| “ | Just do one thing or another, not be two people at once, that's all I'm saying. | „ |
| —Arthur Morgan to John Marston |
The Sheep and the Goats is a mission in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Mission Overview[]
Arthur helps John with a plan to rustle a herd of sheep and sell them at auction in Valentine.
After selling the sheep, Arthur, John, Dutch and Strauss are confronted by Leviticus Cornwall and his henchmen, which turns into a shootout.
Story[]
Arthur meets with John in the south part of Valentine near the auction yard. John says that he has found a lead, and points out some sheep in a pen. He then tells Arthur to follow him to the gun store to buy a sniper rifle. As they walk through town, Arthur tells John about how returning to Blackwater is still too dangerous despite Dutch's talk and how the world is changing around them and believes they may be "the last". Once at the gun store, Arthur buys a Rolling Block Rifle, since John isn't on good terms with the gunsmith. Arthur then follows John on horseback towards the valley.
During the ride, the pair argue about John's family ways with Jack, during which Arthur advises John to "not be two people at once". John then tells Arthur his plan; to steal a herd of sheep heading from Emerald Ranch for sale and auction them. The pair head to the top of a cliff, where they see the herd passing below. Arthur follows John's instructions and shoots the ground to scare the ranch hands. Arthur and John then ride to the scattered sheep and round them up before leading them to the auction house, with Arthur directing the sheep due to John's inability to do so.
However, the auctioneer becomes suspicious of the sheep's origins and argues with Arthur. John will then negotiate his requested 25% share down to 18% to prevent him from snitching. Arthur and John then meet up with Dutch at the nearby Keane's saloon who is arguing with Strauss.
Dutch beckons Strauss and John to collect the payment on the sheep before asking Arthur to join him for a drink. Shortly thereafter, Leviticus Cornwall arrives with an entourage of private guards outside the saloon, demanding Dutch to show himself. He has John and Strauss held outside as hostages. Cornwall leaves before Dutch and Arthur confront the men, and Dutch vocally distracts them so Arthur can draw his gun and free John and Strauss. After the guards have been dispatched, a firefight will then ensue in the town. While making a run through the main street, Strauss is shot and the others are forced to grab a wagon to serve as cover and protect him. Once the group gets far enough, Arthur picks up Strauss and moves him to the back of John's horse.
Due to the skirmish in the town, Dutch decides that the gang will have to move camp again before fleeing with John and Strauss. Arthur stays behind and escapes Valentine and the law before heading back to camp at Horseshoe Overlook.
Gold Medal Objectives[]
- Herd all the sheep in to the pen in Valentine.
- Get 25 headshots.
- Complete with at least 70% accuracy.
- Complete the mission without taking any health items.
Deaths[]
- Cornwall‘s Henchmen - Killed by Dutch, John, and Arthur for trying to intimidate and kill the Van der Linde gang members.
- Valentine Lawmen - Can be killed by Arthur as he escapes the town and the pursuing law.
- Ranch Hands (optional) - Can be killed by Arthur from on top of the cliff.
Mission Failure[]
The mission will fail if the player:
- Assaults, kills or abandons John;
- Kills all of the sheep;
- Alerts the law;
- Assaults, kills, or abandons Dutch or Strauss;
- Allows John, Dutch or Strauss to be killed;
- Abandons Valentine;
- Kills or abandons their horse;
- Dies.
Missable Items in the Mission[]
- Newsboy Cap
Trivia[]
- This mission's title is taken from the title of the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (which is actually more of a lesson of the coming of Christ to judge the world according to its deeds), included in Matthew 25:31-46.
- The mission name could also be a reference to the sheep in the mission and the goats referring to Arthur and John.
- Even if the player has the money to purchase the rifle, the rifle will still be free. If the player doesn't have the money, Arthur will tell the gunsmith that he'll take it on credit. This dialogue doesn't trigger if the player has enough to purchase otherwise. Despite the gunsmith telling Arthur to pay him later, the player isn't required to after the mission.
- If Arthur has robbed the gunsmith before the mission, his conversation with Arthur will take a more hostile tone.
- If Arthur gains a wanted level near the southern entrance of the auction yard before triggering the mission, John will engage in a shootout with lawmen for a few moments before mounting his horse and firing at pursuing deputies whilst attempting to escape; if the player also mounts their horse, he will follow them instead. Once the law is shaken off, John will trot around on his horse for a little bit before despawning. Oddly, he appears to take pleasure in the violence and chaos of the situation, mischievously grinning and shouting various taunts during the fight.
- One of Arthur's lines can be reflected upon in the epilogue in either "Fatherhood, For Idiots" or "Jim Milton Rides, Again?" (whichever mission was completed first before the other).
- After this mission, Valentine will be on lockdown.
- If the player locates John beforehand, the mission's icon will be transported to Keane's Saloon, and a short cutscene of the player entering the saloon can be seen.
- For some reason, if the player headshots Strauss's captor, he will not fall dead and Strauss will still wrestle his gun out of his hand as if the captor had not been shot.
- The player can ignore John's instructions and kill one of the ranch hands or sheep with the rifle, prompting exasperation from Marston.
- If the player takes too long to fire at John and Strauss’ captors, Dutch will grow impatient before yelling at Arthur to shoot one of them which will immediately result in Strauss and John being killed, thus failing the mission.
Gallery[]
