RDR2 for Dummies 2

RDR2 FOR DUMMIES 2

ARTHUR THE SUPERMAN

Arthur can become a Superman. He’ll laugh at bullet hits, never lose a fist fight, trade kicks with any horse!

Here’s how to do it before the end of Chapter 2!

Goals: By end of Chapter 2 get Superman Powers:

Health Bar 90%

Stamina Bar 90%

Dead Eye Bar 90%

Firepower – Optimized Loadout and Ammo

Horse – good Speed, Stamina, and Courage

Money – More gold than Arthur can use

And John can follow in Arthur’s footsteps, getting Superman’s Cape:

Health Bar 100%

Stamina Bar 100%

Dead Eye Bar 100%

Legend of the East outfit.

Learn how to keep the Cores and Bars full

AND: Further gains - not registered on the bars –

: can be had by buying Trinkets and Talismans, and finding the Ancient Arrowhead.

Plan: Slog through Chapter 1, then:

EARLY GAME

Goals: Before Chapter 2 ends

Get Satchel of the East – makes your life (and all missions) much easier.

Get Health, Stamina, and Dead Eye Bars up to 90%.

Work on Loadout, Horse, and Money.

Until Arthur’s Bars are up to 80% work on these:

for Health Bar

Kills with Bow or Throwing weapon

Winning a Fist Fight

Fishing

Rowing

Ginseng Elixir

for Stamina Bar

Running, Swimming

Survive a fight with <25% Health

Aged Pirate Rum

for Dead Eye Bar

Skinning

Crafting/Cooking

Chores

Free Aim Headshots >50yds

Valerian Root.

Early Game Missions

Numbered missions impact the goals.

Don’t limit yourself to these missions.

I listed missions with comment.

1. Uncle Mission “Polite Society” visit Valentine

Access the Gunsmith.

Customize all the guns you use.

: Length - longest

: Barrel – rifled

: Iron sights -

: Scope – as long as possible

: Metal finish or wrap – for easy identification

Buy Express ammo for everything. Don’t run out.

: Use it to make explosive ammo.

Get High Velocity for long distance weapons. Don’t run out.

(Springfield Rifle is $120 at gunsmith – too much $$$ for now.)

If you don’t return the horse you “borrow” in Valentine

: : May be an American Standardbred

: : Hitch at camp till you can make it yours? Maybe?

Option: Free Roam to mausoleum behind Shady Bell.

$20 and a Large Jewelry Bag available every day.

Hug the west shore as you go by Shady Bell Gang Hideout.

Javier Mission “Americans at Rest” fistfight with Tommy

Lock on opponent with L2.

Advance/Retreat with L3.

Block with square.

Hit/Kick with circle.

2. Free Roam to Heartland Overflow/Hani’s Bethel.

Hunt Ducks and Geese – Craft Explosive Ammo with Animal Fat.

: See technique in Hunting Section.

: Learn to use Dead Eye.

: Deal with satchel limitations.

: Find Duck/Goose Spawn Points (There are 2 real good ones.)

: : They may respawn when Arthur departs and returns.

: : They may respawn when Arthur sleeps.

: : They certainly respawn with Load Game.

Make Explosive Ammo for Rifle before you bear hunt with Hosea.

: (Hosea will give you a rifle.)

Return and Repeat ad lib for ammo and money.

: Raise $$$ for Ammo/Customization.

: Then raise $$$ for Horse at Stable.

3. Hosea Mission “Exit…” bear hunting

Get Springfield Rifle.

: Access Stable.

: Maybe buy American Standardbred $150.

: Start Legendary Animals.

: : Start Trinkets and Talismans.

: You can stay after the mission and kill Legendary Bear with Springfield.

: : Use Rifle Explosive Ammo.

Javier mission “The First Shall Be Last” rescue Sean.

Swanson Mission “Who Is Not Without Sin” rescue Rev Swanson.

Can you get first treasure map?

: Good time to start High Stakes Treasure (even though no Fence available yet).

Play first poker.

Learn about Texas Hold ‘Em on the net.

: Good time to start Gambler Challenge.

4. Free Roam Hunt at Beaver Dam – Kamassa River at the train tracks.

: Perfect Beaver Pelts x2

: : Donate one to Pearson– for satchel.

: : : Will this work? or you must wait for Satchel Upgrades?

: : Sell one to Trapper– for saddle.

: (Legendary Beaver while you’re there.)

Buy Beaver Saddle from Trapper, then pick it up at a stable.

5. Master Hunter Challenge 1 or Herbalist Challenge 1

Buy Offhand Holster at the Trapper.

Use Two handguns in loadout.

: Pistol plus Revolver is best.

: Much faster rate of fire.

: Doubles available Express/Explosive Ammo.

6. Gunslinger Mission “The Noblest of Men…” Black Belle

Hunt Alligators for Big Game meals. Repeat ad lib.

7. Gunslinger Mission “The Noblest of Men…” Billy Midnight

Get first Pistol.

: Double your loadout.

: Double your ammo.

8. Companion Mission Charles “Hunting … Bison” hunt bison

Poison Arrow Pamphlet

9. Strauss Mission “Money…” collect debts

Access Satchel upgrades.

: Hunt for cash for leather tools.

: Or wait for Fence and first Gold Bar.

Access Camp upgrades.

Access Fast Travel.

: From Arthur’s wagon.

: From Arthur’s campsite?

10. Free Roam Hunt in Black Bone Forrest

Legendary Buck (for Perfect Pelts trinket)

: needed for Satchel of the East

(and watch for Perfect Possum Carcass)

11. Hosea Mission “Spines…” steal a coach

Access Fence.

Buy Buck Trinket for perfect pelts.

12.: Gold bars:

Get ~$1000 (Don’t get more gold than you need. Don’t fence more gold than you need. Arthur’s cash and gold will be lost.)

Limpany – Get it for early game cash.

Train Wreck – Save it for John.

Strange Statues – Save it for John.

Treasure Maps – Arthur needs to get all 3 for Explorer Challenge.

Prisoners chained together by Crawdad Willie’s Shack – Maybe save it for John.

Near Catherine Braithwaite’s body – Save for John.

13.: Legend of the East Satchel Many Perfect Pelts are needed!

Buck Trinket (from Step 10) will help a lot.

: Without it perfect pelts are too difficult.

Use Dead Eye head shot for perfect pelts

Donate the pelts to Pearson – don’t sell to butcher or trapper.

Perfect Pelts:

: Deer x7 and Buck x1

: : Heartland Overflow

: : Train track north of Emerald Ranch

: : Use Springfield Rifle.

: Bison

: : West of Heartland Overflow

: : Use Springfield Rifle.

: Wolf

: : Black Bone Woods

: : Many Places – they attack you

: : Use poison arrows to track and study.

: Cougar

: : Black Bone Woods

: : Use poison arrows to track and study.

: : See Cougar technique.

: Elk x2

: : Meadow north of Black Bone Woods

: Panther

: : Woods south of Old Harry Fen shack

: : Use poison arrows.

: : See Panther technique.

: Badger

: : Use Varmint Rifle from horseback.

: : South of Braithwaite Manor

: : Many places, watch constantly.

: Rabbit, Squirrel, Raccoon

: : Use Varmint Rifle from horseback.

: : Many places, watch constantly.

: Boar:

: : Many places

: : North of Black Belle house

: : North of Shady Belle

: Beaver – (from Step 4 – maybe already did this)

: : Beaver Dam – Kamassa River at the train tracks

: : Use Varmint Rifle on foot.

: Iguana

: : Island off Clemens Point – beach south of Pirate Ship

: : Use Varmint Rifle.

EARLY GAME ends when Legend of the East Satchel is acquired.

Health, Stamina, and Dead Eye Bars could now be at 80%.

MIDGAME Goal: Health, Stamina, and Dead Eye Bars

: to 90% in Chapter 2.

Midgame starts when Legend of the East Satchel is acquired.

Satchel limitations no longer a problem.

Midgame ends when 3 Challenges are finished

Bars all at 90%

Midgame Missions: Free Roam Gambler Challenge 1 – 4 now. Work on all 9 Challenges simultaneously.

Kieran Mission - “Paying A Social Call” 6 Points Cabin

Horse meal

Micah Mission - “Blessed Are the Meek?” rescue Micah

(Tip: Explosive ammo and double wield are helpful)

This mission causes >$250 Bounty and fulfills Bandit Challenge 5

Finish Gambler Challenge. Buy the reinforced Equipment and Stamina Bar will increase to 90%.

John Mission - “Pouring Forth Oil” steal oil wagon

(Tip: Wait for wagon to leave the compound)

14. Abigail Mission - “A Fisher of Men” fishing with Jack

Get Fishing rod

: Catch 3 Bluegill

Start Survivalist Challenge

15. John Mission- “Pouring Forth Oil” train robbery Dead Eye is advanced to Level 2 during this mission

(Tip: Explosive ammo and double wield are helpful)

16. Stranger Mission Jeremy Gill “Fisher of Fish”

Get Legendary Fish map

(Tip: Open and Read all maps and Doc when you get them)

17. Lagras Bait Shop

Buy all 3 Special Lures

Hold off on catching Legendary fish until Survivalist Challenge 9 and 10.

: Then start Legendary Fish

Now, take some well-deserved time off and just go fishing!

Finish the Survivalist Challenge now. That makes 2 out of 9. Buy the Reinforced Equipment and Dead Eye Bar will increase to 90%.

18. John mission “The Sheep and The Goats “

Get the Rolling Block Rifle

Buy the long scope and customizations

Necessary for Weapons Expert

This mission will start Camp movement

: Horseshoe Overlook to Clemons Point

: Quick Travel at Camp unavailable temporarily (your wagon is packed)

: : Use your campsite

Now finish Sharpshooter Challenge. That’s the first 3 done. Buy the Reinforced Equipment Health Bar will increase to 90%.

Health, Stamina, and Dead Eye Bars are all at 90%.

Arthur is not quite Superman, but close.

It’s up to you to keep your strength up.

Keep the Cores full.

Take advantage of the 90% bars!

Eat Seasoned Big Game meals as needed.

: Add a Biscuit and a Cracker to keep weight up.

Use Chewing Tobacco, Snake Oil, partial Tonic to keep up Dead Eye Bar.

End Game

Weapons Expert Challenge will put hair on your chest – Just Do It.

Master Hunter Challenge is a piece of cake – Make it yours.

That makes 5 done.

Now, before working through to the, you can clean up the map:

Dinosaur Bones

: Mail in first location

: Get Quartz chunk for Bear Claw Talisman

Cigarette Cards

: Collect one by one or

: Buy Premium cigarettes and discard

: Mail in first set

: Get Civil War Handcuffs for Alligator Tooth Trinket

Rock Carvings

: Mail in all 10 locations

: Get the Old Brass Compass for Raven Trinket

: It’s inside Baby Sinclair’s house

Aberdeen Pig Farm

: Get Gold Joined Bracelet for Alligator Tooth Talisman

: : They will leave you for dead and steal all your money.

: : Your money is behind the portrait.

Watson ‘s Cabin

: Gold Earring for Boar Tusk Talisman

: Or try cattle farm near Mattocks Pond north of Rhodes.

: Or rob women on the train.

Snowfield Shack

: Cobalt Petrified wood for Boar Tusk Talisman

: In a chest east of shack between road and Lake Isabella

House in Rhodes – north of Sheriff’s Office

: Abalone Shell Fragment for Bison Horn Talisman

Lakay Camp - south house

: Silver Earring for Bison Horn Talisman

: Random Loot - possibly in a drawer

Stranger Missions

Bounty Hunting

: Foreman available only in Epilog I

Stagecoach Robberies

Serial Killer

Legendary Fish

: Legendary Bluegill not available till Chap 2 Kieran Mission

: Warning: Jeremy Gill’s horse will kick you to death.

Legendary Animals

: Legendary Gator not available till Chapter 6 after “That’s Murfree Country”

: Legendary Panther not available till Master Hunter Challenge level 9 is done

Dream Catchers

: Find all 20 –

: Then look in buffalo’s eye in Elysian Pool Cave.

: Get the Ancient Arrowhead.

: : Increases Bow Stamina – don’t sell it.

Points of Interest

Shacks/Loot/Weapons/Items

: Random Loot: Silver Chain Bracelet for Bear Claw Talisman

: Random Loot: Silver Earring for Bison Horn Talisman

And while cleaning up the map – you may be able to finish the Explorer Challenge. Be on the lookout for a Stranger saying “I know you’re close. I can feel you tickling my britches.” He appears randomly starting in Chapter 2 and he has the High Stakes Treasure Map #1.

If possible, do High Stakes Treasure, which will finish Explorer Challenge. That makes 6.

When ready to continue, go back to Main Missions, Side Missions, etc. to advance to Epilog where New Austin is accessible.

Dutch mission - “A Strange Kindness” save German family

Moves the camp

Fast Travel available again

Now Chapter 3

New horses available in Stable

: Consider Thoroughbred Brindle male at Strawberry

Chapter 3 Micah mission - “An American Pastoral Scene” stage robbery

Lancaster Repeater

Javier mission – go fishing Sean mission – house robbery Kieran mission – go fishing

Legendary Bluegill

Stranger mission “He’s British…”

Lion’s Paw Trinket

Strauss mission “Money Lending … IV” Lenny mission “Preaching Forgiveness …” attack Shady Belle

Bolt Action Rifle

19. John mission “Horseflesh …”

Horse fence

Now complete Bandit Challenge, minimizing dishonor.

That makes 7 Challenges done, (including Gambler, and Bandit, and Master Hunter)

Buy the reinforced equipment and Arthur’s Stamina Ring will increase to 100%

Dutch mission “Magicians …”

Get Rare Rolling Block Rifle in the barn

Micah mission “Blessed are …”

See the wolf or see the stag

Dutch mission “Blood Feuds …”

As you enter the mansion check for gold on the mantle in the first room to the left. And get the letter, too.

29. Dutch mission “Battle of Shady Belle”

Nokota and Arabian are now available at St Denis stable

Nokota is fast, courageous, and not shy

: May be best horse of all now available

That’s it until Blackwater is open

Where John can finish the last 2 Challenges

And get “Superman’s Cape” - the Legend of the East Outfit.

So, Explore the world and pursue missions. Ultimately open up Blackwater in Epilog I as John.

Chapter 4 Lots of new Stranger Missions now available.

Mary Beth mission “No, No, and …” rescue Tilley

Spare Foreman.

Consider buying Tonics and stuff to pass on to John. Now is a good time to start.

See RDR2 for Dummies General Strategies and Miscellaneous.

Legendary Gator

Nope, couldn't make it happen in Chapter 4.

Even after both parts of “Country Pursuits”

Dutch mission “Banking , the Old American Art”

Carry all your combat weapons into the bank

Chapter 5 – Guarma

The only free roam time is when you wake up in camp the first time.

: Do no missions until you have finished hunting for animals.

Guarma animals are not required for trophies or 100% completion .

However, there are 8 unique animals here:

See Aiming, Dead Eye, and Hunting

:

Dutch mission “That’s Murfree Country”

Legendary Gator

The gang moved out of Lagras and

The Legendary Animal Territory notice finally appeared.

: This is first time it was available!

The first yellow plume is by the cabin across the river.

Get Alligator Tooth Talisman.

Chap 6

Edith Downes mission “Do not Seek Absolution”

Get Extreme Personality Trophy for 100% honor

Ancient Arrowhead at Elysian Pool cave Prof Dragic 3rd encounter is NOT shown as Stranger Mission on map.

Go beat on his door

Dutch mission “Our Best Selves” [after “My Last Boy”]

Be sure your stats, weapons and ammo are at max

  **MAJOR SPOILER Use a sacrificial horse ***

“Red Dead Redemption” Arthur’s last mission starts automatically after “Our Best Selves”

No free roam time between missions.

Can’t top off ammo or stats.

Can’t change horses.

Epilog I

Slog through till John gets a telegram.

Arthurs weapons and Reinforced equipment are now John’s, so John’s Bars are now 90%, 90%, and 100%.

Epilog 2

Before you do the Sadie mission

Get to a fence. Get some cash.

You have a fast horse, easily capable of the Van Horn to Blackwater Dash. And the Rose Grey Arabian is now available in Blackwater.

Finish Herbalist Challenge, buy the Herbalist Reinforced Equipment and bring the Dead Eye Bar to 100%.

Interactive Map will help.

Finish Horsemanship Challenge, buy the Horsemanship Reinforced Equipment and bring the Health Bar to 100%.

Rent a room. Equip John with the Legend of the East Reinforced Equipment. Put on the Legend of the East Outfit and wear it proudly!

Hello, SUPERMAN!