You're standing in the middle of a rusted Australian wasteland, staring at a Cargo Catapult you just built for the third time, wondering why the hell that little trophy notification hasn't popped yet. It’s a common scene in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Honestly, the Death Stranding 2 master builder trophy is one of those achievements that sounds easy on paper—"just build one of everything"—but turns into a technical headache for about half the player base.
The game tells you there are 18 things to build. You check your stats, you see 18, and yet... nothing. No trophy. No platinum progress. It's enough to make you want to throw Sam's guitar into the Chiral sea. But the truth is, the game is a bit picky about what "building" actually means, and if you're relying on a structure someone else started, you're basically wasting your materials.
The 18 Structures You Actually Need
In the first game, you had to upgrade every single thing to level three. Kojima Productions realized that was a massive chore, so for the sequel, they simplified it. Now, you just need to place one of each. But "place" is a broad term here. It covers PCC structures, fabricated tools, and even social signs.
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If you’re stuck at 17/18, you’ve likely missed one of the niche tools or a specific PCC item. Here is the breakdown of what the game is looking for:
PCC-Based Structures
These are the heavy hitters. You need a PCC (Level 1 or 2) in your inventory and enough Chiral bandwidth to drop them.
- Postbox: The basic locker. Easy.
- Watchtower: Good for spotting those pesky BTs in the F3 crater.
- Generator: For when your Tri-Cruiser dies in the middle of nowhere.
- Bridge: This is the big one. You must place the foundation AND finish the construction yourself.
- Safehouse: Same rule as the bridge—you have to contribute the materials to finish the build.
- Timefall Shelter: Keeps your cargo from melting.
- Zip-line: The ultimate travel hack.
- Cargo Catapult: Fun to use, even if you rarely need it.
- Jump Ramp: Essential for the motorcycle stunts.
- Chiral Bridge: The smaller, more elegant version of the regular bridge.
- Transponder: A newer addition that helps with navigation and signals.
- Hot Spring Digger: You’ll need to find a hot spring location first to unlock this.
Fabricated Tools and Weapons
A lot of people forget that the Death Stranding 2 master builder trophy includes items from the fabrication menu, not just the PCC wheel.
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- Ladder: Just craft one at a terminal and put it against a cliff.
- Climbing Anchor: Same deal—plant it in the ground.
- Guidepost: Often overlooked. It’s a tool you place to mark paths.
- Electric Trap: A defensive tool for MULE or enemy encounters.
- Deployable Shield: New for DS2, provides temporary cover.
The Final Piece: The Sign
Basically, the easiest part of the whole list is the one most people skip. Hold down on the D-pad and drop any sign. A "Like" sign, a "Keep Going" sign—doesn't matter. Just put one down.
Why Your Progress Counter Is Lying to You
The biggest frustration with this trophy is the counter in the Social Strand Service (SSS) menu. Players often see a "1" next to every structure and assume they've checked the box.
Here is the nuance: Death Stranding 2 is a game about collaboration. If you find a Bridge foundation that another player started and you finish it, it might show up in your stats as a structure you helped build, but it does not count toward the Master Builder trophy. The game requires you to be the one who initiates the build with your own PCC.
If you're stuck, go to a remote area of the map where there aren't many player structures. Start a fresh Bridge and a fresh Safehouse. Dump the materials in until they are 100% complete. For most people, the trophy pops the second that Safehouse door opens for the first time.
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Don't Reload Your Saves
There’s a weird bug—or perhaps an intentional design choice—where building something and then reloading a previous save to "save materials" wipes that item from the trophy's internal tracker. The PlayStation trophy system tracks this in real-time, but the game's internal check for the "Master Builder" unlock seems to prefer all items being registered in a single, continuous save state.
If you’re trying to be cheap with your Chiral Crystals, don't. Just go out, build the whole list in one session, and let the game save naturally.
The Hot Spring Digger Mystery
The Hot Spring Digger is probably the most "hidden" item on the list. You won't have this from the start. You actually have to visit a natural hot spring in the world first. Once Sam takes a dip and sings a little tune, you'll often unlock the ability to fabricate the Digger or see it in your PCC menu. If you’ve finished the story and still don't see it, head toward the mountains near the Animal Shelter—there are a few spots there that trigger the unlock.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- The "Foundation" Trap: Placing the blue holographic foundation of a Bridge isn't enough. It has to be a physical, walkable structure.
- Online Structures: Using someone else's Zip-line doesn't count. You have to place at least one of your own.
- Signs: You have to manually place the sign. Interaction with existing signs doesn't trigger the requirement.
- Tools: Don't just carry the ladder. You have to actually press the button to "Build/Place" it in the world.
Actionable Next Steps to Finish the Platinum
- Check your Bridge Link stats: Go to the menu, select your name, and look at the "Structures Built" tab.
- Look for "0" values: If anything says zero, that's your target.
- The "Bridge/Safehouse" test: If your stats show 1 or more for everything but no trophy, go to a new area and build a Bridge and Safehouse from scratch using your own materials. 90% of the time, the trophy pops here because you likely "finished" someone else's build earlier in the game.
- Check your fabrication menu: Ensure you have actually placed the Ladder, Climbing Anchor, and Guidepost.
Once you’ve ticked off the Death Stranding 2 master builder trophy, you're well on your way to the "Homo Liberans" platinum. The rest of the grind is mostly about S-ranking those Standard Orders and maxing out facility connections. It’s a long road, but at least you won't be stuck staring at a Cargo Catapult anymore.
Keep on keeping on.