A Test of Faith turns dinosaur bones into a cross-country exploration activity in Red Dead Redemption 2 Story Mode. Start the stranger mission after Chapter 2, use Eagle Eye to help reveal bones, and mark each site as you inspect it. Every card gives the state, region and a landmark hint, so you know what to look for when you ride in.
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Heartlands and Scarlett Meadows
The opening route starts once A Test of Faith is available. Oil fields, creek beds, open hills, and abandoned structures make the terrain cues useful when a marker is not enough.
Cumberland Forest, Grizzlies, and Roanoke Ridge
This stretch mixes river cliffs, rocky plateaus, forest overlooks, and high ridges. Approach from the nearby trail or landmark, then search the cliff level named in the hint.
Big Valley
These entries move between exposed Mount Shann slopes and a cave near Mount Hagen. Check the ridge, slope, and cave entrance carefully before leaving Big Valley.
New Austin
Spoiler warning: normal Story Mode access to New Austin is reserved for after the epilogue. Keep this section for a regular post-story route; exploit and glitch routes are outside the checklist.
Route is a suggested travel order, not an in-game bone number. State and Region tell you where to ride, and the approach hint names the landmark to search around. Availability separates the normal Chapter 2+ route from the post-story/epilogue New Austin route, while Spoiler level flags the late-game section.
Plan the route
Find Deborah MacGuiness after Chapter 2 to start A Test of Faith. The route groups nearby terrain together, but you can mark sites in any order and fold them into normal travel. Use the state and region to plan a ride, then match the approach hint to the landmark. Oil derricks, creek beds, cliffs, plateaus, and caves are easier to identify on the ground than a small marker.
Bring Eagle Eye into the search when a bone is hard to spot. Check both sides of cliffs, the base of rock walls, river edges, and the ground around named landmarks before leaving an area. Use the named site and its terrain cue rather than trying to match a separate bone-number sequence.
Spoiler warning: New Austin
The New Austin section is normally accessible only after the Story Mode epilogue. Save it for a regular post-story route. This checklist does not cover exploit or glitch routes across that boundary.
After the locations are mailed
Mail the locations through A Test of Faith after the checklist is complete. Allow roughly 24 in-game hours for the next letter or invitation, then follow the final meeting near Cumberland Forest. The destination is commonly written as Firwood Rise or Firewood Rise, and the reward as Jawbone Knife or Jaw Bone Knife. These are spelling variants, not separate destinations or rewards.
FAQ
When can I start A Test of Faith?
After Chapter 2, look for Deborah MacGuiness and accept the stranger mission. The sites are not missable in normal Story Mode, so you can return later if a trip does not fit your current chapter.
Do I need to follow the route order?
No. The order groups useful travel legs, but the sites can be marked in whatever order suits your campaign. Use the state, region and approach hint together when planning a ride.
Can I reach New Austin before the epilogue?
Not through the normal Story Mode route. Treat New Austin as post-epilogue and avoid relying on exploit or glitch routes.
What happens after I mail the locations?
Allow roughly 24 in-game hours for a letter or invitation, then attend the final meeting near Cumberland Forest. The location may be spelled Firwood Rise or Firewood Rise, and the knife reward may be written Jawbone Knife or Jaw Bone Knife.
Does this cover Red Dead Online?
No. This route is for Red Dead Redemption 2 Story Mode. Red Dead Online, Red Dead Redemption, and Undead Nightmare are outside its scope.
Does the dinosaur-bone activity count toward 100% completion?
Yes, it contributes to Story Mode completion, but this checklist does not cover the other requirements.