You're trudging through the Central Region, boots wearing thin, back straining under a stack of Lost Cargo that reaches the clouds. You see a crack in the earth. A ravine. It looks like nothing—just another geographical headache in Hideo Kojima’s ruined America. But tucked away in that crevice is a man who collects old PlayStation consoles and rare magazines. The Collector in Death Stranding is one of those "hidden" Preppers that most players accidentally skip on their first playthrough, and honestly, that’s a massive mistake.
He’s grumpy. He doesn’t want to join the UCA. He’s basically a hermit living in a hole in the ground south of the Distribution Center South of Lake Knot City. If you don’t go looking for him, you miss out on the Backpack Cover. Without that cover, the timefall will eat your cargo alive. It's the difference between a "S" rank delivery and a ruined pile of scrap.
Finding the Collector is half the battle
Most people walk right over him. Literally. His terminal is hidden in a deep ravine in the rocky area between the Distribution Center and South Knot City. If you’re looking at your map, head slightly northeast of the Junk Dealer. Look for the MULE territory; he’s essentially hiding right under their noses in a narrow basalt crack.
Keep your eyes peeled for a climbing anchor. Usually, some kind soul in the Social Strand system has left a ladder or a rope leading down into the shadows. If not, you’ll have to deploy your own. It's steep. It's dark. It feels like you're entering a trap, but that’s just where he likes to stay.
Once you find the entrance, don't expect a warm welcome. He isn’t like the Waystation staff who are eager for a connection. He’s a hoarder of the "Old World." He values physical media—something we can all relate to in an era of digital-only licenses.
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Why he won't join the UCA immediately
You’ll bring him his first piece of Lost Cargo, and he’ll give you a cold shoulder. He might take the package, but he won’t sign the contract. This frustrates a lot of players. "I did the delivery, why isn't the star moving?"
Death Stranding rewards patience. To get the Collector on your side, you need to find his specific Lost Cargo scattered in the MULE camps nearby. Check the postboxes of the MULEs in the fissure area. They often have "Vintage Consoles" or "Retro Games" that belong to him.
Pro tip: After you deliver his initial items, go to a private room and sleep. Read his emails. This is a hard requirement for several Preppers, including the Veteran Porter and the First Prepper. If you don't read the mail, the progression locks. He needs to "think about it" before he joins the network.
The Backpack Cover: Your new best friend
Let’s talk about why we’re actually doing this. It isn’t for the conversation. It’s for the Backpack Cover.
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In the mid-to-late game, Timefall becomes a relentless nightmare. You’re trying to haul fragile components through a storm, and by the time you reach the destination, the container is at 2% durability. One stumble and you fail. The Collector rewards your Rank 2 connection with a Level 1 Backpack Cover.
It’s a silver-colored sheet that goes over your pack. It takes up space in your backpack customization menu, but it’s non-negotiable for long treks.
- Level 1: Provides decent protection but eventually breaks.
- Level 2: (Gained at Rank 4) Lasts much longer and has a distinct gold tint.
Most players grind out the Collector just for the Level 2 cover and then never speak to him again. That’s fair. But remember, you have to actually equip it at a Private Room. It doesn’t just "work" because it’s in your inventory.
The "Old World" lore you're missing
If you actually listen to his dialogue, the Collector provides some of the best world-building in the game. He talks about the "Old World" not as a utopia, but as a place defined by its objects. He collects things that have no "functional" use in a post-Death Stranding world. A PSP won't help you fight a BT. A vintage magazine won't help you craft a bridge.
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But to him, these are the only things that prove humanity existed before the chiral clouds took over. It’s a poignant commentary on our current digital age. When the "Cloud" goes down in Kojima’s world, it stays down. Only the physical remains.
Moving from 1-star to 5-star status
Getting him to 5 stars is a grind. You’ll find that deliveries for him are scarce. Here is how you actually do it without wasting twenty hours:
- MULE Hunting: Go to the camp nearby and ping for cargo. Anything labeled for "The Collector" is gold.
- Large Deliveries: Occasionally, the Distribution Center South of Lake Knot City or South Knot City itself will have a heavy delivery for him. Grab a truck.
- The Email Trick: I cannot stress this enough. If the star bar stops moving, go sleep in a bed. Read his rant about classic games. Then come back.
By the time you hit Rank 5, he’ll give you a "Multi-Colored" backpack cover option and a star for your suit. It’s a badge of honor. It says you bothered to look in the cracks of the world while everyone else was just sprinting down the highway.
The Collector represents the "completionist" spirit within the game itself. He is a meta-commentary. Just as he collects consoles, you are collecting connections. It’s a bit on the nose, sure, but in a game about a delivery man fighting ghosts with his own sweat, it fits perfectly.
Essential Next Steps for Porters
To maximize your efficiency with the Collector and ensure you don't get stuck in a progression loop, follow these specific actions during your next session:
- Check your Map: Look for the deep ravine directly South of the Distribution Center South of Lake Knot City. If you see a cluster of MULEs near a crack in the ground, you're in the right spot.
- Bring a Rope: Don't try to "Skyrim-hop" down the cliff. You’ll ruin your boots and damage whatever cargo you’re carrying. Use a climbing anchor.
- Raid the MULE Postboxes: The MULEs in this specific sector almost always have his "Vintage" items. Stealing from them is the fastest way to level him up.
- Monitor your Inbox: If you deliver three packages and his star rating doesn't budge, stop. You are wasting cargo. Go to a Private Room, sleep, read his mail, and then resume deliveries.
- Prioritize Level 2: Do not stop until you get the Level 2 Backpack Cover at Rank 4. The jump in durability is significant enough to make the final mountain treks much more manageable.
Once you have that gold cover, the snowy peaks of the Mountain Knot region become significantly less daunting. You can focus on avoiding BTs rather than watching your cargo melt in the snow.