Summary:
- For players to succeed in Red Dead Redemption 2, they must master basics early on such as looting, hunting, saving, and proper camp management.
- Choosing the right equipment, proper resource and camp management will give you a good start compared to others.
- Be patient – take your time with the NPCs and with the sceneries as patience and planning is important to thrive in the Wild West.
RDR2 is an open world epic-adventure game following the life and tale of the outlaw Arthur Morgan and the infamous Van der Linde. Those that are patient and meticulous in their planning are well rewarded in the expansive and engrossing Wild West environment of Red Dead Redemption 2. This guide will highlight important advice for beginners to make sure that the cowboy journey will be smooth while assisting gamers in navigating the early parts of this adventure with confidence.
Master the Basics Early
Take Your Time
Unlike other action-packed shooting games, Red Dead Redemption 2 is best played at a slow and leisure pace. Arthur Morgan walks slowly by default, this encourages the players to take in the stunning environment of the game. Don’t rush to finish the main missions. Instead, take a look at the world, meet NPC’s, and discover hidden treasures. The game unfolds gradually, showing new mechanics and opportunities as you playthrough.
Save Manually and Often
Found a valuable item? Completed a difficult hunt? Save the game immediately. The autosave function of the game works properly but manually saving after a significant achievement prevents frustration. This habit prevents loss of progress during unexpected dangers.
Loot Everything (Almost)
Loot your enemies after every combat – look out for the black X markers on your minimap. Make sure to check drawers, cabinets, and even chimneys in every building you enter. However, be careful about looting innocent civilians, this can badly affect your honor rating. Looting regularly ensures you’ll rarely run short of supplies and money.
Manage Your Cores
Health, stamina, and Dead Eye meters operate on a core system. In order to improve the core you want to strengthen, you can use activities.
- Running for stamina
- Shooting for Dead Eye
- Eating properly for Health
Make sure to carry chewing tobacco to quickly restore your Dead Eye meter before gunfights.
Camp Considerations
Strategic Upgrades
Prioritize Dutch’s lodging, followed by Arthur’s quarters when upgrading your camp. This unlocks the fast travel map. For those that are serious in hunting, Pearson’s leather working tools allow crafting bigger satchels, including the important Legend of the East Satchel that can carry 99 of most items.
Camp Interactions
Talk to the gang members at the camp regularly. These conversations open side missions and reveal important character development. In addition, changing outfits at your camp wardrobe prepares you for different weather conditions without spending money on new clothes.
Hunting and Wildlife
Perfect Pelts Matter
Right weapons are essential for each animal type in order to obtain perfect pelts.
- Varmint Rifle – small game
- Bow with improved arrows – larger animals
Always check the star rating before hunting, three stars mean perfect quality. In hunting medium sized animals, try lassoing them and use your knife to get a clean kill.
Horse Management
Your starter horse serves you well with proper bonding. Increase bonding by brushing, feeding, and patting your horse regularly. Keep your horse clean by brushing or taking it swimming. Consider capturing the white Arabian horse near Lake Isabella early – it’s challenging to tame but ranks among the best mounts in the game.
With proper bonding, your starter horse can serve you well. You can increase the bond by brushing, feeding, and patting your horse regularly. You can take your horse to swimming or brush it to ensure that it’s clean. Consider capturing the white Arabian horse that can be found near Lake Isabella early in the game. Although challenging to tame, it ranks best compared to other mounts in the game.
Study Animals Completely
To those that are completionists, make sure to study, track, kill, and skin each animal species. Use binoculars and Eagle Eye to easily spot wildlife around you. Birds and snakes are harder to study, while predators attack before you can even observe them properly.
Practical Gameplay Tips
Use Eagle Eye Frequently
This skill highlights wildlife, plants, and searchable items near you. It can slow time during horse breaking and show your scent during hunting. You can use it when looting buildings to make sure you find everything valuable.
Adjust Camera Angles
Swap third-person and first-person views based on the situation.
First-person
- Indoor looting
-
Precise item collection
Third-person
- Outdoor exploration
- Combat
Dress Appropriately
Prepare multiple outfits by keeping them on your horse; one for cold and one for hot environments. Weather can affect Arthur’s, dressing properly helps in maintaining your core. Do consider outfit for illegal activities, as people may recognize your clothes even when you are wearing a bandana.
Setting Up Camp
Camping allows you to pass time until specific hours when certain activities work best. So make sure to pitch your tent anywhere so that you can rest, craft, and cook. It is also helpful in reuniting you and your horse if you become separated due to terrain difficulty.
Money Matters
Do not fret about buying weapons in the early game. A lot of weapons become available in story missions as a reward in helping strangers. Maintain your existing gear and savings for important camp upgrades. You can opt in treasure hunting as it can offer big rewards as long as you are willing to solve some puzzles. You can have a steady income in selling perfect pelts and hides to trappers and butchers.
Conclusion
By now, you should be ready to set out and start your own adventure into the Wild West with all the tips shared in this guide. It may be overwhelming, but with the proper mindset, it will be easy to go through the challenges thrown to you by the game. Take it easy, explore freely, the environment of RDR2 is a vast landscape full of endless possibilities, waiting to be discovered.
