Everything You Need To Do First

Summary

• Completing story missions is a priority as it will earn you XP, cash, and help you choose your path in the game.
• Finding Gang Hideouts earns players Treasure Maps, which can give them Gold Bars and Gold Nuggets, which act as an exclusive digital currency in RDRO.

Red Dead Online brings the cowboy experience directly to the hands of the players. No longer will players be bound by a single-player experience with Red Dead Redemption 2. Now, Red Dead Online will allow players to explore the Wild West, either with friends or against enemies. This wild frontier is ripe for outlaws, bounty hunters, cowboys, and those just trying to keep to themselves. The question is, what should players do in their first 10 hours of Red Dead Online?

There are plenty of activities and important additions that players should make note of during their opening hours of Red Dead Online. The game can offer players plenty of fun if they know where to have it. However, the game also offers a variety of goodies, such as the best horses in Red Dead Online, and the best guns, which players will surely want, and fast.

Updated on January 5, 2025, by Jake Fillery: While Red Dead Online doesn’t have the most varied of updates, it’s still a fun time for all who embark to the Old West. RDO is a defining experience for those with an itch to be a cowboy, but those starting the game for the first time might want to be aware of some vital Red Dead Online tips, and all the things that they should do first in Red Dead Redemption 2’s Online mode.

20

Open Treasure Maps ASAP

Treasure Maps Contain Gold for Better Purchases

Within the early days, new players might find a fair few treasure maps to be added to their inventory. These treasure maps shouldn’t be ignored, and players should try and locate where their contents is hidden due to the fact that leveling up without opening the treasure chest will not change what’s inside, as it’s already a pre-determined loot pool.

Players will need to find these treasures so that they can both free up slots in their inventory and obtain a few goodies for themselves early on, since gold is used as real currency that can be purchased, so obtaining a few freebies with gold and gold nuggets will benefit those who want greater rewards.

19

Purchase the Right Guns for the Job

A Powerful Set of Weapons Makes a Powerful Gunslinger

The starting kit for players isn’t that great, and being restricted to a rusted and no-good revolver and repeater is going to get a lot of new players killed. Once players acquire a few bucks, feel free to head into a new town and look for the gunsmith to try and purchase some of the better guns available in the game.

A decent gun is the difference between life and death, as players not only have to juggle the mean wilderness, but also the outlaws within that come from both other players and NPCs. The game can be brutal, so be brutal back by ensuring the best weapons are a few dollars away.

18

Level Up Fast for Better Rewards

The Best Equipment is Locked Behind Levels

Most of the best weapons found within RDO are locked behind XP gains, where players will need to level up in order to get competent weaponry. The starting gear isn’t that great, and it can easily be seen as the noob gunslinger pack that players will want to evolve out of sooner rather than later so they stand a chance in the Wild West.

To do just that and level up fast, players are going to want to focus not just on exploration of the large map or interacting with other outlaws, but by committing to missions and XP sources so that they can rise through the ranks and obtain sweet loot for doing so.

17

Invest in Saddles and Stirrups

Speed and Health is Essential For a Good Horse

It might be a costly expense so early on, but it’s something to save up for. Players should keep their money safe and ensure that it’s best used for saddles. Saddles help with horses by increasing their stamina and health cores, ensuring players can run for longer with their steeds. They should also invest in stirrups, which will increase the sprint speed of the horse.

With these two purchasable items in mind, players should be sure to go through the stables and make sure they are only buying the best, or at least the ones they can afford at the level they are currently at. Having a fast horse is vital for navigating the large map.

16

Collect a Bounty Hunter License

Bounty Hunter Licenses Provide Money, Gold, and Cool Outfits

Costing 15 Gold Bars, players can acquire the Bounty Hunter License when they begin their journey. Whilst it’s essential to complete the tutorial, leaving the criminal life behind to fight on the right side of the law is going to be a great idea, as hunting down violent criminals provides new and exciting missions against some villainous outlaws, whilst also giving players XP, money, and gold nuggets.

Bounty Hunting is a great way to start out in Red Dead Online, so feel free to spend Gold Bars on this role before the others, especially when it offers the most content outside of simply collecting things and being peaceful.

15

Complete Rounds of Call to Arms

Wave-Based Survival for Engaging Rewards

Up to four players can work together to protect the frontier’s most troubled settlements and towns from villains in a wave-based survival mode. With up to 10 waves of increasingly challenging enemies, Call to Arms will see players fight to protect their land and their allies, which will increase their XP gains and their experience throughout the dangerous world ahead of them.

Completing waves of Call to Arms is great from early access, as players will earn hundreds of dollars, plenty of XP, and even a gold bar. Repeating Call to Arms is a great idea, and for the most skilled players, it won’t be too hard.

14

Explore Locations Familiar & Unfamiliar

Find The Calming Beauty Within This Open-World’s Visuals

Although this open-world has an adoration for harshness, there is also much beauty worth uncovering. In the main campaign, some players might have left behind the sights and wonders of Red Dead Redemption 2 to continue through the thrilling yet tragic story of Arthur Morgan, forgetting that this world is filled with different environments worth exploring.

Whilst it may not earn players any in-game cash and treasures, it’s still something players should take in. After all, there’s no need to rush the experience, so take a break in those first ten hours to avoid being overwhelmed and just admire the many beautiful locations found within the world.

13

Complete Telegram Missions

Unique Employment Opportunities For XP and Other Rewards

If players are looking for something a tad easier for their time, and for those who are playing solo, Telegram Missions are great, as they will put players in a solo lobby so that they can complete the objectives available once they have accepted the Telegram Mission from a post office or camp lockbox, which will contain a letter.

There are a few different missions, and a range of difficulties to try, with more rewards for those who try things the hard way. These missions can range from delivering wagons, stealing horses, and robbing homes, providing unique opportunities for cash early into the careers of new players.

12

Forge New Connections With Stranger Missions

Complete Different Missions For Some Recognizable Strangers

In the frontier, players can stumble across all sorts of strangers just looking to survive, or attempting to thrive by manipulating others to do their work. There’s a fair mix of both of those categories in Red Dead Online‘s NPCs, and players can stumble across many different characters that they might recognize from previous Red Dead Redemption games, whether in the past or the future of the series.

Strangers can often set players on specific quests so that they can earn some sweet cash and XP, and it also helps to learn the different sets of missions available in the game’s world. These quests are great for new players to familiarise themselves with the content, and enjoy the few cutscenes of familiar faces.

11

Stack Up On Food Supplies

Traveling & Fighting Is Useless With Empty Cores

When players enter the Wild West, it’s going to be clear that this is more of a survival game than they are used to, and their cores are going to deplete pretty quickly, especially every time they respawn after death. With depleted cores, players will be affected in many different ways, such as the inability to run, and the lack of health.

It’s always best to scrounge a few dollars and purchase some cheap food supplies that will keep the most important cores in shape, as both the health and stamina cores are essential to survival, whether it’s roaming or fighting across the West.

10

Create A Loadout

Gunslinging Is The Key To Survival

As players are given the keys to their freedom in RDRO, they will find themselves with little choice when it comes to weaponry. They are going to be armed with a basic revolver, and one that isn’t exactly going to see them rob people and thrive in shootouts. When players get some cash, they should head to any gunsmith in the quiet towns and start investing in weapons.

There are many different weapons players can claim, and each of them has their own advantages. Players will not just want a revolver to do their dirty work, as an abundance of rifles, repeaters, and shotguns will certainly help with the heavy lifting of taking out armies of enemies.

9

Attack Gang Hideouts

Potential Treasure Map Rewards & XP

Once players can freely explore the world, they can take a look at the map for Gang Hideouts. These are often marked with a red blob and skull on the map, and they can be found across the large map of Red Dead Redemption Online. Every Gang Hideout has an iconic location, complete with an army of enemies, and a boss fight with a Gang Leader in need of putting down.

Whilst this may not be easy alone, it is certainly doable, and it will see players earn new weapons from looting, as well as XP, cash, and perhaps even a Treasure Map once they find the Leader’s body or a lock box. There are plenty of rewards stashed in a Gang Hideout, and if players are lucky enough to find a Treasure Map, then they are well on their way to earning Gold Bars and cash. Gold Bars are useful in RDRO due to the fact that they act as currency within the game that can (optionally) be purchased with real money.

8

Create A Good Character

Changing Appearance Can Be Costly

Players shouldn’t be afraid to spend some time creating a character that they are happy with. When they start their Red Dead Online adventure, they will have to create a character, and they should choose wisely. Players are going to be stuck with this character until they delete it, or spend gold to change it. Changing faces is expensive, and will set players back a whopping 10 Gold Bars, so it’s best to start an adventure in RDR Online with a face players are happy with.

It’s best to make sure that the player is happy with their online character and their visuals, as they are going to spend a fair amount of time with them. It’s also best that they check the create a character screen for any additional bonuses before embarking out to the West.

7

Complete Story Missions

24 Story Missions, With 5 More From DLC

There’s a dedicated story in Red Dead Online. Players can expect to find new and familiar faces around the states of Red Dead Online, and they will be venturing through the wilderness and towns to complete some fairly intense missions, all with the company of choice, an integral aspect of these early story missions.

Completing story missions should be a priority of players, as not only will it net them some great XP and cash for their first time completing it, but it will also help assist their honor path, and help players choose where they want to go from here.

6

Collect A Horse And Insurance

The Wild West’s Vehicles

Choosing a horse is no easy task. A horse will be the life of a Red Dead Online player, and the way that they traverse through the wild. Players should pick their horse carefully, as although they will be able to buy the best horse in Red Dead Online eventually, they are going to want to use a decent starting horse.

It’s best to get the horse quickly and to buy horse insurance alongside it. This way, when the horse dies, it can whistle for a brand new variant of the same horse. However, if they do not have horse insurance, they will instead, summon a scrawny nag, which will be far slower than their normal horse.

5

Visit The Camp

The Player’s HUB

After getting set up in the Wild West, players should venture off to find their camp. Here, they will meet a good friend and a loyal partner named JB Cripps. Cripps is in charge of moving and managing the campsite that the player will call home. Here, they can upgrade some items, like the theme, tent, and flag.

It’s great to be set up at the camp, as players will have a steady supply of equipment and safety from other players and AI-controlled enemies. The camp is the new home of the player, and while it may not be a penthouse in Los Santos, it’s as good as it can be for an outlaw.

4

Play Free Roam Events

Earn Gold, Cash & XP In Fun Game Modes

Free Roam Events are entirely exciting and involve a great number of other Red Dead Online players. A Free Roam Event will occur at random, and when it does, players should opt-in to participate to net themselves some keen rewards, like gold, XP, and cash. Free Roam Events don’t take too long, and there is a fun competitive element to them.

Players should try and access all Free Roam Events when they occur so that they are staying on top of the fun activities available to them in Red Dead Online, as well as finding themselves some neat rewards in their early hours into the game. Even if some players may have a complete edge thanks to their better weaponry and horses.

3

Invest In The Collector Role

Earn Tons Of Cash & XP Through Collecting

The Collector Role is by far the best role for making money and claiming XP. Players will need to locate Madam Nazar and her caravan, which moves around the map daily. Although purchasing the Collector’s Bag to start the Collector Role in Red Dead Online will set players back 15 Gold Bars, it is well worth the price.

Players can spend their time looking for treasure alongside a trusty amount of important tools like a metal detector and a shovel. Players can expect to find new treasures every day, and trade sets to Madam Nazar for a brilliant amount of cash and XP, ensuring that they will not remain a Red Dead Online noob for long.

2

Choose An Honor Path

High Honor & Low Honor Have Different Missions

One of the earliest things players should do in Red Dead Online is the story missions so that they can choose an honored path. Once players have committed to either being good or bad, they will unlock more story missions to further progress the Red Dead Online campaign, thus granting them more money and XP to evolve and upgrade their character and stats.

Whether players are on the side of the law or against it, all that matters is that they have chosen an honored path so that they can continue forward through Red Dead Online, and enjoy the spoils and excitement that comes along with these unique missions.

1

Upgrade The Best Ability Cards

Ability Cards Are Perks That Give Players Advantages In Combat

As well as outfits, Ability Cards are the most expressive way for players in Red Dead Online to show their skills. Ability Cards help players stay unique, as each of them will commit to a different ability that assists players against other players or AI enemies. Multiple different cards do a variety of different things, so it’s best to find the best Ability Cards in Red Dead Online to maximize combat efficiency.

Players will unlock new cards and slots through their XP ranks, and they will be able to upgrade them with cash. It’s best to stick to a certain path of Ability Cards to help upgrade them faster, ensuring a better success rate when involved in Western shootouts.