Red Dead Redemption 2

A versatile weapon for silent hunting and stealth combat. Can use standard, improved, small game, poison, fire, and dynamite arrows.

Used to hogtie enemies or animals, drag people, or pull objects. Essential for bounty hunting.

Includes various knives (Hunting Knife, Jawbone Knife), hatchets, cleavers, and the Machete. Used for stealth takedowns and brutal close combat.

Early semi-automatic pistols such as the Mauser Pistol, Semi-Automatic Pistol, Volcanic Pistol. Offer faster fire rates than revolvers. Customizable and dual-wieldable.

Versatile rifles like the Lancaster Repeater, Litchfield Repeater, Carbine Repeater. Good balance of damage, range, and fire rate. Mainstays for combat.

Iconic Western sidearms like the Cattleman Revolver, Schofield Revolver, Double-Action Revolver. Customizable with grips, barrel lengths, metals, and engravings. Can be dual-wielded.

Includes the Bolt Action Rifle, Springfield Rifle, Rolling Block Rifle (Sniper). Powerful and accurate for long-range engagements and big game hunting.

Pump-Action Shotgun, Semi-Auto Shotgun, Double-Barreled Shotgun, Sawed-Off Shotgun. Devastating at close range, with different ammo types (slugs, incendiary).

Specialized long-range rifles like the Carcano Rifle and Rolling Block Rifle (when scoped). Used for precision kills from extreme distances.

Dynamite (standard, volatile), Fire Bottles (Molotovs), Tomahawks (standard, homing, improved), Throwing Knives (standard, improved, poison).

Used for navigating rivers, lakes, and swamps. Includes simple canoes and rowboats for personal transport or fishing, and occasionally small, armed steamboats in specific missions or locations.

A manually operated rail vehicle found on certain railway lines, can be used for short-distance travel along tracks.

The main mode of transportation. Over 19 breeds available, each with different stats (Health, Stamina, Speed, Acceleration) and handling. Can be bought, stolen, or tamed from the wild. Bonding with a horse improves its stats and unlocks maneuvers. Horses can carry pelts and carcasses.

Fully operational steam trains run on a schedule across the map. Players can ride trains as passengers (a form of fast travel), rob them, or even drive them for a short period if hijacked.

Various types of wagons (small carts, supply wagons, oil tankers) and passenger coaches (stagecoaches, buggies). Can be driven by the player, stolen, or used in missions. Some are armored or have specific functions.

Role: Hostile Ambush Predator (Waterways/Swamps), Hunting Resource (Meat, Skin, Tooth)

Role: Hostile Apex Predator, Dangerous, Hunting Resource (Meat, Pelts, Claws)

Role: Ambient Wildlife, Hunting Resource (Feathers, Meat, Carcasses for crafting/selling)

Role: Large Herbivore, Herd Animal, Hunting Resource (Meat, Pelts, Horns)

Role: Hostile Apex Predator (Stealthy), Dangerous, Hunting Resource (Meat, Pelts)

Role: Prey, Hunting Resource (Meat, Pelts, Antlers)

Role: Aquatic Wildlife, Fishing Resource (Meat for cooking/selling)

Role: Primary Mount, Companion, Wild (can be tamed), Purchasable

Role: Challenging Hunts, Provide unique pelts/parts for crafting special outfits and talismans/trinkets (which grant passive buffs).

Role: Ambient Wildlife, Hunting Resource (Pelts, Meat, other parts for crafting, provisions, or sale)

Role: Hostile (Venomous), Hunting Resource (Skin, Meat for poison crafting)

Role: Hostile Pack Predator, Hunting Resource (Meat, Pelts)

John Marston's wife and mother of Jack. A strong-willed woman who desires a normal life for her family away from the gang.

Senior Pinkerton National Detective Agency agents relentlessly pursuing the Van der Linde gang. Milton is the primary pursuer in RDR2, with Ross (antagonist of RDR1) playing a supporting role.

The player-controlled character. A loyal, highly capable senior member of the Van der Linde gang since he was a boy. He is Dutch's right-hand man and enforcer, but begins to question Dutch's leadership and his own morality as the gang's situation becomes more desperate. Known for his rugged pragmatism and internal conflict.

The diverse ensemble cast making up the rest of the Van der Linde gang, each with their own personalities, backstories, and roles within the camp and story.

A quiet, highly skilled hunter and fighter of mixed African American and Native American heritage. He is honorable, principled, and one of Arthur's most dependable allies.

The leader of a rival gang and a long-standing nemesis of Dutch van der Linde.

The charismatic, intelligent, and idealistic leader of the gang. He preaches a philosophy of freedom and anti-establishment, but his methods become increasingly violent and his judgment erratic as pressures mount, leading to his descent into paranoia and tyranny.

Dutch's oldest friend, co-founder of the gang, and its seasoned con artist and strategist. He often serves as a voice of reason and moderation, trying to temper Dutch's recklessness.

A fellow gang member, younger than Arthur, with a wife (Abigail) and son (Jack). His desire to leave the outlaw life for his family creates tension within the gang. His story in RDR2 serves as a prequel to his role in the original Red Dead Redemption.

A young, educated, and relatively idealistic member of the gang. Provides some lighter moments and represents a younger generation of outlaws.

A volatile, violent, and self-serving newer member of the gang. He encourages Dutch's worst impulses and is a source of internal conflict and distrust, ultimately playing a major antagonistic role.

A widow whose ranch is attacked by the O'Driscoll Boys. She is rescued by the Van der Linde gang and evolves from a grieving victim into a fierce, independent gunslinger and bounty hunter, becoming one of Arthur's most trusted allies.

Objective: Pick up bounty posters from sheriff's offices in various towns. Track down and capture (alive for a higher reward) or kill wanted criminals. Some bounties involve unique encounters or storylines.

Objective: Dynamic, unscripted events that occur as Arthur explores the world. These can include ambushes, people needing help (e.g., snake bite victims, stranded travelers), animal attacks, duels, or interactions with other outlaws. Choices made in these encounters can affect Honor.

Objective: Engage in optional activities with gang members at camp, such as playing poker or five finger fillet, going fishing or hunting with them, or fulfilling their item requests (e.g., finding a specific book or herb). These build camaraderie and provide small rewards or insights into characters.

Objective: Missions given by the gang's moneylender, Leopold Strauss, where Arthur must collect outstanding debts from vulnerable individuals, often through intimidation or force. These missions highlight the darker aspects of the gang's activities and impact Arthur's Honor.

Objective: Opportunities to rob homesteads, stagecoaches, or trains for money and valuables. Some are specific missions, while others can be initiated by the player in the open world. These actions typically result in a bounty and decreased Honor.

Objective: Track and hunt unique Legendary Animals or catch Legendary Fish. These are challenging encounters requiring specific approaches. Their pelts/parts are used to craft unique outfits, gear, talismans, and trinkets at the Trapper or Fence.

Objective: A series of interconnected story missions that form the main narrative arc, chronicling the Van der Linde gang's struggles, heists, internal conflicts, and Arthur Morgan's personal journey. Each chapter is typically set in a new region or marks a significant shift in the gang's circumstances.

Objective: Optional multi-part questlines initiated by unique 'Stranger' characters encountered throughout the world. These often feature distinct stories, memorable characters, and unique rewards (e.g., missions for Hamish Sinclair, Charlotte Balfour, Albert Mason, Francis Sinclair).

Ability: In certain situations or with specific camp dogs (like Cain), Arthur can interact with them, and they might follow him for a short period or alert him to nearby points of interest or danger. They are not combat companions in the traditional sense.

Ability: While not directly commandable like 'Guns for Hire' in Far Cry, various members of the Van der Linde gang will accompany Arthur on specific story missions, providing combat support, dialogue, and unique interactions. Their presence and abilities are scripted based on the mission. Key members like Charles, Sadie, John, Lenny, Bill, and Javier frequently ride with Arthur.

Ability: Arthur's primary means of transport and a crucial companion. Bonding with a horse (by feeding, patting, brushing) increases its Health and Stamina, unlocks special maneuvers (drifting, piaffe), and makes it less likely to buck Arthur off when scared. Horses can carry pelts, carcasses, and an extra outfit. Different breeds have varying base stats (speed, acceleration, health, stamina).

Location/Use: 144 collectible cards (12 sets of 12 cards each) found in cigarette packs throughout the world or as individual finds. Collecting full sets and mailing them to Phileas T. Ramsbottom yields monetary rewards and unique items.

Location/Use: 30 fossilized dinosaur bones hidden across the map. Players find them and mail their coordinates to the paleontologist Deborah MacGuiness to complete a side quest chain and receive unique rewards, including a Jawbone Knife and a Jawbone Trinket.

Location/Use: 20 dreamcatchers hanging from trees in specific locations. Finding all of them reveals a depiction of a buffalo on a cave wall and unlocks the Ancient Arrowhead perk, which doubles stamina while using the bow.

Location/Use: Various rare bird plumes, orchids, and alligator eggs requested by the eccentric Algernon Wasp in Saint Denis for his 'Duchesses and other Animals' stranger mission series, rewarding unique items like the Exotic Hat.

Location/Use: 9 graves of fallen companions can be found and interacted with after certain points in the story, contributing to 100% completion and offering moments of reflection.

Location/Use: 13 unique, massive fish that can be caught in specific bodies of water using special lures, part of Jeremy Gill's 'A Fisher of Fish' stranger mission. Mailing them back rewards money and unique fishing gear.

Location/Use: 50 unique locations, animals, or events that Arthur can observe and sketch in his journal, adding to its detail and contributing to completion.

Location/Use: 10 intricate carvings on rock faces, part of the 'Geology for Beginners' stranger mission. Mailing their coordinates to Francis Sinclair leads to a mysterious encounter and rewards.

Location/Use: Series of maps leading to hidden stashes of gold bars or valuable items. Some are part of stranger missions, others are found through exploration.

Focus/Stats: Arthur Morgan can wear a vast array of clothing items (hats, coats, shirts, vests, pants, boots, gloves, neckwear, suspenders, chaps, spurs). While primarily cosmetic and for role-playing, some outfits or pieces provide minor benefits like temperature resistance (e.g., warmer clothes for cold weather). There isn't a traditional 'armor' system for damage reduction through clothing. Players can save custom outfits.

Focus/Stats: Using perfect animal pelts and other materials, Pearson at the gang camp can craft reinforced equipment: Bandoliers (increase ammo capacity), Satchels (increase carrying capacity for provisions, tonics, ingredients, materials, valuables, kits), Gun Belts, and Holsters (cosmetic and potentially minor stat boosts like weapon degradation speed). These are crucial for practical upgrades.

Focus/Stats: Crafted at a Fence using parts from Legendary Animals and unique collectible items. These provide permanent passive buffs to Arthur's core stats (Health, Stamina, Dead Eye), experience gain, weapon degradation, money earned, or other gameplay aspects. They are equipped and offer significant, though often subtle, advantages.

Focus/Stats: Various craftable or purchasable tonics provide temporary boosts or full restoration to Health, Stamina, and Dead Eye cores and bars. Potent versions offer stronger effects or fortification (slowing core drain). These act as temporary 'armor' or performance enhancers.

Details: Players can purchase or unlock numerous pre-designed outfits (e.g., 'The Gunslinger', 'The Valentine', 'The Saint Denis'). Arthur also starts with several outfits. Outfits can be stored on his horse.

Details: Arthur's hair and beard grow dynamically over time. Players can visit barbers to get haircuts, shaves, or style their hair and beard in various ways. Pomade can be applied for a slicked look.

Details: Extensive customization is possible by mixing and matching individual items: Hats, Coats (various lengths and materials), Shirts, Vests, Pants, Boots, Gloves, Neckwear (bandanas, ties, neckerchiefs), Suspenders, Chaps, Spurs. Items have different styles, colors, and can be purchased from general stores or tailors, or crafted by the Trapper from Legendary Animal pelts.

Details: Clothing choices impact Arthur's resistance to cold and hot weather. Wearing appropriate attire (e.g., heavy coats in snowy mountains, lighter shirts in hot swamps) prevents negative effects on Health Core drain. Outfits can be saved with specific temperature ratings.

Details: Gun Belts, Off-Hand Holsters, and Bandoliers can be equipped and upgraded. While some offer stat benefits (ammo capacity from bandoliers), many are also cosmetic choices.