Every Story Mode challenge in Red Dead Redemption 2 belongs to a family, and each family clears one rank at a time. Ranks 1, 3, 7 and 10 unlock a reinforced gear piece at the Trapper, and finishing every rank in every family earns the Legend of the East outfit. Most ranks fill in naturally as you play, so the trick is knowing which few need a plan.
0 of 90 completed · 0% complete
Bandit
Explorer
Most of this family is digging. Rank 1 is the treasure map itself, and ranks 2 to 10 each want one treasure.
Gambler
Herbalist
Horseman
Master Hunter
Sharpshooter
Survivalist
Weapons Expert
Rank 8 needs a setup first. Fit a long barrel to your sidearm, then rack up 15 kills with it.
Each rank shows its requirement, the gear unlock it grants, an availability note when a story gate applies, and a tip when one helps. A blank gear unlock means that rank pays no gear piece.
When to Work on Each Challenge Family
Let Bandit and Sharpshooter, and the passive parts of Master Hunter, build up while you play the story. Batch Explorer and Herbalist on your collectible or Compendium trips, and save Gambler for one dedicated session near the end. Keep a fast horse for Horseman time trials.
A stuck rank holds up everything above it in its family, so when one stalls, switch to another family instead of grinding it out. Don't leave every family for the epilogue, though. Only the ranks in the epilogue section below need to wait, and the rest of each family can move forward during the story.
The Hardest Challenge Ranks and How to Beat Them
- Bandit 10: Buy a train ticket, wait until you regain control, then rob one passenger. Repeat that for five train robberies without dying or being caught.
- Explorer 2 through 10: The Poisonous Trail, Jack Hall Gang, and High Stakes hunts cover these treasure ranks. Random chests don't count.
- Gambler 8: Keep your first card low in Blackjack. The three wins don't have to be in a row.
- Horseman 3 and 9: Horse stimulants refill stamina during the timed ride.
- Horseman 6: Stay out of puddles and follow the train tracks.
- Master Hunter 9 and 10: Chase the opossum until it faints, then pick it up. Rank 10 opens after rank 9 and targets Giaguaro, a legendary animal, near Bolger Glade south of Rhodes.
- Sharpshooter 8 through 10: Use Dead Eye and aim at weapon hands for rank 8. Rank 9 needs Dead Eye Level 3, which allows manual marking and comes through story progress. Rank 10 needs three consecutive long scoped rifle shots at flying birds.
- Weapons Expert 10: Kill a grizzly bear without taking damage, using only throwing knives.
Master Hunter 3 asks you to track ten animal species with binoculars, so use the animals guide for that rank.
Challenge Ranks That Need the Epilogue
Two ranks can't be finished until the epilogue in standard play, so leave them for last.
- Herbalist 9: Pick one of each herb species. Spoiler: in standard play, collect the New Austin herbs as John in the epilogue.
- Horseman 9: Ride from Van Horn to Blackwater in less than 17 minutes without touching any water. Spoiler: in standard play, the Blackwater route is available in the epilogue.
Trapper Gear Rewards and Core Bonuses
Each family's four pieces make one reinforced set, and buying all four finishes it. Every set feeds one of three core stats, and buying all three sets for one core adds that core's second bonus segment.
Trapper gear unlocks by family, with the core set each one builds:
| Family | Rank 1 | Rank 3 | Rank 7 | Rank 10 | Core set |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bandit | Bandolier | Holster | Off-Hand Holster | Gun Belt | Stamina |
| Explorer | Holster | Bandolier | Gun Belt | Off-Hand Holster | Dead Eye |
| Gambler | Holster | Bandolier | Gun Belt | Off-Hand Holster | Stamina |
| Herbalist | Off-Hand Holster | Gun Belt | Holster | Bandolier | Dead Eye |
| Horseman | Gun Belt | Holster | Bandolier | Off-Hand Holster | Health |
| Master Hunter | Off-Hand Holster | Bandolier | Gun Belt | Holster | Stamina |
| Sharpshooter | Bandolier | Holster | Off-Hand Holster | Gun Belt | Health |
| Survivalist | Gun Belt | Off-Hand Holster | Bandolier | Holster | Dead Eye |
| Weapons Expert | Holster | Gun Belt | Off-Hand Holster | Bandolier | Health |
FAQ
Do challenges count toward 100% completion?
Yes. Every rank counts, and none of them can be missed. Anything you leave for later will still be there when you come back.
Do Red Dead Online challenges count?
No. This covers Story Mode only. Red Dead Online has its own challenges, and they don't count toward these ranks.
Does the Legend of the East outfit come from rank 10?
No. The Legend of the East outfit unlocks after every rank in every family is complete. Rank 10 unlocks that family's final reinforced gear piece for purchase from the Trapper.