In Death Stranding 2, your Porter Grade tracks how you’ve been playing the game. Think of it like a report card that shows how well you’re delivering cargo, dealing with threats, helping others, or building stuff for the community. The game breaks this score into five different categories, and how you act in the world affects each one in its own way.
If you’re new to the series—or just haven’t played since the first game—it can feel confusing at first. This guide breaks down what Porter Grade is, what each category means, and how to level them up while playing the game normally.
What Is Porter Grade?
Porter Grade is the game’s way of grading your performance after each delivery. It’s based on what you did during that mission—whether you fought enemies, stayed hidden, carried heavy loads, or helped out other players.
Each time you finish a delivery, you earn Likes, which feed into five skill tracks:
- Porter
- Combat
- Stealth
- Servicemanship
- Bridge Link
These tracks level up separately, and they all feed into your overall Porter Grade. You can see your progress as a star rating after each order.
Likes you earn from a delivery are split across categories based on your actions. For example, sneaking past enemies without being spotted will feed Likes into the Stealth category, while carrying a large load boosts Porter.
The more you focus on a certain type of play—like fighting or sneaking—the faster that category levels up. So, if you’re always stealthy, expect your Stealth grade to rise quickly.
Why Porter Grade Matters
As you level up these stats, you’ll unlock APAS Enhancements—special skills that make you better at specific tasks like sneaking past enemies, lifting heavier loads, or seeing more online player content.
APAS Enhancements become available during Episode 3: Drawbridge, once you reach Australia. Each Porter Grade category has its own skill tree with upgrades that match your playstyle. You’ll need APAS Enhancement Memory, which is earned by increasing your connection rating with shelters.
You can also respec your skills at any time by holding Triangle while in the APAS menu.
You’ll also get a nickname based on your playstyle. For example, if you focus mostly on stealth, you might be called “Silent Handler.” If you’re all about deliveries, you’ll see something like “Expert Mover.”
There’s also a silver trophy called “A Premier Porter” for players who reach Grade 40 in all five categories. Getting there takes time, but it’s a goal worth aiming for if you want to 100% the game. The trophy is the main reward for hitting Grade 40, and there’s currently no known bonus beyond unlocking all possible APAS perks.
How to Level Up Each Porter Grade Category
Each category focuses on different actions. Here’s what they are and how to boost them through regular gameplay.
Porter
This is the heart of what you do—delivering cargo. Whether it’s a standard order or a high-priority delivery, you’ll get Likes for doing it well.
To level it up:
- Finish lots of deliveries
- Carry heavy cargo
- Take on Premium and time-sensitive orders
As long as you’re active with missions, this category should level up naturally.
Combat
If you fight enemies instead of avoiding them, this is the stat that grows. You’ll earn Likes for taking out MULEs, Bandits, and BTs.
You can increase Combat grade by:
- Clearing out enemy camps
- Using weapons or melee attacks
- Accepting combat-focused delivery requests
Even if you just defend yourself while delivering, this score will improve.
Stealth
If you prefer to avoid fights and move undetected, this is your category. Sneaking through MULE zones or stealthily taking down enemies will raise your score here.
To increase it:
- Avoid being spotted
- Use the Strand or Bola Gun to silently take down enemies
- Deliver cargo without triggering alerts
Try crouching through tall grass or using terrain to your advantage.
Servicemanship
This one’s all about helping others. When you do extra things like returning lost cargo or fixing up structures, you’re building your Servicemanship grade.
Ways to level it:
- Complete Aid Requests
- Return any Lost Cargo you find
- Regularly visit delivery terminals and prepper shelters
This stat is pretty easy to raise just by playing thoughtfully.
Bridge Link
Bridge Link is tied to your interactions with other players in the shared world. It’s one of the slower categories to level up early on, but it gets easier later.
Raise it by:
- Building useful structures like roads, zip-lines, or generators
- Placing signs in high-traffic areas
- Liking and upgrading other players’ structures and signs
- Donating gear to Shared Lockers (especially weapons, PCCs, and Skeletons)
- Completing Aid Requests posted by other players
- Forming Strand Contracts to boost visibility
You’ll also earn Likes passively whenever someone uses or upgrades something you’ve placed. Once you reach Australia and gain access to roads and larger structures, you’ll start gaining thousands of Likes per login.
Tips for Leveling Up Faster
If you want to hit Grade 40 in all five areas, it helps to plan your actions a bit more intentionally:
- Focus one stat at a time: Spend a session doing stealth deliveries, then another building structures or fighting enemies.
- Take on high-reward deliveries: Timed and Premium orders give more Likes.
- Interact with the world often: Like signs, repair roads, and build helpful things for others.
- Don’t ignore Lost Cargo: Delivering it boosts both Servicemanship and Bridge Link.
- Progress the story: You’ll unlock more tools, structures, and regions that make leveling easier.
As the game progresses, your actions will naturally fill out all five tracks—especially once your structures start gaining traction with other players.
Tip: Bridge Link can be slow to grow early on, but it ramps up once your structures start getting used by other players. Roads, signs near safe zones, and donated gear all help. Don’t worry if it starts low—just keep playing online and the Likes will come.
FAQ’s: Death Stranding 2 Porter Grade
1. Does the type of delivery (Standard vs. Premium) affect which Porter Grade category increases?
- Yes. While all deliveries contribute to the Porter category, Premium orders often yield more Likes, increasing other categories based on your delivery method. For example, fast delivery boosts Porter, undetected travel boosts Stealth, and deliveries made through hostile zones may boost Combat or Servicemanship if you assist facilities.
2. Can multiple Porter Grade categories increase from a single delivery?
- Absolutely. The game splits Likes across categories depending on your behavior. For instance, sneaking through BT territory while returning lost cargo can increase Stealth, Bridge Link, and Servicemanship at once if you also interacted with online structures or completed an Aid Request.
3. Do player-placed structures generate passive Bridge Link growth over time?
- Yes, but only if they’re used by other players. Roads, generators, and zip-lines in commonly traveled paths can rack up thousands of Likes while you’re offline. Items like Signs placed near delivery terminals or danger zones also contribute, especially when paired with Extended Like Window APAS perks.
4. What are the most efficient APAS Enhancements for leveling Bridge Link quickly?
- Enhancements like Extended Like Window, Sharing Boost, and Strand Contract Cap Boost are crucial. They widen your multiplayer visibility, extend the period where Likes are valid, and increase the volume of user content shared across worlds—effectively maximizing your passive Like generation.
5. How do I catch up on a neglected Porter Grade category mid-game?
- Replay missions that allow stealth or combat variation, return Lost Cargo found in earlier zones, and rebuild worn-down structures for Servicemanship. For Bridge Link, go back to early zones and place new Signs or rebuild roads—these get reused heavily by new players.
6. Do Strand Contracts influence Porter Grade growth?
- Indirectly, yes. By forming Strand Contracts with high-use players, your structures are more likely to appear in their worlds, increasing Likes received—especially for Bridge Link. This is essential for boosting passive growth in late-game.
7. Can I soft-cap any Porter Grade category before the others?
- Yes. Porter and Servicemanship often hit Grade 40 first since deliveries and Aid Requests are frequent. Combat, Stealth, and Bridge Link grow slower unless you deliberately engage with their mechanics. You may need to grind the last 5–10 levels of Bridge Link with focused interaction.
8. Is there a best zone or chapter for raising Bridge Link?
- Yes. Australia (Episode 3 onward) is the best region. It unlocks roads, monorails, and high-volume player traffic. This means anything you build or repair here will likely get reused, generating passive Bridge Link Likes even after logging out.
9. Do Likes from other players always count toward Bridge Link?
- Only online interactions (use, Like, or upgrade of your structures or cargo donations) count toward Bridge Link. Likes given to NPC structures or your own interactions do not contribute. Make sure your game is online and synced to maximize visibility.
10. Can APAS unlocks from one category benefit another indirectly?
- Yes. For example, unlocking Endurance Boost under Porter helps when doing long-distance stealth runs. Combat APAS that reduce recoil or movement slowdown can make escaping stealth fails easier. Though each tree is separate, their benefits often overlap in gameplay.
Porter Grade in Death Stranding 2 is more than just a ranking—it’s a reflection of how you choose to play. Whether you like taking your time, going in loud, or helping other players, the game rewards your approach with better skills and new tools.
If you want to unlock every APAS skill or earn the “Premier Porter” trophy, make time for each type of gameplay. Keep building, keep delivering, and keep exploring. The world—and your Grade—will grow with you.
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