In the year 2024, Red Dead Online may not be at its peak anymore, but a steady stream of new players still find their way into the rugged open world. Without major new content updates, guidance becomes more important than ever. One of the first questions every new player asks is: What should I buy?

To help you cut through the guesswork, here’s a definitive list of the top 30 essential purchases that will truly enhance your experience in Red Dead Online—covering tools, weapons, roles, upgrades, and game-changing strategies for both PvE and PvP.

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30. Wilderness Fast Travel Pamphlet

Available from the Fence for just over $1,200 (plus $750 and 2 role tokens for the Wilderness Camp), this is an absolute must-have. You’ll need to reach Naturalist Rank 5 to unlock the Wilderness Camp. Despite the initial grind, the fast travel ability saves you countless hours—essential for serious grinders.

29. Ammo Pouch Upgrades

For $1,890, you can double your shotgun shell capacity from 60 to 120. Each upgrade only applies to regular ammo(not Express or High Velocity), but in PvP where ammo limits matter, it’s a worthy edge.

28. Dynamite Arrow Pamphlet

Unlocks at Level 93 and costs $895. If you’re tired of griefers or just want to spice things up with some mayhem, these are the Wild West equivalent of a rocket launcher.

27. Express Explosive Ammo

Available at Level 99, these rounds offer top-tier damage. Great for legendary animal hunts or protecting deliveries, they can sometimes one-shot enemies and are essential for high-level encounters.

26. Incendiary Shotgun Shells

Combining moonshine and regular shells, these are cheaper to craft than explosive slugs and excellent for causing panic in PvP. Use them to surprise opponents and buy time.

25. Explosive Slugs

Deadly but costly. If you can afford the animal fat needed, they provide devastating stopping power.

24. Special Horse Reviver Pamphlet

At $475, this one’s a lifesaver for your mount, literally. It also grants a gold health core for your horse for an entire in-game day.

23. Toxic Moonshine Pamphlet

Excellent for flushing out campers and gaining the upper hand in Showdown control points like King of the Castle. It also shows up in daily challenges—easy gold.

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Best Weapons to Buy

22. Lancaster Repeater

Well-rounded and reliable. Great damage, excellent fire rate, and accuracy make it a mainstay for most players.

21. Bolt Action Rifle

Ideal for PvE and mid-range engagements. Hits hard and shoots faster than the Springfield.

20. Carcano Rifle

Preferred over the Rolling Block for its magazine size and fire rate. Better DPS means faster enemy takedowns.

19. Pump Action Shotgun

Perfect for PvE due to higher capacity and tight spread. Clean, reliable, and forgiving.

18. Double Barrel Shotgun

Best in PvP with Painted Black. It hits harder than the pump and drops enemies fast.

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17. Trinkets from Gus

Consider these endgame luxuries. Prioritize them only after you’ve bought your weapons, rolls, and upgrades. Start with:

• Beaver Tooth Trinket
• Buck Antler Trinket

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Horses and Saddles

16. DLC Mustangs

Affordable tanks for new players. Costing $500, these horses offer maximum health and stamina with no level requirement.

15. Norfolk Roadster

Moonshiner-exclusive and available at Rank 20, it’s the fastest horse in the game with top-tier handling and speed.

14. Criollo (Collector Horse)

13. Breton (Bounty Hunter Horse)

12. Kladruber (Trader Horse)

11. Gypsy Cob (Naturalist Horse)

Each excels in stamina and health, making them perfect for role synergy.

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10–6: The Essential Roles

These roles serve as the game’s equivalent of GTA businesses:

10. Bounty Hunter

The only role that pays in both gold and cash—start here.

9. Collector

The best role for stress-free, high-cash grinding. Great for beginners.

8. Trader

Pairs beautifully with Naturalist. Turn animal materials into major profit.

7. Moonshiner

Unlocks from Trader. Offers passive income while you roam.

6. Naturalist

Often underrated, but essential to unlocking the Wilderness Camp and synergizing with Trader for legendary hunts.

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5. Camp Upgrades

Start investing in your living quarters:

• Stew Pot: Grants golden cores for an in-game day
• Deluxe Campfire
• Weapons Locker
• Large/Medium Delivery Wagons (for Trader)
• Better Tent: Start with full cores

If you’re solo and focusing on bounty hunting:

• Bounty Wagon: Allows multiple captures per mission.

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4. Role-Specific Upgrades

Enhance profitability across roles:

• Moonshiner: Polished copper still & condenser = higher moonshine value
• Collector: Metal Detector & Shovel = access to buried treasures

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3. Nakoda Saddle + Hooded Stirrups

The best saddle combo in the game. With maxed stats, this combo grants:

• Virtually infinite stamina
• Acceleration + speed boosts

Turns your horse into a 19th-century supercar.

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2. Ability Cards

The true heart of your combat effectiveness. Prioritize:

• Paint It Black (Dead Eye)
• Eye for an Eye
• Strange Medicine
• Cold Blooded

These cards enable self-sustain without needing constant tonic consumption.

Card Costs:

• Purchase: $50 each
• Tier 2 Upgrade: $350
• Tier 3 Upgrade: $500

Maxing all 33 cards costs $29,500, so plan accordingly.

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Final Thoughts

Red Dead Online may not offer the property empire of GTA Online, but your choice of what to buy dramatically shapes your gameplay. These 30 essentials aren’t just upgrades—they’re gateways to smoother grinding, more fun in Showdowns, and a much more rewarding experience in the open world.

Let us know in the comments—what purchase made the biggest difference for you? And if you found this helpful, don’t forget to subscribe for more Red Dead guides.

Stay sharp, ride fast, and we’ll see you on the frontier.