In 2026, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach remains a sprawling delivery odyssey, but for many players, the real test is not the main story—it is the optional nightmare known as the Lord of the Tar Lake. This secret boss is a flying whale that can wipe a poorly prepared porter off the map in seconds. Defeating it is a tall order; capturing it is even trickier. Yet with the Fisherman's trust, a captured Delphis BT, and the right arsenal, the beast can be turned into a shiny crystal. Here is how to get the job done without losing your boots—or your life. 🐋

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The Fisherman: The Prepper Who Opens the Door

The Fisherman is not part of the main story. He is an optional Prepper, which means most players will never stumble upon him unless they go the extra mile. To even get the chance to summon the Lord of the Tar Lake, players must first boost their connection or reputation with the Fisherman to rank 4 or higher.

The first step is a main order: deliver Chiral Microbes to the F5 East Distribution Center. Once that job is done, a new optional mission appears at the facility's terminal. It is Sub-Order 116: Deliver all the Stranded Ship's cargo to the Fisherman.

Load the cargo into a vehicle and drive back the way you came. Head north along the coast, then turn left before climbing the slope to the Metagenomicist's camp. That area is crawling with BTs, so players should keep their heads on a swivel. A bridge built by another player often helps reach the Fisherman's camp on the left.

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Grinding Reputation Without Losing Your Mind

Reaching rank 4 with the Fisherman is no picnic. Fortunately, there are a few reliable ways to speed things up:

  • Pick up lost cargo along the shoreline leading to the Fisherman's camp. These items are unlikely to respawn later, so grab them while they are hot.

  • Complete the Fisherman's standard order, which appears in the terminal every day or so. It asks players to kill Floating BTs at the nearby beach area. Rinse and repeat until reputation is above rank 4.

While players tackle these objectives, the Fisherman talks about the Lord of the Tar Lake that resides in the large body of goop. Once rank 4 is surpassed, he makes an SSS post saying he knows how to summon the giant beast. But first, players need to find another creature to serve as bait. That is where the Delphis comes in.

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Sub-Order 117: Capture the Delphis

Return to the Fisherman once prompted and pick up Sub-Order 117 from the terminal. This is a two-part mission. The first objective is to capture a special giant BT, the Delphis. Players should not try to wing it—bring EX Capture Grenades.

Here is the play-by-play:

  1. Go to the Weapons Factory in the desert area, between the Data Scientist and Pioneer.

  2. Arrive at the location and let Hunters drag the player down. This causes the giant BT Delphis to spawn.

  3. The Delphis mostly jumps and rams the character, but it also has a lunging attack that can swallow Sam whole. Keep moving and keep shooting.

  4. Damage the Delphis until its health bar is red. When it opens its mouth, toss an EX Capture Grenade to catch it. This grants the Delphis BT Crystal.

  5. Summoning the Delphis in battle costs only 250 chiral crystals.

⚠️ Note: The Delphis must be captured, not killed. Players should not summon another BT during this fight, as the ally can accidentally kill the target. If the Delphis dies, reload a backup save and try again.

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Preparing for the Lord of the Tar Lake

Now that the Delphis is captured, the real showdown can begin. The Lord of the Tar Lake is located in the large lake of black goop near the F5 East Distribution Facility. Before heading there, players should craft and bring the following:

  • LW Multirocket Launcher or Quadruple Rocket Launcher

  • Machine Gun or Assault Rifle

  • At least one or two extra EX Capture Grenades

  • A normal vehicle, or better yet, a fabricated Coffin Board. The Coffin Board offers improved mobility since the entire area is covered in tar.

When players arrive at the marked location, they should open the Specials tab of the inventory and select the Delphis BT. Once the Delphis is summoned, the Lord of the Tar Lake emerges and gobbles up the bait. Cue the boss music. 🎵

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Fighting the Flying Whale

The Lord of the Tar Lake is a flying whale, and it is no pushover. It moves very slowly, but its attacks deal tremendous damage. Its abilities include:

  • An area-wide bombardment attack

  • A fiery focused laser beam

  • A means of spawning exploding tar clones

As far as BT summons go, Raia is a top recommendation. This monster also flies around and is more versatile in the air. Kheir and Gigas are also fairly decent due to their high health pools. While the summoned BT has the Lord of the Tar Lake distracted, players should shoot their foe with rockets, grenades, and all sorts of bullets until it is downed. Going toe to fin with this creature requires patience, but it can be done.

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Capture Strategy: Do Not Kill It

Yes, players can capture the Lord of the Tar Lake, but they need to be very careful. Here is what they need to know:

  • Players can keep summoning different kinds of BTs, but they must hold off if the boss's health is roughly at 40% or lower. No one wants a summon to steal the kill.

  • Once the boss's health bar is red, be ready for its ultimate move. It swims underwater and then reemerges to swallow the player whole. This is denoted by a large yellow outline on the ground.

  • Move out of the way immediately. Once the boss's head or mouth is visible, quickly chuck an EX Capture Grenade at it.

  • If done right, the boss's body turns into a crystal that can be picked up. Note that summoning the Lord of the Tar Lake costs 1,200 chiral crystals.

Rewards and the Fisherman's Final Gifts

Whether players killed or caught the target, they should receive the 'Showdown at the Tar Lake' trophy. Moreover, they should return to the Fisherman NPC, whose reputation and connection will be maxed out because of these deeds. Here are his rewards:

Rank Reward
1 Remote Detonation (RD) Grenade Launcher [MP]
2 Backpack Cover Level 1
3 Lightweight Remote Detonation (LW-RD) Grenade Launcher [MP]
4 Backpack Cover Level 2
5 Custom Hologram: The Fisherman and Patch 48: BT Cetus

The Cetus is the flying whale species of the Lord of the Tar Lake, so the patch is a fitting badge of honor. Last but not least, players who want another late-game challenge may want to hunt the BT Gigas. That beast is a different kind of headache, but the experience gained here will help. Humanity yearns to be interconnected once more, and it is up to the player to deliver the goods—one giant BT at a time.