HUD Overview

A comprehensive guide to the Heads-Up Display (HUD) in Death Stranding Director's Cut, explaining blood, stamina, endurance gauges, and equipment menus.

The Heads-Up Display (HUD) in Death Stranding Director's Cut is designed to be minimalist and context-dependent, relying heavily on scanner data. Key information is presented through various gauges and menus accessible via the DPad.

DPad Menu: Located on the bottom left, this menu indicates the current use for directional buttons. Contextual hints appear at the bottom of the screen, tips on the right, and notices like likes received or status changes on the left, above the DPad menu.

Blood Gauge: This gauge, representing Sam's health, only appears when being depleted or refilled. Sam can lose approximately one liter of blood before dying. Blood can be restored using cryptobiotes, blood packs, or by sleeping.

Consciousness Gauge: A yellow bar that overlays the blood gauge. If this depletes, Sam will lose consciousness. It can be drained by holding your breath for too long or by certain enemy effects.

Stamina Gauge: A two-toned blue bar. The darker blue represents normal stamina, which can be refilled by drinking from your canteen or resting. A white overlay on the right end indicates depleted maximum stamina, making cargo carrying more difficult. Maximum stamina can only be restored by resting in a shelter.

Endurance Gauge: The lighter blue overlay on the stamina gauge. It depletes rapidly during strenuous activities like crossing rivers or climbing steep slopes. If it depletes, Sam may lose his balance. Standing still refills this gauge quickly, up to the current stamina level.

Equipment and Item HUDs: Selected using the DPad, these menus slow down time for easier selection.

• DPad Right (Tool HUD): Selects equippable tools or weapons.
• DPad Left (Items HUD): Selects consumable items.
• DPad Up (Equipment HUD): Swaps equippable items like boots, hats, and armor.

Within these HUDs, use the Right Analog Stick to navigate options. In the Tool HUD, selecting an item equips it. In the Items and Equipment HUDs, use X to select. Circle may be used to drop items. To unequip an item in the Tool HUD, select "Unequip." If there are too many options, press R3 (Right Analog Stick down) to access additional screens.