How to Build Hot Springs in Death Stranding 2 (March 2026 Guide)

Ankit Babal
June 26, 2025
Gaming

The Hot Springs return as a mechanic in Death Stranding 2. You can use them to take a bath or fast travel, but unlike the original game, you’ll need to unlock or build them before they appear on your map. If you’ve been wondering how to unlock these mystical bathing spots and harness their unique powers, I’ve got you covered with everything you need to know about building hot springs in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.

After spending dozens of hours traversing the post-apocalyptic landscapes of Mexico and Australia, I’ve discovered all nine hot springs and mastered the art of building them. Whether you’re looking to fast travel across the vast open world or gain special buffs before tackling tough deliveries, hot springs are essential structures that every porter should prioritize.

Prerequisites: Unlocking the Hot Spring Digger

Before you can start building hot springs across the Australian landscape, you’ll need to unlock the Hot Spring Digger ability. Here’s the complete process:

Step 1: Progress Through The Motherhood

Before you build hot springs in Death Stranding 2, you first need to unlock them. To do so, you must unlock The Motherhood facility and interact with the Miracle Spring. The Miracle Spring is located approximately 10-20 meters directly west of The Motherhood facility – you literally can’t miss it as you exit the main building.

Step 2: Your First Hot Spring Experience

When you approach the Miracle Spring:

Press the Square button to enter the spring
When prompted, place the bucket on Sam’s head
You’ll be transported to Heartman’s Lab via the first-ever “Spring Jump”

Step 3: Meet The Hydrologist

Once there, you need to talk to the Hydrologist and unlock the Hot Spring Digger ability. Now, you can open your PCC Level 2 and select the digger and press R2 to build it. The Hydrologist will explain the importance of hot springs and give you access to this unique construction tool.

Step 4: Receive Your First Mission

Shortly after, you’ll get a message on your SSS from Ridge Frost of the Eastern Environmental Observatory, which will give you some clues for the first two hot springs you can find out in the world.

How to Build Hot Springs: Step-by-Step Guide

Hot springs are easily the most complicated structure in Death Stranding 2 to construct. Unlike other structures that simply require finding an open spot within the chiral network, hot springs demand precision and patience.

Equipment Required

PCC Level 2 (unlocked after meeting The Hydrologist)
Hot Spring Digger ability
No additional materials needed!

The Building Process

Equip the Hot Spring Digger
- Open your PCC Level 2 menu
- Select the Hot Spring Digger
- Press R2 to equip it
Understand the Detection System You will notice two points on screen upon equipping the Hot Spring Digger, which should be ‘Outside Permitted Construction Zone’ and ‘Hydrothermal Sensor Reading’ that both need to be met in order to build a hot spring.
Follow the Hydrothermal Sensor
- Listen for beeping sounds – they indicate the direction of underground hot water
- Faint Signal: You’re facing the right general direction
- Strong Signal: You’re very close to the building site
- The reading is a faint or strong beep which will indicate the direction you need to proceed in to find the building site. It will become louder and more aggressive the closer you are to the right spot, switching from faint to strong when you are just a few metres away.
Identify the Building Site
- Look for natural depressions in the earth
- The digger outline will change from red to blue when positioned correctly
- Press the placement button to begin construction
Automatic Construction
- No additional resources are needed to build or upgrade the hot spring either. You can just step right aside as soon as construction is complete to have a good soak.
- A brief cutscene will play showing the spring being created

Important Notes

Make sure you return to Heartman’s Lab after completing each hot spring, since they count as orders to be submitted despite not appearing on any of the menus.
Each completed hot spring rewards you with Likes and special customization items

All 9 Hot Spring Locations and Effects

All nine hot springs are in Australia. After visiting the first two and obtaining the Hot Spring Digger, you can tackle the remaining locations in any order. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of each spring:

1. Miracle Spring

Location: Directly west of The Motherhood facility
Effect: None (Tutorial spring)
Notes: The only pre-existing hot spring you don’t need to build

2. Heartman’s Spring

Location: Inside Heartman’s Lab
Effect: Boosts stamina
Notes: Automatically discovered during the main story

3. Tar Spring

Location: Directly south of The Tar Therapist
Effect: Harder to detect by BTs
Reward: Sweet flag leaves (reduce BT detection when equipped)
Trophy: Best location for “Written in the Stars” trophy due to clear skies

4. Healing Spring

Location: Northwest of the Animal Shelter near the cliff edge
Effect: Restores stamina
Notes: You can find the Animal Shelter hot spring just past the nature reserve overlooking the edge of a cliff.

5. Chiral Spring

Location: On the mountain ridge between The Dowser and Heartman’s Lab
Effect: Increases cargo weight capacity
Notes: Temporarily allows you to carry heavier loads

6. Clairvoyant Spring

Location: In the middle of the open mountain area directly east of the Eastern Environmental Observatory
Effect: Easier to spot items in the environment
Reward: Ludens Ducks decoration

7. Metallic Spring

Location: On a flat area of the mountain directly southwest of The Chronobiologist
Effect: Repairs cargo containers dropped in the water
Reward: Yuzu fruit (improves cold resistance)

8. Digestive Spring

Location: Northeast of The Lone Commander on the cliff above the Tar Lake
Effect: Increases effects from consumables (drinks and Cryptobiotes)
Reward: Tangerines (boost food efficiency)

9. Recharging Spring

Location: Directly north of BPAS
Effect: Recharges batteries
Notes: Essential for long journeys with electronic equipment

How to Use Hot Springs for Fast Travel

Hot Springs are one of the easiest ways to fast travel in Death Stranding 2. Here’s how to master the Spring Jump system:

Basic Fast Travel Steps

Enter the Hot Spring: Press Square to bathe
Initiate Spring Jump: Press the Square button to open the Spring Jump map
Select Destination: Select the location you want to jump to by pressing the D-Pad left-right buttons
Confirm Jump: Press the X button to execute the jump and click OK from the prompt

Spring Jump Animation

Once soaking in a hot spring, press the R1 button to intiate a jump in which Sam will place a bucket on his head before sinking into the water.

Important Limitations

Your cargo will be stored in the private locker of each hot spring, and you can only take a select number of things with you.
Vehicles cannot travel through hot springs
Fast travel using hot springs perhaps isn’t as useful as transponders or the DHV Magellan, considering there are fewer locations to choose from, and it takes a bit longer.

Rewards and Customization Options

After you complete building one and get back to The Hydrologist, you will receive likes and customizable items as rewards. Each hot spring unlocks unique decorations:

Tar Spring: Sweet flag leaves
Clairvoyant Spring: Ludens Ducks
Metallic Spring: Yuzu fruit
Digestive Spring: Tangerines

These items can be equipped to any hot spring from the console attached to each location, providing additional benefits when you bathe.

Pro Tips for Hot Spring Hunting

1. Use the Sensor Efficiently

The Hot Spring Digger will tell you there’s a faint signal if you’re facing the right direction. It can pick the springs up from quite a distance away, so feel free to move quickly, and only change direction if you lose the signal.

2. Don’t Forget the Musical Easter Egg

Be sure to press the touch bar to send Dollman into an adorable song and dance once in the spring too. Sam even dances and sings along! The song is “Ii Yu Da Na” by The Drifters – a classic Japanese tune about hot springs.

3. Strategic Building Order

While you can build springs in any order after unlocking the first two, I recommend prioritizing:

Recharging Spring for battery management
Healing Spring for stamina recovery
Tar Spring for BT-heavy areas

4. Nighttime Benefits

In select hot springs, you can also press L1 to look up at the stars, giving Sam a way to relax and regain stamina while seeking out constellations that resemble his favourite people.

Trophy Guide: Written in the Stars

To obtain this trophy, visit a hot spring at night. The sky should be clear. If the conditions are met, Sam will get the option to Look at the Stars. Hold the L1 button to admire constellations and get Likes.

Best Locations

Try the Miracle or Healing Spring first. These areas have fewer clouds.
The Tar Spring also offers excellent visibility

Tips for Success

Don’t forget that you can advance time until you get the perfect conditions.
Clear weather is essential – wait for storms to pass
The prompt only appears at night with clear skies

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Forgetting to Report Back

Many players build hot springs but forget to return to Heartman’s Lab. Remember: These count as orders to be submitted despite not appearing on any of the menus.

2. Ignoring the Sensor Readings

The hydrothermal sensor is incredibly accurate. Trust the beeping – if it goes silent, you’re facing the wrong direction entirely.

3. Expecting Instant Construction

Unlike other structures, hot springs have specific predetermined locations. You can’t just build them anywhere you want.

4. Overlooking the Benefits

Each spring’s unique effect can significantly impact your gameplay. Don’t just use them for fast travel – take advantage of their buffs!

FAQs

Q: Do I need materials to build hot springs?

A: No! No additional resources are needed to build or upgrade the hot spring either.

Q: Can I build hot springs anywhere?

A: No, each hot spring has a specific predetermined location where underground hot water exists.

Q: How many hot springs are in the game?

A: There are a total of 9 Hot Springs in Death Stranding: On the Beach.

Q: Can I fast travel with all my cargo?

A: No, most cargo will be stored in the hot spring’s private locker. Only select items can travel with you.

Q: Do hot springs work in multiplayer?

A: Yes! Other players can use hot springs you’ve built, contributing to the strand system.

Q: What’s the best hot spring for beginners?

A: The Healing Spring near Animal Shelter is easiest to find and provides excellent stamina recovery benefits.

Q: Can I miss any hot springs?

A: No, all hot springs remain available throughout the game, even in the post-game Episode 17.

Conclusion

Building hot springs in Death Stranding 2 adds a whole new dimension to traversal and survival in Kojima’s latest masterpiece. While they may be the most complicated structure in Death Stranding 2 to construct, the rewards are well worth the effort. From fast travel capabilities to unique buffs that can turn the tide of difficult deliveries, mastering the hot spring system is essential for any serious porter.

Remember to take your time, enjoy the soothing waters, and don’t forget to sing along with Sam and Dollman. After all, in a world filled with BTs and timefall, sometimes you just need a good soak to keep on keeping on.