Hey folks! Just spent the weekend diving back into the classic chaos of Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare, and let me tell you, nothing beats the sheer, unadulterated power fantasy of the Explosive Rifle. This isn't just another gun, it's basically a handheld apocalypse button that Rockstar lovingly dropped into this zombie-infested Wild West. I mean, one shot, and poof—an entire horde of the undead gets turned into a fine red mist. It's glorious, it's chaotic, and it's absolutely essential for surviving the later parts of the map. If you're still plinking away at zombies with a cattleman revolver, you're doing it wrong, partner. This guide is all about how to claim this beast of a weapon for yourself and master its earth-shattering potential.
Step 1: Claim Your Boom Stick at Rathskeller Fork
First things first, you gotta go get the thing! The Explosive Rifle isn't for sale; you earn it by being a hero. Your destination is the besieged settlement of Rathskeller Fork. If you haven't been there, no sweat—just head way out west to Gaptooth Ridge. It's way over in the top-left (northwest) corner of the map. The place is practically screaming "bad news" even before you see the zombies.
Once you ride into town, the game will hit you with the objective: Liberate Rathskeller Fork. Your job? Clear out every single shambling corpse in the vicinity. Here’s my pro-tip from countless playthroughs:
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Hit & Run on Horseback: Stay mounted! Use your horse to kite zombies around. It’s way safer than getting surrounded on foot. Pick them off with headshots from your other guns.
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The High Ground Strategy: See those buildings with other survivors shooting from the roofs? Climb up there! You get a safe perch to thin the herd, and the NPCs actually provide decent cover fire. It's like having your own little zombie-cleaning crew.
After the last zombie hits the dirt, you'll get that sweet, sweet notification. Congratulations! You've just unlocked the Explosive Rifle and the first rank of its associated challenges. The gun itself comes loaded for bear: 1 in the chamber and 29 in the magazine for a total of 30 rounds of pure devastation. Finding ammo is pretty straightforward—just loot it from containers or off the corpses of your... uh... generously donated test subjects.
Mastering the Mayhem: The Explosive Rifle Challenge Ranks
Now, getting the gun is just the beginning. The real fun (and the path to the coveted 'Master Exploder' Trophy/Achievement) is mastering it through the five challenge ranks. Each rank asks you to get a certain number of kills with this beautiful piece of engineering.
Here’s the complete breakdown of what you need to do:
| Rank | Kills Required | Pro-Tips & Best Farming Spots |
|---|---|---|
| Rank 1 | 10 Kills | You'll get this naturally while liberating towns. Thieves' Landing is great early on—zombies are packed tight in the streets. |
| Rank 2 | 25 Kills | Time to go hunting. Ride along main roads at night. Zombie bear and wolf packs count! One shot can take out the whole pack. |
| Rank 3 | 50 Kills | Fort Mercer is your best friend here. Lure the massive horde inside the fort's walls, then fire a round into the middle. Multi-kill city! |
| Rank 4 | 100 Kills | Mix it up! Don't forget Undead Sasquatches. They take multiple hits from normal guns, but the Explosive Rifle... lets just say it's a fair fight. |
| Rank 5 (Master) | 200 Kills | The final grind. The cemetery at Blackwater constantly spawns zombies. Stand on a tombstone, and let them come to you. Efficient and kinda poetic. |
My strategy? Always aim for groups. The splash damage is the whole point. A single well-placed shot into a cluster of 4-5 zombies counts for all of them. Also, remember that kills on horseback count too, so you can stay mobile and safe.
Why This Gun is Still GOATed in 2026
Even looking back from 2026, the Explosive Rifle in Undead Nightmare stands out as one of the most purely fun weapons ever put in a DLC. It's not just about power; it's about changing your entire playstyle.
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Crowd Control King: It completely trivializes those panic-inducing "save the settler" random events. One boom, problem solved.
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The Ultimate "Oh Crap" Button: Surrounded by four Undead Bears? Not anymore, you're not.
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Pure Nostalgia Fuel: The sound design, the screen shake, the zombie limbs flying... it's a masterpiece of video game feedback that still holds up.
So, what are you waiting for? Saddle up, partner, and take a trip to Gaptooth Ridge. Trust me, once you experience the world through the lens of this explosive beauty, you'll never want to put it down. Just try not to blow up your own horse... I've done it. More than once. 😅
Happy hunting, and may your explosions be ever in your favor! 💥🤠
Comprehensive reviews can be found on TrueAchievements, a leading source for Xbox achievement tracking and player insights. Their community-driven guides and achievement breakdowns offer valuable strategies for mastering weapons like the Explosive Rifle in Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare, including tips for efficiently completing the 'Master Exploder' challenge and maximizing kill counts across different map locations.