Fans of Hideo Kojima’s previous work will find a lot to love in his latest game Death Stranding, but the first couple hours of gameplay which largely involve Sam, the protagonist, encountering dangerous enemies and being completely helpless, will leave Metal Gear Solid fans wondering where all the firearms are.

The short answer is that there aren’t many. In Death Stranding when a person is killed in this world and their body is not cremated, their spirit becomes stranded on Earth as a BT, an otherworldly creature hellbent on devouring the living. Incidentally, their body may also trigger a deadly explosion called a Voidout. It’s not hard to understand then, why traditional guns are not as common.

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That being said, there are some non-lethal weapons that Sam acquires early in the game, which serve a number of cool functions. This guide covers how to get the first three guns in the game and what they can do, as well as introduces some of the more traditional weapons players can expect to find on their journey.

The Bola Gun

The first, and arguably most useful gun, Sam will acquire is the Bola Gun. It is unlocked after beginning episode three when Sam is tasked with connecting the local preppers to the Chiral Network. Players will come meet the Craftsman who charges Sam with retrieving a toolbox from a shopping mall overrun by BTs and gives Sam the Bola Gun as a reward upon quest completion.

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Its primary function is to fire a rope-like propellant capable of tying up unsuspecting human enemies from a distance. Once an enemy has been taken down by a bola shot, a swift follow-up kick to the noggin will put them out of commission. It should also be noted that if other human enemies are around, they will become alerted to Sam’s presence upon firing the Bola Gun.

If Sam levels up the Bola Gun enough with Craftsman, he’ll unlock a version of the Bola Gun that can even tie up BTs temporarily and render them visible even while Sam is moving.

The Sticky Gun

Sam earns the ability to fabricate The Sticky Gun during a main story delivery shortly after connecting the Distribution Center South of Lake Knot City to the Chiral Network.

The primary function of this firearm is not to cause harm or subdue, but to steal cargo quietly and from a safe distance. After firing the adhesive rounds, players will have to drop their aim and hold either shoulder button to catch the cargo flying toward them.

The Sticky Gun may also be fired at humans themselves. The result is a befuddled enemy flipped around and primed for a quick takedown.

The Anti-BT Handgun

The Anti-BT Handgun is the third firearm that Sam acquires in the game toward the end of Episode Three while assisting the Junk Dealer and the Chiral Artist. It takes several rounds to defeat a standard BT.

Other Lethal & Non-lethal Firearms

The Handgun and Assault Rifle are both unlocked at South Knot City. It is recommended that players refrain from using them at this point because it will only result in turning human enemies into BTs. Sam can unlock anti-BT versions by making deliveries to the Distribution Center North of Mountain Knot City.

death stranding gun guide screenshot

Additionally, a non-lethal assault rifle that fires rubber bullets may be unlocked at the Waystation North of Mountain Knot City.

The Shotgun and Riot Shotgun may be unlocked from the Photographer Sam encounters during the story. The riot shotgun fires rubber bullets, so players can go wild against human enemies, while the standard shotgun is lethal and best to avoid apart from certain situations.

With all this new firepower, players may need to look into increasing their carrying capacity.

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