Summary
Red Dead Redemption 2may seem like a simple Western-style shooter on the surface, but anyone who has played it will know there are a lot of mechanics at play that make it a rich and engaging experience. The more a player knows about these mechanics, the better an outlaw they can be.
Things like properly maintaining equipment, hunting with bows, wearing disguises while committing crimes, and even petting dogs can benefit someone tremendously during their next playthrough. There are manyRDR2tipsto consider if someone wants to become a pro in this incredible game.
Updated on June 28, 2025, by Gerardo Molina:Compared to games like those developed by FromSoftware, Red Dead Redemption 2 is not by any means a challenging game. Rockstar Games focused more on delivering a great narrative experience to players with fun game mechanics as they explore the American Wild West as Arthur Morgan. However, taking into consideration some or all of the following beginner tips can help make newcomers’ experience a lot more streamlined, which in turn results in more entertaining gameplay. Many of the tips mentioned below can be applied almost as soon as players get through the Prologue of this title, whereas others will require them to progress a bit into the story.
27Buy The Varmint Rifle Early
It Can Be Of Great Help To Get Perfect Pelts
Buying theVarmint Rifleearly on is one of those things that players can easily miss unless they’re really paying attention. This rifle is not really meant to be used against other people, such as members of the O’Driscoll gang. However, when trying to hunt and get perfect pelts, it can be a lifesaver as it doesn’t damage the animals as much. In fact, it’s arguably one of the only ways of getting three Perfect Rabbit Pelts, which is a requirement to progress through the Master Hunter Challenge.
One of the greatest things about this rifle is that it has a large ammo capacity and a fast fire rate. So, while it might not deal as much damage as other rifles not meant for hunting small game, it can still be useful when surrounded by officers of the law and other adversaries. The Varmint Rifle can only use .22 caliber ammo, which is often cheaper than other types of ammunition. Players can get the Varmint Rifle as early as the beginning of Chapter 2 since it becomes available for purchase from all Gunsmiths after completing the mission “Eastward Bound”, which is the final mission of the exciting introductory Chapter 1 of the game.
26Upgrade The Satchel As Soon As Possible
The More Arthur Can Carry, The Better
Any self-respecting cowboy or outlaw in the American Wild West knows that a satchel that can be used to carry around several items is always useful and necessary. In their satchel, players can carry things like Tonics, Provisions, Ingredients, and various Materials, including animal pelts, basic campfire equipment, herbs, and more. InRed Dead Redemption 2, Arthur’s satchel can be upgraded after Simon Pearson has been given the necessary tools for working leather through the camp ledger. The camp ledger becomes available after players collect and put any of the debts from the “Money Lending and Other Sins” missions in the donation box.
Unfortunately, a set of tools for working leather will only be good for a single satchel, so if players want to keep upgrading theirs, they will need to keep purchasing more advanced and professional tools for Pearson. Every satchel upgrade doubles the number of inventory items that players can carry, culminating with the “Legend of the East Satchel”, which has a capacity of 99 for most items. Once players complete the game and keep playing it as John Marston, they’ll be able to buy from Fences any satchel Arthur did not have Pearson craft for him. Granted, this becomes a bit pointless at the end of the game, but those looking to collect them all will find this option very useful.
25Focus On Headshots
The Dead Eye mechanic inRed Dead Redemption 2is absolutely outstanding, as it not only allows players to gain more control over a situation, even when they’re outnumbered, but it also makes for an amazingly cinematic scene that culminates with various enemies falling lifeless to the ground. That said, while Dead Eye is a great advantage to have, some players don’t make the most out of it, as they often shoot their foes in the shoulder or the leg, which rarely ever represents an immediate kill.
Players should focus on aiming for the head so that every bullet they fire is a guaranteed kill, making everything a lot simpler, and leaving no enemies alive to fire back at them.
24Make The Most Of Treasure Maps
Lets Arthur Become Rich In No Time
Given the sheer number of things players can accomplish inRed Dead Redemption 2, it’s easy to see why a lot of people can miss out on the treasure maps and the secrets that they lead them toward. The world is beautiful, butit’s also overwhelmingly massiveto the point where some people may find it a challenge to figure out the visual clues present in these sketched treasure maps.
In such an event, there’s no shame in finding a guide to save time and quickly locate the treasure in question. It’s a valuableRDR2tipto ensure that players don’t feel like they’re constantly strapped for cash. Most treasure hordes provide enough gold bars to ensure that Arthur will be set up for quite some time, preventing players from feeling like they’re lacking money in any given scenario.
23Customize The HUD As Per Your Preferences
Makes The Game As Immersive As Can Be
The immersive qualities ofRed Dead Redemption 2can’t be stated enough. The world is drop-dead gorgeous and does a great job of letting players feel like they’re in the Wild West as they summon their trusty steed and gallop across the countryside, enjoying the beautiful views along the way. However, as beautiful as this game may be, there are some instances when the HUD can feel overbearing and take players out of what should be a nigh-perfect experience.
This can be curbed with the various in-game settings that let playerscustomize the HUDto their hearts' content. Everything from the mini-map to Arthur’s stats can be tweaked to make them situational, ensuring that players can only see these aspects of the heads-up display when required. It’s a simple but valuableRDR2tipfor players who prioritize immersion over everything else.
22Use Beard Tonics To Make Arthur’s Facial Hair Thicker
Helps Arthur Look More Distinct And Hardened
One of the many things players love aboutRed Dead Redemption 2isArthur’s amazing beardand how it grows naturally as many days pass in-game. His beard can become as bushy as can be, but this growth stops after a point. This can be disappointing, but there’s a simple way to ensure that Arthur can look grizzlier than ever if players want his beard to grow even more.
All players need to do is find some beard tonic and apply it to enhance Arthur’s beard. It’s a simpleRDR2tipthat’s perfect for players who want their version of Arthur to exude potent dad energy and look intimidating as he guns down enemies by the hundreds with a cold look on his face.
21Use Mods To Make The Experience More Unique And Immersive On PC
Make The Most Of The Game’s Customizable Nature
There’s a reason why people love mods for their favorite video games, and it’s only a given that the modding community for one of the most popular video games ever made would have many dedicated fans either fixing tiny things or adding brand-new experiences for others to enjoy. As long as players don’t mind getting a bit technical, they can have a great time moddingRed Dead Redemption 2to their heart’s content.
From small mods that improve the way Arthur controls to massive tweaks that change the way players approach a game, it’s easy to see whyRed Dead Redemption 2has become a hotbed of modding like nothing before it. Players who loveRed Dead Redemption 2but can’t ignore some of its minute yet annoying faults can use mods to remove most of these frustrations and make the game as engaging as possible in just a few minutes.
In terms of graphics, it’s also possible to improve the game in various ways. WhileRed Dead Redemption 2already looks amazing, there are some small tweaks here and there that players can try to make the game even more visually stunning. This, unfortunately, won’t be possible for all PC players, as the title is already demanding to run without extra visual improvements. So, if players want to play in 4K with the mods available and run it at 60 FPS or more, they’ll have to either stick to DLSS Performance mode and lose some sharpness, or have a very powerful system with an RTX 4090 GPU to take the load.
20First-Person Mode Freshens Up The Gameplay Quite A Bit
Given How Long The Game Is, A Change Of Perspective Can Be Invaluable
WhenGrand Theft Auto 5was released on next-gen consoles, fans were amazed to see just how robust Rockstar’s engine was. The fact that the entire gamecould be played in first-personwas truly mind-blowing, andRed Dead Redemption 2lets players enjoy this feature, too.
The over-the-shoulder camera will never grow old, but players who’ve sunk in a lot of hours and don’t mind switching things up a bit will find first-person mode to be a fresh change of pace. Even now, it’s hard to believe that the entire game can be experienced from a completely different viewpoint.
Granted, being aware of Arthur’s surroundings, taking cover, and even firing and aiming a weapon properly can be more difficult from a first-person perspective, and this has been the case sinceGTA 5. However, while this viewpoint takes away from some of the experience, it also adds a layer of realism that allows players to feel like they’re the ones shooting at O’Driscoll gang members.
19Don’t Go Too Fast With A Horse On Busy Streets
Running Into Pedestrians Accidentally Will Increase The Player’s Bounty
There are many populated settlements inRed Dead Redemption 2that players can explore, withSaint Denis being a pretty obvious example. While the game doesn’t restrict Arthur from using a horse in these areas, that doesn’t mean that players should recklessly gallop through them.
Running into a pedestrian with Arthur’s horse can lead to them getting hurt, which unnecessarily adds to Arthur’s bounty. Players will eventually have enough money to turn this into a non-issue, but the trek to remove this bounty in the first place is grating and better off avoided, especially for such a silly offense.
18There’s No Need To Stress Out About Money
Over Time, Players Will Amass A Small Fortune
Some players may feel that the process of earning money inRed Dead Redemption 2can be a bit too cumbersome early on.The economy seems particularly stingy, even with the valuation of currency at the time.
However, there is no need to stress out about money for too long. There are a ton of ways to earn the big bucks in the campaign, and players who reach the mid-game will be drowning in cash after a point.
