Factions in Redemption

Factions are various groups or organizations that players will encounter in Red Dead Redemption while playing as John or Jack Marston. These may include American or Mexican criminal gangs, law enforcement organizations, and more.

Standard Factions
There are two standard faction types; Law Enforcement and Criminal factions. Law Enforcement will typically pursue the player when a crime, or crimes, are committed. Criminal gangs are the exact oppisite; they are outlaws, normally territorial, who own hideouts across the world and will normally shoot the player if they enter one. Both faction types can be encountered without hostility, in towns or settlements.

Law Enforcement
These factions, made up of Marshals, American Army soldiers, Mexican Army soldiers, Federales, Lawmen and the Blackwater Police Department, as well as the Rebeldes after a certain storyline checkpoint, will typically come after the player when and if he commits crimes and earns a Bounty. Typically, four-man law enforcement posses will appear at random across the world in both countries, respectively. At higher bounty levels, Army soldiers or Marshals will begin to pursue the player, aswell as bounty hunter posses. Law enforcement officials can be encountered in all towns or settlements, however, Army soldiers are only encountered when running from a bounty, or in storyline missions.

Criminal Gangs
Factions that are made up of known outlaws are simply referred to as Criminal or Outlaw gangs. They are made up of the Banditos, Walton's Gang, Bollard Twins' Gang, and Dutch's Gang, as well as the Rebeldes, up to a certain point in the storyline. These gangs can be encountered in towns or settlements, acting as normal civilians, or can be encountered in gang hideouts or through bounty posters that are posted around various settlements. They are only hostile when encountered in the latter two locations. They will pursue the player only if he has recently completed a bounty mission and is en-route to a town with proof, or a hogtied criminal.

Notable Faction Members
Leigh Johnson - U.S. Marshal

Abraham Reyes - Rebeldes Leader

Walton Lowe - Walton's Gang Leader

Edgar Ross - Bureau of Investigation Director

Archer Fordham Bureau of Investigation Agent

Howard Sawicki - Bureau of Investigation Agent

Jonah - U.S. Deputy

Eli - U.S. Deputy

Vincente de Santa - Federales Captain

Captain Espinoza - Mexican Army Captain

Agustin Allende - Mexican Army/Federales Leader

Dutch van der Linde - Dutch's Gang Leader