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Death Stranding All Terminology Explained

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This page helps explain all the terminology used in Death Stranding. This is the big Death Stranding dictionary with all in-game terms and their meanings, like an encyclopedia.

The list of terms is in alphabetical order. Use the overview below to jump directly to any word you’re looking for:

Overview:

Amelie

Sam’s Sister, being held hostage in Edge Knot City by the Homo Demens (Terrorists). She is however allowed to interact with Sam via hologram even though she’s a hostage (for more on this, see: Story Explained).

Amerigo Vespucci

Amelie says Amerigo Vespucci is the one who discovered America (not Christopher Columbus). Her real name “Amerigo” was named after him.

Autotoxemic Attacks

Autotexemic Attacks is when your BB goes into a state of shock from too high stress levels. You can soothe your BB to reduce its stress levels, or synchronize it to its Stillmother.

BB

Bridge Baby, allows you to “connect to the other side” (beaches / afterlife) and see BTs. Without a BB you can’t see BTs, would walk right into these otherwise invisible beings and get killed. Hence, the BB is vitally important to get out alive of BT encounters. BBs are harvested from the womb of Stillmothers (braindead women) at 28 weeks old. Remember: BBs are just equipment and you shouldn’t get attached to them. They are “right between the world of the living and the dead”, neither alive nor beached.

Beach / Beaches

Beach means Afterlife (Beaches = different people’s Afterlives). Every “Beach” represents the afterlife of a person or group of people. The Beaches are shaped by the will of their “inhabitants” (the souls of dead people who passed over). This means not every beach will look the same. Some people, such as our hero Sam, are special and can visit the Beaches and return, thus jumping between the real world and the afterlife. The rule is 1 person per beach in solitude, but if a lot of people die at the same time (e.g. during a voidout), they can end up in the same beach.

Beached

Beached means “having died” and arrived at the beach (afterlife).

Bridges

Bridges is a government agency, with the goal to reconnect America. Sam Porter Bridges joins them in Episode 1. They are Sam’s main allies. By reconnecting the country, they hope to bring messages of hope to people and exchange information digitally.

Bridget

In the game, Bridget is the first female President of the USA and also Sam’s mother (Sam is our main hero). Also the mother of Amelie (Sam’s Sister).

BT

BT stands for Beached Thing (plural: BTs = Beached  Things). They are connected to the other side (beaches / afterlife) via umbilical cords. Can cut their umbilical cords with cord cutters, acquired in Episode 5, to return them to the world of the dead. They appear during timefall (rain). They cannot see humans, only hear them. When they catch a person they drag them away to their boss, a “catcher”.

Capital Knot City

Capital Knot City is the main hub city where the early game takes place, east coast of the USA. Formerly Washington D.C. – as is seen when we enter the Oval Office of the president in Episode 1.

Catcher

A catcher is big form of BT. When a person is caught by a BT, they are brought to the catcher. These are more aggressive BTs, usually in form of animals. How exactly they form, where they come from or why they exist is never explained in the game. Some people with high-level DOOMs (supernatural abilities) can control and manipulate catchers, for example Higgs can do this.

Chiral Density

If Chiral Density gets too high it leads to a Chiral Spike.

Chiral KNOT

A Chiral KNOT is what you call a normal KNOT after it has been connected to the Chiral Network of the UCA.

Chiral Network

Chiral Network is the internet network spanning across America that Sam is supposed to rebuild. Sam must use his Q-Pid on the terminal at a facility to reconnect it to the Chiral Network.

Chiral Printer

The Chiral Printer allows you to 3D-print items, weapons etc. Unlocked by completing Story Order No. 7 for “Distribution Center West of Capital Knot City”. You unlock more fabrication plans (crafting recipes) by leveling up the different facilities.

Chiral Spike

A Chiral Spike is when the Chiral Density in the atmosphere changes quickly. This can bring about a Chiral Storm which traps you between two different spacetimes.

Chiral Storm

A Chiral Storm happens as the result of a Chiral Spike. These Storms can suck in Sam and throw him into a different spacetime.

Chiral Web

Chiral Web is basically the internet. It’s just a different name for Chiral Network / UCA Network.

Chiralium

Chiralium is extracted from Chiral Crystals, which are found all over the world but especially where BTs have appeared. Used to power the carrier and used for many crafting purposes. Also used in Sam’s silver necklace that he needs to connect facilities to the UCA network.

Clifford Unger

Clifford Unger is the “mystery man” seen in flashbacks. He used to be a soldier.

Cryptobiotes

A Cryptobiote a day keeps the timefall away! These little flying worms are the favorite food of Fragile (the teleportation girl). Later Sam can eat them too. They are simply a food source for humans.

Deadman

Deadman is the BB Doctor. You meet him at the start of Episode 1. He takes care of BB maintenance. He used to be a coroner before he started working on the BB project.

Death Stranding

A Death Stranding is a mass extinction. There were 5 Death Strandings in the past that wiped out all life on earth and allowed new lifeforms to rise from the ashes: Trilobites, Ammonites, Dinosaurs, Mammoths, the Iceman. The character “Heartman” suggests that we are in the middle of the sixth extinction that will wipe out all of humanity. The Death Stranding is brought on by the EE (Extinction Entity). EEs are connected via their strand (umbilical cord) to the beaches and it is through this connection that they can somehow bring about the Death Stranding.

Die-Hardman

Die-Hardman is the director of the UCA (United Cities of America). You meet him in Episode 1. He wears a black mask, a vest and tie. His real name is John.

DOOMS

DOOMs are supernatural abilities to interact with- and manipulate BTs and beaches in the real world and the afterlife. The higher a person’s DOOM level, the more powerful they are. For example, Sam is a Level 2 DOOMs which means he can sense BTs but not see them without a BB. Fragile is a higher level DOOMs, she can teleport. Higgs is a high level DOOMs, he can completely control BTs, command and manipulate them. People with high DOOMs levels are considered special.

Doll (Baby Doll)

A baby doll was featured in game trailers and appears throughout the game. Clifford Unger and Higgs both carry a doll instead of a BB. The doll connects them to Amelie and her beach so they can travel back and forth freely.

Dreamcatcher

The dreamcatcher that Amelie gave to young Sam at her beach. “Wear it and it will keep the nightmares away” is what Amelie told little Sam so he’d be less scared alone in the dark.

Extinction Entity (EE)

An Extinction Entity (EE) can wipe out all life on earth. This happened during mass extinctions in the past (e.g. dinosaurs). The Extinction Entity Theory by Heartman says the EE has an umbilical cord that doesn’t age and is connected to the strand. The EE has the power to wipe out all of mankind and everything else left on the planet (making every soul pass over to the beaches). There have been 5 mass extinctions (and 5 extinction entities) in history. In the game mass extinction number 6 is about to happen and Sam must stop it.

Fragile

Fragile is the owner of Fragile Express. She’s the first person you meet in the prologue, inside a cave. You’ll meet her frequently throughout the game. Just like Sam she has high DOOMs levels. She’s an even higher DOOMs than Sam because she can teleport.

Fragile Express

Fragile Express is a delivery company, owned by the character “Fragile”.

Going Necro

Going Necro is when a corpse enters necrosis and is about to turn into a BT. That’s why corpses get burned in incinerators and kept away from cities. Necrosis starts 24-48 hours after death, depending on how well refrigerated the corpse was (if the corpse gets put on ice it takes around 40 hours for it to turn into a BT). Burning people close to town isn’t an option either because it puts Chiralium in the air which is poisonous to humans. This is why there are dedicated Corpse Disposal people that bring corpses to incinerators away from cities. We learn about all this from Igor of Corpse Disposal in the Prologue at Central Knot City.

Grams / Chiralgrams

Chiralgram is the word for Holograms made from local data. The data needs to be stored on-site until the Chiral Network has been restored by Sam to the point where it can transmit bigger amounts of data. Because the Chiral Network is not fully operational at the start of the game, it can’t transmit holograms across the country yet, but as Sam reconnects the Chiral network this functionality is restored.

Ha

Ha = Body

Heartman

Heartman is a Scientist NPC that you meet during Episode 8 at Heartman’s Lab. His heart stops beating every 21 minutes, he spends 3 minutes at the beach and then self-revives via a medical chair – he dies 60 times a day. He does this to research the beach (in order to do so he must visit the beach = “passing over” to the afterlife and coming back through self-revive). People also call him the “beach scientist”.

Higgs

Higgs is a villain and leader of the Homo Demens terrorist group. He is a high level DOOMs character and can control BTs and Timefall. He can also teleport.

Homo Demens

Homo Demens are terrorists that run Edge Knot City (main city at west coast of America) and they’re keeping Amelie (Sam’s sister) imprisoned. Their leader is Higgs.

Ka

Ka = Soul

KNOTs

KNOTs (singular: KNOT) are the terminals Amelie’s people built in the towns and cities they passed through on their journey west are called KNOTs. When you find a KNOT you must connect your Q-Pid (Sam’s Silver Necklace) to bring chiral communications online.

Lisa Bridges

Lisa Bridges was Clifford Unger’s wife.

Lockne

Lockne is the sister of Mama (Maligen). You meet her in Episode 5. She’s the software engineer that originally programmed the software used in Q-Pids and the Chiral Network.

Lou

Lou is the name of your BB (Baby that Sam carries around). It’s short for Louise.

Maligen

Maligen is the real name of Mama.

Mama

Mama is the hardware engineer that makes delivery bots. You meet her in Episode 5. Her real name is Maligen. Also the sister of Lockne. She is called Mama because she carries a BT baby. Her child died during an accident just before giving birth but stayed connected by umbilical cord even years later.

Micanga

Micanga is a bracelet that Sam Porter Bridges wears, it’s his bond to Fragile. It allows Fragile to “jump” (teleport) to him wherever he is.

MULE / MULEs

MULE / MULEs are the human enemies that try to steal Sam’s cargo. They live in MULE camps where they stash all the cargo they’ve stolen from Porters. You are not allowed to kill them or else they will turn into BTs. Non-lethal weapons only.

Odradek

The Odradek is a Cargo Scanner. The machine arm that Sam can use to scan the environment and also to spot BTs (when connected to a BB). It will start blinking faster when a BT is nearby. When you stay still you can see the outlines of nearby BTs. Enemies also have Odradeks but because most of them don’t have BBs (Bridge Babies that are required to see BTs), they can only sense the proximity to BTs. You carry a BB around so you can actually see the outlines of BTs, which makes it easier to escape from them.

PCC

PCC is a special piece of equipment that allows Sam to build structures. It’s pre-loaded with the necessary building materials. For example, you can build Postboxes, Watchtowers, Generators, Ziplines, Shelters, Bridges.

Porter / Porters

A Porter is basically a delivery boy. Our character “Sam” is also a Porter, as seen on his shirt. He also frequently refers to himself as a “Porter”. People whose job it is to make deliveries are called Porters, that is why Sam is often called “Sam Porter Bridges”. “Sam” is his name, “Porter” his function (delivery man), “Bridges” the group he is affiliated with.

Q-Pid

Q-Pid is the Silver Necklace that Sam is wearing. Contains all the necessary security and operations protocols to integrate a terminal into the chiral web. It’s made out of Chiralium.

Quipu

Quipu is the golden necklace Sam made for Amelie when he was a kid (and gave to her at the beach).

Repatriate

A Repatriate is a person who can come back from dying. Sam (our character) is a Repatriate. The way it works is that the soul must find its way back to the dead body and then the person will be revived.

Sam Porter Bridges

Sam Porter Bridges is the main hero who you play. “Sam” is his first name, “Porter” his job (delivery man), “Bridges” his affiliation (government agency). He was raised by president Bridget (for more on this, see: Story Explained). Another thing that’s known about him is that he has aphenphosmphobia (fear of intimacy/being touched), which Deadman notes in Episode 1.

Stillmother

A stillmother is the braindead mother of a BB (Bridge Baby). The BBs are taken from the womb of Stillmothers at 28 weeks old. BBs can be synchronized (in Sam’s private room) with their Stillmother to reduce stress levels. The braindead Stillmothers are kept in Capital Knot City. Synchronizing makes the Baby feel like its back in the womb of its Stillmother. This “repairs” the BB by lowering Stress Levels.

Strand

Rope or “Connection” (having a connection to another person). Also use as terminology for an EE’s (Extinction Entity’s) umbilical cord.

Strand Field

If multiple people die at once, their beaches (afterlife places) can become entangled, thus creating a Strand Field – a type of “Multiverse” of different Beaches.

Stranded

Stranded means being “stuck” and not finding your way back home. Don’t confuse with Beached, that’s a different thing.

Stranding

A Stranding is when dead carcasses (of sea animals) are being washed up on shore.

Temporal Phenomena

Temporal Phenomena is a synonym for Chirol Spike (same thing).

The Last Stranding

The Last Stranding is a Mass Extinction of all of mankind caused by the Extinction Entity (EE). It’s the end of the world “doomsday” or “armageddon”.

Timefall

Timefall is what rain is called in Death Stranding. Timefall (rain) will accelerate the passage of time for anything it touches. Exposure to timefall renders cargo containers less impact-resistant, putting their contents at risk of being damaged. Timefall also marks the arrival of BTs (Beached Things), which are the invisible enemies. They only spawn during rain. It’s best to stay out of rain whenever you can. Timefall is acidic to human skin and will cause the skin to be burned permanently. Always cover up skin.

UCA

UCA = United Cities of America (the new version of the USA).

UCA Network

UCA Network stands of United Cities of America Network. The different facilities that are friendly to you are what the Bridges members call the “UCA Network”.

Voidout

A Voidout is a massive explosion caused when human gets consumed by a BT (matter and antimatter get mixed and explode). The voidout destroys everything nearby and leaves behind a giant crater. Basically, dead people become weapons of mass destruction. After a person has died, their corpse turns into a BT (ghost) after 24-48 hours if they are not incinerated before then. This is especially dangerous in cities as the BT would attack other people and cause voidouts. That’s the reason why people live underground and don’t go outside, so they don’t fall victim to BTs and die in a massive explosion.

Zero Time Massive Data Transmission

Once you connect your Q-Pid (Sam’s Necklace) to a Chiral KNOT you can initiate a “zero time data transmission” with the UCA network. This allows you to turn on more KNOTs and eventually reconnect the Chiral Network.

 

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You may also like: Death Stranding Story & Ending Explained.


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