Tips For Red Dead Redemption 2

Key Takeaways

• Customizing the HUD can enhance immersion in RDR2, allowing players to focus on what’s important for a more authentic Wild West experience.
• Players can bond with Arthur’s horse by grooming and feeding it regularly to maximize the enjoyment of horseback riding in this vast open world game.
• Dead Eye can be used during combat to maximize its potential and streamline combat encounters.

Red Dead Redemption 2 may 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 many RDR2 tips to consider if someone wants to become a pro in this incredible game.

Updated on November 30, 2024, by Gerardo Molina: With the game being so complete and complex, there are virtually infinite ways to play it. Players can either take a perfectionist approach and decide to loot every dead body they drop and explore every corner of the Wild West, or jump straight into the action and feel the rush of a shootout.

Whatever their preferences, one thing’s for sure: taking a few starter tips to make the gaming experience more streamlined never hurts, and it can make things a lot easier for players as they progress through this title’s amazing story. One that many consider to be Rockstar’s magnum opus thus far.

25 Focus On Headshots

Dead Eye Is Great, But It Can Be Much Better When One Bullet Means One Kill

The Dead Eye mechanic in Red Dead Redemption 2 is 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.

24 Make The Most Of Treasure Maps

Lets Arthur Become Rich In No Time

Given the sheer number of things players can accomplish in Red 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, but it’s also overwhelmingly massive to 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 valuable RDR2 tip to 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.

23 Customize The HUD As Per Your Preferences

Makes The Game As Immersive As Can Be

The immersive qualities of Red Dead Redemption 2 can’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 players customize the HUD to 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 valuable RDR2 tip for players who prioritize immersion over everything else.

22 Use Beard Tonics To Make Arthur’s Facial Hair Thicker

Helps Arthur Look More Distinct And Hardened

One of the many things players love about Red Dead Redemption 2 is Arthur’s amazing beard and 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 simple RDR2 tip that’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.

21 Use 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 modding Red Dead Redemption 2 to 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 why Red Dead Redemption 2 has become a hotbed of modding like nothing before it. Players who love Red Dead Redemption 2 but 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. While Red Dead Redemption 2 already 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.

20 First-Person Mode Freshens Up The Gameplay Quite A Bit

Given How Long The Game Is, A Change Of Perspective Can Be Invaluable

When Grand Theft Auto 5 was released on next-gen consoles, fans were amazed to see just how robust Rockstar’s engine was. The fact that the entire game could be played in first-person was truly mind-blowing, and Red Dead Redemption 2 lets 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 since GTA 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.

19 Don’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 in Red Dead Redemption 2 that players can explore, with Saint 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.

18 There’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 in Red Dead Redemption 2 can 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.

17 Engage With A Ton Of Side Content

They Boast A High Level Of Production Quality

Red Dead Redemption 2 is a massive game. It’s so big that players may not even feel like exploring every corner available in this vast open world.

While the more obscure parts of this world can still be overlooked if someone is feeling overwhelmed, it is still recommended to engage with every Stranger side mission present in the game. These side stories have a ton of work and attention put into them, introducing new characters while exploring the personalities of established ones as well.

16 Bond With Arthur’s Horse As Much As Possible

A Horse With A High Bond Is Easier And More Satisfying To Ride

The world of Red Dead Redemption 2 is huge, and trying to explore the whole map on foot is a huge mistake that will suck out all the joy from this game in no time flat. So, it’s important to tame a trusty steed that players can explore the lands on.

That being said, simply galloping across the countryside with a horse isn’t enough to gain the mount’s trust. Arthur also needs to groom and feed the horse at regular intervals while not pushing it too hard for too long. Doing so ensures that players will be able to bond with their horses quickly and maximize the fun of horseback riding.

15 Hunting Becomes Easier With Dead Eye

Slowing Down Time Lets Players Take Out Animals Cleanly

Hunting is one of the most crucial tasks that players will carry out time and time again in RDR2. It’s a great way to gain money, and it also gives players a chance to try something different if they are growing tired of the main story.

Players may find aiming while hunting to be slightly tough, especially given how tense these situations can be. To counteract this, the process can be automated via Dead Eye. It’s a simple RDR2 tip, but the sheer number of successful hunts enabled with Dead Eye speaks for itself.

14 Use Dead Eye Efficiently During Combat

Wasting Too Much Time In This Mode Is A Death Sentence

Speaking of Dead Eye, players should always try and maximize this move during combat. Initially, Dead Eye may seem weak, but its full potential is unlocked after going through a substantial portion of the main story.

Players should keep a lot of tobacco on hand since it allows them to restore their Dead Eye whenever Arthur runs out of it. Not only do firefights become more cinematic with this combat feature, but it also allows players to maximize the time they spend out of cover, too.

13 Get The Best Horse In The Game Quickly

The White Arabian Is A Beautiful And Sturdy Horse That’s Devilishly Fast

The Arabian horse is the best mount in Red Dead Redemption 2. While buying it from a stable can be a rather taxing endeavor, players can also get a beautiful white-coated Arabian near Lake Isabella in the northwestern corner of the map.

The horse is extremely fast, with its other stats being quite great as well. Roaming around the countryside with this beautiful steed will make the game far more enjoyable.

12 Go On Autopilot While On A Horse

Appreciating The Scenery Becomes Way Easier

When players put on a marker in Red Dead Redemption 2, there’s a trick that allows them to reach its location without any input. Players can start riding the horse on the path and turn on cinematic mode, allowing them to leave the controller as the horse travels at its own pace.

Of course, players need to be wary of any sounds occurring near them, since they could signify the beginning of an event. Being aware of these occurrences will help players experience the best of both worlds in Red Dead Redemption 2.

11 Check The Journal Often

The Detail In Arthur’s Journal Is Astonishing

Arthur’s journal is one of the most interesting documents in Red Dead Redemption 2. It’s a great way to stay up-to-date with the story and read up on some obscure facets if required.

The journal is also full to the brim with amazing illustrations and documentation of Arthur’s side activities. It’s a great record of everything the player has accomplished up till that point, and it provides an interesting look into Arthur’s mind.

10 Unlock The Free Fast Travel Option

Over Time, Players Will Amass A Small Fortune

Red Dead Redemption 2‘s world is massive. The map is so big that traveling from one area to another can take ages.

Thankfully, Red Dead Redemption 2 has its fair share of fast travel options, along with a free one that can be unlocked within the camp itself. Players need to reach Chapter 2 and accumulate $545 before the Fast Travel map becomes accessible, but getting access to it is more than worth the effort required.

Red Dead Redemption 2 has its fair share of extensive menus that can be quite cumbersome to navigate, and exiting back into the game world from the pause menu can take quite some time, as a result.

However, within sub-menus, players can still jump directly back to the main game. All they need to do is hold the back button instead of pressing it multiple times. This will allow them to go right back into the fray at a moment’s notice.

8 Pay Arthur’s Bounty

Prevents The Headache Associated With Avoiding Law Enforcement

As Arthur starts committing crimes and getting noticed by the lawmen, he will start accruing a bounty. A small bounty can be tedious at times, but a high bounty will make Arthur the target of anyone with a gun desperate for some cash.

Even though money might be tight in the beginning, it’s often in the player’s best interest to routinely pay off their bounty by heading to the local post office. In the long run, this will be much more beneficial and cost-effective, as players won’t burn through nearly as much ammo defending themselves from bounty hunters and law enforcement.

7 Wear A Disguise During Crimes

Prevents Players From Being Discovered And Reported To Law Enforcement

One thing Arthur can do to avoid accruing as much of a bounty in the first place is to wear a disguise. Wearing a simple bandana or a mask during a crime will make it harder for people to recognize Arthur and minimize how much of a bounty he accrues.

Eventually, players will want to have an outfit that they only wear during crimes to completely avoid detection and drawing suspicion to themselves. The outfit might be expensive at first, but it will allow an outlaw to save a ton of money that would have otherwise been wasted paying off bounties.

6 Have Three Outfits

Players Need To Account For Extreme Temperatures

Speaking of outfits, players generally want to have three outfits on their horses at all times. They want an outfit suitable for cold weather, one suitable for warmer climates, and one for when they’re committing crimes.

Players will lose a ton of stamina if their character is too cold or too hot. If someone wants to explore the best areas in Red Dead Redemption 2 or commit a lot of crimes, then they will want these outfits sooner rather than later.