RDR2: 100% Completion Guide
Best in the West — Every Missable Event, Challenge, Hunt & Collectible — Updated June 2026
Overview
Red Dead Redemption 2's 100% completion is a monumental task requiring over 200 hours. What makes it treacherous are the missable events — story beats, item pickups, and stranger missions that become permanently unavailable after certain chapter transitions. This guide focuses on what you can't go back for. If you're starting a fresh playthrough in 2026 (perhaps ahead of the rumored next-gen update), this checklist keeps you on track for the Best in the West achievement without requiring a second playthrough.
Critical Missable Events Checklist
These must be completed before the end of Chapter 6, or they are permanently lost.
Chapter 2 — Horseshoe Overlook
Chapter 3 — Clemens Point
Chapter 4 — Saint Denis
Chapter 6 — Beaver Hollow
Challenges: Hardest Ones & Best Strategies
| Challenge | Hardest Tier | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Gambler | Gambler 8 — Win 3 hands of Blackjack with 3+ hits | Go to Rhodes saloon. Sit in the dealer's far-right seat. Hit on everything regardless of card value — you need lucky low cards. Takes 1-2 hours of grinding. |
| Gambler | Gambler 9 — Win 3 games of Dominoes in a row | Play Draw Dominoes at Emerald Station with 1 opponent. If you're about to lose, stand up and immediately rejoin — it doesn't break the streak. |
| Herbalist | Herbalist 9 — Pick all 43 plant species | Cannot be completed as Arthur unless you use the buggy method to enter New Austin. Otherwise, wait for the Epilogue as John. |
| Horseman | Horseman 9 — Van Horn to Blackwater in under 17 min without touching water | Use the white Arabian or Missouri Fox Trotter. Route: Van Horn → Butcher Creek → Emerald Ranch → Flatneck Station → Riggs Station → Owanjila → Blackwater. Pop a Potent Horse Stimulant if your horse gets tired. Do NOT cross any river. |
| Bandit | Bandit 6 — Sell 5 horses to the Horse Fence | Steal horses from the stable near Emerald Ranch at night. Ride to Clemens Cove Horse Fence. Repeat. Don't bother with wild horses — stabled horses are faster to deliver. |
| Master Hunter | Master Hunter 6 — Kill 5 cougars with a bow | Cougar spawn: northwest of Lake Owanjila (morning, near the trapper). Use Improved Arrows. Dead Eye to the head. If the cougar doesn't spawn, sleep 2 days and return. |
Rare Animal Hunting Map
| Animal | Best Location | Best Weapon | Perfect Pelt Trick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legendary Buck | Northwest of Strawberry (Big Valley) | Rolling Block Rifle | Always hunt this first — its trinket improves all future pelt quality. |
| Cougar | Northwest of Lake Owanjila (morning) | Improved Arrow / Rifle | Headshot with Dead Eye. Poison Arrow if you miss the head. |
| Moose (Bull) | Cairn Lake (bait: Herbivore Bait x3 at the north shore, walk away, turn around) | Rolling Block Rifle | Rarest spawn. Drop 3-6 Herbivore Baits, move to the southern shore, use binoculars. If no moose within 60 seconds, sleep and repeat. |
| Panther | Old Harry Fen (south of Braithwaite Manor, woods) | Improved Arrow / Rifle | Place Predator Bait near the rock at the forest edge. Climb onto the rock. Wait. Panther approaches from the south. Headshot when it pauses. |
| Robin | Fort Brennand (southwest of Van Horn) | Small Game Arrow | Robins perch on the fort's ramparts in the morning. Use Small Game Arrows and the Buck Trinket to guarantee a perfect carcass. |
Collectibles — The Final Push
After the main story and Epilogue, these collectibles remain for 100%:
- Dinosaur Bones (30): All accessible in the Epilogue. Send coordinates to Deborah MacGuiness. The New Austin bones are the hardest to find without a guide.
- Dreamcatchers (20): All in the main map region. The one on the tree near the 'N' in 'NEW HANOVER' on the map is the easiest to miss.
- Rock Carvings (10): Mail coordinates to Francis Sinclair. The carving on Mount Shann is the most commonly missed.
- Cigarette Cards (144): Don't find them naturally. Go to the Saint Denis general store, buy Premium Cigarettes from the shelf repeatedly, and discard them. Each pack gives 1 card. Costs ~$2,000 total but saves 30+ hours.
- Exotics (182 items): Algernon Wasp's quest in Saint Denis — the hardest collectible grind. Prioritize Spoonbill plumes and Lady of the Night orchids.
Frontier Gallery
Cougar hunting northwest of Lake Owanjila — best spawn point for Master Hunter 6.
Source: Rockstar Games / Red Dead Redemption 2
Saint Denis general store — buy Premium Cigarettes for all 144 cards.
Source: Rockstar Games / Red Dead Redemption 2
FAQ
Q: Can I get 100% as Arthur?
Not entirely. Herbalist 9 requires plants in New Austin, which is inaccessible as Arthur without glitches. Gambler, Bandit, and Master Hunter can all be completed as Arthur. Most players finish ~85% as Arthur and the remaining 15% as John in the Epilogue.
Q: What's the single hardest thing in 100% completion?
Gambler 8 (win 3 Blackjack hands with 3+ hits) is the most RNG-dependent — it can take hours of mindless button-pressing. The Exotics quest (182 items for Algernon Wasp) is the most time-consuming grind overall.
Q: Do I need Gold Medals on every mission?
No. Gold Medals are NOT required for 100% completion — they only matter for the "Gold Rush" achievement/trophy. 100% completion requires the checklist items in the Progress menu.
May I Stand Unshaken
The path to 100% takes most players 200-250 hours. The key is vigilance in Chapters 2-4: complete every white-stranger mission before advancing the main story, check camp for companion requests regularly, and always carry a Varmint Rifle and Bow with Small Game Arrows. Save the Gambler challenges for when you're in a patient, zen-like state. The Exotics quest and cigarette cards are the final marathon — the Saint Denis general store method saves you 30+ hours of hunting. When the "Best in the West" trophy pops, you'll have earned every frame of it. Good luck, partner.