Red Dead Redemption 2 is a massive game, and with that comes a lot of different mechanics that are new. One big thing that Rockstar added is all the new weapons that you can unlock and use. From Shotguns to Tomahawks, the game does not let down anyone with the amount of content actually in it. A big thing new players will find is that there are soo many weapons and sometimes your weapon after a while of using, does not do enough damage. I am here to tell you about everything you need to know about the weapons and how to keep them clean and new.
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Keeping your guns in good condition
The more you use a weapon, the more proficient it will be in battle. However, overuse will put your weapon at risk of degrading faster and will require constant care and maintenance. Clean your weapons with Gun Oil will keep it in top shape! You can do Weapon Maintenance whenever you have a weapon at hand from the Weapon Wheel menu, or by visiting a gunsmith. Completing it at the gunsmith will cost you money so if you have Gun Oil on you, make sure you use that first.
Make sure you check your guns every once and a while just to see if it has lost any of its condition. The more you use it, the more degraded it will so make sure you clean it when it gets really dirty. If you don’t clean it, your gun may jam on you in the middle of an important battle and you might die from enemy fire. Gun Oil is actually pretty easy to get off of dead bodies so make sure you always loot those bodies after you are done with your battle.
Improving your gun stats
There are a few ways you can increase your gun stats and the main way is to just simply use it. The more you use a gun, the more familiar your character will be with the gun, thus making the gun a lot better in the long run. There are also customization items you can buy for the gun like larger magazines or longer barrels. Every purchase you make for upgrades will make the gun better. The best thing you can have is to have it clean, fully upgraded, and highly used. That is what makes guns soo fun to use in this game.
There are soo many guns in this game, that it might be hard to choose which ones to use. I would say stick with the guns they give you at first so that you can save up your money and buy the best ones later on. It is definitely worth waiting for the better guns and you can even pick guns up off of bodies if you are not liking the one you have equipped.
Get items that slow your weapon degradation
There are a few things that can slow down the degradation process. If you get a weapon wrap for your repeater, rifle, or shotgun, then it will slow degradation by 10%. Another way is to get the Raven Claw Talisman which slows it down by another 10%. If you find and kill the Legendary Beaver, you can use its pelt to craft the Beaver Tooth Trinket which slows it down by another 10%. The main thing is to have an upgraded holster which slows it down by another 20%. With all these things combined, you will barely have top clean your weapons at all.
Revolvers
These weapons can be dual-wielded. They generally have short ranges and a high firing rate. These tend to have less ammo and a slower fire rate but have increased damage and accuracy. There are some Revolvers that have a Shotgun spread built into it for some massive damage at close-range. Always keep your guns clean and upgraded, and use them as often as you can.
Algernon’s Revolver – It is a modified Double-action Revolver with a snub barrel, a customized grip, and unique engravings. This revolver is the reward for completing “Duchesses and Other Animals”, given to the player by the designer Algernon Wasp.
Calloway’s Revolver – A unique, custom-engraved Schofield Revolver plated in silver, with “Canis Canem Edit” engraved into the side of the barrel. This revolver is lootable from the corpse of Jim “Boy” Calloway, who is the last duelist in “The Noblest of Men, and a Woman”.
Cattleman Revolver – A popular and classic sidearm, the Buck Cattleman is a great all-around revolver, featuring a good balance of damage, accuracy and fire rate. This revolver is available from the start of the game.
Double-Action Revolver – The D.D. Packenbush Double-action Revolver is a fast-firing weapon with relatively low damage. The Double-action Revolver may be purchased from all gunsmiths from the start of Chapter 3 onwards, after the mission “A Strange Kindness”.
Flaco’s Revolver – A unique Cattleman Revolver, featuring delicate engravings and a carved ivory handle. This revolver is available after winning the duel against Flaco Hernández, found next to his body as part of the stranger side-mission “The Noblest of Men, and a Woman”.
Granger’s Revolver – A unique Cattleman Revolver, with a dark metal finish and endorsed in custom engravings. This revolver is available after winning the duel against Emmet Granger, found next to his body as part of the stranger side-mission “The Noblest of Men, and a Woman”.
John’s Cattleman Revolver – Owned by John Marston, this Cattleman Revolver features a black steel frame and a custom bone grip, both of which show significant signs of wear. This revolver becomes available during the epilogue, after the mission “Motherhood”.
Micah’s Revolver – One of the twin revolvers used by Micah Bell, this custom Double-action Revolver features a grey steel frame with a custom red-and-black skull grip. This revolver is available if the player returns to the shootout location after “American Venom” atop Mount Hagen and loots Micah’s frozen corpse.
Otis Miller’s Revolver – A unique Schofield Revolver made of gold and ivory and adorned with custom engravings. This revolver is available to find from the start of the epilogue. It is part of a treasure hunt that leads to Rattlesnake Hollow in northern Cholla Springs, due west of Twin Rocks.
Schofield Revolver – The powerful Hutton & Baird Schofield is an accurate revolver with high damage, making a good choice for any serious gunslinger. This revolver is available from all gunsmiths after completing “Blessed are the Meek?”.
Pistols
These weapons can be dual-wielded. They generally have short ranges and a high firing rate. Unlike the Revolver, Pistols usually have a higher magazine with a faster fire rate, but the damage and accuracy are a lot lower. Both Pistols and Revolvers are perfect for those quick kills where you need to be fast in drawing your weapon. Always keep your guns clean and upgraded, and use them as often as you can.
M1899 Pistol – A semi-automatic handgun, the M1899 deals good damage at short range and its clip loaded ammunition allows for a swift reload. The M1899 Pistol is only available for purchase at the Saint-Denis gunsmith after the completion of the mission “The Battle of Shady Belle”.
Mauser Pistol – A new import from Germany, the Mühlberg Mauser is a modern semi-automatic pistol with low damage. The weapon becomes available at the Gunsmith in Saint-Denis and Valentine after the completion of “That’s Murfree Country”.
Midnight’s Pistol – A unique Mauser Pistol, this weapon is gold-plated and features engravings with a grey wooden grip. This pistol can be obtained after dueling Billy Midnight in the mission “The Noblest of Men, and a Woman”.
Semi-Automatic Pistol – The Semi-Automatic Pistol has the lowest damage of all firearms in the game, but it has a slightly higher magazine count than most and has the fastest fire rate than anything in the game. This pistol is available to purchase only from gunsmiths in Valentine and Saint-Denis, after completing the mission “The Joys of Civilization”.
Volcanic Pistol – The Hutton & Baird Volcanic Pistol combines the stopping power of a repeating rifle with the portability of a sidearm. This pistol is available from all gunsmiths after completing the mission “Eastward Bound”. Alternatively, it is free for players who purchased the Special or Ultimate editions of the game.
Rifles
The weapons of choice for the medium-to-long-range gunfight. They also can be equipped with scopes to assist players in shooting from a distance. The rifles, with exception of Varmint Rifle, provide the greatest damage out of all firearms. Always keep your guns clean and upgraded, and use them as often as you can.
Bolt Action Rifle – The B.D. & Co. Bolt Action is a strong and versatile rifle, built to perform in any environment. This rifle is provided during “Preaching Forgiveness as He Went”. It is then available from all gunsmiths after the mission.
Carcano Rifle – The Sireno Carcano is a long scoped bolt-action rifle that can hold several rounds at once. This rifle can be acquired for free during the missions “The Delights of Van Horn” and “Goodbye, Dear Friend”; it will also become available from all gunsmiths after completion of the latter.
Rare Rolling Block Rifle – A unique Rolling Block Rifle made of light wood and blackened steel, adorned with carvings. This sniper rifle can be looted from a bounty hunter, who is after Josiah Trelawny and is seen firing the sniper rifle from a barn near Braithwaite Manor at the end of the mission “Magicians for Sport”.
Rolling Block Rifle – Designed for hunting large beasts, the Litchfield Rolling Block is a powerful long scoped rifle, designed for long-range combat. This sniper rifle is obtained from the Valentine gunsmith for free, during the mission “The Sheep and the Goats”.
Springfield Rifle – A military favorite, the Lancaster Springfield is a powerful breech-loading weapon designed for medium to long-range combat. This rifle is available from all gunsmiths after completing “Eastward Bound”.
Varmint Rifle – The quick-firing Lancaster Varmint Rifle is designed for hunting small mammals and large birds, using a special low-caliber type of ammunition with reduced damage. This rifle is available from all gunsmiths after completing “Eastward Bound”; players who purchased the Special or Ultimate editions receive the weapon for free.
Repeaters
The weapons of choice for the medium-to-long-range gunfight. They also can be equipped with scopes to assist players in shooting from a distance. The repeaters are well-rounded firearms with decent damages, high rates of fire and large ammo capacities. Always keep your guns clean and upgraded, and use them as often as you can.
Carbine Repeater – A reliable and popular repeating rifle, the Buck Carbine provides medium damage and a decent firing rate, with quick reload speeds thanks to the tube-loaded magazine in the weapon’s stock. This rifle is available from all gunsmiths. It is also provided for free during “Old Friends”. It can also be picked up from slain characters in the world.
Lancaster Repeater – The Lancaster Repeater is a well-rounded gun that uses a fast lever-action system to load the next cartridge. This rifle is available from all gunsmiths. It is also provided during the mission “An American Pastoral Scene”.
Litchfield Repeater – The Litchfield Repeater is a great choice for hunting, with the best damage of all repeating rifles and large ammo capacity. This repeater is provided during “Goodbye, Dear Friend” and will be available at all gunsmiths thereafter. It can also be acquired for free during “Mrs. Sadie Adler, Widow II”.
Shotguns
The shotguns are unmatched when it comes to inflicting damage at close range. This characteristic makes them a good choice for clearing enemies out of rooms and buildings. If you have Slugs for your Shotguns, you could use it for longer ranges if you are a good enough shot. Keep in mind that the Sawed-off Shotgun uses up a holster space. Always keep your guns clean and upgraded, and use them as often as you can.
Double-barreled Shotgun – D.D. Packenbush’s Double-Barreled Shotgun is the trailblazer’s choice. Powerful and deadly at close range, this gun is capable of firing off two shots in quick succession, dropping nearly any target instantly. This shotgun is available from all gunsmiths.
Pump-action Shotgun – The high-powered Lancaster Pump Shotgun has a large ammo capacity and quick reload capacities. This shotgun is available from all gunsmiths after “Pouring Forth Oil”.
Rare Shotgun – A rare Double-Barreled Shotgun with faded brass tarnish and adorned with carvings. The shotgun can be acquired by looting the Hermit, a special character available after completing the mission “The Sheep and the Goats”.
Repeating Shotgun – The Lancaster Repeating Shotgun is a well-rounded gun that uses the same lever-action system commonly found on repeating rifles. This shotgun is available from all gunsmiths after completing the mission “Visiting Hours”.
Sawed-off Shotgun – The Peeters & Janssens Sawed-Off is a versatile shotgun that can be used easily with one hand or dual-wielded to great effect. It is provided by Javier Escuella during the mission “Enter, Pursued by a Memory”. A second one can be bought from any Gunsmith, for the price of $85.
Semi-auto Shotgun – The Brunet Fabre Semi-Auto packs both power and speed into one shotgun. This shotgun is available from all gunsmiths after the mission “A Fine Night of Debauchery”.
Melee
This is pretty self-explanatory. These are the weapons you use whether you are just fist-fighting or taking someone out with a machete. These are useful if someone wants to try and kill you with their fists, you can just take out a knife or hatchet and easily take them out. Always keep your guns clean and upgraded, and use them as often as you can. Melee weapons aren’t upgraded but you can customize them to how you want them to look.
Antler Knife – This knife can be looted from a dead hunter and large bear, northwest of Hanging Dog Ranch, slightly above Little Creek River in West Elizabeth.
Broken Pirate Sword – This sword can be found lodged inside an abandoned boat south of Saint Denis’s southern bridge on one of the small islands.
Civil War Knife – This knife can be found atop a crate in the storage room underneath the small building to the right of the entrance at Fort Brennand, Roanoke Ridge.
Cleaver – This weapon is available from all fences after completing “Fleeting Joy”.
Double Bit Hatchet – This hatchet is found in a tree stump northwest of Wallace Station in Big Valley.
Fists – I mean, they are your character’s hands…
Hatchet – This hatchet is available from all fences after “Fleeting Joy”.
Hewing Hatchet – This hatchet is found in a tree stump on the south end of Moonstone Pond, north of Emerald Ranch in the Eastern Grizzlies.
Hunter Hatchet – This hatchet is found in a tree stump south of Window Rock in Grizzlies West. In Online, the hatchet can be bought at any Fence.
Jawbone Knife – This knife is the reward for completing the Stranger mission “A Test of Faith”.
John’s Knife – The knife becomes available once the player has reached the epilogue, after “Motherhood”.
Machete – The machete can be purchased from all fences after “Fleeting Joy”.
Ornate Dagger – The weapon can be acquired from a strange pale man dressed in black, in the back alleyways of Saint-Denis, following the completion of the 5 Mysterious Writings.
Rusted Double Bit Hatchet – This hatchet is found in a tree stump, just north of the coal mining building in the center of Annesburg.
Rusted Hunter Hatchet – This hatchet can be found lodged a tree stump near a shack called Martha’s Swain.
Stone Hatchet – It can be found at the Native Burial site north of Owanjila if you have an active GTA Online account.
Viking Hatchet – This melee weapon can be found at the Old Tomb, a point of interest in the Roanoke Valley area of New Hanover, lodged in a skull. Also, found nearby is the Viking Helmet and the Ancient Viking Comb.
Wide-Blade Knife – This knife can be looted from the body located in Beryl’s Dream mine, west of Mount Shann, West Elizabeth. Players need to detonate the rocks in the way at the entry to the mine by using the plunger.
Throwables
This is also very self-explanatory. These weapons are throwables whether it is throwing an explosive stick of dynamite or chucking a Molotov, these items are very useful. If you are going for stealth, you can use the silent weapons to make all your moves super quiet. Always keep your guns clean and upgraded, and use them as often as you can. You can’t customize these items because you use soo many of them in the game.
Ancient Tomahawk – This projectile can be found embedded in a target on the east side of Calumet Ravine, east of the Wapiti Indian Reservation. In Red Dead Online, the Ancient Tomahawk may be purchased at any Fence for $5.50.
Dynamite – This projectile is available from all fences after completing “Who the Hell is Leviticus Cornwall?”.
Fire Bottle – This projectile is available from all fences after completing “The Fine Joys of Tobacco; it is also provided during this mission.
Throwing Knife – This projectile is provided during the mission “Paying a Social Call”, and can be purchased from a Fence or the Trapper after completion.
Tomahawk – This projectile is available from all fences and the trapper after “Americans at Rest”.
Equipment
These pieces of equipment are super important. Without these, you can’t be the Hunter you should be. Each of these benefits you in either hunting or bounty hunting and you can unlock better items than these later on. If you are going to get into these things, then you might want to get familiar with all of these because you will be using them a lot.
Bow – The weapon is provided at the beginning of “The Aftermath of Genesis”. This is probably one of the most fun hunting weapons in the entire game. Make sure you use it as much as you can, especially in the Online mode.
Hunting Knife – This knife is available to the player at the start of the game.
Lasso – The lasso is provided during the mission “Old Friends” then will available to the player thereafter.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a massive game and has soo much to uncover and explore. Not even counting the Online mode, the main story took me 50 hours to beat, without all the Side Missions. This game is absolutely amazing and totally worth your time and money, and if you have a friend that is looking for a game, tell him to get this game because he will not regret it. I hope this guide has helped you and have a good time playing.
All photos were taken from the Red Dead Redemption 2 wiki