Author: dpugh007

Among the new systems introduced in Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption 2 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are Cores, which reflect the state of Arthur’s abilities. These are represented via the circular meters located just above your mini-map on the HUD. If you want to perform at your best, you’ll need to pay attention to these Cores and the bars that encircle them.

If you’ve just started the game, chances are all of this Core and bar talk might be a bit confusing. After all, you’re only given a very brief explanation in-game on how it all works, and this comes while you might be paying attention to dialogue or other happenings. And the details in the menu offer only so much insight. To help you get a grasp of the Core system, we’ve detailed in this feature how it all works and other useful information to keep in mind.

If you’re looking for more guides, you’d be remiss not to check out our feature highlighting all the tips you should know before playing. Though, we also have guides on more specific subjects, like gun customization and money making. Be sure to read our Red Dead 2 review if you haven’t already. If you’re having trouble dealing with all this, you can turn on the cheat code that instantly refills your Cores and bars. But we all know that’s no fun, so read on to the details below!

What Are Cores And Bars?

As stated, Cores are the circular meters located just above the mini-map. You have three Cores in total: Health, Stamina, and Dead Eye. In addition, there are Cores for your horse’s Health and Stamina. The symbol at the center of the circle represents the Core, while the ring meter that surrounds it is known as a bar.

While the state of your bars are more important in the moment, it’s your Cores that ultimately affect your long-term performance. This is because how well you do depends on the state of your corresponding Core. For example, the Health Core dictates how quickly the Health bar regenerates, and likewise for Stamina. If your Health bar is low but the corresponding Health Core has been maintained well, the rate at which you generate Health will be increased.

How Do I Refill My Cores?

To ensure your Cores are in tiptop shape, you’ll need to keep yourself well fed, well-rested, and comfortably dressed in the climate you’re in. Of course, you can always resort to items if you’re ever in a pinch and can’t seek out food or rest; Provisions instantly refill your Cores and Tonics will instantly refill your bars. Be mindful of which you choose to take, as while Tonics are good in the moment in the midst of a firefight, they’re more short-term life-savers than the long-term benefit of using a Provision.

What Does It Mean To Fortify A Bar?

As you take Tonics, you’ll notice that some fortify specific bars; these are represented as yellow items in your satchel. If you take this type of Tonic, the affected bar will fill up completely and won’t drain for a few moments. How long a bar remains fortified depends on the quality of the Tonic. It’s also worth noting that some Tonics can negatively impact your Cores, so make sure to pay attention to their descriptions before you take them–lest you want to find yourself made weaker during a firefight or intense hunt.

Bars Level Up Over Time

The state of your Cores affects the regeneration of your Health, Stamina, and Dead Eye, but the more you play the game, the more powerful your bars will become. Sprinting, for example, increases your Stamina bar, while taking damage and then restoring Health will build your Health bar. If you properly maintain yourself, all of your abilities will naturally improve over time.

Horse Cores And Bars

Horse Cores are represented by the Health and Stamina Cores with horseshoes in the center of them that appear when you’re on your horse. While mostly identical to how your own Cores work, where they differ is how you maintain and increase them. Instead of overall maintenance of the horse’s physical and dietary needs, you develop its Cores and bars by forming a stronger bond with them. Foods and Tonics can be used to help the general effort, but it’s more through riding your horse, praising it, and grooming it will ultimately improve a horse’s Health and Stamina.

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Red Dead Redemption 2 doesn’t make a lot of its mechanics known to the player. There are systems buried deep within that you’d be hard-pressed to come in contact with if you’re mainlining the game’s major story and side missions. Among these mechanics are special Perks that offer improvements to Arthur’s overall abilities.

We know what you’re thinking, though: “Perks? You mean like Perks you unlock from an RPG-like progression tree?” Yes, and no. Red Dead Redemption 2 does in fact offer these sorts of Perks, but they’re unlocked by obtaining special items known as Talismans and Trinkets, and not from any special in-game progression screen.

Talismans and Trinkets are primarily crafted at Fences–special black market shops that sell all manner of useful items you can’t get at any ol’ General Shop. You’ll need parts from Legendary Animals to craft them. Others are rewarded to you by completing specific missions under special conditions. While Talismans and Trinkets are technically items, know that you don’t need to equip them in order for them to be active. Once you acquire one, it’ll affect Arthur’s abilities permanently, and they can even be equipped as a cosmetic item.

Below we run down all of the Talismans we’ve found so far, what they do, and what you need to unlock them. Any Talismans or Trinkets that have crafting components marked with a “*” are special items that require you to complete specific missions or challenges; a table can be found further below that details their locations.

If you’re looking for more guides, you’d be remiss not to check out our feature highlighting all the tips you should know before playing. Though, we also have guides on more specific subjects, like cheat codes, gun customization and money making. Be sure to read our Red Dead 2 review if you haven’t already.

General

The General category has the most Perks affecting a variety of attributes, like weapon degradation, Eagle Eye duration, alcohol resistance, and much more. There are 10 General Perks in total–not including the Eagle Talon Talisman Perk you get from the Special/Ultimate Edition.

Name	Perk Effect	How To Get
Beaver Tooth Trinket	Slows weapons degradation by 10%	Crafted at Fences with Legendary Beaver Tooth
Buck Antler Trinket	Increases chances of higher-quality parts from skinning animals	Crafted at Fences using the Legendary Buck Antler
Elk Antler Trinket	Increases the money you get from looting by 10%	Crafted at Fences using the Legendary Elk Antler
Fox Claw Trinket	Increases Eagle Eye duration by five seconds	Crafted at Fences using the Legendary Fox Claw
Pronghorn Horn Trinket	Stops animals stored on your horse from decomposing	Crafted at Fences using the Legendary Pronghorn Horn
Ram Horn Trinket	Doubles the amount of herbs you get from picking oregano, creeping thyme, and wild mint	Crafted at Fences using the Legendary Ram Horn
Wolf Heart Trinket	Doubles resistance to alcohol	Crafted at Fences with Legendary Wolf Heart
Owl Feather Trinket	Reduces speed of Health, Stamina, and Dead Eye Core drain by 15%	Reward for completing “Archeology for Beginners” without killing a single person
Boar Tusk Talisman	Decreases Core drain speed of your horse’s Health and Stamina by 10%	Crafted at Fences using, Cobalt Petrified Wood*, Gold Earring, Legendary Boar Tusk
Raven Claw Talisman	Slows weapon degradation by 20%	Crafted at Fences with Old Brass Compass*
Eagle Talon Talisman	Increases Eagle Eye duration by five seconds	Available as a bonus for Special/Ultimate Edition owners only

Health

Not including the Iguana Scale Trinket Perk you get from the Special/Ultimate Edition, there are five Health Perks to collect. Each affects your Health in different ways. While some help your Health Core and bar drain speed, others are more specific in decreasing the type of damage you receive.

Name	Perk Effect	How To Get
Tatanka Bison Horn Trinket	Decreases melee damage received by 10%	Crafted at Fences using Legendary Tatanka Bison Horn
Moose Antler Trinket	Increases your health XP gain by 10%	Crafted at Fences with Legendary Moose Antler
Iguana Scale Trinket	Reduces the damage received while on horseback by 10%	Available as a bonus for Special/Ultimate Edition owners only
Bear Claw Talisman	Decreases the drain speed of your Health Core by 10%	Crafted at Fences using Silver Chain Bracelet, Quartz Chunk*, Legendary Bear Claw

Stamina

There are five Stamina Perks in total–of which we’ve gathered three thus far. As you’d expect, most of them affect your Stamina gains and drains.

Name	Perk Effect	How To Get
Cougar’s Paw Trinket	Increases Stamina XP gain by 10%	Crafted at Fences with Legendary Cougar’s Paw
Lion’s Paw Trinket	Increases Stamina XP gain by 10%	Crafted at Fences with Lion’s Paw*
Bison Horn Talisman	Decreases the drain speed of your Stamina Core by 10%	Crafted at Fences using Abalone Shell Fragment*, Silver Earring, and Legendary Bison Horn

Dead Eye

There are five Dead Eye Perks in total. Below you can find the three we’ve discovered so far, which focus on decreasing the speed of Dead Eye Core and bar drain, as well as increase the gain speed of Dead Eye XP.

Name	Perk Effect	How To Get
Coyote Fang Trinket	Increases Dead Eye XP gain by 10%	Crafted at Fences with Legendary Coyote Fang
Panther’s Eye Trinket	Decreases drain speed of Dead Eye bar by 10% for three seconds	Crafted at Fences with Legendary Panther’s Eye
Alligator Tooth Talisman	Decreases the drain speed of Dead Eye Core by 10%	Crafted at Fences using Vintage Civil War Handcuffs*, Gold Jointed Bracelet, and Legendary Alligator Tooth

Special Crafting Materials

As stated, some Talismans and Trinkets require special crafting components you can only get from certain instances in the story or by completing challenges. Below you can find a rundown of where these special components are found.

Crafting Item	Talisman/Trinket Recipe	How To Get
Cobalt Petrified Wood	Boar Tusk Talisman	Located in a chest under a rock overhang northwest of Lake Isabella
Old Brass Compass	Raven Claw Talisman	Located in Francis Sinclair’s cabin after mailing all 10 rock carvings in the “Geology for Beginners” mission
Quartz Chunk	Bear Claw Talisman	Recieved by mailing in the first dinosaur bone location in the “Test of Faith” mission
Lion’s Paw	Lion’s Paw Trinket	Taken from the lion during the Stranger Mission: “He’s British, of Course IV”
Vintage Civil War Handcuffs	Alligator Tooth Talisman	Mail in a set of Cigarette Cards

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In Red Dead Redemption 2, you’re going to be spending a lot of time riding your horse. There’s nothing but land, and lots of it, in Rockstar’s latest open-world so journeying on horseback is a reality you’re going to have to accept during the game’s opening hours. Fortunately for you, there are ways to expedite your travels.

There’s a fast travel system hidden in Red Dead Redemption 2. Better yet, there’s a couple ways you can go about doing it. Below we highlight the two main methods, but before you seek them out, we do highly recommend making horse riding your primary means of travel. After all, it’s your time spent out in the world where you can better discover all the game has to offer, as well as author your own unique adventures.

If you’re looking for more guides, you’d be remiss not to check out our feature highlighting all the tips you should know before playing. Though, we also have guides on more specific subjects, like gun customization and money making. Be sure to read our Red Dead 2 review if you haven’t already. Otherwise, read on!

Method 1: Stagecoaches And Trains

It makes sense that transportation technology of the day would be a form of fast travel in the game. Both stagecoaches and trains can get you places you want to go quickly. However, you’ll have to pay a small fee to use them, and they require you to physically travel to them first–you can’t just warp around by picking an icon on your map.

Stagecoaches appear on the map as an icon that resembles a wooden sign pointing in two different directions. Labeled as “Taxi Coach” in the game, you can use these to take a stagecoach to locations you’ve previously visited. The fee increases based on the distance travelled, so make sure you’ve got enough on you to cover the charge.

If you’re looking to ride a train, you’ll to need to purchase a ticket. These are sold at post offices in town, which are icons on the map with an envelope on them. Trains will take you to previously visited towns that have stations with train tracks running by them.

Method 2: Camp Fast Travel

It’s possible to fast travel from your camp after unlocking the upgrade, “Next in Line.” You can find the camp upgrades page by approaching the donation box at your camp. The fast travel upgrade is the second option in the list and costs about $325, so make sure you’ve saved up enough and find this upgrade worthwhile in general as you may want to refocus your funds on more fruitful endeavors.

Once you’ve unlocked the upgrade, you’ll find a map on the back of the stagecoach next to Arthur’s bed. You can use it to travel to a variety of locations, which includes certain towns and other significant locations in the game. Be wary, your camp fast travel only works one way, so if you use it to go to a town on the other side of the map, you’ll need to either ride your horse, hire a stagecoach, or take a train to get back.

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If you’re going to survive in Red Dead Redemption 2‘s world, you’re going to need cash. Previously we’ve highlighted several ways to earn money relatively quickly by working many of the game’s core systems and mechanics, but there exists a secret method that can give a significant bump to your wallet without much effort.

The method in question is none other than the Poisonous Trail treasure map side mission, which by its end rewards you with four gold bars that equate to about $2,000 when sold. As you explore, you’ll often find treasure maps that lead you to all manner of valuable items, but none are as lucrative as the Poisonous Trail maps, which you can complete early on. Of course, if you’re more into cheating the system, you can try out this newly discovered glitch that can net you 30 gold bars. But we all know that’s nowhere near as fun!

Below are directions leading you to all the treasure maps in the Poisonous Trail side mission. We’ve also included screenshots to aid you in your journey. It’s worth noting that you cannot simply head to the final location to cash in on the gold. You need to find every single treasure map first before the gold appears in its associated location.

If this guide was helpful to you, be sure to check out our features highlighting all the tips you should know before playing and things the game doesn’t tell you. We also have guides on more specific subjects, like top horse breeds and fishing. Though, if you want to have some extra fun instead, be sure to read our feature detailing the game’s cheat codes.

Treasure Map 1: Cairn Lake Cabin

The first map is found at Cairn Lake, which is located north of Valentine up in the mountains. It’s snowy up there, so make sure to bring a thick jacket with you before heading up that direction. If you’ve triggered “The Noblest of Men, and a Woman” Stranger mission, you’ll notice that this is the exact location of legendary gunslinger Flaco Hernandez.

Once you make it to Cairn Lake, you should find a small abandoned cabin–the one that Hernandez is staying in. Approach the bed to the right and uncover the lock box underneath it, which holds the first treasure map along some extra valuables.

Treasure Map 2: Face Rock and an Unassuming Tree Trunk

The first treasure map is attempting to clue you in on a location with a rock that seemingly resembles a face. If you haven’t spent much time exploring, this natural formation may seem a mystery to you. Fortunately, we know exactly where it is. Simply proceed down to the Lemoyne region, which is located just South of New Hanover. You can find the rock just north of the “E” in “Scarlett” on the map; check the screenshot in the gallery above for visual clarification.

You’ll spot Face Rock on a hill. To find the map, go past the tree directly next to Face Rock. You’ll want to run further back to the hill’s rear where there’s a thin tree trunk right beside a fallen tree. The map is located in this thin tree trunk.

Final Treasure Map: The Mysterious Snake Mound

The second treasure map has you searching for a snake-like land formation. Yet again, an oddity that you’re likely to have missed if you haven’t spent significant time taking note of every curiosity out in the world. This bizarre mound is located southeast of Van Horn, a reasonable distance south of the “R” in “New Hanover” on the map.

As the treasure map indicates, you’re going to want to search for a pile of rocks near the snake-like mound. It’s pretty easy to spot as it’s literally just a clumped-up pile of rocks with a hole at the center. Search the hole to find the final treasure map. Onward to the treasure!

The Treasure: Gold! Gold! Gold!

The final treasure map points to a waterfall and what appears to be a pathway in a cave. You’ll find this waterfall at the Elysian Pond, which is located directly northeast of the “E” in “Hanover” on the map. When you arrive, walk through the waterfall to discover the entrance of a hidden cave.

It’s dark in the cave, so bust out your lantern. Proceed through the cave until you find a section in the path where you can drop down. When you land, proceed through the crawl space on the right, which will lead you to the fork in the road pictured on the map. Take the right path, but before you do hug right to find a makeshift camp with a lockbox containing a Large Jewelry Bag.

Continue the path forward until you reach what appears to be a pit into certain doom. Instead of falling to your death, proceed left until you reach another edge. If you look closely, your lantern will illuminate some solid ground below that you can land on. But take a few steps back; you’re going to want a running start in order to make this jump. If you’re acrobatics are sufficient, head down the slope to the left. You’ll slip down into some water; once you gain your balance, look to your left for a rock platform to climb up. Search this area and you’ll be rewarded with four bars of gold.

If this is the first time you’ve obtained gold, know that you can sell them at Fences for direct profit. Though, if you’re feeling particularly generous, it’s possible to donate it directly to your camp.

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