Deadly Days: Roadtrip Duct Tape: How to Get and Use It

How to Get Duct Tape in Deadly Days: Roadtrip

Deadly Days: Roadtrip duct tape unlocks your base workbench, giving those hard-earned rolls a clear progression goal. Earn it from bosses, certain achievements, and the Reaper. Version 1.0 changes boss payouts, so your MKing response level matters when planning a run.

Start by checking mission tooltips: they display duct tape rewards. Compare those rewards when choosing your route, and plan around fights your current backpack build can handle.

Achievements provide another way to earn tape. In version 1.0, some achievements award apples or duct tape at base, with a pickup effect when the reward appears. Check the achievement rewards when deciding what to pursue alongside your next run.

The Reaper also drops 1 duct tape. Keep that payout in mind when weighing the fight against your immediate goal, whether that is reaching a boss or collecting enough fuel to leave.

Before heading out, visit the coffee stand added in version 1.0. Brewing coffee lets you start your next run with increased movement and loot speed, and the days are a bit longer. Use those benefits to help with scavenging fuel and navigating each stop.

Official page: Deadly Days: Roadtrip (store.steampowered.com)

Boss Rewards and MKing Response Levels

The October 29, 2026, version 1.0 update increased boss tape rewards at higher MKing response levels while reducing the HQ end boss’s base drop.

Image: Steam / Pixelsplit

Reward or condition	Duct tape payout
Boss reward bonus starting at MKing response level 3	+1
Boss reward bonus starting at MKing response level 5	+2
HQ end boss base drop	3
Reaper drop	1

The response-level bonuses are thresholds: the bonus becomes +2 at level 5, rather than adding another two rolls on top of the level 3 bonus. The HQ boss’s 3 duct tape is its base reward, separate from the response-level bonus.

Higher payouts come with more pressure. Starting threat increases by +1 at response level 3, +2 at level 4, and +3 at level 5.

Weigh the extra tape against that tougher opening. Prioritize a build that can reach and defeat the boss consistently before chasing a larger reward. Arrange weapons and support items so their adjacency effects work together, and merge matching equipment into stronger versions when you can.

If you lose or abandon a run before its first boss win, MKing Response Level drops by 1. The route threat cap also changes with response level: it reaches 3 at level 2 and 4 at level 6.

Weekly Challenge runs always use response level 5. Account for that setting before approaching one with the same expectations as a lower-response road trip.

What Duct Tape Unlocks at Base

Duct tape unlocks the workbench. Apples serve other progression systems, including incremental upgrades and persistent character-item sticker upgrades, so keep those currencies’ purposes separate when choosing your next goal.

Image: Steam / Pixelsplit

The workbench connects to several useful systems:

• Crafting: Combine the required ingredients into new equipment, including craftable weapons.
• Encyclopedia: Unlock access through the workbench.
• Banishing: Unlock the system that removes selected unwanted items from airdrops, shops, and loot zombie drops.

In version 1.0, banishing capacity progresses through 3, 6, and 12 items. Use those slots to remove equipment you want excluded from future loot choices.

Once crafting is available, inspect the workbench recipe list before committing ingredients. It sorts recipes by what you can craft and displays ingredient quantities and rarities. Check those details against the equipment you already have, then choose a recipe that supports your backpack’s existing synergies.

Version 1.0 adds five weapons available only through crafting: Flamethrower, Desert Eagle, Mega Shotgun, Crossbow, and The Grinder. Their effects give you specific goals to consider. The Flamethrower leaves damaging fires that can apply Burn, while the Desert Eagle pierces one extra enemy. Crossbow bolts stick in enemies and repeat on-hit effects when triggered. Compare those effects with your existing items before choosing which recipe to pursue.