Red Dead Redemption 2 guide and walkthrough for Rockstar’s open world western

Looking for a Red Dead Redemption 2 guide? Rockstar’s newest title is a massive Western adventure with a sharp new protagonist, revolutionary new systems and a few familiar faces to boot.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at how to get the best out of Red Dead Redemption 2, as well as taking a closer look at the map, what weapons to look out for and what trophies and achievements you can hope to unlock.

This is your one and only spoiler warning, so head back if you’re not ready for all this Red Dead.

You can check out our review of Red Dead Redemption 2 here, as well as 10 spoiler-free things you should know before getting started.

You can also check out what James thought of Red Dead Redemption 2, where he considers if it has pushed the boundaries of current-gen consoles to their limit.

Red Dead Redemption 2 Pre-order bonuses

How to get the pre-order bonus horses, outfits and more
Check out this guide on where to find the pre-order bonuses you were promised.

Map

Red Dead Redemption 2 map size
A quick overview of the massive map in Red Dead Redemption 2.
How to unlock fast travel
Though we’d recommend travelling by horse and using the cinematic camera, here’s how to fast travel if you want to get around the map quickly.
Mexico map glitch
You can unlock Mexico in Red Dead Redemption 2 with a map glitch, but only after you’ve completed the campaign.

Weapons and Gear

Best unique and rare weapons
Here are all the best weapons you can find in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Pirate sword and tricorn hat
A pirate sword is just what you need in the old West, so here’s where to find it.
Stone Hatchet
You’ll need to dive back into GTA Online to find this weapon, so here’s how to do it.
Mining helmet and bone knife
Put away that lantern and track down this mining helmet.
Double-action revolver
This weapon can also only be found in GTA Online and you can follow this guide to get your hands on it.
Morion helmet and ram skull mask
Like the idea of terrorising the locals whilst wearing a ram’s skull as a mask? Then check out this guide.
Viking helmet, comb and hatchet
Here’s where you can find the Viking gear hidden in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Legend of the East outfit
The Legend of the East outfit comes with a tonne of perks, but you better be prepared to work hard for it.
How to upgrade the bow and arrows
Looking to upgrade your bow and arrows? Then check out our easy guide on how to do it.
How to level up Dead-Eye
Here’s how to level up, refill and upgrade Dead-Eye mode.
Talismans and Trinkets guide
Carrying Talismans and trinkets can grant you some special perks, so here’s how to get your hands on them.
Where to find your lost hat, horse or weapons
Did your hat fall off in a fight or did your horse run away and you can’y find it? Here’s how to get them back.
How to get the best gear and outfits
Want to craft a bear head hat or get some proper reinforced gear? Then look no further than this guide.

Horses

How to brush your horse
Quite simply, how to take care of your noble steed.
Where to find the best horse
This guide looks at where to find the elusive white-maned Arabian horse.
How to change horses
Bought a new horse and don’t know how to change it? Check out this guide.

Money

How to make money fast
Money makes the world go ’round, so here’s the best way to earn money fast.
Where to find and sell gold bars
Gold bars are a valuable commodity, so here’s where to find and sell them.
Gold bar glitch in Limpany
There’s a glitch you can exploit to get unlimited gold bars!
How to rob trains, open a safe, rob the doctor and more
You are an outlaw, after all, so here’s a few alternative ways to make money.

Camp

How to replenish ammo and medicine
It isn’t obvious how to replenish ammo and medicine when you’re at your gang’s camp, so here’s how to get started.
How to upgrade your Camp in Red Dead Redemption 2
You’ll be visiting your campsite a lot throughout Arthur’s journey, so you’d be wise to keep it in tip-top shape.
How to uprade your Satchel
Here’s how to upgrade Arthur’s satchel, your horse satchel and what to do when your satchel is full.

Main storylines

How many chapters are in Red Dead Redemption 2
This guide looks at the different chapters of the main storyline in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Should you kill or spare O’Driscoll?
Not a pivotal plot point, but you’ll want to weigh up your choices before making this decision.
How to get the best ending
Spoiler warning: read on only if you want to know how to get the best ending in Red Dead Redemption 2.
How to get 100% completion
For the completionists out there.

Missions and side quests

Why do my side missions keep disappearing?
We look at the most common reasons why a mission or NPC might have disappeared from view.
Wasted in the West: drunk mission
There’s a mission where Dutch sends you off to get smashed, and it’s brilliant.
Dinosaur bones
Here’s where to find all 30 dinosaur bones.
Dreamcatcher quest
There are 20 Dreamcatches scattered across the map for you to find with some interesting loot at the end.
Cigarette Card Locations
To complete all the sets you’re looking at 144 individual cards. We hope you like collecting.
Gunslinger quest
Here’s our guide on how to complete the Gunslinger questline.
Legendary Fish
Fancy yourself an angler? Here’s where to find every special aquatic creature in the game.
How to get Perfect Pelts
Only pristine skins will do for most of the top gear in RDR2, so you’ll need to know how to get them every time.
Where to find animals and what ammo to use for perfect kills
Looking to hunt down all the animals? Here’s where to find the most difficult species and what tools to use on them, as well as a range of hunting tips.
American Dreams Stranger Quest: How to find all of the killer clue pieces and catch the serial killer
Think you’ve got what it takes to crack the case and catch the killer?
How to find the vampire in Red Dead Redemption 2
Stock up on garlic, crosses, and perhaps a stake or two before going after this one.
How to find Marko Dragic and the robot
Assist one of the greatest minds in the American west with his latest creation.
The man in the mirror and the creepy painting
A curse, a painting and a creepy hut are all a part of this mystery.

Honor system and bounties

Wanted: Dead or alive
As the name suggests, some bounties – yours included – will pay the ultimate price.
How to get rid of a bounty
Looking to get rid of a bounty so that you won’t be chased by every man and his dog every time you go near a town? Then check out our guide.
How the honor system works
The honor system works a little differently in Red Dead Redemption 2, so here’s our guide on all the changes.
Simon Miller’s monk kicking antics
Simon Miller went on a rampage in Red Dead Redemption 2 to show that sometimes it’s fun to be bad.

Treasure maps

The treasure maps lead to some of the most valuable loot in Red Dead Redemption 2, so here’s how to complete them:

Useful locations

Shack locations
Each shack on this list tells a little story and will add to your overall completion of the game.
Trapper location
Here’s where to find the trapper to get yourself some top gear.
Fence locations
You’ll need a fence to get rid of any hot loot in your pockets.
Where to find the Whisky Tree
This tree has some sweet loot hidden in one of its many hanging bottles.
Gang Hideouts
Here’s a map of where you can find all of the gang hideout locations in Red Dead Redemption 2.

Cheats and easter eggs

Red Dead Redemption 2 easter eggs
The list of easter eggs is getting bigger by the day, so here they are in a handy guide.
NPC routines
Just what do all those NPDs get up to while you’re away galavanting?
How the world evolves around Arthur Morgan
The world of Red Dead Redemption 2 is constantly changing and evolving as your journey with Arthur progresses.
Cheats codes: Infinite ammo and more
Want to unlock a whole mess of weapons and ammo and go a little crazy? Fill your boots with these cheats.