Category: Gamespot

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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As you explore Red Dead Redemption 2‘s vast open world, you’ll come across a lot of interesting (and slightly disturbing) things. Sometimes it’s a wailing snake-bite victim in need of assistance; other times, it’s a creepy abandoned building with a story to tell. But there’s one set of chance encounters more gruesome than the rest, and once you find the first, you’ll be on the lookout for a very messed-up serial killer.

You’ll likely find the first murder scene early in the game. While the other two murder victims are a bit of a ride from the opening areas, you can find them at any time as long as you can freely roam the map. For this guide, we’ve kept location spoilers to a minimum, and all the screenshots are from an early save with little unlocked–so no worries if you want to play detective for a bit before you really dig into the rest of the game. Of course, this does contain spoilers for the American Dreams Stranger Mission.

For more guides, check out our features highlighting all the tips you should know before playing and things the game doesn’t tell you. We also have specific guides on things like money making and gun customization to help you be the best outlaw out there. Be sure to read our Red Dead 2 review if you haven’t already, and if you want to have some extra fun, be sure to read our feature detailing the game’s cheat codes.

Step 1: Completing the Map

There are three murder scenes to be found, with a piece of a map hidden at each. In order to initiate the Stranger Mission itself, you first have to put the map back together. In general, you’re looking for an area that sticks out in some way–maybe you see blood stains on the road or vultures in the distance. You can also zoom in on the map when you get close, since an X marking the corpse will appear and show you the way.

Murder 1: South of Valentine

The first murder scene is just outside of Valentine. Follow the railroad tracks going south out of town; you’ll have to ride directly on the tracks at one point to get over a gap, and then you’ll find the body under the next overpass. The “front” of the scene faces west. You’ll find creepy words written in paint on the right, and to the left, the victim’s severed head is stuck to a support beam. In its mouth is the first of three map pieces.

Murder 2: West of Shady Belle

The second crime scene can be found in the Scarlett Meadows region, which is a decent ride southeast of Valentine. It’s just west of Shady Belle or a bit south of Rhodes, depending on your angle of approach. It’s easiest to spot coming from Shady Belle; take the road west, go straight at the first fork, and keep going straight for a bit until you reach a second major fork. Turn right here, then go straight until you reach another fork in the road. The corpse will be strung up in a large tree to your left; on your map, it will be right around where the “S” in “meadows” is. Go around the back of the tree to find the severed head and map piece.

Murder 3: Southwest of Wallace Station

The final murder victim can be found strapped to a large rock just southwest of Wallace Station in the West Elizabeth region (it’s west and a bit south of Valentine, across the river). Cross the stream and you’ll see the rock up the hill, likely with vultures perched on top of it. The head and final map piece are on a smaller rock to the left.

Step 2: Locating the Killer

Once complete, the map will give you vague instructions on where to go and what to do when you get there. It shows a bridge with arrows leading into a forest, a dilapidated log cabin, and a code for a combination lock: 6-34-32. As any true crime fan knows, murderers usually kill in areas they know and perhaps live in, which is as good a place to start as any. (If you’d rather solve the mystery yourself from here on out, don’t keep reading!)

As it turns out, it ends where it all began: Valentine, or technically southwest of Valentine at a place called Lucky’s Cabin. If you’re coming straight from the Wallace Station murder scene, cross the river and follow the main road northeast–this is the direction shown on the map, and you’ll turn left just after you cross the bridge to reach the cabin. If you’re instead coming from Valentine, just follow the road out of town to the west.

With the pieced-together map, you’ll be able to open the basement doors and see the horrors within. A white ? icon indicating a Stranger Mission should appear on the map around the cabin–if not, you might have an active mission you need to complete first. After taking a good look around the killer’s hideout (use your lantern if you really want to see every grisly detail), head to the back and inspect the knife. This will trigger a cutscene, so all you need to do is follow the prompts.

Once you’ve hogtied and delivered the killer to the Sheriff’s office in Valentine, he’ll attack the Sheriff. Use Dead Eye to kill him and save the Sheriff for a reward, which will complete the American Dreams Stranger Mission. Hopefully Arthur isn’t too creeped out.

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Compared to its predecessor, horses play a much bigger role in Red Dead Redemption 2 than you might think. So much so that it can be overwhelming if you haven’t been paying close attention to the tutorial messages. Horses have been made to feel like living, breathing creatures this time around, and as such, you need to commit to taking care of them and being cautious of their temperament.

To help you wrap your head around Red Dead Redemption 2’s horses, we detail below and in the video above everything you need to know to properly care for your steed. If you’re more of an experienced rider and want to know what are the best horses out there, we’ve gathered that information in our best horses guide.

For more guides like this, be sure to check out our guides roundup containing features highlighting all the tips you should know before playing and things the game doesn’t tell you. And if you want to have some extra fun, be sure to read our feature detailing the game’s cheat codes. Though, if you’re a curious outsider looking in and want to know whether or not this game for you, then read our Red Dead 2 review if you haven’t already.

How To Ride Your Horse And Maintain Its Cores

Horse controls are relatively simple. Tap the X or A button repeatedly to speed up and R1 or RB to slow down. You can double tap and hold X or A to match a companion’s speed, and if you tap X or A in rhythm with your horse’s gallop you will conserve stamina.

As you ride your horse, you’ll want to keep an eye on its Cores. Like Arthur’s Cores, the heart is your horse’s Health Core and the lightning bolt is its Stamina Core–they’ve just got fancy little horseshoes in them. The symbol at the center of the circle represents the Core, while the ring meter that surrounds it is known as a bar.

The more you push your horse, the quicker the Stamina bar will deplete. And if you don’t feed your horse every now and then, its Cores will drain and it won’t have as much Stamina or Health in its associated bars. It will also look sad and run with its head down, so try to stock up on horse foods and revival items from the General Store to keep your horse well.

Your horse will get dirty over time as you ride it. If this happens, its meters will drain 25% quicker. You can clean it with your brush or by riding it through water. The former is acquired after completing the story mission, “Exit Pursued by a Bruised Ego.” It’s also worth noting that your horse’s cores will refill when you sleep.

There are ways to notice when something is awry with your horse. A flashing red exclamation point in the Stamina Core indicates your horse is scared/stressed (you need to press L3 to calm it) while a flashing red brush in the health core means your horse is dirty.

Leveling Your Horse

While mostly identical to how Arthur’s Cores work, where horse Cores differ is how you increase their level. Instead of leveling them up by moving and withstanding damage, you develop your horse’s Cores and bars by forming a stronger bond with them. As you ride, feed, and clean your horse, your bond will strengthen. And as that bond grows, your horse’s Health and Stamina bars will increase.

Your horse will even learn advanced maneuvers. At level 2, you can rear your horse back by pressing R1 or RB with square or X. There isn’t really a use for this other than to look threatening from time to time–that or to just feel like a cool cowboy from an old western film. At level 3 you learn how to skid. While sprinting, press R1 or RB and you can either bring your horse to a halt or change directions at a moment’s notice. Finally at level 4 you learn how to drift and piaffe, which is a fancy word for strafe. As your bond increases your horse will also respond to your call from greater and greater distances, and its stats, including speed, will get a slight bump. If you wanna see how close you are to the next level, you can check the player menu when you the press the pause button.

You can expedite bonding by feeding your horse treats. And the stronger your bond is with a horse, the longer it will take to bleed out if it gets knocked down. It takes 60 minutes real time for a level 4 horse to die, so that gives you plenty of time to get to town and purchase a horse reviver from the General Store.

Horse Stables And Upgrading Your Horse’s Stats

If you wanna get the most out of your level 4 horse, you’ll want to stop at a stable and upgrade its saddle. Most items for sale are cosmetics, but there are a few things that can improve your horse’s stats, like the stirrups and the saddles.

But WAIT, you say! I can’t seem to enter the stable, and I can’t find a stupid brush to clean my horse. Well that probably means you’re screwing around too much and not doing any story missions. Once you complete “Exit Pursued by a Bruised Ego,” you will have access to stables across the map and your horse brush.

While at the stables, you can also rename, sell, and buy horses. You can sell both stolen horses and horses you’ve acquired legally. Stolen horses won’t fetch as good a price at stables, but at a certain point in the story you will meet some characters willing to purchase stolen horses for a better profit. Level 4 horses will also fetch a higher price, so if you plan on flipping a horse, so we recommend leveling it up first.

Breaking Horses

If you are looking to buy a horse, the first thing you’ll probably notice is that good horses ain’t cheap. As attached as you’ll become with your first, Tennessee Walker, he’s not exactly the powerhouse you’ll want by your side throughout the entire game. And if the best horses are too expensive, that means you’ll have to find some out in the wild and break ’em yourself. Lucky for you, one of the best horses in the game can be acquired for free at the beginning of chapter 2 and onward. But before we get to that, let’s learn how to break a horse.

As you explore the world, you’ll find wild horses everywhere. Big horses, little horses, painted horses, black horses, and so on. There are a dozen different breeds roaming the frontier, all with unique stats and attributes. If you see a horse you’re interested in, first take out your binoculars. Once you study the horse you will be given a prompt to “show info.” Hit that, and you can check out the horses stats and its breed details.

There are two ways to go about breaking a horse. You can chase it down, lasso it, and hop on its back, or you can approach it slowly, calming it if it gets spooked. Once you get close enough, you can hop on its back. While you might be inclined to take on the first method, it’s much easier to break a horse if you approach it slowly. Once you’re on its back, pull back the left stick and subtly tilt the right stick to balance while calming it with square or X. If it bucks you, chase it down. When it calms down a bit, you can repeat the process.

How To Find One Of The Best Horses Early: The White-Maned Arabian

Once you feel comfortable breaking horses, pack up a thick jacket and head up to the Grizzlies to find the White-Maned Arabian. This snow-white beauty wanders around Lake Isabella and can be found early on. It’s quite difficult to tame, so you’re going to need to be persistent in following it around and calming it down enough before you can approach it. If it bucks you and escapes, well, it’s gonna be a while before another one respawns.

Once you do break it, put your saddle on it and take it to the nearest stable. Technically the horse will be yours once you put the saddle on, but take it back to a stable just in case–you can never be too careful!

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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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