Finding the First Prepper in Death Stranding is honestly one of the most frustrating chores in the entire game if you don't know exactly where to look. You’re trudging through the snow. Your boots are falling apart. Sam is huffing like he’s run a marathon in flip-flops. And for what? A guy who doesn't even want to talk to you.
He’s tucked away in the mountains of the Central Region, specifically south of the Spiritualist and north of the Waystation North of Mountain Knot City. Most players just stumble onto him by accident while trying not to fall off a cliff. But if you’re trying to hit that Platinum trophy or just want every piece of gear, you have to deal with this guy. He’s a recluse. Even by the standards of a world where everyone lives in underground holes, he’s extra.
Where is the First Prepper hiding?
He lives on a high ridge. It’s a steep climb.
If you look at your map, look for the peak that sits between the Spiritualist and the Veteran Porter. It’s a jagged, snowy mess. You’ll know you’re close when the terrain starts getting really vertical and the wind picks up. I usually approach from the Spiritualist’s side because it feels slightly less like a death trap, though that’s debatable.
Getting to him is only half the battle. When you finally reach his terminal, he probably won't have any orders for you. That’s the "Death Stranding experience" in a nutshell, right? You do all that work just to be told to go away. To actually get him on the UCA grid, you need to find his lost cargo.
Keep an eye out for silver briefcases in the immediate vicinity of his bunker. They’re usually scattered on the slopes below him. Scan constantly. If you don't find any, you might need to head back down toward the Waystation or check the postboxes of other players. People often dump his stuff because they can't be bothered to climb back up there.
Why you actually need him (The rewards)
Is it worth the hassle? Yeah, kinda.
The First Prepper in Death Stranding provides some specific cosmetic and functional upgrades that matter if you’re a completionist. Specifically, he gives you the "Santa Hat." It sounds ridiculous—and it looks even more ridiculous—but it’s a classic Kojima touch. More importantly, leveling him up grants you the Level 3 Backpack Accessory: the Weather Talisman.
This little charm actually helps predict the weather and can slightly decrease the chances of timefall. It’s not a game-changer like the Zip-lines or the Power Skeleton, but when you're trying to deliver fragile cargo through a storm, every little bit helps. He also gives out high-capacity batteries eventually.
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Getting him to five stars is a slow burn. He’s one of those "difficult" NPCs, much like the Veteran Porter or the Novelist’s Son. You’ll deliver a massive haul of lost cargo and his connection level will barely budge. Then, he'll send you an email. Read it. If you don't read the emails, the progression often locks. It’s a weird mechanic, but Sam needs to be "informed" about the world to build these bridges.
The "Email Lock" Frustration
Have you ever delivered like five packages to a guy and the star rating didn't move? That's the email lock.
- Deliver one item.
- Go to a private room and sleep.
- Check your mail.
- Read the First Prepper’s rambling thoughts.
- Repeat.
If you try to brute-force it by delivering ten packages at once, you’re just wasting your time. The game literally won't let him join the UCA until he's sent you a certain number of messages. It’s like he’s playing hard to get, but with data transmission and Chiralium.
Survival tips for the climb
Don't go up there without an All-Terrain Skeleton. Seriously. If you try to do this with a Power Skeleton or, god forbid, no skeleton at all, you’re going to be sliding down the mountain every ten seconds. The snow is deep. It drains your stamina faster than you can say "Keep on keeping on."
Bring at least two ladders and a climbing anchor. There’s a specific rock face right near his entrance that is just a little too steep to walk up comfortably. Having a ladder there saves you a lot of stamina. Also, thermal pads. If you have them unlocked, slap two on your shoulders. They keep your battery from draining in the cold and keep Sam’s stamina bar from shrinking due to the freezing temperatures.
BTs are a factor in the general mountain area, but the First Prepper’s immediate doorstep is usually clear. The real enemy is the terrain. And the wind.
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Making the connection permanent
Once you finally get him to join the UCA, he’ll allow you to use his terminal for fabrication and resting. This is a godsend. That part of the map is a dead zone for resources otherwise.
Setting up a Zip-line network is the only way to stay sane. I usually put one Zip-line right outside his front door, then another on the peak overlooking the valley, connecting back down to the Spiritualist. Once that’s set up, you can finish his five-star grind in about twenty minutes of back-and-forth travel.
Without Zip-lines, the First Prepper in Death Stranding is a chore. With them, he’s just another stop on the route.
It’s easy to get frustrated with the pacing here. You're near the end of the game, or at least in the final third, and the game throws these "hidden" preppers at you who are stubbornly anti-social. But that's the point of the narrative. You're connecting people who have spent years convincing themselves they don't need anyone.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your map: Look for the greyed-out area between the Spiritualist and the Waystation North of Mountain Knot City.
- Gear up: Equip an All-Terrain Skeleton (Level 2 or 3) and at least two Thermal Pads.
- Search for lost cargo: Don't go to the bunker empty-handed. Scan the snowy slopes nearby for "Lost Cargo: First Prepper."
- Rest and Read: After your first delivery, go to a safe house or city, sleep in the private room, and read every email he sends you to unlock the next level of his connection.
- Bring a Zip-line PCC: Build a node right at his entrance so you never have to manually climb that mountain again.
Getting this guy on your side is a test of patience. It’s a slog through the deep snow, but once you see Sam wearing a Santa Hat while fighting BTs, you’ll realize it was worth every stumbling step.