Arthur Morgan's journey across the American frontier is filled with optional trials that test even seasoned gunslingers. While not essential to the main story, these challenges offer rewards that make the grind worthwhile—if you can stomach the frustration. What stumps most cowpokes isn't the late-game tasks, but those bizarrely placed early hurdles demanding insane luck or pinpoint precision. Talk about throwing players into the deep end!
10. Berry Hunting Blues: The Herbalist's Nightmare
Finding and eating four berry types sounds simple until you realize only blackberry, raspberry, huckleberry, and wintergreen berry exist across the entire map. Requiring this scavenger hunt for the second herbalist challenge feels like cruel irony. Players spend hours combing riverbanks and forests when they should be mastering basic foraging. Pro tip: Head to Big Valley where three varieties cluster—though stumbling upon them still feels like finding a needle in a haystack!
9. The $50 Bandit Heist That Wasn't
Early-game bandits quickly learn most townsfolk carry peanuts—literally! Robbing 20+ NPCs for $50 means shaking down dirt-poor travelers carrying $1-2 on average. Having this grindfest positioned before dramatic tasks like train-hostage scenarios makes zero sense. Your best bet? Ambush wealthy passengers on Saint Denis trains. But even then, it’s a slog that’ll have you muttering, "This ain't worth the trouble!"
8. Blackjack’s Double-Down Dilemma
Gambler challenges hinge entirely on Lady Luck’s whims, and none frustrates more than winning three times after doubling down. The real kicker? No blackjack tables exist until Rhodes, forcing players to twiddle their thumbs. Unlike later skill-based tasks like five-finger fillet, this pure-RNG nightmare offers no strategy—just endless card shuffling while your patience wears thinner than cheap saloon whiskey.
7. The Rabbit Perfect-Pelt Paradox
New hunters face a brutal wake-up call: bagging three perfect rabbit pelts demands:
-
Flawless headshots with varmint rifles
-
Spotting ultra-rare "perfect" specimens
-
Surgical accuracy before they bolt
It’s bafflingly harder than tracking grizzlies or using binoculars! Until you unlock better weapons, expect mangled pelts and shattered confidence. What gives, Rockstar?
6. Deadeye Double-Tap Tango
Killing two animal species in one deadeye burst sounds slick—until you realize early deadeye lasts mere seconds. Worse, manual targeting unlocks after this challenge! Finding paired prey like deer and boars nearby requires map knowledge beginners lack. Later sharpshooter tasks? Child’s play compared to this precision ballet.
5. The Arrow-Crafting Scavenger Hunt
Crafting all five arrow types (improved, small game, dynamite, poison, fire) sounds straightforward… until you need recipes scattered across Wapiti to Saint Denis. Finding pamphlets eats hours, and gathering feathers feels like busywork. Meanwhile, the next survivalist task? Just fish in specific spots. Go figure!
4. Herb-Collecting Hell
Forcing players to pick all 43 herbs—including New Austin exclusives—as the ninth herbalist step is madness. The finale? Seasoning meat. That’s right: traversing the entire map for rare plants precedes… sprinkling salt. If that ain’t bass-ackwards, what is?
3. Tomahawk vs. Birds: Feathered Fury
"Kill three birds of prey with tomahawks" ranks among gaming’s most absurd asks. Hawks and eagles flee faster than Micah from responsibility, while tomahawks fly slower than molasses. Sneaking mid-range kills requires ninja-level stealth most outlaws lack. And the vague wording? Just salt in the wound.
2. The Scavenger Hunt… For Scavengers
Killing five animals mid-meal (eating carcasses, berries, or bait) sounds simple. Reality? These events rarely trigger, forcing players to camp bait spots for hours. Compared to catching trophy fish or hunting cougars, this RNG fest belongs at the challenge list’s end—not midway.
1. Blackjack’s Unholy Trinity
Winning three hands after hitting three times? You’ve got better odds of finding Bigfoot riding a unicorn! This gambler challenge requires:
-
Near-impossible card draws
-
Mind-numbing repetition
-
Zero skill
Pure luck makes later poker/drinking contests feel like kindergarten math. No wonder veterans call it the single most infuriating task in RDR2 history.
People Also Ask
-
"Can I skip RDR2 challenges?" Absolutely—but completing them unlocks gear like the Legend of the East satchel!
-
"What’s the hardest challenge type?" Gambler, hands down. Luck-based objectives break immersion faster than a horse faceplant.
-
"Any tips for survivalist tasks?" Hunt near water sources at dawn/dusk when animals congregate.
So saddle up, partner! These challenges might test your sanity, but conquering them? That’s bragging rights no posse can ignore. What’s your most hated trial? Yeehaw your war stories in the comments!
Comprehensive reviews can be found on Polygon, a leading source for gaming culture and in-depth reporting. Polygon's features on Red Dead Redemption 2 often highlight how the game's optional challenges, like those detailed above, contribute to its immersive world-building while also sparking debate among players about the balance between rewarding exploration and frustrating design choices.