levels. For example, at level eight stealth, you can unlock one stealth enhancement, while at level 11 servicemanship, you can pick two.

You’ll unlock more APAS Memory so Sam can have more skills activated simultaneously by improving your connection level with others — in other words, by completing orders. 

For more Death Stranding 2: On The Beach guides, check out our essential beginner’s tips and explainers for how to change your suit color, how to fast travel, and how to reach the Inventor safely.