Red Dead Redemption 2 Tips For Beginners

[NewsBot]

Whenever we first hop into a new highly anticipated game, we let ourselves be swept up by the experience. Having waited so long, we bet most Red Dead Redemption 2 fans are eager to get acquainted with the game as quickly as possible. However, this is a game that doesn't do a lot of handholding, and some systems simply aren't explained. While you'll get the hang of these mechanics with time, there are a few things best known before or when you start playing.

Note: These tips are completely spoiler-free. We're only focusing on gameplay elements and mechanics you should know about from the start.

Take Your Time

First, let's tackle the mindset with which you go into the game with in the first place. Some games are really fast-paced and almost outright require you to rush to complete objectives as quickly a possible. Red Dead Redemption 2 is not such a game. Even more so than its predecessor and much more so than GTA, this game is to be savored like good wine not downed like a shot.

Many of the game's systems and mechanics encourage you to ease into a steady pace of play where you take your time to explore, to learn, to understand and to take in everything that is happening. However, if you end up trying to rush with progress, you'll end up souring the experience. While there never is 'one right way' to play any game, there are wrong ways, and in this case trying to fast-track your game sessions is definitely the second.

How to Upgrade Cores

Red Dead Redemption 2's core system is a tad complex, and isn't really explained in-game. In fact, this is something we dedicate a whole guide to in and of itself which goes into greater detail. Basically, your cores are Health, Stamina and Dead-Eye. These are three little circles above the mini-map and the filled outline represents the amount of each.

To upgrade these, which you will definitely want to do, you need to "use" them. It's a bit like real life, you need to use your muscles to strengthen them. With Dead-Eye and Stamina, this works easily. Just often perform stamina-consuming acts like sprinting and occasionally you'll get small Stamina upgrades. Same for Dead-Eye - just use it and it will be upgraded.

Health is a different matter, since "using" it doesn't work. You can't get shot by lawmen or get mauled by bears and end up healthier than before. Cores also passively drain over time adding a kind of survival mechanic, as these are separate from your actual bars. You need to eat occasionally to prevent your health core from draining completely. This is what you can use to upgrade them.

For a more comprehensive look at Cores, check out our guide (coming soon).

Always Loot

You can loot a lot of things in Red Dead Redemption 2. We suggest you do. Loot everyone, loot everything. If you adhere to this, you'll likely always have enough money, ammo and supplies throughout the game. Little dark crosses mark lootable items on your minimap, which become lighter and greyed out once looted. X marks the spot, and never ignore the X.

Check Your Log Often

Pressing left on your D-Pad will open your log, which tracks all of your non-mission activities. If you want to avoid grinding these activities later on, occasionally open your log to check what objective happen to be nearby. Completing them organically while on your way to other goals will make things more fun.

Refill Dead-Eye With Chewing Tobacco

Health and stamina regenerates on its own, but Dead-Eye does not. You need to pay attention to keeping it filled before encounters. Shooting enemies adds small amounts of fill, but the best and quickest way is by using chewing tobacco. It's a common loot item that goes into your consumables, so you should have pockets full of the stuff if you follow our looting tip.

Use Your Bandana

If you find yourself in the mood for a bit of premeditated criminal activity in Red Dead Redemption 2, make sure to wear a bandana. This doesn't have any negative effects, but it does hide your identity meaning what you do won't get bounty hunters sent after you.

Local lawmen will still chase you if you are caught in the act, however they won't know that Arthur Morgan did the dirty deed, thus keeping your notoriety from increasing.

Check out our other guides to learn more about how the game works.

The post Red Dead Redemption 2 Tips For Beginners appeared first on RDR2.org.

Read the full story

[Lonestar]

Hi everyone, here's some quick, initial tips to take into account before you get started playing the game. What do you wish you'd known when you started? Feel free to post your own!

[Benjo]

18 hours ago, NewsBot said:

If you find yourself in the mood for a bit of premeditated criminal activity in Red Dead Redemption 2, make sure to wear a bandana. This doesn't have any negative effects, but it does hide your identity meaning what you do won't get bounty hunters sent after you.

I think the bandana only determines whether your honour is affected. You'll still get a bounty. 

[CorV]

Hello, im new on this forum. First, nice forum!

Im also beginner, but I played RD1.

I can now explore the open world. I like to hang around ed. So my question, what is the best way to start? First do some missions to get more money/experience/able to craft. Because at this moment im not able to craft or my stamina is very less to spend.

Edited October 29, 2018 by CorV

[ALetterFromAbrahamLincoln]

51 minutes ago, CorV said:

Hello, im new on this forum. First, nice forum!

Im also beginner, but I played RD1.

I can now explore the open world. I like to hang around ed. So my question, what is the best way to start? First do some missions to get more money/experience/able to craft. Because at this moment im not able to craft or my stamina is very less to spend.

I'd recommend doing those initial missions in valentine. The crafting and hunting mission with Hosea is good for intro into it. Hunting is pretty essential I'd say for keeping the camp happy with donations and for your own crafting. The mission with uncle is also nice to because it intos you into the world. After that I'd say go into town and do some side missions so you can understand the whole survival factors of the game. Enjoy! You only get to play a game fresh once , so take your time.

[CorV]

40 minutes ago, ALetterFromAbrahamLincoln said:

I'd recommend doing those initial missions in valentine. The crafting and hunting mission with Hosea is good for intro into it. Hunting is pretty essential I'd say for keeping the camp happy with donations and for your own crafting. The mission with uncle is also nice to because it intos you into the world. After that I'd say go into town and do some side missions so you can understand the whole survival factors of the game. Enjoy! You only get to play a game fresh once , so take your time.

Thanks alot for your comment. I will do that first. Im already stunned by the big open living world and the graphics. Nice experience this game already with all the interaction. Good to know where to start. Thanks again.

[ALetterFromAbrahamLincoln]

3 hours ago, CorV said:

Thanks alot for your comment. I will do that first. Im already stunned by the big open living world and the graphics. Nice experience this game already with all the interaction. Good to know where to start. Thanks again.

You're welcome! I think my experience is the same. I get to go through these forums and play the game. The whole experience the game and share it with others who are also playing for the first time is certainly making it more fun.

 

Also I haven't seen this elsewhere but when you are deep in the menus looking at stats, hold B (Xbox) O (PS) to completely back out without having to press back through each menu. 

[rick249kdr]

The whole thing can be a little overwhelming. Almost like finding something to watch on Netflix. There's so much to do you don't know what to do....

I'd recommend googling "things to do first in RDR2". There are some good tips there. 

There are a few things it seems like you should be doing but are unable to early on, I kinda get frustrated like I'm missing something. 

[BoomBazookaJD]

I've taken my time, explored camp first, then went out and hunted a bit just to get a sense of what was what. I'm taking the approach of going slowly, as if I really did plop down on Horseshoe Overlook for the first time. I found some tobacco plants, kill a turkey on horseback with my bow (that was actually a lot of fun). Then managed to track down a Pronghorn. 

I've also spent a bit of time practicing with my horse as well as bonding with it. 

I've already looked up "beginner tips". I think a quick google search will do one well. 

[Poggy]

My own tips for starting the game:

1) Get the special edition/ultimate edition so as to get the extra stuff.  The guide is also very useful.

2) First thing to do is change the settings: auto-run, aim adjust, targeting, hold mechanics etc

3) Approach the game with a careful mindset.  Take your time and drink it in.  Play slow.

4) Long free roam play is best done when you hit chapter 3 - you'll have unlocked loads of important stuff by then.  Consider all of chapters 1 and 2 prolonged tutorials.

5) Be really careful to avoid accidental crimes: walk don't run in towns; be careful to put gun away; hitch horse and don't ride fast near people; etc etc.  The controls make it easy to accidentally get into a fight, and the bounty system is harsh - especially when you have little cash early in the game.   

6) Play through the first parts of the game as a good guy - the law is deadly and you wont be able to afford to pay bounties.  It is much, much easier to avoid trouble at first.  Play smart and generally white hat until later.  

7) Manually save fairly often.

8 When riding, have you varmint rifle and/or bow ready, pick off game as you ride and skin it for extra supplies and cash just as you go about your business.  You will be doing a LOT of riding to start with - might as well get stuff as you go.

9) Get the Dutch and Arthur camp upgrades early. 

10) Run, jump, pat horse, feed and brush horse, swim, etc as you go to build player and horse cores and bond.  Don't forget to wash, eat, rest, change clothes.

Edited October 30, 2018 by Poggy
Edit - Addition

[mizTik]

I like how one of the tips is to take your time... The first day I played the game I couldn't play it fast enough. Every time I said I would break from the story and do some side things and explore, I ended up back at the story lol I have since slowed way down. I don't want to beat the game just yet. 

[MJROu812]

That what I am doing is slowing down.....kind a waiting for the next patch to drop?

[Skysaw]

Do every side-quest you can, as soon as you come across them. Many of them are tons of fun, and may even yield unique items.

[Melting Snowflakes]

Agree with some of the others, the most important thing imho is to just take it slow, really, really slow.  Almost forget about the story, and do story elements as you feel like doing them, try not to be all "type A" about reaching "the ending".  This is a game to be enjoyed, and think of the story "ending" not as a reward, or a puzzle to be solved, but as something you'll reach someday after you've enjoyed all the game has to offer.  Focus on exploring, studying the animals, learning to hunt, fish, take care of yourself, think of it more as going out for an evening ride after work on your horse to take in the sunset, and pick up a few herbs, maybe shoot a rabbit along the way.  Just experience it and take it in.  There is no hurry to "finish" this game.  Most games have goals, you might want to acquire as much money as possible, or as much resources ... but in RDR2 I don't feel that is really the point.

There are a ton of technical tips about doing specific things that could be talked about, but my tip in general would just to be opportunistic - as someone above said, loot when you can, and always be aware of the things you need to progress in any category.  There will be all kinds of objectives that you can have, but instead of working towards a specific one, my advice is to just enjoy the game and always have all of the next steps to your objectives in mind so that you can be opportunistic and take advantage of situations as they arise.  Maybe you need a certain kind of animal to progress at something, or maybe there is a certain action you have to take to advance a skill, or a challenge to gain some resources, my advice is don't be so driven to "complete a project" and just have all of your projects in mind and enjoy finding pieces to the puzzles as you run across them.

[Konan]

Hot tip:  Whatever you do,don't reload your weapon while interacting with someone...

A guy i saved wanted  to give me a map when i figured i'd save time by reloading my gun while he was talking...result: I gave him a pistol whip and he ran without giving me the map 😨

Edited November 4, 2018 by Konan

[PEA]

Please do not use this forum only to promote your channel, you will be banned immediately. 

You can view to forum rules here: https://www.rdr2.org/forums/topic/807-forum-rules/

 

[Sportty]

For some odd reason, this doesn't feel like Red Dead. Way too over-complicated. Played for a few hours and got overwhelmed by the tedious economy of too many crap items and clunky controls. For the first time in my life, a Rcokstar game that I think isn't fun.

[NewsBot]

Red Dead Redemption 2 is a huge game with myriad mechanics, features, activities, locations, characters and systems. We've been doing our best to cover the most important, the most complex or the most beneficial systems in the game with extensive guides, but there are some features that, although requiring explanation, are just too small for their own post.

Some mechanics are minor, self-contained or just don't demand much explanation. We've collected tips and tricks related to these mechanics in this post, which we'll be updating constantly with new entries. If you're wondering about a small tidbit of game design in Red Dead Redemption 2 that isn't covered in a dedicated guide, you'll likely find answers here. For tips to start you off on your journey if you are a first-time player, check out our beginners' guide.

Recover Hat

Red Dead Redemption 2 is all about realism. This extends to clothing as well, meaning that Arthur's outfit isn't a static character skin. Instead, your hat, for example, is its own physics object, and just like in real life, it can fall off. In fact, Rockstar put so much effort into accurate hitboxes for characters that it is possible to have your hat shot off your head without actually taking damage, provided the hat is hit somewhere where your head isn't fully in it.

If you lose your hat for any reason, it won't magically re-appear on your head. You need to go and retrieve it manually. If this is impossible because you had to make a speedy escape or the hat got destroyed, burned, fell into a canyon, whatever, you need to return to your mobile inventory horse to re-equip it. Go within range of the horse and bring up the horse wheel to get the hat back.

Recover Legendary Pelt

Legendary pelts can be a pain to acquire. Once you've gone to all the trouble of tracking down a legendary animal and got its pelt, you'll want to make sure you cash in on the effort. Like your hat, you can also lose the pelts carried by your horse or by yourself. However, in the case of legendary pelts, you don't need to worry - the game has a failsafe that automatically teleports the pelt to a trapper so your effort isn't wasted. Rockstar focused on realism, but they knew that pissing off players isn't a good tactic.

Warning Shot

Red Dead Redemption 2 offers players multiple ways to deal with arising conflicts. Instead of fighting being your only recourse, you can try to negotiate or intimidate enemies. When it comes to the latter, giving off a warning shot might prove to be persuasive. To do this, hold down the LT/L2 button and then tap up on the D-Pad before you shoot. Note that if you fire in the vague direction of your opponents but miss on purpose, they'll assume you wanted to shoot them but you suck at aiming, so that won't count as a warning shot.

Quick Loot

As we stated in our beginners' guide, you should loot everything. Always. However, you probably have things to do and places to be, so to make the act of looting less tedious simply hold the Square/X button to auto-loot everything from a container instead of doing it one by one.

Aiming

In first-person view, tapping down on your D-Pad will aim down your weapon's sights. Doing so in third-person will have Arthur look through his weapon's scope, provided it has one.

Instant Map

Cut out the middleman when you need to look at your map. If you hold down the Options/Menu button instead of pressing it, you'll open the map immediately instead of having to navigate through the menu system.

Riding Melee

If you want to play polo with the heads of your enemies, you can always use melee attacks from horseback. Simply hold and release Circle/B to perform a melee attack while riding.

Dress Appropriately

If you don't want to waste precious fill from your health and stamina cores, dress according to the weather. Being underdressed in the freezing, snowy mountains or wearing a fur coat out in the sun is going to deplete your cores faster than usual.

Maintain Your Weapons

Weapons get dirty and degrade over time and with use. Buying a better holster will slow the process but won't eliminate it. Occasionally, take the time to clean and maintain your weapons to prevent debuffs from lowering damage or firing rate.

We'll update this list over time.

Other Useful Guides

• Fast-Travel Unlock & Use
• Dual-Wielding
• Map Unlock
• Trapper Locations
• Horse Autopilot
• Control Tweaks
• Cores Guide

The post Red Dead Redemption 2 Quick Tips & Tricks appeared first on RDR2.org.

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[Skysaw]

Whenever you see campfire smoke on the horizon, go check it out. 9 times out of 10, there’s something interesting over there.

[CorV]

Thanks all for your comments!

Now I'm already in chapter three, but still with one question. How to wash yourself ingame. I did already in hotel, it works. But on the internet alot are saying that you can do by swimming in the water. I did this but still all the flies are around me

And to get promenade hair (or how you ever type this), its only available in store/finding cards in the world?

[Poggy]

You can upgrade to get pomade in camp.  Or at barber. Or buy it.  Or find it.  It lasts a while.

You can swim in deep water for a while to get clean.  Or get a bath.  And change clothes prob helps too.

Make sure horse is clean with no old pelts too.

[Truth]

5 hours ago, CorV said:

I did this but still all the flies are around me

Seriously? I've taken ONE bath (in game) and I've never had flies around me...

I didn't know that was a thing lol

You can bathe at hotel btw.

Edit: Looks like @Poggy got here first

3 hours ago, Poggy said:

Make sure horse is clean with no old pelts too.

Do old pelts make a difference? I'm actually trying to see if there is a limit to how many pelts your horse can hold.

Edited November 12, 2018 by Truth

[Poggy]

Come to think of it, I'm not sure.  It might just be carcasses, which fall off hence rotten anyway

[Truth]

1 hour ago, Poggy said:

It might just be carcasses, which fall off hence rotten anyway

Carried a perfect pronghorn buck all the way across the map (can't fast travel with it either) for a camp upgrade and it finally dropped AS I GOT TO CAMP...

That's one way to learn...

I have noticed that my horse's ass will stay bloody from a pelt though. Well, I'm hoping it's from the pelts and not my ass...

[Limey77]

Took me until my second playthrough to realise that you can reverse carriages by holding L1 (the slow down button) and that if you put a scope on a repeater you can switch between the scope and iron sights by pressing down on the d-pad.

[Kormath]

One tip i wish i would have known before losing my horse.  Save it in the stable!  Save it by stabling it.  If it dies, gets stolen, etc. it will return to that stable where it can be bought for $0.00  Special horses like the DLC are returned to the Valentine stable.

Also if your horse does get stolen just whistle for it.  Takes a few times but it will eventually buck off the thief and return.  i'm just guessing it bucked him off, he rode over the top of the hill on the 2nd whistle and i couldn't see them, third whistle brought the horse running back.

Edited November 16, 2018 by Kormath

[Bonzai]

Gambler Challenge 10: 3 consecutive poker wins.

A. Have it ready at Chapter 4. Trewlaney will have a mission where you need to go on a boat. After the mission you will have 2 wins already, last one can be done in Flatneck. MOST of the time an All-in will make the NPCs fold.

B. Flatneck Station, win one, all-in the other 2 (this is how I got in the first playthrough)

[Limey77]

On 11/17/2018 at 4:48 PM, Bonzai said:

Gambler Challenge 10: 3 consecutive poker wins.

A. Have it ready at Chapter 4. Trewlaney will have a mission where you need to go on a boat. After the mission you will have 2 wins already, last one can be done in Flatneck. MOST of the time an All-in will make the NPCs fold.

B. Flatneck Station, win one, all-in the other 2 (this is how I got in the first playthrough)

Regarding plan B, this can work but it needs to be an all in bet pre flop as if you’re bluffing a pair of Aces. 

Plus this isn’t a guaranteed win, depends on rng. 

[Aman Red Cowboy]

On 10/28/2018 at 8:06 PM, NewsBot said:

Whenever we first hop into a new highly anticipated game, we let ourselves be swept up by the experience. Having waited so long, we bet most Red Dead Redemption 2 fans are eager to get acquainted with the game as quickly as possible. However, this is a game that doesn't do a lot of handholding, and some systems simply aren't explained. While you'll get the hang of these mechanics with time, there are a few things best known before or when you start playing.

Note: These tips are completely spoiler-free. We're only focusing on gameplay elements and mechanics you should know about from the start.

Take Your Time

First, let's tackle the mindset with which you go into the game with in the first place. Some games are really fast-paced and almost outright require you to rush to complete objectives as quickly a possible. Red Dead Redemption 2 is not such a game. Even more so than its predecessor and much more so than GTA, this game is to be savored like good wine not downed like a shot.

Many of the game's systems and mechanics encourage you to ease into a steady pace of play where you take your time to explore, to learn, to understand and to take in everything that is happening. However, if you end up trying to rush with progress, you'll end up souring the experience. While there never is 'one right way' to play any game, there are wrong ways, and in this case trying to fast-track your game sessions is definitely the second.

How to Upgrade Cores

Red Dead Redemption 2's core system is a tad complex, and isn't really explained in-game. In fact, this is something we dedicate a whole guide to in and of itself which goes into greater detail. Basically, your cores are Health, Stamina and Dead-Eye. These are three little circles above the mini-map and the filled outline represents the amount of each.

To upgrade these, which you will definitely want to do, you need to "use" them. It's a bit like real life, you need to use your muscles to strengthen them. With Dead-Eye and Stamina, this works easily. Just often perform stamina-consuming acts like sprinting and occasionally you'll get small Stamina upgrades. Same for Dead-Eye - just use it and it will be upgraded.

Health is a different matter, since "using" it doesn't work. You can't get shot by lawmen or get mauled by bears and end up healthier than before. Cores also passively drain over time adding a kind of survival mechanic, as these are separate from your actual bars. You need to eat occasionally to prevent your health core from draining completely. This is what you can use to upgrade them.

For a more comprehensive look at Cores, check out our guide (coming soon).

Always Loot

You can loot a lot of things in Red Dead Redemption 2. We suggest you do. Loot everyone, loot everything. If you adhere to this, you'll likely always have enough money, ammo and supplies throughout the game. Little dark crosses mark lootable items on your minimap, which become lighter and greyed out once looted. X marks the spot, and never ignore the X.

Check Your Log Often

Pressing left on your D-Pad will open your log, which tracks all of your non-mission activities. If you want to avoid grinding these activities later on, occasionally open your log to check what objective happen to be nearby. Completing them organically while on your way to other goals will make things more fun.

Refill Dead-Eye With Chewing Tobacco

Health and stamina regenerates on its own, but Dead-Eye does not. You need to pay attention to keeping it filled before encounters. Shooting enemies adds small amounts of fill, but the best and quickest way is by using chewing tobacco. It's a common loot item that goes into your consumables, so you should have pockets full of the stuff if you follow our looting tip.

Use Your Bandana

If you find yourself in the mood for a bit of premeditated criminal activity in Red Dead Redemption 2, make sure to wear a bandana. This doesn't have any negative effects, but it does hide your identity meaning what you do won't get bounty hunters sent after you.

Local lawmen will still chase you if you are caught in the act, however they won't know that Arthur Morgan did the dirty deed, thus keeping your notoriety from increasing.

Check out our other guides to learn more about how the game works.

The post Red Dead Redemption 2 Tips For Beginners appeared first on RDR2.org.

Read the full story

Thanks to you. Newsbot 

 

 

[tadp0le]

I don't understand why anyone would skip the opportunity to loot. If I could loot trees, I would! I like to collect as much as I can from everything. If I have no use for it, i can just turn around and sell it.