Can Arthur Collect All Dinosaur Bones in RDR2?
In Red Dead Redemption 2, Arthur can find a total of 30 dinosaur bones scattered throughout the map. However, he cannot finish the dinosaur bone quest as many bones are in regions inaccessible to him. Only John Marston is able to complete the mission.
To start collecting Dinosaur Bones, you need to have found and spoken to the paleontologist, Deborah MacGuiness, who requires your assistance in the quest called “A Test of Faith.” Upon speaking with her, she’ll give you a mission that involves discovering the hidden bones.
- There are 30 bones hidden across the map, all of which have been concealed throughout the world.
- The first part of this guide will cover the first 22 bones. The remaining eight dinosaur bones become available very late in the game.
Finding the bones can be easy if you know where to look; however, they can also be tricky to locate. It’s helpful to activate Eagle Eye, as the bones will glow, making them much easier to find.
For every 15 dinosaur bones collected, you will be rewarded with:
- +5 Dead Eye XP
- 1 Quartz Chunk – a crafting item usable at a Fence.
- 15 Skull Statue – a unique valuable you can sell after dropping off the bones.
- 30 Deborah MacGuiness’ Invitation
- Jawbow Knife – a special Knife received upon finding all the bones.
While you can find the bones without speaking to the paleontologist first, it’s suggested to make your way to her location as early as possible. This way, you can start sending the bone locations to her as you discover them in exchange for rewards.
The Importance of Dinosaur Bones in Arthur’s Journey
Arthur Morgan is tracking down Dinosaur Bones in Red Dead Redemption 2 as part of a collectible quest. There are 30 Dinosaur Bones scattered across the map. Players need to find them to complete the sidequest A Test of Faith, which is essential for those aiming for 100% completion in the game.
To officially start collecting Dinosaur Bones, players must trigger the A Test of Faith mission by speaking to a Paleontologist southeast of Horseshoe Overlook. Although bones can be found before this encounter, this mission activates the questline related to fossil collection.
Collecting all 30 Dinosaur Bones rewards players with various milestones. For example:
- Collecting 1 Dinosaur Bone grants a Quartz Chunk.
- Collecting 15 Dinosaur Bones rewards a Skull Statue.
- Collecting all 30 Dinosaur Bones culminates in an invitation to Deborah MacGuinness’s ranch, where the player receives the Jawbone Knife.
In addition to completing a quest and earning rewards, collecting dinosaur bones is important because it helps Arthur upgrade his Dead Eye skill. Each dinosaur bone found gives Arthur +5 Dead Eye XP, thereby assisting in this enhancement.
Furthermore, the importance of collecting dinosaur bones is highlighted by the necessity of obtaining the Quartz Crystal from finding the first bone, which is essential for acquiring the Bear Talisman. Completing the collection leads to an invitation from Deborah MacGuinness to see the fruits of your labor, as well as the offer of a special Knife.
What Rewards Do Players Get for Collecting Dinosaur Bones?
In Red Dead Redemption 2, players receive various rewards for collecting Dinosaur Bones. Specifically, the rewards are as follows:
- For each Dinosaur Bone found: +5 Dead Eye XP
- 1 Dinosaur Bone found: Quartz Chunk (used to craft a Talisman)
- 15 Dinosaur Bones found: Skull Statue
- 30 Dinosaur Bones found: Deborah McGuinness’ Invitation and the Jawbone Knife
Moreover, after collecting all 30 bones, players will receive an invitation from Deborah McGuinness to see the results of their efforts, along with a special knife.
Note that whether the special knife is needed depends on individual players’ desire to discover every available item in the game.
Which Regions Are Accessible to Arthur for Bone Collection?
Arthur can collect bones in New Austin through a glitch or exploit. Upon returning to Deborah, the ensuing dialogue suggests that the mission was originally able to be completed by Arthur.
In total, there are 30 dinosaur bones collectibles to find in RDR2. All of these have been hidden throughout the world.
The three dinosaur bones in West Elizabeth are all north of Strawberry. This makes them fairly easy to collect when you first visit this region.
Bones will be scattered across the map, hidden among the foliage, on cliff faces and more. After Arthur finds a bone, he’ll jot down the location.
Understanding the Dinosaur Bone Locations in RDR2
Red Dead Redemption 2 has 30 Dinosaur Bone Locations. Finding all Dinosaur Bones in RDR2 is needed for 100% Completion. They are a type of collectible and part of the ‘A Test of Faith’ Stranger Mission. Additionally, they count as a Collectible Strand for the Collector’s Item trophy or achievement. Importantly, none of them are missable.
The earliest you can accept the Stranger Mission is in Chapter 2. However, it can’t be completed until after the story because 8 bones are in the New Austin area, which has bounty hunters that will instantly kill you. After the story, these bounty hunters go away, allowing access to the full map.
Always use eagle vision when near a collectible to highlight it (press + / Left Stick + Right Stick). The bones can be incredibly tricky to spot as they occasionally hide in the undergrowth, are wedged into a cliff face, or located at the very top of mountains. Fortunately, they glow up like a Christmas tree when you go into eagle vision.
Here are all the dinosaur bones locations in Red Dead Redemption 2:
- Dinosaur Bone 1: The first dinosaur bone is located just south of the ‘L’ in Lemoyne, at the place where you scout for a new camp at the end of chapter 2.
- Dinosaur Bone 2: The next bone is to the northeast of the ‘L’ in Lemoyne, due west of Dewberry Creek. You’ll find it just on the edge of the dried-up river.
- Dinosaur Bone 3: Now, take a mosey on over to the rail tracks due east of Flatneck Station. Travel about halfway between them and Lemoyne to find the bones on the grassy plains nearby.
Warning: you can only find the remaining bones once you’ve completed the main story. The following section contains spoilers. Dinosaur Bone 23 is located in the spoiler-filled area known as Hennigan’s Stead – due west of Blackwater. As you approach the word ‘Hennigan’s’ on the map, you’ll reach an area called Pike Basin. The bone is at the base of the basin underneath the first ‘N’.
In total, there are 30 dinosaur bone collectibles to find in RDR2, all of which have been hidden throughout the world. To make your job as a cowboy paleontologist a whole lot easier, this guide will show you every single dinosaur bone and detail the rewards awaiting for collecting all the bones.
You’ll need to kickstart the ‘A Test of Faith’ Stranger Mission to begin collecting Dinosaur Bones. While you can find these bones before meeting MacGuiness, you can’t do anything with them until that first meeting. Dinosaur bones can be found in cliff walls, rock formations, or just sticking out of the ground.
For harder-to-track-down Dinosaur Bones, here’s a detailed location: the Heartlands Oil Field bone is located at the bottom of a well beneath the oil. The first part of this guide covers the first 22. The remaining eight dinosaur bones are detailed later in the guide.
Are There Any Glitches to Help Arthur Collect Dinosaur Bones?
Arthur can collect bones in New Austin through a glitch or exploit. Upon returning to Deborah, the ensuing dialogue suggests that the mission was originally able to be completed by Arthur. However, it’s important to note that many dinosaur bones are located in regions inaccessible to Arthur Morgan.
Although Deborah asks for dinosaur bones, several bones that the protagonist finds do not belong to dinosaurs. Additionally, technically there is a way to get all the dinosaur bones and herbs as Arthur, provided you perform a fresh install of the game and do not download any updates. This involves using Eden’s Buggy Method, which allows you to collect the 8 Dinosaur Bones in New Austin and complete ‘A Test of Faith II’ before the Epilogue.
Furthermore, I don’t think you get paid upon each location reveal for Dinosaur Bones or Rock Paintings. It seems you only receive payment for these quests once they are completed, which cannot occur until you play as John Marston.
