Red Dead Redemption 2 is the most detailed open world ever built, but that detail hides dozens of mechanics the game never teaches you. These 20 tips will transform your playthrough.
Early-game essentials
- Feed and brush your horse every day. Horse bond level 4 unlocks rearing on command; level 4 is also where it stops throwing you off in combat.
- Eat three times a day. Arthur’s core stats decay if you skip meals, silently nerfing your Health, Stamina and Dead Eye.
- Sleep at camp to trigger story conversations that don’t appear on the map. Missing these locks you out of unique side content.
- Don’t sell gold bars yet. Wait until Chapter 2’s fence opens in Emerald Ranch — selling earlier loses you the shack glitch (see tip 14).
Combat & hunting
- Headshots only for perfect pelts. Body shots reduce pelt quality by one tier — use a bow with Improved Arrows for small animals.
- Dead Eye level 3 (unlocks mid-Chapter 2) lets you manually place shots. Never use auto-mark after that.
- Oil your guns weekly. Dirty guns jam on crucial shots. Gun Oil is cheap at every general store.
Honour system
Honour affects endings, shop prices, and which side missions unlock. Key honour gains:
- Greeting every stranger you pass (+1 each)
- Handing in wanted posters (+40)
- Donating more than $15 to camp tithe per chapter (+5 daily)
Money-making strategies
- Gold bar glitch at Limpany (still working in PC patch 1.32) — 30 gold bars, $15,000 at the fence.
- Sell pristine pelts to the Trapper, not the butcher — triple the money.
- Loot every body after gunfights. Average outlaw carries $4–6 plus valuables.
- Rob stagecoaches marked on your map — 3–5 minute jobs for $50+.
Mechanics the game hides
- Hold Triangle/Y to disarm enemies instead of killing — huge honour boost during ambushes.
- Fire from cover without aiming by tapping R2/RT — blind fire is actually accurate at medium range.
- Camp can be moved after Chapter 2 — talk to Dutch about relocating.
- Dual wield is unlocked via the off-hand holster in Valentine gunsmith.
- Weather affects stamina — riding into blizzards drains Stamina cores 3x faster.
Story decisions that matter
- Chapter 4 Saint Denis robbery — the “honourable” choice there permanently changes Dutch’s opinion.
- Chapter 6 Mount Hagen — helping John over riding back to the gang is the canon good ending.
- Chapter 6 final mission — the “honour” path has a bittersweet ending; the “dishonour” path is darker and shorter.
- Epilogue is 40% of the story. Don’t rush it — John’s section has some of the best side content in the game.
The most important tip
Play slowly. RDR2 is not a game designed to be “finished” in 30 hours. Ride between missions, hunt, fish, read every letter Arthur picks up. This is the one open world that rewards patience.