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Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Guide

Where To Find Usada Pekora In Death Stranding 2

Players can find Usada Pekora in Death Stranding 2 as the prepper known as the Data Scientist.

3 min readUpdated Jun 2026Verified by GamiDev

Quick Answer

Players can find Usada Pekora in Death Stranding 2 as the prepper known as the Data Scientist. She is first encountered during Order 25, which requires Sam to deliver a pizza from the Pizza Chef to her facility within a time limit.

After unlocking the Data Scientist, reaching Connection Level 2 rewards players with the Nousagi Hat, a cosmetic item that also slows stamina depletion while traveling on foot.

Continue to Full Guide ↓

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Full Guide

How To Meet Usada Pekora In Death Stranding 2

Usada Pekora appears in Death Stranding 2 as the Data Scientist, one of the optional prepper facilities that players encounter during the Australian chapter of the game.

Unlike some celebrity cameos hidden away in remote locations, Pekora is tied directly to the main story and cannot be missed.

Players will first meet her during Order 25: Deliver Piping Hot Pizza to the Data Scientist.


Unlocking The Data Scientist

Before reaching the Data Scientist, players must progress through the story until they complete:

  • Order 24
  • Unlock the Pizza Chef
  • Accept Order 25

Order 25 tasks Sam with delivering a fresh pizza to the Data Scientist before the timer expires.

Because the order has a strict time limit, using a vehicle is strongly recommended.


Best Route For Order 25

The fastest method is to use a:

  • Tri-Cruiser
  • Road network if available
  • Battery-boosted vehicle setup

While traveling, avoid the nearby bandit camp located between:

  • Heartman's Lab
  • Pizza Chef

Driving directly through the camp can waste valuable time and risk damaging the cargo.

Instead, travel around the edge of the camp and stay focused on reaching the destination quickly.


Watch Out For The Data Scientist's Defenses

As players approach the Data Scientist's facility, they'll encounter a series of hazards surrounding the prepper shelter.

These include:

  • Explosive rock formations
  • Trap pillars
  • Hazardous obstacles near the entrance

Moving carefully through this area is important because damage to the pizza can lower delivery ratings and potentially cause mission failure.

Smaller vehicles like the Tri-Cruiser are easier to maneuver through these obstacles.


Rewards For Delivering The Pizza

Completing Order 25 unlocks the Data Scientist and provides several useful rewards.

Initial Rewards

  • Porter Suit: AI Camo
  • Sneaking Boots
  • SL-LW Assault Rifle Lv1

The AI Camo suit helps prevent detection from mole mine cameras, while the Sneaking Boots make stealth approaches much easier.

The lightweight suppressed assault rifle is especially useful for players who prefer avoiding direct combat.


How To Get The Nousagi Hat

The most popular reward associated with Usada Pekora is the exclusive Nousagi Hat.

To unlock it, players must increase their connection level with the Data Scientist to:

Connection Level 2

After reaching Level 2, the Data Scientist sends Sam a special reward through the delivery network.

This reward contains the Nousagi Hat.


Nousagi Hat Effects

The Nousagi Hat isn't just a cosmetic item.

Equipping it provides a gameplay bonus by reducing stamina consumption during movement.

Benefits include:

  • Slower stamina depletion
  • Better endurance during long deliveries
  • Improved efficiency while traveling on foot

For players who spend a lot of time exploring mountainous terrain or carrying heavy cargo, the bonus can be surprisingly useful.


How To Equip The Nousagi Hat

Once unlocked, the Nousagi Hat can be equipped through the facial equipment menu.

To access it:

  1. Hold Left on the D-Pad.
  2. Open the equipment wheel.
  3. Select the Face Equipment section.
  4. Choose the Nousagi Hat.

Sam can wear it alongside many other cosmetic customization options.


Is The Nousagi Hat Worth Unlocking?

Absolutely.

Even if players aren't familiar with Usada Pekora, the Nousagi Hat is one of the more useful cosmetic rewards available early in Australia.

The stamina bonus helps during long deliveries, and it serves as a fun reference to one of Death Stranding 2's most memorable celebrity cameos.

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Death Stranding 2 Usada Pekora Location | How To Get The Nousagi Hat