Red Dead Redemption 2 may seem like a simple western-style shooter on the surface, but anyone who has played it will know there are a lot of mechanics at play that makes it a rich and engaging experience. In fact, the more you know about these mechanics the better an outlaw you can be.
Things like properly maintaining your equipment, hunting with bows, wearing disguises while committing crimes, and even petting dogs can benefit you tremendously in your next playthrough. Here are some general tips to consider if someone wants to become a pro in Red Dead Redemption 2.
15 Get The Best Horse In The Game Quickly
The Arabian horse is the best horse in Red Dead Redemption 2. While buying it from a stable can be a rather taxing endeavor, players can get a beautiful white-coated Arabian near Lake Isabella in the northwestern corner of the map.
The horse is extremely fast, with its other stats being quite great as well. Roaming around the countryside with this beautiful steed will certainly make the game far more enjoyable.
14 Go On Autopilot With Your Horse
When players put on a marker in Red Dead Redemption 2, there’s actually a trick that allows them to reach this location without any input. Players can simply start riding the horse on the path and turn on cinematic mode, allowing them to leave the controller as the horse travels at its own pace.
Of course, players need to be wary of any sounds occurring near them, since it could be a potential event. Being wary of these occurrences will help them enjoy the best of both worlds in this amazing game.
13 Check Your Journal Often
Arthur’s journal is one of the most interesting documents in Red Dead Redemption 2. It’s a great way to stay up-to-date with the story and read up on some obscure facets if required.
The journal is also full to the brim with amazing illustrations and documentation of Arthur’s side activities. It’s a great record of everything the player has accomplished up till that point.
12 Unlock The Free Fast Travel Option
Red Dead Redemption 2’s world is absolutely massive. In fact, the map is so big that traveling from one area to another can take ages.
Thankfully, Red Dead Redemption 2 has its fair share of fast travel options, along with a free one that can be unlocked within the camp itself. Players need to reach Chapter 2 and accumulate $545 before the Fast Travel map becomes accessible.
11 Hold The Exit Button In Menus To Jump Back Directly In The Game
Red Dead Redemption 2 has its fair share of extensive menus that can be quite cumbersome to navigate. Exiting back into the game world can take quite some time, as a result.
However, within sub-menus, players can still jump directly back to the main game. They simply need to hold the back button instead of pressing it multiple times, allowing them to go right back into the fray at a moment’s notice.
10 Pay Your Bounty
As you start committing crimes and getting noticed by the lawmen you’ll start accruing a bounty. A small bounty can be tedious at times and a high bounty will make you the target of anyone with a gun desperate for some cash.
Even though money might be tight in the beginning it’s often in your best interest to routinely pay off your bounty by heading to the local post office. You’ll find paying down your bounty will be much more beneficial and cost-effective as you won’t burn through nearly as much ammo defending yourself from bounty hunters and law enforcement.
9 Wear A Disguise During Crimes
One thing you can do to avoid accruing as much of a bounty in the first place is to wear a disguise. Wearing a simple bandana or a mask during a crime will make it harder for people to recognize you and minimize how much bounty you accrue.
Eventually, you’ll want to have an outfit that you only wear during crimes to completely avoid detection and drawing suspicion to yourself. The outfit might be expensive at first, but it’ll save you a ton of money paying off bounties in the long run.
8 Have Three Outfits
Speaking of outfits you generally want to have three outfits on your horse at all times. You want an outfit suitable for cold weather, one suitable for warmer climates, and one for when you’re committing crimes.
You lose a ton of stamina if your character is too cold or too hot and the last entry already explained why a disguise is helpful. If you want to explore the best areas in the game or commit a lot of crimes then you definitely want these outfits sooner rather than later.
7 Pet The Dogs
The last tip when it comes to crime is to pet every dog you come across. Dogs in this world have a tendency to bark at your character when they see you and this can be problematic when using stealth to commit a crime or if you’re looking to avoid drawing attention.
Petting the dog establishes a camaraderie and they won’t be alarmed when you’re around them in the future. It’s also great to keep them from yapping over and over when you’re around them which can get old really quickly.
6 Groom Your Horse
Your horse is your best friend in this game, and it’s important to keep it well-groomed. A clean horse will have better stamina which is key for committing crimes or getting out of dangerous situations. You should make a habit of brushing your horse free of all the dirt and grime that comes from traveling in the old west.
While you should get a horse brush sooner rather than later you can save yourself some time and money by running your horse through water or walking it through a rainstorm. It’s a cheap and quick way to get them clean, but you’ll want the brush for arid climates when water isn’t readily available.
5 Keep Your Guns Clean
In addition to keeping your horse clean you need to keep your guns clean. A gun that’s covered in grime or too wet will start misfiring and having other issues until it’s no longer usable. You want your guns to work when you need them to so make a habit of cleaning them with oil.
When your funds allow you can save yourself some of that headache by getting reinforced holsters. These babies will protect your guns from the elements and save you a lot of time and money keeping them cleaned.
4 Hunt With Bows
Whether you’re looking for the perfect pelt, a legendary animal, food for dinner, or to sell the meat to a butcher you want to be hunting with bows. You can hunt with a gun of course, but it often lowers the value of the meat and can draw some unwanted attention.
When an animal is killed with a bow the meat and pelts are more valuable which means more money in your pocket. It also saves you from using ammo you might need in an upcoming gunfight. It may take a while to get used to but get yourself a bow and start practicing.
3 Grab First, Study Later
After the gun smoke clears and the bodies start cooling on the ground you may not know it, but you’re on the clock. Your fellow gang members will start going through and stripping the bodies of any loot which could mean losing out on much-needed cash or valuable items for yourself.
You should get in the habit of making a quick sweep to grab everything you can without spending a lot of time looking at what you found. When your pockets are full or there aren’t any more bodies you can take a moment to sort through the goods.
2 Be Honorable
Yes you are an outlaw and you will commit many, many crimes, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have any honor. The Honor system will determine your reputation among the villages and can benefit or harm you depending on where you stand.
Honor is obtained through helping Strangers during random encounters. Having a high honor will unlock outfits and give you discounts at shops. The only reason to consider letting your honor get low is to improve the drop rate for Deadeye tonic, tobacco, alcohol, and some thrown weapons from dead bodies.
1 Help Others Whenever Possible
Apart from improving your Honor ranking it really benefits you, in the long run, to take a moment to help those you come across. Whether it’s helping someone with a bad injury, locating lost items, or recovering a wagon, it’s in your best interest to help them out.
Some won’t reward you with very much, but a few can give you access to new tonics, better items, and some lump sums of cash. At the very least your Honor will go up so pay it forward and help someone in need whenever you can.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is available on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Google Stadia.
More: Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do In Red Dead Redemption 2
