Since its release on June 26, 2025, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has captivated PS5 players with its immersive world and complex mechanics. However, many have reported a puzzling issue: spare ammo pouches not appearing to work as expected. If you’ve noticed that your extra ammo containers aren’t increasing your visible bullet count, don’t worry—this isn’t a bug. Instead, it’s an intentional design choice by Kojima Productions.
In this guide, we’ll explain how the ammo pouch system actually functions, why players are confused, and how to ensure you’re maximizing your ammunition reserves in Death Stranding 2.
Why Your Ammo Pouch Seems Broken (But Isn’t)
In most shooters, equipping an ammo pouch or magazine upgrade immediately boosts your displayed ammo count. Death Stranding 2 takes a different approach:
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Your primary ammo count (e.g., “30/120”) remains unchanged when attaching spare ammo pouches.
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The extra ammo only becomes available once your main supply runs out.
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When depleted, the game automatically pulls from your spare pouches, triggering a reload animation or prompt.
This means your extra ammo isn’t wasted—it’s reserved for emergencies, ensuring you don’t burn through all your bullets too quickly.
How to Properly Use Spare Ammo Pouches
To get the most out of your ammo reserves, follow these steps:
Equip the Pouch Correctly – Attach spare ammo containers to your backpack via the customization menu.
Empty Your Primary Magazine First – Fire until your main ammo hits zero; the game will then use the spare pouch.
Rest to Refill – Unlike standard ammo, spare pouches don’t auto-refill in the field. You must:
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Visit a Private Room at a Knot City or Distribution Center.
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Sleep or rest to fully replenish pouch ammo.
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Fabricating new pouches won’t restore existing ones—only resting does.
Common Misconceptions About Ammo Pouches
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❌ Myth: The pouch is bugged because my ammo count doesn’t increase.
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✅ Truth: The extra ammo is hidden until needed.
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❌ Myth: Fabricating new pouches refills my reserves.
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✅ Truth: Only resting in a private room restores pouch ammo.
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❌ Myth: The pouch gives infinite extra bullets.
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✅ Truth: Each pouch provides one additional magazine per trip.
Optimizing Your Ammo Strategy
To avoid running out of bullets in critical moments:
✔ Always carry at least one spare ammo pouch.
✔ Return to safe houses regularly to restock.
✔ Prioritize high-level pouches for more reserves.
Final Thoughts
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach introduces unique survival mechanics that differ from traditional shooters. While the ammo pouch system may seem confusing at first, understanding its design helps you stay prepared in the game’s harsh world.
By following this guide, you’ll never be caught off-guard by an empty magazine again. If you found this helpful, share it with fellow Porters, and keep an eye out for more Death Stranding 2 tips and tricks!
🔹 Looking for more guides? Check out our breakdown of Death Stranding 2’s best weapons and backpack optimizations!
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 PS5Genre(s): Action-adventureDeveloper(s): Kojima ProductionsPublisher(s):Sony Interactive EntertainmentEngine: DecimaRelease date: June 26, 2025Mode: Single-player
