We show you important tips that you should definitely know for Red Dead Redemption 2. Where can you find the fastest horse? How do you fire warning shots? What should you consider while playing?
What’s going on? Some players are starting their adventure in Rockstar Games’ Red Dead Redemption 2 for the first time today. Until now, the game was only available on PS4 and Xbox One. Starting today, the PC platform also joins officially, and some PC players are now getting to experience the story of Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang.
To ensure you are optimally prepared for the start, we show you the most important tips for the game. Some of these helped us on the console, while others are new.
1. Use Dead Eye in combat and hunting
What is Dead Eye? This is a useful feature that helps you in combat. Time slows down, making it easier to aim at enemies or animals.
Throughout the adventure, the function continuously evolves and improves.
Use Dead Eye when hunting too: If you’re hunting small animals, Dead Eye is especially effective. The feature shows you the weak points of the targets when activated. This helps you identify where animals are most vulnerable and can die with just one shot.
We have a guide that explains Dead Eye in detail:
2. Get rid of bounties here
What is the problem? As you progress through the story, bounties may be placed on you, depending on your playstyle. This happens when you act against the law.
Depending on the crime, the bounty can grow rapidly. Each state in RDR 2 has its own bounties. So you might be wanted for a bounty in New Hanover, but not at the same time in West Elizabeth.
Where can you pay? You can settle bounties at the post offices in the states. They are located near train stations and are represented on the map with an envelope symbol.
Everything else you need to know about bounties in RDR 2.
3. How to unlock fast travel
What is the problem? The map in RDR 2 is huge. Actually, this is not a problem, but important content. However, when riding from place to place on horseback, it can quickly become lengthy and annoying over large distances.
This is the solution: In your camp, the unlocking of fast travel is hidden. You’ll need to make a few structural changes for this. First, play through the story until you receive the mission “Money Lending and Other Sins” from Mr. Strauss.
Once you complete the mission, you gain access to the ledger to upgrade the camp. At level 3 of the lodging upgrades, fast travel becomes available. Here we show you in detail how to unlock fast travel in RDR2.
4. Automatic riding to the checkpoint, here’s how
What is that? At first glance, it looks like you always have to steer while riding. If you’re on your way to a distant point on the map, then riding can become tedious for some.
There is a “hidden” option to run automatically.
How do you do that? Set a waypoint on the map, start walking your horse at the desired speed, and then activate cinematic mode. Now you’ll see Arthur with his horse traveling through the area without needing to steer.
However, it’s advisable to stay close to the controller or keyboard in case you need to intervene. If bad guys are waiting on the roadside or your horse strays off the path. Here is a detailed guide on riding with autopilot in RDR 2.
5. How to improve your camp
This is what you need to unlock: To improve your gang’s camp, you first need to find the ledger. You unlock it by completing a mission for Mr. Strauss.
Why should you improve the camp? Once you upgrade the camp sufficiently, you’ll be supplied with ammunition, weapons, or medicine repeatedly. During the challenging missions in the story, you’ll be thankful for every potion and magazine you receive from the gang.
There are many benefits to upgrading, making it worthwhile for all of you. What exactly you unlock, you can learn here:
6. Search buildings for weapons
Where are there weapons? While playing the story missions or exploring the open world, you should also search buildings. Hidden in back rooms or basements are small treasures like weapons.
In Valentine, you’ll find a weapon early in the game. To do this, visit the doctor’s office. Look through the back window, and an activity will start, rewarding you with a revolver. You can see how that goes here:
7. Always have Horse Reviver with you
Why is this important? When you’re out with your horse, it can happen, especially at the beginning of the game, that you ride carelessly. After all, you need to get used to the controls.
If a horse gets injured so badly that it loses all its health points, you can revive it with a Horse Reviver. We recommend always having a reviver with you so that you don’t have to forgo your horse.
The kits are available in general stores and stables.
8. Pay attention to Arthur’s diary
Why is this important? Throughout the story, Arthur frequently writes notes in his diary or makes small sketches.
These notes provide further insights into the story and can provide important background information for missions. It’s worth taking a look at the little book from time to time.
There’s even a player who created a special diary for the online mode:
9. A shot in the air scares off attackers
What is this good for? When encountering hostile NPCs on your travels, they are not always friendly. You can scare them and nasty animals by shooting your weapon into the air.
To do this, draw your weapon and press the up arrow on the D-pad on the controller. We will provide the keyboard command later.
This way, you can scare off attackers or even clear a saloon.
10. Find legendary animals
What are legendary animals? As you travel around with Arthur, you’ll notice wild animals frequently. These can be deer, birds, or completely different species. When you hunt them, you may get important rewards like food to satisfy your hunger. Stylish clothes can be made from skins or pelts.
Legendary animals are something very special. The fur of a legendary bear can be processed into special hats, gloves, or coats.
On the map, you can also find legendary fish. They engage you in a juicy fight and require a special fishing technique.
11. Locations of the trappers
What do you need trappers for? You sell your loot from hunting to the trappers. They are essential if you want to fully explore the story and its possibilities.
Where are the trappers? They are spread throughout the world of RDR 2. You can find them at various locations in Saint Denis, Blackwater, or Valentine.
You can find all the locations of the trappers in RDR 2 here
12. Here you can find one of the best horses for free
What kind of horse is this? In Red Dead Redemption 2, there are many different horse breeds, each with its unique advantages. The Arabians are among the best horses in the game. You can obtain the white one for free and tame it in the wild.
How do you get the white Arabian? After you unlock the stables (this happens fairly early in the story), you can head northwest on the map. In the state of Ambarino, at Lake Isabella, you will find the horse.
We have a guide for you on how to tame the white Arabian in Red Dead Redemption 2.
13. Find your gear – Where are your hat and weapon?
The hat is not gone: Those who care a lot about their appearance will quickly notice that Arthur can lose his hat. Other things like weapons may seem lost occasionally, but that’s not true.
The weapon bags of your horse are like treasure chests. Here you can find all your stuff that you think you lost.
14. Why you shouldn’t attack dogs
There are consequences for this: A remarkable wildlife encounters the players in RDR 2. However, you should not shoot dogs. Generally, because they are just cute, lovely creatures that should be loved – even as a cowboy. But this article’s author’s opinion doesn’t matter here. More importantly, dogs in RDR 2 are under police protection.
If you shoot dogs in RDR 2, NPCs will take it very seriously. In some places, you may even be forced to leave town immediately. How such reactions look in-game, we will show you here:
15. How to get 99 inventory slots
How does this work? Red Dead Redemption 2 offers you various bags that you can create. One particularly popular one is the “Legend of the East.” With 99 inventory spaces for all kinds of materials, it is a huge help on your adventures with Arthur, especially for players who love to loot and level gather.
In our bag guide for Red Dead Redemption 2, you will learn how to obtain it.
16. Make money – Here are valuable gold bars
How do you make money? In RDR 2, you should loot everything you can get your hands on. Quick money is made with gold bars that are scattered throughout the world.
We have created an overview map of the gold bars hidden in Red Dead Redemption 2. One bar is worth $500. This way, you can quickly amass a large sum of money, which you can use to buy cool weapons or accessories.
You can find these locations of gold bars in Red Dead Redemption 2
If you have any more tips, feel free to share them with us in the comments.
