Red Dead Redemption 2 Online: Tips & Tricks To Rule The Plains
Red Dead Online is pretty hard. Turns out, enemies don't just stand still and wait to get riddled with bullets when there's an actual person in control of them. They're far more likely to lob a tomahawk face and push your horse off a cliff. The more you know.
But it gets a whole lot easier – especially with the help of these simple tips and tricks. Pay close attention...
Whistle while you work
There’s only so many times you can get shot through the temple by roaming teenagers before it gets tiresome. Obviously it isn’t Rockstar’s fault that people are the worst version of themselves online, but it can make for a repetitive experience in the Red Dead world.
Still, there’s hope. One Reddit user has started a campaign to help you to identify the good guys as they approach – and while it’s ripe for misuse, it’s been upvoted over 20,000 times on the /r/reddeadredemption subreddit and could be the way forward.
The idea is to whistle when you approach another player, as a way of signalling that you’re not going to lodge a bullet between their ears for shits and giggles. As we said: it’s a flawed plan. But we’re more than happy to throw our support behind it, and so should you.
Make money the hard way
The biggest criticisms of the online beta have been aimed at the game’s economy, in which selling a gold ring barely affords you a tin of beans and hard-fought missions pay only a pittance. While Rockstar has promised to address the issue, it goes without saying that the system will still look to drive micro-transactions.
So hard graft is the way forward, for now and forever. Hunting (with an arrow) and selling pelts will get you some pocket change, but joining friends in story missions are the way to go if you’re impatient (the last mission currently available pays between $100 – $250). Treasure maps will rake you in up to $100 too, and always remember to loot every man and camp in sight.
It’s always worth keeping an idea on Reddit and YouTube for any glitches and tricks that get uncovered by game-breaking players (before Rockstar catches wind and patches them up).
Form a posse
Those story missions will go a lot smoother with a posse in tow. Press left on the D-pad to find the option, and invite friends and strangers to join your crusade. Chances are you’re being invited too, which you can accept by pressing left on the D-pad and checking the invites tab.
Really spend time on your character
You won’t get a chance to change it later on, or at least you can’t in the beta. It’s understandable that players would half-arse their character’s looks in a hurry to play the game (especially as many of the cosmetic changes you can make are basically imperceptible), but we recommend putting the work in so you have no regrets.
Don’t lose all your hunted goods
It’s always tempting to use the fast travel option instead of galloping across vast plains Red Dead 2, but be warned: warping to another area of the map will make all of your hunted good disappear. To fast travel in the first place, look out for posts along the side of the road and pay between $4 and $11. You can even buy your own once you reach rank 65.
Develop a taste for alligator
An article by Polygon pointed out last week that alligators living in the swamps of Saint Denis are the ultimate target for hungry cowboys. Not only are they made up of hearty, precious big game meat, but they’re easily killed and plentiful. An improved arrow to the head will kill a gator in one, providing five units of game meat. Cook up your alligator steaks and take them on your journey – you won’t regret it.
Stop looking for a trapper
They haven’t made the journey online, meaning you have to sell your pelts to butchers instead. That means, of course, that crafting didn’t make the switch either.
Get ready to die. A lot
The relative ease of the main story mode has lulled you into a false sense of security. You are nowhere near as good as you think you are, and the fine people of Red Dead Redemption online will let you know almost immediately. Practise and perfect your head-shots, because they'll become vital online.
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