Red Dead Redemption 2 is, without a doubt, one of the best games to release this year, and it might very well go down as one of Rockstar’s best ever releases. The sequel to Red Dead Redemption once again takes us to the Wild West, a few years before the events of the original game. Spend five minutes playing the game, and it’s clear that there is a lot more to do in this game then we could ever imagine. This game is simply massive.
Not only is the game world huge, but it’s filled with all kinds of interesting features. The game has only been out for a short while, and even though many players have already mastered the art of being an outlaw, we get the feeling that everyone is just beginning to scratch the surface.
So how does one become an expert in Read Dead Redemption 2? Plenty of players are figuring out how to become the greatest outlaw in the west, and we’ve go tons of tips for you. Some of these illustrate just how simple the game is to master. Other tips make it clear that this is an incredibly deep and immersive title. The crazy thing about this game is that it doesn’t really try to hard to teach you how to play. We get the feeling that the developers wanted the players to find out all the little secrets on their own. Let’s be clear - this game is positively filled with secrets.
Here are 20 Things Only Experts Know You Can Do In Red Dead Redemption 2.
20. Loot Bodies Fast (Or Your Gang Members Will Beat You To It)
Right from the shot of the first revolver, it’s obvious that looting is incredibly important in Red Dead Redemption 2. Sifting through the bodies of slain enemies is a great way to make money, restock ammo, and find all sorts of interesting trinkets. A side note here is that looting is incredibly realistic. Instead of just walking over bodies to pick up their goodies, you actually have to physically search through their pockets and ammo belts.
The crazy thing is that your gang loots bodies as well. When they loot bodies, you can’t loot them in the future. That means that if you want to get the most loot, you need to be very quick. Your gang will be racing against you to grab as much as they can, so you can’t wait around after a gunfight.
19. Wear Animal Pelts As Hats
Hunting is another big part of the game, as was the case in the first Red Dead Redemption. In the sequel, the hunting system has been really improved, and there are a ton of new features which have been added. In the first few hours, the game’s tutorial makes it seem like the primary reason for hunting is to feed your camp. This might be true, but there are plenty of other interesting reasons to hunt the various animals in the game world.
Experts know that you can actually wear animal pelts on your head for hilarious effect. Simply obtain a perfect pelt, and visit a trapper, who will then craft you a furry hat.
18. Double Tap To Put Arthur’s Pistol Away With Style
While Red Dead Redemption 2 has your player fighting to survive in almost every moment, there’s no reason you can’t move through the game’s narrative in style. Although the game strives to be as realistic as possible, there are inevitable spaghetti Western influences that make their presence known. If you were hoping to feel like a professional gunslinger in Red Dead Redemption 2, you won’t be disappointed.
Double click the “draw” button with the gun already out, and you’ll put it away with a “flourish.”
This means that you’ll spin the pistol in a pretty way before finally putting it away in your holster. It’s really interesting touch, and it’s something that a lot of people miss completely if they don’t look close enough.
17. Craft Split-Point Ammo
The “Dead Eye” system makes another big appearance in the sequel, and it’s pretty much unchanged. This system allows you to slow down time, “paint” targets, and deal some serious damage in true wild west style. It’s something which is pretty much essential in the game, and it can save you from some seriously sticky situations throughout your adventures.
You’ll need to keep a close eye on your Dead Eye meters, because once it gets too low, you’ve got a serious disadvantage. You can refill your Dead Eye meters with certain items, but what if there was a way to drain your meter more slowly? Well, if you craft split eye ammo, you’ll do just that. This type of ammo doesn’t use as much of the Dead Eye meter, and experts know to craft as much of this ammo as possible.
16. Wear A Bandanna To Make The Wanted Meter Drain Quicker
We know that plenty of players are going to play this game primarily to act out their fantasies of being a Wild West bandit, causing all kinds of trouble around the game’s map. It’s definitely not easy to get away with countless crimes, and the Wanted system is pretty robust.
At least when you’re still early in the game, you can expect to be hunted down by lawmen fairly easily.
Running away seems like the best option, and when you’re out of sight, the Wanted meter starts to decrease. If you really want to get away scot-free, you should probably wear your bandanna or mask while you commit your crime, and then take it off when you’re out of sight. This will drain the Wanted meter much faster.
15. Bond With Your Horse To Unlock Tons Of Abilities
Every good cowboy takes his horse very seriously, and you’ll need to do the same if you want to make the most of you Red Dead Redemption 2 experience. You can interact with your horse in ways that are insanely deep, and aside from just being an animal-friendly feature, it provides tons of bonuses. You can bond with your horse by talking to it, patting it, feeding it, brushing it, and tons of other ways.
The abilities are pretty interesting. By keeping one horse and bonding with it, that horse will get faster and have better acceleration with time. In addition, you’ll also learn new techniques such as skid turns and skid stops. Actually keeping your horse alive is a bit challenging, though, so taking care of your horse in general is a good tactic.
14. When Galloping, Press The Button In Time With Your Horse’s Hooves
Another interesting feature of Red Dead Redemption 2 is the galloping mechanism. While advanced players might be able to find super fast horses with great stamina, every horse has its limits. Run a horse too hard, and it will buck you right off. The key to galloping is finding a nice balance between speed and conserving your horse’s energy. Another interesting tip is to hit the gallop button when your horse’s hooves hit the ground.
When you get into a rhythm, your horse’s stamina drains much more slowly.
You’ll be able to gallop for long distances without putting too much stress on your animal. This will allow you to get away from chasing lawmen, or catch up to fleeing enemies.
13. Raise Reputation By Greeting People
Reputation is another system which plays a big role in Red Dead Redemption 2. Far more detailed than any other Rockstar game, the people in the game world react to almost everything you do during your adventures. How they interact with you will depend on the rumors of your crimes or your heroic exploits, and sometimes this does impact the game in pretty major ways.
Walking into town with a terrible reputation is pretty amusing, but some players might not enjoy the experience of the mean looks and comments from the townsfolk. If you ever want to raise your reputation, just walk around the town and greet as many people as you can. All it takes is the click of one button, and it’s very easy.
12. You Can Name Your Horse
“Horse liable to buck you off with a name like that…” That was what the stable master told us when we named our horse “Justin Bieber.” But hey, to each their own, right? Spoiler alert: Justin Bieber didn’t actually last very long in Red Dead Redemption 2, and was hit by a train almost immediately. Make of that what you will.
Yes, you can name your horses in this game, and it’s a fun feature that we think a lot of people will take advantage of. It probably doesn’t add any bonuses to the game, and we’re almost sure that it doesn’t raise your bonding level with the horse, but it’s another great detail in the game. It’s also a great way to keep track of your horses if you’ve got an entire stable full of them.
11. Shoot People’s Hats Off And Then Steal Them
Every cowboy takes very good care of his hat. In a way, a cowboy’s hat represents his honor. Without it, he’s nothing. You can become a total menace in the Wild West by shooting people’s hats off. It’s actually pretty easy to do if you go into Dead Eye mode, although experts will definitely have an easier time placing the perfect shot.
Many of us have seen Old Western movies where people’s hats get shot off, and it’s pretty satisfying to do.
Do you know what’s even more satisfying? Stealing people’s hats after they’ve been shot off. It’s pretty much the ultimate insult in the Old West, and it’s pretty hilarious to say the least.
10. Study Animals Before Hunting Them
Hunting is far more complex than just “point and shoot.” Although plenty of people might just shoot animals with their pistols on horseback, truly skilled hunters know that to get the most out of this experience, you have to take your time. In Red Dead Redemption 2, you can stalk your prey by following tracks, scents, and trails. When you finally come face to face with your prey, you can even study it to get a greater insight into the animal you’re about to destroy.
This is important, because you definitely want to get the best quality pelts from the animals you hunt.
When you study animals by pressing the correct button, you’re given information about the animal, and you can see whether you’ll get a good quality pelt or not.
9. Get A Full Set Of Cigarette Cards
Back in the time of the Wild West, people had no idea of how harmful smoking really was. Most people smoked back then, and this is no different in Red Dead Redemption 2. In fact, Arthur can even smoke cigarettes and cigars in order to refill his Dead Eye meter. Most players will have a pack of cigarettes in their possession at some point, either after purchasing them or looting them from bodies.
When you open a new pack, you get a cigarette card. These cards can be collected, and if you get a perfect set, you can sell them for a high price. This is another part of the game that takes time and effort, but experts know that this trial is well worth the effort.
8. Deal With Witnesses In Hilarious Ways
When you’ve committed a crime, there are numerous systems in place that determine what happens next. If someone sees you committing a crime, they’ll usually make a run for the local lawman to report you. You definitely don’t want them to do this, and you have the option of chasing them down and “convincing” them to keep quiet about your crimes. We’ve discovered some pretty hilarious ways to do this. Usually, you only really need to hogtie them for them to promise not to tell.
You can definitely get a little more creative.
Witnesses are much less likely to talk when you drag them through a river by lasso. Or make them stare at a train hurtling towards them, as they’re tied down to the railroad tracks.
7. Shoot The Gun First And Then The Hat In A Duel To Embarrass Opponents
Over the course of the game, you’ll probably be challenged to a few duels. These are really fun moments in the game, but they also pose a little bit of a challenge for people who don’t really know what they’re doing. True experts can have lots of fun when dueling with other gunslingers, and it doesn’t always have to end with one man lying on the ground.
If you want to win a duel in style, you might choose to shot the opponent’s gun right out of his hand. For a truly Wild West experience, shoot his gun out of his hand, and then shoot his hat right off his head. This will leave him totally defeated, both physically and emotionally.
6. Invest In Horse Revival Kits
One of the most frustrating , not to mention heartbreaking things in Red Dead Redemption 2 is watching your horse perish. This is especially true when you’ve already bonded with the horse, and unlocked tons of new abilities. It’s even more annoying when you’re stuck out in the middle of nowhere, and have to run to the nearest town– sometimes while carrying your saddle. That’s why it’s always a good idea to stock up on horse revival kits. When your horse is dealt a mortal blow, you have a few minutes of grace period to reverse its fate.
You have the opportunity to administer a Horse Revival Kit, saving your horse’s life.
It’s one piece of equipment that all experts carry with them at all times.
5. Unlock Fast Travel At Dutch’s Camp
Players will spend a lot of time at Duch’s camp. Even if you prefer to explore the world rather than actually complete the story quests, you’ll probably still head back to camp every once in a while, if only to stock up on ammo and get some sleep without paying for a hotel. Dutch’s camp is also a very entertaining area to visit, especially when the gang has parties at night. This can feel like one big, long cutscene.
One of the best uses of Dutch’s camp is the fast travel option. You actually have to unlock this feature by donating to the camp and helping the gang progress, but it’s well worth the time and effort. Riding by horseback all the time can get tiring, especially when you’re just trying to complete the story missions as quickly as possible.
4. Intimidate People By Shooting Warning Shots
You don’t have to pump people full of lead to get what you want. In many cases, a warning shot can be more than enough to get people to hand over the cash. You can also use this attempt to scare witnesses, or even get aggressive people to back down after they’ve challenged you. It’s a feature of the game that isn’t really explained very clearly, so only experts know how to do it. Shooting a round into the air is a lot easier than simply aiming straight up.
All you need to do is aim your weapon and then hit the “up” button on the directional D-Pad.
It’s a fun feature to use, and it definitely gets the job done.
3. Use Jewelry To Craft Talismans
Over the course of the game, you’ll probably accumulate pocketfuls of jewelry. This is a very common item to find when looting bodies, and you might also find these items scattered across people’s homes. Either way, jewelry represents a great way to make money, and experts know to keep hold of this resource.
Experts don’t sell these items the General Store. Instead, they keep hold of them, and use them to craft talismans at the Fence. The Fence is a place where the player is able to sell stolen goods, and it’s a great way to make some extra cash in the Old West. Talismans are also available for purchase at the fences, and these unique items offer all kinds of amazing benefits.
2. Get Some Lock Breakers
It makes sense that in a game about a gang of thieves, you’ll run into a few locked doors. Busting them open is sometimes surprisingly hard, and you might even have to just walk away if you don’t have the right equipment handy. Obviously, experts don’t suffer from this problem, and they usually know exactly how to get past even the toughest locks. It’s actually quite easy to break through any door, and all you’ll need is a lock breaker.
This is a unique item found only at the Fence, and you can only carry one lock breaker at one time.
That means you’ll have to use it wisely, and save it for the right moment.
1. Hijack Trains
What kind of a game would Red Dead Redemption 2 be if you couldn’t rob a train? Experts know that this is probably one of the best ways to make money throughout the game, and it’s also one of the funnest things to do in general. This game is filled with train tracks, and you don’t have to look very far for one steaming through the Wild West.
Simply run along side the train with your horse, jump on board, and make your way through the train cars.
From there, you can rob the train of its riches, and walk away with a hefty sum of money. This is usually in the realms of $150. It’s surprisingly easy way to earn money very quickly in the game. This is true even if you’ve just started playing.
What other tips and tricks did you learn for Red Dead Redemption 2? Let us know in the comments!
