Red Dead Redemption 2 Guide#
Red Dead Redemption 2 is an open-world Western action-adventure from Rockstar Games and a prequel to Red Dead Redemption. Ride with Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van der Linde gang, as he survives, struggles, and makes impossible choices in the dying days of the American frontier in 1899.
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC | Release Date: October 26, 2018
| Item |
Detail |
| Developer |
Rockstar Games |
| Engine |
RAGE (Rockstar Advanced Game Engine) |
| Genre |
Open-world action-adventure |
| Perspective |
Third-person |
| Map Size |
About 75 km² — one of the most detailed worlds in gaming history |
| Main Story |
About 50-60 hours |
| 100% Completion |
About 200+ hours |
| Language |
Full Chinese support (Simplified and Traditional) |
Key Features#
| Feature |
Description |
| Unparalleled open world |
A Western world of unprecedented detail — every NPC follows their own daily routine |
| Immersive survival systems |
Manage stamina, health, Dead Eye, weight, and clothing warmth |
| Deep honor system |
Every choice — from a friendly greeting to an armed robbery — changes how the world treats you |
| Legendary storytelling |
Arthur Morgan’s tale of redemption is widely regarded as one of the greatest stories in gaming |
| Wealth of outdoor activities |
Hunting, fishing, horseback riding, robbery, poker, and duels — every side of the West |
| Cinematic visuals |
Dynamic weather, a full day-night cycle, and gorgeous lighting — still a graphical benchmark today |
Edition Comparison#
| Edition |
Contents |
| Standard |
The base game |
| Special |
Base game + Bank Heist mission + gang hideouts + War Horse + a talisman |
| Ultimate |
Special Edition contents + Red Dead Online bonuses (War Horse, camp skins, rank rewards) |
| PC |
Base game + graphical enhancements + mod support |
Story Overview#
Setting#
The story is set in 1899 America, as the age of the Wild West draws to a close. Industrialization is sweeping the nation and the era of the outlaw is dying out. The Van der Linde gang — a band of outlaws led by Dutch van der Linde — is forced to flee after a robbery goes wrong, setting off on a perilous journey across America.
Main Characters#
| Character |
Voice Actor |
Overview |
| Arthur Morgan |
Roger Clark |
The protagonist and a core member of the Van der Linde gang — loyal, but deeply conflicted |
| Dutch van der Linde |
Benjamin Byron Davis |
The gang’s leader, an idealistic and charismatic orator |
| Hosea Matthews |
Curzon Dobell |
A senior member of the gang and Dutch’s right hand — the voice of wisdom and reason |
| Micah Bell |
Peter Blomquist |
The gang’s most dangerous element — selfish and brutally violent |
| Abigail Roberts |
Cali Elizabeth Moore |
A former prostitute, John’s wife, and Jack’s mother |
| John Marston |
Rob Wiethoff |
A gang member and the hero of the first game — a reformed rogue |
Chapter Structure#
| Chapter |
Location |
Overview |
| Chapter 1: Colter |
The Grizzlies |
A desperate flight through the snow as the gang regroups |
| Chapter 2: Horseshoe Overlook |
New Hanover |
Stability and growth as the gang settles into camp |
| Chapter 3: Clemens Point |
Lemoyne |
Mounting conflict with the Braithwaite and Grey families |
| Chapter 4: Saint Denis |
Saint Denis |
Intrigue and corruption in the big city |
| Chapter 5: Guarma |
Guarma |
A Caribbean island adventure |
| Chapter 6: Beaver Hollow |
Roanoke Ridge |
The gang collapses from within |
| Epilogue |
Beecher’s Hope |
John Marston’s new life |
World Map and Regions#
The Five States#
| State |
Terrain |
Major Towns |
Highlights |
| New Hanover |
Prairies and rolling hills |
Valentine, Annesburg |
A beginner-friendly region with abundant hunting grounds |
| Lemoyne |
Swamps and rivers |
Rhodes, Saint Denis |
Mysterious bayou country alongside a bustling metropolis |
| West Elizabeth |
Forests and mountains |
Blackwater, Strawberry |
Spectacular scenery and the highest-tier animals |
| Ambarino |
Snowy peaks and canyons |
No major towns |
The harshest region — and the most beautiful |
| New Austin |
Desert and plateaus |
Armadillo, Tumbleweed |
Only fully open during the epilogue and beyond |
Activities#
Pastimes#
| Activity |
Location |
Reward |
| Texas Hold’em poker |
Saloons across the map |
Cash |
| Blackjack |
Saint Denis |
Cash |
| Dominoes |
Rhodes and Saint Denis |
Cash |
| Fishing |
Any body of water |
Food and income |
| Duels |
Triggered events |
Honor and cash |
| Train robbery |
Anywhere |
Large sums of cash |
| Coach robbery |
Anywhere |
Cash and valuables |
| Casino games |
The Saint Denis theater |
Cash |
Random Encounters#
You will run into more than 100 different types of random encounters across the open world, including:
| Encounter |
Count |
Choices and Consequences |
| Travelers in distress |
20+ |
Help them or walk away — affects your honor |
| Prisoner wagons |
10+ |
Free the prisoner for a reward or a clue |
| Gang ambushes |
15+ |
Turn the tables on your attackers for loot |
| Wildlife attacks |
10+ |
Escape or hunt the animal down |
| Stranded travelers |
8+ |
Rescue them to earn honor |
| Coach chases |
12+ |
Join in the robbery |
The Honor System#
Honor runs from -8 (lowest) to +8 (highest) and determines how everyone in the world treats you.
Honor Levels and Effects#
| Honor Level |
Effects |
| +6 to +8 (High Honor) |
20-50% store discounts, friendlier NPCs, alternate main story endings, and easier access to hidden items |
| +3 to +5 (Medium-High Honor) |
Modest discounts and polite treatment from most NPCs |
| -2 to +2 (Neutral) |
No special bonuses or penalties |
| -3 to -5 (Medium-Low Honor) |
Inflated store prices and different options in some missions |
| -6 to -8 (Low Honor) |
NPCs flee from you, steep bounties, constant bounty hunter attacks, and alternate main story endings |
Raising Honor#
| Action |
Honor Gain |
| Greeting people in town |
Small |
| Helping travelers |
Medium |
| Donating to the camp |
Small |
| Freeing prisoners |
Medium |
| Choosing merciful options in the main story |
Large |
| Returning lost property |
Medium |
| Releasing fish after catching them |
Small |
Losing Honor#
| Action |
Honor Loss |
| Killing innocent civilians |
Large |
| Robbing stores |
Medium |
| Stealing horses |
Medium |
| Assaulting travelers |
Medium |
| Dragging tied-up people |
Large |
| Robbing passersby |
Medium |
| Killing animals without skinning them |
Small |
Hunting#
Animal Classes#
| Class |
Examples |
Recommended Weapon |
| Small |
Squirrels, rabbits, birds |
Small arrows, Varmint Rifle |
| Medium |
Foxes, wolves, deer |
Repeater, bow (standard arrows) |
| Large |
Bears, moose, bison |
Rifle (Springfield, Bolt Action) |
| Legendary |
The Legendary Bear, Legendary Wolf, and more |
Any high-damage weapon — expect to need several shots |
Perfect Pelt Requirements#
| Stars |
Requirement |
| 3-Star (Perfect) |
A single headshot with the correct weapon |
| 2-Star (Good) |
Killed with the wrong weapon or with multiple shots |
| 1-Star (Poor) |
The pelt is badly damaged |
Hunting tip: Study an animal with your binoculars to reveal its star rating. Marking vital spots with Dead Eye guarantees a clean, perfect kill.
Legendary Animals#
Legendary animals are one of a kind and never respawn once killed. Each one provides the materials needed to craft unique accessories and clothing.
| Legendary Animal |
Region |
Materials |
| Legendary Bear |
Ambarino |
Bear pelt (Trapper coat) |
| Legendary Moose |
Ambarino |
Antlers (camp decoration) |
| Legendary Wolf |
New Hanover |
Wolf pelt (hat) |
| Legendary Cougar |
New Austin |
Cougar pelt (vest) |
| Legendary Alligator |
Lemoyne |
Alligator skin (boots) |
Combat and Weapons#
Weapon Types#
| Weapon Type |
Recommended |
Best For |
| Pistols |
Volcanic Pistol, Mauser Pistol |
Fast close-quarters fire |
| Revolvers |
Schofield, Double-Action |
A balance of fire rate and stopping power |
| Repeaters |
Lancaster, Litchfield |
The go-to mid-range option |
| Rifles |
Springfield, Bolt Action |
Precision at long range |
| Shotguns |
Pump-Action, Semi-Automatic |
Devastating damage up close |
| Bows |
Improved Bow |
Silent hunting |
| Throwables |
Fire Bottles, Dynamite |
Crowd control |
| Melee |
Knife, Machete |
Silent takedowns |
Dead Eye#
Dead Eye is the signature combat mechanic of Red Dead Redemption 2, slowing time so you can tag multiple targets.
| Level |
Unlocked By |
Ability |
| 1 |
Automatically in the Prologue |
Time slows while aiming manually |
| 2 |
A Chapter 2 story mission |
Manually mark targets |
| 3 |
Late in Chapter 2 |
Automatically fire on marked weak points |
| 4 |
A Chapter 4 story mission |
Lethal zones glow red while marking |
| 5 |
A Chapter 6 story mission |
Marking is retained without slowing time |
Survival and Camp#
Core Attributes#
| Attribute |
Drained By |
How to Restore |
| Health Core |
Combat wounds, falls from horseback |
Eating, sleeping, tonics |
| Stamina Core |
Running, swimming, fighting |
Eating, resting |
| Dead Eye Core |
Using Dead Eye, smoking |
Coffee, tonics |
Camp Upgrades#
| Upgrade |
Cost |
Effect |
| Arthur’s wagon |
$220 |
Unlocks fast travel |
| Herbs wagon |
$180 |
Unlocks stronger medicine |
| Provisions wagon |
$200 |
Better food and tonics |
| Ammunition wagon |
$150 |
A wider stock of ammunition |
| Tent upgrades |
$90-$240 |
Faster core regeneration |
Practical Tips#
Making Money Fast#
| Method |
Income |
Difficulty |
| Looting corpses |
Varies |
★☆☆ |
| Hunting perfect pelts |
$5-$50 per pelt |
★★☆ |
| Collecting gold and silver bars |
$500 per bar (15 locations) |
★★★ |
| Treasure maps |
$500-$1000 per map |
★★★ |
| Robbing trains |
$200-$500 per heist |
★★★ |
| Completing stranger missions |
$50-$200 per mission |
★★☆ |
Travel Tips#
- Bond with your horse — Brush it, feed it, and ride it regularly to raise your bond; at bond level 4, special abilities such as drift braking unlock.
- Pack multiple outfits — Different climates demand different warmth ratings, so wear heavy coats in cold regions and light clothing in the heat.
- Use camp fast travel — Once your camp tents are fully upgraded, you can fast travel straight from the map.
- Save your game — Make a manual save before any big move, and reload after a crime spree leaves you wanted.
- Keep a spare horse — Your active horse carries all your gear, so if it dies, that equipment is gone for good.
Combat Tips#
| Tip |
Details |
| Stick to cover |
Hug walls with the cover button and fire from the shoulder to minimize exposure |
| Master Dead Eye |
Against multiple enemies, tag their heads first and drop several at once |
| Match your ammo |
Bring split-point or high-velocity rounds for tough, high-tier enemies |
| Strike from behind |
Sneak up on enemies for a silent melee takedown that doesn’t alert the rest |
| Fire bottles vs. crowds |
Surrounded? Toss a fire bottle to throw the whole group into chaos |
| Fight with the environment |
Exploding oil lamps, kicked-over campfires that flush enemies out, destructible cover, and more |
PC Version Features#
| Feature |
Details |
| 4K |
Higher resolutions and frame rates |
| HDR |
More vivid color and lighting |
| Ultrawide |
21:9 and 32:9 monitor support |
| Mod support |
A thriving mod community that overhauls visuals, gameplay, and content |
| Photo Mode |
Advanced in-game photography |
| Graphics options |
100+ granular settings |
| DLSS |
NVIDIA DLSS and AMD FSR support |
FAQ#
When was Red Dead Redemption 2 released?#
It launched on October 26, 2018, and is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
How long does it take to beat?#
Plan on roughly 50-60 hours for the main story and around 200+ hours for 100% completion.
How big is the map?#
The world spans about 75 square kilometers — still one of the most densely detailed environments in gaming.
What engine does the game run on?#
Red Dead Redemption 2 runs on Rockstar’s RAGE engine (Rockstar Advanced Game Engine).
What is the honor system?#
Honor ranges from -8 to +8 and governs everything from store prices (up to 50% off at high honor) to how NPCs react to you — and even which main story ending you reach. Helping strangers and donating to camp raises it, while robbery and murder tank it.
Which editions are available?#
The Standard Edition is the base game; the Special Edition adds the Bank Heist mission, gang hideouts, a War Horse, and a talisman; and the Ultimate Edition bundles all of that plus Red Dead Online bonuses. The PC release adds graphical enhancements and full mod support.
Does the game have an online mode?#
Yes — Red Dead Online lets you pick a role, earn money, jump into PvP, and take on daily challenges.
Does the PC version support mods?#
Yes, along with 4K, HDR, ultrawide (21:9 and 32:9) support, a photo mode, 100+ graphics options, and NVIDIA DLSS and AMD FSR.
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Full Guides#
In-depth sub-guides — beginner basics and money-making methods, the full main-story walkthrough with every chapter choice and ending variant, character and voice cast profiles, Dead Eye combat tactics, the complete weapon compendium, legendary animals and perfect pelts, hunting and fishing guides, camp upgrades and crafting, honor grinding strategies, all 90 challenges, Red Dead Online, and the 100% completion checklist — are available in Chinese on NTGame’s Red Dead Redemption 2 section.