Hideo Kojima loves to hide things. Sometimes it's a celebrity cameo, other times it’s an entire gameplay mechanic tucked away in a corner of the map you have absolutely no reason to visit. In the sprawling, lonely world of the UCA, Death Stranding The Collector is perhaps the most easily missed Prepper in the entire Central Region. Most players just power through the story. They deliver the antimatter bombs, they deal with Mama’s heartbreak, and they head for the mountains without ever realizing they walked right over a man living in a crack in the earth.
You've probably seen his icon on the map if you've scanned enough. Or maybe you haven't. Honestly, it’s easy to miss. He doesn't send you an email begging for help. He doesn't have a massive hologram screaming into the sky. He’s just a guy who likes old stuff. Old consoles, old magazines, old bits of a world that ended before most people in the game were even born.
Locating the Collector's Bunker
Finding the guy is a chore if you don't know where to look. He is tucked away in a deep ravine south of the Distribution Center South of Lake Knot City. If you're looking at the map, he’s basically nestled between the Film Director and the Junkman. Look for the sheer cliffs. The terrain here is nasty. It’s jagged, it’s prone to Timefall, and if you aren't careful, you'll snap Sam's ankles before you even see the entrance.
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You’re looking for a literal hole in the wall.
When you find it, don't expect a warm welcome. The Collector is a hermit in the truest sense. He’s voiced by Hirokazu Hamamura, the former editor-in-chief of Famitsu, which is a neat little meta-nod considering his obsession with gaming history. But just finding him isn't enough. You actually have to convince him that the UCA isn't a total waste of time. He’s skeptical. Most people in this game are, but he’s got that specific brand of "get off my lawn" energy that makes you wonder if the rewards are even worth the climb.
Why You Actually Need This Guy
Is he worth the hassle? Yeah.
He gives you the Backpack Cover.
If you’ve spent any time in the Central Region, you know that Timefall is a persistent nightmare. It eats your containers. It ruins your cargo. It makes every long-distance trek a race against chemical decay. The Collector provides the solution. At Level 2, he gives you the Level 1 Backpack Cover. At Level 4, you get the Level 2 version, which is even more durable. This isn't just a cosmetic upgrade. It’s a game-changer for anyone trying to get Legend of Legends (LoL) or Legend of Legend of Legends (LoLoL) ranks on deliveries.
It protects your items from the rain. Simple as that.
Without it, you’re constantly spraying repair chemicals or just watching your cargo's health bar tick down like a doomsday clock. With it, you can take the scenic route. You can take your time. You can actually breathe.
Beyond the Cover: The Rewards
- Level 1: Join the UCA (well, the bridges network).
- Level 2: Backpack Cover Level 1. This is the big one.
- Level 3: Various hologram customizations and a few "thank you" emails that flesh out the lore of the old world.
- Level 4: Backpack Cover Level 2. It’s silver. It looks cool. It lasts way longer.
- Level 5: You get a star for your suit and the satisfaction of knowing you befriended a grumpy historian.
The "Stuck" Progress Bug (And How to Fix It)
Here is the thing that drives players crazy. You bring him a lost package. You do a delivery. You bring him more stuff. And the connection level stays at 1.9 stars. It just won't budge. You think the game is broken. You think you need to find a specific item.
You don't. You just need to go to sleep.
The Collector, like many of the optional Preppers (looking at you, First Prepper and Veteran Porter), is "gated" by lore. He needs to send you emails. You have to go to a Private Room, rest, and read his messages. Once you’ve read his thoughts on retro gaming or the philosophy of collecting, the game "unlocks" the next level of his progression. If you dump ten packages on his doorstep at once, you’re wasting them. Deliver one, go rest, read the email, repeat. It’s a slow burn. Kojima wants you to actually engage with the characters, even the ones living in holes.
Strategies for Efficient Delivery
Getting to the Collector with a truck is a nightmare. Don't do it. You'll get high-centered on a rock and end up abandoning a 50,000-centimeter vehicle in the middle of a ravine. Use a zip-line.
Building a zip-line network that connects the Film Director, the Collector, and the Junkman is the smartest move you can make in the mid-game. It turns a ten-minute scramble through dangerous terrain into a thirty-second breeze. If you’re feeling generous, leave a ladder or an anchor near his entrance. Other players will thank you. The descent is steep, and if you're carrying a heavy load of "Vintage Consoles," one slip means you’re looking at a "Cargo Damaged" notification that ruins your S-rank.
The Cultural Significance of the Collector
It’s easy to dismiss this character as a cameo for a friend of the director. But the Collector represents a core theme of Death Stranding: the bridge between the past and the future. While the rest of the UCA is focused on survival and rebuilding a digital network, he’s obsessed with the physical artifacts of the "Old World."
He talks about magazines. He talks about the joy of holding a physical object. In a world where everything is converted into chiral data and printed out of thin air, he is the guardian of the "real." This is why his rewards are defensive. He isn't giving you a gun or a faster exoskeleton. He’s giving you a way to protect what you’re carrying.
He cares about the cargo.
Practical Steps for Maximum Connection
If you want to 100% this guy without losing your mind, follow this specific loop.
First, scan the area around the Film Director for "Lost Cargo" belonging to the Collector. There is almost always a briefcase or two sitting in the dirt nearby. Delivering these is the fastest way to get him to talk to you initially. Once you’ve opened the link, look for his specific orders at the Distribution Center South of Lake Knot City.
- Deliver one item.
- Go to the nearest Private Room (The Distro Center is best).
- Sleep.
- Check your mail on the cufflink. Read everything from the Collector.
- Check for a new "Order for Sam" or "Standard Order" heading his way.
- If no orders are available, go find more lost cargo.
Don't skip the emails. They aren't just fluff. They are the literal triggers for his level progression. If you ignore your inbox, he will ignore your deliveries. It's a two-way street.
Once you hit Level 4 and secure that Level 2 Backpack Cover, you're basically set for the rest of the game. You can head into the snowy mountains of the North knowing your gear is safe from the elements. It makes the trek to the Mountain Knot City and beyond significantly less stressful.
The Collector might be a grumpy hermit living in a crack in the ground, but he’s your best friend in a world that’s literally trying to dissolve everything you carry. Find him, feed his hobby, and get that cover. Your cargo will thank you.