At the very start of Chapter 2, you can already build an extremely strong Red Dead Redemption 2 setup without mods or glitches. This route focuses on early weapons, Gold Bars, Dead Eye upgrades, dual-wielding, and eventually the White Arabian once the required story progression unlocks the Stables.

By following the full route, the source aims to give Arthur:

• Two strong Revolvers
• Semi-Auto Shotgun
• Lancaster Repeater
• Secondary Holster
• More than $3,000
• Several Valerian Roots
• White Arabian
• Early weapon upgrades

1. Kill and Skin Two Deer

Leave camp and head toward the river.

Kill:

2 Deer

Then skin them.

The quality of the Deer does not matter for this step.

Completing this unlocks:

Master Hunter Rank 1

which in turn unlocks a:

Secondary Holster

at the Trapper.

That lets Arthur carry:

2 sidearms at the same time

very early.

2. Get the Limpany Gold Bar

Travel southeast to the burned town of:

Limpany

Head into the ruined:

Sheriff’s Office

Look underneath the desk for a Lockbox.

Inside is:

1 Gold Bar

worth:

$500

Keep it until you’re able to sell valuables at a Fence.

3. Pick Up the Valerian Root in Limpany

While you’re already in Limpany, collect the:

Valerian Root

The source uses Valerian Root to improve:

Dead Eye progression

Higher Dead Eye lets you remain in Dead Eye longer and improves the ability as it levels up.

4. Get the Semi-Auto Shotgun at Watson’s Cabin

From Limpany, travel toward:

Wallace Station

From there, continue up the road toward:

Watson’s Cabin

The weapon is located in the:

Cellar

of the house.

Go downstairs and find the box on the shelf.

Open it to collect the:

Semi-Auto Shotgun

Clean the Shotgun

If you have:

Gun Oil

clean the weapon before using it.

The source strongly recommends pairing it with:

Slug ammunition

and upgrading it fully later.

5. Visit Window Rock

Return toward Wallace Station and follow the train tracks north toward:

Window Rock

This stop isn’t required for an immediate reward, but it shows you an important:

Cave drawing

Arthur can record it in his Journal.

The drawing is actually a clue for a puzzle you’ll solve later.

Completing that puzzle ultimately leads to:

3 Gold Bars

worth:

$1,500

6. Head Toward Cotorra Springs

From Window Rock, travel toward:

Cotorra Springs

The source directs you toward a fallen train located below a bridge.

This area contains:

• 2 Gold Bars
• Valerian Root

7. Reach the Fallen Train

Look down from the bridge and find the:

Fallen train

You need to climb down from the tracks into the ravine.

Move between the train cars until you find the overturned car where the Gold Bars are stored.

Be Careful During the Climb

The route requires climbing through a narrow opening in the rocks.

You’ll then need to:

1. Climb upward.
2. Jump to another ledge.
3. Drop toward the overturned train car.
4. Enter the car.

The source warns that:

A fall from this height can kill Arthur instantly

so take the climb slowly.

8. Collect Two Gold Bars and Another Valerian Root

Inside the overturned train car, collect:

• 2 Gold Bars
• Valerian Root

At this stage, you should already have a large amount of money waiting to be sold later.

9. Travel to Bacchus Station

From Cotorra Springs, follow the tracks toward:

Bacchus Station

If it becomes nighttime, the source recommends setting up Camp and sleeping until morning.

You’ll want daylight for the next step.

10. Find the Strange Statues Cave

From Bacchus Station, travel to the location described in the source as:

Under the “I” in Ambarino

Look for:

3 rock formations

Behind the smaller formation is a:

Cave

Enter it and continue until you reach a formation of statues.

11. Solve the Strange Statues Puzzle

The Window Rock cave drawing provides the clue.

Each statue represents a number based on:

How many fingers it is holding up

The statue with the missing arm is actually associated with:

3 fingers

The goal is to press the buttons on the correct statues.

You do not need to press them in a particular order.

Resetting the Puzzle

If you press the wrong statue:

1. Walk behind it.
2. Press the rear button.
3. Reset that statue.

Continue until you hear the sound indicating the puzzle has been solved.

12. Collect Three More Gold Bars

Once solved, a secret compartment opens in the:

Center statue

Inside are:

3 Gold Bars

The source states that by this point you should have:

6 Gold Bars total

worth:

$3,000

in Story Mode.

13. Return to Valentine

Travel all the way back to:

Valentine

Go behind the:

Doctor’s Office

Look for the covered window near the Pig Pen.

Part of the covering is torn, allowing Arthur to:

Peek inside

This reveals the illegal backroom business.

Inside the room is a small box containing:

Schofield Revolver

The source recommends discovering the activity now but waiting to actually rob the Doctor until later because it causes a large gunfight and Wanted Level.

14. Take the Train to Rhodes

Go to the Post Office and buy a train ticket to:

Rhodes

The next target is the:

Lancaster Repeater

15. Discover the Rhodes Gunsmith Basement

Go to the:

Rhodes Gunsmith

On the left side of the shop is a:

Small basement window

Interact with it to begin the encounter.

Then enter the Gunsmith and force the owner to open the basement.

16. Get the Lancaster Repeater

Once inside the basement, find the box sitting on the:

Table

Open it to obtain the:

Lancaster Repeater

The source recommends later upgrading it with:

A scope

so it can be used effectively at longer ranges.

17. Sell the Gold Bars at the Rhodes Fence

Rhodes has a:

Fence

This is where you can sell valuables that ordinary shops won’t buy.

Examples include:

• Gold Bars
• Silver
• Bracelets
• Watches
• Rings

Sell your Gold Bars here.

Stock Up on Dynamite

The source also recommends purchasing:

Dynamite

because it costs:

$1 each

in the route described.

Fill your inventory because Dynamite becomes useful later.

RDR2 Early Game Guide: The Best Way to Start Every Playthrough

18. Collect Another Valerian Root

This step is optional.

From Rhodes, follow the tracks north until you reach an:

Old mine

The source says another:

Valerian Root

can be found there.

Climb onto the roof and enter through the:

Window

to collect it.

This is the final Valerian Root included in the walkthrough.

19. Get the Double-Action Revolver

The next target is:

Lonnie’s Shack

The source places it east of the “M” in:

Lemoyne

If you went to the mine first, travel east.

Otherwise, travel north from Rhodes.

Clear the Shack

There are:

4 enemies

inside.

The source notes that their behavior differs depending on whether you arrive:

• During the day
• During the night

Handle the encounter however you prefer.

Find the Revolver

Go into the sleeping quarters.

Find the:

Box

and open it.

Inside is the:

Double-Action Revolver

The source highlights its very fast firing speed.

The downside is:

Slower reload time

20. Head to Saint Denis

You can get to:

Saint Denis

in two main ways:

• Ride there along the tracks.
• Return to Rhodes and take the train.

The source warns that riding there means passing through dangerous Lemoyne territory with:

• Gang ambushes
• Alligators
• Hostile encounters

21. Buy the Secondary Holster

Visit the:

Trapper

in Saint Denis.

Go to:

Reinforced Equipment

Then:

Master Hunter

Buy the:

Secondary Holster

Since you already completed the Deer challenge earlier, it should be available.

You can now:

Dual-wield two sidearms

22. Upgrade Your Weapons

While in Saint Denis, visit the:

Gunsmith

The source recommends:

• Upgrading firearms
• Purchasing useful weapons
• Buying good ammunition

For the Lancaster Repeater, it recommends:

• Short Scope
• Improved Sights

This gives you flexibility at both:

• Long range
• Short range

23. Buy Potent Health Items Before the Schofield Robbery

Before returning to Valentine, stop at the:

Doctor in Saint Denis

Buy:

• Potent Health Cure
• Potent Miracle Tonic
• Other useful medicines

The source recommends these because they give Arthur a short period of extreme survivability during the escape from Valentine.

24. Return to Valentine for the Schofield Revolver

Travel back to:

Valentine

Before starting the robbery:

1. Hitch your horse near the Sheriff’s Office.
2. Equip your strongest weapons.
3. Make sure the Doctor backroom activity is unlocked.

Then rob the Doctor and force him to open the back room.

25. Grab the Schofield Revolver

Inside the back room, go to the table and open the box.

Inside is:

Schofield Revolver

You will receive a:

Wanted Level

after taking it.

Escape Valentine

Use a:

• Potent Health Cure
• Potent Miracle Tonic

then run to your horse and escape.

The source recommends having your horse positioned nearby before beginning the robbery.

26. Pay Off the Bounty

Once you’ve lost the Wanted Level, you’ll still have a:

Bounty

Avoid law enforcement and head toward a:

Post Office

You may need to Camp and sleep before the Post Office becomes accessible again.

Pay off the bounty.

Then return to the:

Valentine Gunsmith

and upgrade your Schofield Revolver.

27. Progress the Story to Unlock Stables

The White Arabian requires some story progression because you need access to:

Stables

The source says you must complete:

1. A mission in Valentine.
2. The following Hosea mission at Camp.

The Hosea hunting mission unlocks the:

Stables

Once that’s done, you can safely go after the Arabian and store it afterward.

28. Prepare a Cold-Weather Outfit

The White Arabian is found in a very cold area.

Before leaving:

1. Create a cold-weather outfit.
2. Save it to your horse.

Cold conditions affect:

• Health
• Stamina

so having proper clothing is important.

29. Save at Barrow Lagoon

Travel toward:

Lake Isabella

but stop first at:

Barrow Lagoon

Create a manual save here.

The source emphasizes that this is extremely important.

If:

• The Arabian doesn’t spawn
• The Arabian runs away
• Another animal occupies the spawn
• You fail to break the horse

you can reload this save.

Don’t Save at Lake Isabella

The source specifically warns:

Do not save at Lake Isabella after seeing the horse

because reloading there may cause the Arabian to appear somewhere else in Ambarino.

Instead, keep the:

Barrow Lagoon save

as your reset point.

30. Find the White Arabian

Continue to:

Lake Isabella

The Arabian usually appears in the area identified in the source.

Sometimes another animal may spawn there instead.

If you cannot find the Arabian:

Reload the Barrow Lagoon save

31. Approach on Foot

If you stay mounted, the Arabian may continue running away.

Instead:

1. Get close enough.
2. Dismount.
3. Track it on foot.
4. Call out to it.
5. Enter the calming phase.

32. Calm the Arabian

Watch the:

White bar

while approaching.

Use:

Calm

whenever the bar begins dropping.

Pay special attention when the horse reacts or becomes nervous.

Continue until you’re close enough to mount.

33. Break the White Arabian

Mount the horse and follow the on-screen instructions to break it.

If you fail:

• Chase it and try again if possible.
• Otherwise reload the Barrow Lagoon save.

The source describes the horse as one of the best in the game, so it can be more difficult to tame than common wild horses.

34. Take the Arabian Straight to the Stable

Once you’ve broken it:

Call your current horse

so you don’t accidentally lose it.

Then ride directly back to:

Valentine Stables

The source recommends not stopping along the way.

Once there, either:

• Stable the Arabian
• Saddle it as your active horse

Now it’s safely stored.

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Complete Early-Game Route

Here is the entire route in a simpler order:

1. Kill and skin 2 Deer.
2. Unlock Master Hunter Rank 1.
3. Visit Limpany.
4. Collect the $500 Gold Bar.
5. Collect Valerian Root.
6. Travel to Watson’s Cabin.
7. Get the Semi-Auto Shotgun.
8. Visit Window Rock.
9. Record the cave drawing.
10. Travel toward Cotorra Springs.
11. Reach the fallen train.
12. Collect 2 Gold Bars.
13. Collect another Valerian Root.
14. Travel to Bacchus Station.
15. Find the Strange Statues cave.
16. Solve the puzzle.
17. Collect 3 Gold Bars.
18. Reach 6 Gold Bars total.
19. Return to Valentine.
20. Discover the Doctor’s backroom.
21. Take a train to Rhodes.
22. Discover the Gunsmith basement.
23. Get the Lancaster Repeater.
24. Sell Gold Bars at the Fence.
25. Buy Dynamite.
26. Optionally collect another Valerian Root.
27. Travel to Lonnie’s Shack.
28. Get the Double-Action Revolver.
29. Travel to Saint Denis.
30. Buy the Secondary Holster.
31. Upgrade weapons.
32. Buy Potent Health items.
33. Return to Valentine.
34. Rob the Doctor’s backroom.
35. Get the Schofield Revolver.
36. Escape the law.
37. Pay off your bounty.
38. Upgrade the Schofield.
39. Complete the required Valentine mission.
40. Complete Hosea’s hunting mission.
41. Unlock Stables.
42. Prepare cold-weather clothing.
43. Save at Barrow Lagoon.
44. Travel to Lake Isabella.
45. Find and calm the White Arabian.
46. Break it.
47. Ride directly to Valentine Stables.
48. Save or saddle the horse.

What You Have at the End

By following the entire route, you’ll finish with a very strong early Chapter 2 setup including:

• Semi-Auto Shotgun
• Lancaster Repeater
• Schofield Revolver
• Double-Action Revolver
• Dual-wield capability
• Multiple Valerian Roots
• Approximately $3,000 from 6 Gold Bars
• Upgraded weapons
• Plenty of Dynamite
• White Arabian
• Much stronger overall early-game progression

Final Thoughts

This route is built around collecting powerful equipment before the story has progressed very far.

Instead of waiting for weapons and money to come naturally, you use exploration to get:

• Strong firearms
• Valuable Gold Bars
• Dead Eye progression
• Dual-wielding
• Better ammunition
• One of the game’s strongest early horses

Once the White Arabian is safely stored and your weapons are upgraded, Arthur is already equipped for a huge portion of the early game.