The Van der Linde gang riding out.
Gangs are criminal factions that play a major role in the story and gameplay of Red Dead Redemption 2, often interchangeably referred to as criminal or outlaw gangs. Over a dozen gangs can be encountered across the map and story of the game, ranging from small rag-tag groups of three or four, to gangs like the Lemoyne Raiders, which can be likened to small militias. Most notably, the game's narrative centers around the Van der Linde gang, which serves as the protagonist's faction. While numerous gangs can be found across the game's terrain, only six are essential for the compendium to achieve 100% Completion. Additionally, some gangs are only encountered in certain parts of the story, in hideouts, or in one-off appearances in certain missions.
Compendium Gangs[]
Within the world of Red Dead Redemption 2, only six gangs are cataloged in the compendium, and encountering these factions is a requisite for attaining 100% Completion. These gangs include the Del Lobo Gang, Laramie Gang, Lemoyne Raiders, Murfree Brood, O'Driscoll Boys, and the Skinner Brothers.
Del Lobo Gang[]
The Del Lobo Gang, commonly known as the "Del Lobos," is a massive gang composed of Mexican outlaws, exiles, and opportunists. The Del Lobos are predominantly found across New Austin, though their encampments and outposts dot various locations throughout the game’s story and in Red Dead Online. The gang harbors a longstanding grudge against the U.S. Government, rooted in the aftermath of the Mexican–American War. They have since entrenched themselves in Thieves' Landing, utilizing it as their de facto headquarters, with additional hideouts scattered throughout New Austin, including Fort Mercer and Gaptooth Breach.
Laramie Gang[]
A leader of the Laramie Gang harassing Abe, a hand at Pronghorn Ranch.
Identified occasionally as the Laramie Corporation, this gang comprises of hired muscle for affluent families and landowners with aggressive expansionist policies. Their methods escalate from intimidation to outright violence to ensure compliance from recalcitrant landowners. The Laramie Gang is first encountered in the epilogue, in which they replace several of the O'Driscoll operations in Big Valley. By 1907, they are notably contracted by Abel Atherton, the owner of Hanging Dog Ranch, to coerce David Geddes of Pronghorn Ranch into releasing his property.
Lemoyne Raiders[]
The Lemoyne Raiders are a massive faction of bushwhackers, made up of ex-Confederate soldiers and young men with vehemently reactionary views. Haunted by the South's defeat in the American Civil War, they conduct campaigns of terror in and around Rhodes, and to a lesser extent, Saint Denis. Much of their attacks are targeted against northerners and politicians of Lemoyne. Engaging in illicit activities, including moonshine trade with the Braithwaite family, their military-grade armaments and tactical acumen make them notably formidable. Because of their sheer size, the Raiders are incredibly dangerous, as they will organize effective ambushes against the player instead of chaotically attacking them on sight. Their influence persists into the epilogue, albeit diminished, with many members reportedly fleeing to Texas.
Murfree Brood[]
The Murfree Brood is a large faction inhabiting Roanoke Ridge. Known for their notoriously extreme cruelty and territoriality, the Murfrees exhibit savage behaviors that have led to their being compared to wild animals rather than criminal outlaws. Members of the Brood are known for their physical deformities, and rarely wear shirts. The Brood's presence in Roanoke Ridge has impeded much of the commerce and travel in the area, save for major towns like Annesburg. Although the Van der Linde gang temporarily displaces the Brood from their primary hideout in Chapter Six, the Murfrees regain their stronghold in Beaver Hollow by 1907.
O'Driscoll Boys[]
Members of the O'Driscoll Boys loitering beside the Saints Hotel in Valentine.
The O'Driscoll Boys, often shortened to "O'Driscolls," is a vast outlaw gang led by Colm O'Driscoll, who is best known for his bitter rivalry with Dutch van der Linde and his gang. Decades before the events of the story, the O'Driscolls were initially allies with Dutch's gang, although relations quickly deteriorated, leading to a prolonged and bloody feud. The O'Driscolls are distinguished by their numbers rather than skill; as such, the gang is large and filled with expendable men. The gang's hostility is ubiquitous in areas like The Heartlands, Cumberland Forest, and Big Valley. However, the gang slowly dwindles throughout the events of Redemption 2, precipitated by Colm's execution and the dismantling of their last stronghold in "Mrs. Sadie Adler, Widow." Following this, the O'Driscoll Boys cannot be encountered again.
Skinner Brothers[]
Akin to the Murfree Brood, the Skinner Brothers are a gang of ruthless killers and thieves known for their infamous barbarism and torturous practices, likening them more to a nomadic cult than a traditional outlaw gang. They are known to scalp, dismember, roast, and flay victims alive. Encounters with the Skinner Brothers are fraught with danger, as they are unpredictable and keen to ambush, roaming primarily in Tall Trees during the epilogue. In many random encounters, horses can be seen riding out of the forest with their riders dead, arrows piercing their bodies. Additionally, unlike most gangs, they have no base of operations, on account of their nomadic lifestyles, instead living in primitive camps, either their own, or ones seized from their victims.
Other Gangs[]
Beyond the primary gangs that are integral to the storyline and completion of Red Dead Redemption 2, the game is also home to various minor gangs and criminal organizations. These smaller factions may not be pivotal to the game's central narrative, but they add significant flavor and additional challenges. Most of these groups are featured in one-off missions or a limited series of encounters throughout the story. However, some, such as the Night Folk and the Mob, while too small in numbers and influence to be considered major gangs, make repeated appearances within their respective territories and contribute to the sense of danger and unpredictability of the regions they inhabit. These gangs include the Anderson Boys, the Saint Denis Mob, Foreman Brothers, Ike Skelding's Boys, Ku Klux Klan, Micah's Gang, and the Night Folk.
Anderson Boys[]
The Anderson Boys, established by Anders Anderson and his siblings before 1899, unleashed a reign of terror across Scarlett Meadows. Among their most heinous acts was the kidnapping of three wealthy individuals for ransom, demanding two thousand dollars each for their release—two of these victims suffered grotesque mutilations. Their criminal enterprise came to an abrupt halt when the Sheriff of Rhodes and his deputy apprehended them shortly after the Van der Linde gang took up residence at Clemens Point. The gang's sole appearance occurs in "The New South," where they are initially seen being transported in a prison wagon. Following a daring escape attempt onto a train, Arthur Morgan and the deputy work in tandem to capture the fugitives.
Saint Denis Mob[]
The Van der Linde gang confronting the Saint Denis Mob in "Angelo Bronte, A Man of Honor."
Initially led by Angelo Bronte, then Guido Martelli, this Italian criminal organization, holds significant sway in the underworld of Saint Denis. Characterized as a proto-mafia, the gang engages in a spectrum of criminal activities including bribery, smuggling, and extortion. Their illicit operations are largely ignored by the Saint Denis Police Department due to Bronte's influence and the gang's penchant for bribery. Serving as primary antagonists in Chapter Four, their presence extends beyond, with several random encounters featuring the mob. The gang undergoes a leadership transition after Angelo Bronte's demise at the hands of Dutch van der Linde, with underboss Guido Martelli taking the reins to perpetuate their criminal endeavors.
Foreman Brothers[]
The Foreman Brothers, also known as the Foreman Boys, are an African-American gang led by Anthony Foreman. This gang is featured in several missions in Redemption 2. Notably, Tilly Jackson, a member of the Van der Linde gang, was once part of this group. She ultimately fled after enduring prolonged abuse and fatally stabbing Malcolm Foreman, Anthony's cousin, under circumstances that are implied to involve self-defense against his advances. Despite her motivations, Anthony views her departure and actions as a profound betrayal and seeks retribution. This vendetta culminates in "No, No and Thrice, No," where the gang kidnaps Tilly and holds her at Catfish Jacksons, leading to a rescue mission orchestrated by Susan Grimshaw and Arthur.
Ike Skelding's Boys[]
Under the leadership of the famous gunman Ike Skelding, this posse operates on the fringes of lawful bounty hunting. They are recognized for apprehending government-wanted bounties and leveraging their captures for financial gain. This group became entangled with the Van der Linde gang when they captured Sean MacGuire, a member involved in the infamous Blackwater Massacre. In the mission "The First Shall Be Last," Arthur Morgan, along with Charles Smith, Javier Escuella, and Josiah Trelawny, launches a daring rescue to prevent Sean from being delivered to federal authorities, an endeavor that results in the decimation of Ike Skelding's contingent.
Ku Klux Klan[]
Members of the Ku Klux Klan rallying around a cross at night.
The Ku Klux Klan, formed by ex-Confederates and white supremacists after the Civil War, is emblematic of both profound racism and, at times, glaring ineptitude. By 1899, the gang's numbers are dwindling, with only a few small remnants in existence who recruit members and host ceremonies of burning crosses in secret to evade American authorities. Despite this, the Klan can be found in three separate random encounters throughout Lemoyne.
Micah's Gang[]
Formed by Micah Bell during the epilogue of the story, Micah's Gang emerges as the game's final antagonistic force. Following the disbandment of the Van der Linde gang, Bell recruits fellow outlaws, including Cleet and Joe, embarking on a notorious spree of robbery and murder that reportedly includes grotesque acts such as dismemberment. Micah Bell's brutality garners him a fearsome reputation, with his criminal activities drawing comparisons to those of Dutch van der Linde by the press. The gang's reign of terror is ultimately challenged in "American Venom," where John Marston, Sadie Adler, and Charles Smith confront Micah and his gang to take it down once and for all.
Night Folk[]
Members of the Night Folk ambushing the player at night.
Known colloquially as the Nite Folk, this secretive and silent gang inhabits the swamps of Bayou Nwa and Bluewater Marsh, invoking fear through their Voodoo-like presence. Renowned for setting nocturnal traps, they engage in robbery, looting, and the ghastly killings of their victims. Traversing the swamps, one may encounter their macabre displays of murder—bodies strung up or mutilated. Though they are occasionally active by day, the Night Folk's presence is predominantly nocturnal, transforming Bayou Nwa into a perilous expanse after dark. Their absence of speech, replaced by eerie clicks and hisses, adds to the unsettling aura that surrounds their enigmatic existence.
Trivia[]
- The Del Lobos Gang is the gang with the highest number of hideouts in across the map (4 in total; 5 with the Ultimate/Special Edition).
- Additionally, if Red Dead Online is taken into account, the Del Lobos are the most widespread gang in the game, with hideouts across all five states (although they are most common in New Austin).
- The O'Driscoll Boys are also the only compendium gang that cannot be encountered in the epilogue.
- Unlike the other major gangs in the game, the Skinner Brothers do not have a primary hideout that players can attack.
See also[]