Death Stranding 2: Lethal Weapons, Voidouts, and the Art of Not Killing

I've been playing Death Stranding 2: On the Beach since its launch, and let me tell you, the game's core message about the dangers of killing hasn't changed one bit. The Death Stranding event may have been years ago in the game's timeline, but the consequences are still very real. When a BT—Beached Thing—consumes a human corpse, it triggers a voidout, a massive explosion that obliterates everything in its vicinity. So, why would anyone ever risk that? Well, sometimes you just need a lethal option, and the game does give you one, albeit with a few caveats.

Now, I know what you're thinking: "Isn't the whole point of Death Stranding to avoid killing?" Yes, absolutely. The game hammers that home from the very first hour. MULEs and other human enemies can be dealt with using non-lethal methods like the Bola Gun, tranquilizer rounds, or good old-fashioned stealth. But what if you want to go lethal? Maybe you're role-playing a ruthless porter, or you just want to see what happens. The good news is that you can turn certain weapons lethal from the start of Sam's new adventure in Mexico. 🎮

The trick is surprisingly simple, but it's not exactly spelled out in the tutorial. Every weapon with an "MP" designation—like the MP Bullet, for example—can be converted into a lethal version from the weapon wheel. Here's how I do it:

1. Hold the right direction button to bring up the weapon wheel.

2. Select an MP weapon from the main weapons tab.

3. Press and hold both the right and left triggers simultaneously with the O button.

You'll see a little animation play out in the circle surrounding the weapon icon. Once that animation completes, the weapon is now lethal and can kill human enemies. It's that easy. ⚠️

But wait—does the game actually tell you this? Not immediately. The first time this trick is revealed in-game is after you deliver to the pizza chief, which is a few hours into the story. However, you don't have to wait for that moment. The option is active right from the beginning. I tested it myself as soon as I got my first MP weapon, and sure enough, it worked. So if you're impatient like me, you can start killing enemies long before the game officially acknowledges it. 💀

Now, here's the catch: not every weapon can be made lethal. Weapons that are specifically designed to use rubber bullets or tranquilizer rounds cannot be converted, no matter what you do. So you can't turn a non-lethal riot shotgun into a lethal one, for example. You have to use the MP variants. This makes sense from a game design perspective, but it's something to keep in mind when you're planning your loadout. Here's a quick reference table I put together:

Weapon Type	Can Be Made Lethal?	Notes
MP Assault Rifle	Yes	Hold R2+L2+O on weapon wheel
Non-Lethal Riot Shotgun	No	Rubber bullets only
Tranquilizer Pistol	No	Always non-lethal
MP Handgun	Yes	Same method as other MP weapons

Why would you even want to go lethal? Well, there are a few reasons. Sometimes you're outnumbered, and non-lethal takedowns take too long. Sometimes you're low on resources, and a single lethal shot is more efficient than a dozen rubber bullets. And sometimes, let's be honest, you just want to see the chaos unfold. But every time you kill someone, you're creating a corpse that will eventually become a BT if not disposed of properly. And if that BT consumes a living human, you get a voidout. That's a game over, or at least a massive crater where a city used to be. 🧟

So, is it ever worth it? That depends on your playstyle. I've found that keeping a lethal MP weapon as a backup is a smart move, especially for those "oh crap" moments when a MULE patrol spots you and you don't have a good escape route. But I always make sure to incinerate any corpses I create. The game gives you tools for that—body bags, incinerators, and the like. Ignoring them is just asking for trouble.

Let me put it this way: non-lethal should be your default. It's safer, it's cleaner, and it keeps the world from turning into a crater-riddled nightmare. But knowing that you can go lethal at any time—even from the very start—adds a layer of tactical flexibility. Just remember that with great power comes great responsibility, and in Death Stranding 2, that responsibility is measured in voidouts. 💥

So, the next time you're staring down a squad of MULEs, ask yourself: do you really need to kill them? Or can you just knock them out and move on? The choice is yours, but now you know how to unlock the lethal option if you decide to take it. Happy porting, and try not to blow up the world. 🌍