The Red Dead Redemption 2 Animal Economy: A Guide to Cashing in on Critters
Wandering the Wild West in Red Dead Redemption 2? Admiring the scenery? Then it hits you: you have no cash. Fear not. Nature offers a solution – animals. Those furry, feathery, and scaly creatures are like ATMs. Let’s explore animal exploitation in Red Dead style.
Hunting for Profit: More Than Just Target Practice
Hunting is a thrill in Red Dead Redemption 2. The chase, the clean shot – it’s therapy. But hunting is also a business. We’re talking cash, folks. Perfect pelts are valuable. Think of them as nature’s useful NFTs. They can decorate your camp or improve your satchels. Inventory management is crucial in the Wild West.
To Skin or Not to Skin: That is the Question (of Profit)
The dilemma: skin the carcass or leave it? If you want money, leave the skin on. A skinned carcass sells for half the price. Think of it like selling a car without tires. If you want profit, let the animal keep its skin. Efficiency counts when upgrading or paying off bounties.
The Apex of Profit: Hunting the Big Bucks (and Bears)
Strategy matters. Not all animals are equally valuable in Red Dead Redemption 2. To make real cash, target high-roller animals. Enter the Grizzly Bear. This majestic beast generates profit like none other. It spawns in unlimited numbers. Forget cryptocurrency; Grizzly Bears are the true resource.
Crafting Dreams: Pelts Beyond Profit
Pelts offer more than just cash. You can craft stylish additions to camp or expand inventory space. Those perfect pelts help improve your experience. A well-decorated camp boosts morale, essential when evading the law. Bigger satchels equal more loot space, linking income potential to crafting.
Animal Value Breakdown: Know Your Worth (Animal Edition)
Let’s get to the numbers. You want to know how much cash you can get for animals. Here’s a guide to key animal economics.
Grizzly Bear Pelt: The Gold Standard of Fur
The Grizzly Bear offers big money. A perfect pelt sells for $7.50. In 1899 dollars, that’s decent cash for one animal. These bears are plentiful in the mountains. Grab your rifle; the Grizzly Bear hunting season is open.
Coyote Pelt: The Versatile Varmint
Coyotes are another income source. Their value varies by quality and region. Prices range from $10 to $40 per pelt. Western coyotes earn more than eastern ones. Remember this when you’re bagging coyotes; location matters. A quality inspection kit wouldn’t hurt.
Deer: The Everyday Earner
Deer are abundant and easy to hunt. They are your bread and butter in Red Dead Redemption 2. A “C 10 Buck” nets $3.25, while standard deer pelt earns $2.25. Not Grizzly Bear money, but they are a reliable source of cash and food for your camp.
Muskie: The Aquatic Asset
Now for something different: fish. The Muskie is worth $5.00 each. Catching a Muskie is rewarding. Find them in Owanjila Lake, Lake Isabella, and Kamassa River. Muskies are apex predators of freshwater and represent opportunity for anglers.
Rare and Legendary Animals: The High-Risk, High-Reward Hunt
For adventurous hunters, Red Dead Redemption 2 has rare creatures. These aren’t ordinary animals; these are exceptional. Hunting them is tough, but the rewards are legendary.
Rarest of the Rare: Feathered Fortunes
The most elusive animals in Red Dead Redemption 2 are birds. The American Robin and Carolina Parakeet are rare finds. Spotting these birds is rare, offering bragging rights instead of cash. They appeal more to completionist hunters seeking challenges.
Legendary Elk: White as Snow, Worth More Than Gold?
Next up are legendary animals. These creatures offer higher rewards, demanding skill and effort to hunt successfully. Discovering the secrets of their existence may become part of your journey.
In this game, you find unique creatures. They have distinct looks and offer valuable rewards. The Legendary Elk stands out with its white coat. It is easy to spot in the forest. Even Arthur Morgan, who lacks good vision, could see this animal from afar. Hunting this elk is simple. But the rewards make the effort worthwhile.
Legendary Loot: Trinkets, Treasures, and Talent Boosts
Legendary animals provide more than just pelts. They give rewards that are quite valuable. There are trinkets that grant permanent power boosts. You also receive crafting materials for unique items. Legendary creatures act like mini-bosses with special loot drops. Each legendary hunt unlocks new skills and offers special items for your efforts. It is nature’s way of giving you a magical talisman to celebrate your accomplishment. Who would refuse such a gift?
Legendary Fish: Angling for Antiquity
In Red Dead Redemption 2, you find legendary fish, too. There are thirteen types. To start fishing, talk to Jeremy Gill near Flat Iron Lake. He gives you a map with their locations. Hunting fish differs from hunting land animals. It requires patience and skill rather than quick reflexes. Success brings financial gain and bragging rights as the best angler.
Most Expensive Furs: The High-Fashion Frontier
Let’s switch to the real-world fur market. Knowing fur values can enrich your experience in the game. Certain furs in high fashion sell for astonishing prices. They represent luxury in the animal kingdom.
Russian Sable: The Emperor of Ermine
Russian sable fur is the gold standard for luxury furs. It is incredibly soft and warm while boasting a brilliant sheen. This fur represents the height of opulence and elegance. The cost of a Russian sable coat may reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. While you won’t find this fur in the game, appreciating its real-world value helps understand the in-game economy.
Lynx and Chinchilla: The Noble Understudies
Other notable furs include lynx and chinchilla. Lynx fur is known for its unique spotted pattern and smooth feel. Chinchilla fur is incredibly soft, resembling a cloud of luxury. Both furs are expensive but do not match Russian sable prices. Keep these values in mind while hunting in the game for a deeper connection to your pelt collection.
Beyond Hunting: Diversifying Your Financial Portfolio
While hunting animals makes money in Red Dead Redemption 2, it can become repetitive. There are many other ways to earn cash while playing. Think of them as different avenues for income in the Wild West.
Missions: The Reliable Revenue Stream
The simplest way to earn money is by completing missions. These missions can be part of the main story or side quests you find during your adventures. Each mission offers a rewarding chunk of money. Completing these tasks acts like a steady job in the Wild West. You trade moonshine or save people in distress instead of doing office work.
Robbing: The High-Risk, High-Reward Hustle
If you enjoy the outlaw life, robbing is thrilling and profitable. You can target banks, trains, even unsuspecting townsfolk for cash. While robbing offers big rewards, the risks are high too. Train robbery features prominently in Western tales and allows you to live out those adventures. Just remember to mask your face and bring enough firepower.
Hidden Businesses: The Underground Economy
Look for hidden businesses in Red Dead Redemption 2. These spots are not regular stores; they conceal illegal operations. It is like discovering hidden speakeasies in the Wild West. Finding and using these businesses offers unique money-making chances outside the law.
Selling Horses and Wagons: Equestrian Entrepreneurship
If you’re good at handling horses or obtained a fancy wagon, selling them can bring profit. Wild horses can be captured and sold, while stolen wagons fetch good money too. Consider this venture as establishing a resale business for horses and wagons in the Wild West.
Gambling: The Luck-Based Lottery
Feel lucky? Red Dead Redemption 2 offers gambling options like poker, blackjack, and more. Gambling can lead to big wins or significant losses. It is part of the game’s thrill but be careful and gamble wisely as a virtual outlaw.
Bounty Hunting: Bringing Justice (for a Price)
Bounty hunting allows you to be at least somewhat lawful. Track down wanted criminals for a reward. Bring them in dead or alive for cash while doing your part as a freelance lawman.
Looting Bodies: Opportunistic Scavenging
This option feels terrible, but it’s practical for making money. After a shootout, don’t rush away. Instead, check bodies for valuables or loose change. It may lack glamour but offers rewards quickly.
Treasure Hunting: Exploration Pays Off
If you enjoy exploring, treasure hunting offers a rewarding approach without moral dilemmas. Treasure maps hidden throughout the game lead to buried treasure chests with valuable items like gold bars or jewelry. Hunting treasure combines exploration with puzzle-solving to help fill your wallet.
Indiana Jones, but with more horses and fewer snakes.
Selling Carriages and Trinkets to Fences: Discreet Transactions
Fences are your guys for selling stolen goods and “acquired” valuables. Carriages and trinkets can be fenced for a good price. They operate in the shadows, making them ideal for disposing of items obtained legally or not. Think of them as black market brokers converting ill-gotten gains into cash.
Robbing Bandit Camps: Clearing Out the Competition
Bandit camps are not just nuisances; they are also potential goldmines. Robbing them can yield cash, supplies, and even treasure maps. Think of it as pest control with financial benefits. Clearing out camps makes the world safer (for law-abiding citizens) and lines your pockets too.
Gold Bars: The Gold Standard of RDR2 Wealth
Gold bars. The name says it all. These shiny bricks are the gold standard of wealth in Red Dead Redemption 2. Found in chests, hidden spots, and mission rewards, they provide significant single payouts. Think of gold bars as the Bitcoin of the Wild West—valuable and guaranteed to make you feel rich.
Jewelry: Sparkly and Spendable
Jewelry, including earrings, necklaces, buckles, and watches, is another valuable commodity. Often found on looted bodies and in lockboxes, jewelry is easy to sell and adds up quick. Think of jewelry as an everyday luxury item in Red Dead Redemption 2—sparkly and always in demand.
Rare Valuables: The Mystery Money Makers
“Rare valuables.” The game mentions them, but they remain a bit mysterious. These items could be anything from antique artifacts to unusual collectibles. The key word is “rare.” Keep an eye out during explorations; they might be hidden gems worth a fortune.
Egret Plumes: Feathery Fortunes from the Swamp
Venture into the swamps, and you might strike feathered gold. Egret plumes, obtained from hunting them, are valuable. These feathers are sought for their beauty and rarity, making them a profitable commodity for discerning hunters. Think of egret plumes as fashion accessories of the avian world for unexpected income.
Repeating Cigarette Cards: Collectible Capitalism
Cigarette cards are pieces of art tucked into cigarette packs. They are more than collectibles; they are also income sources. Collecting sets and selling duplicates can net decent cash. Think of it as virtual trading cards, battling boredom while building a valuable collection.
Roles in Red Dead Online: Professional Paths to Profit (and Mayhem)
In Red Dead Online, more avenues for financial gain await through specialized roles. These roles offer structured loops and income streams, letting you carve out a niche in the Wild West.
Bounty Hunter: Gold Rush of Justice
The Bounty Hunter role is known for earning gold in Red Dead Online. Gold is essential for unlocking roles and perks. Each bounty you bring in, dead or alive, rewards cash and gold. Harder bounties yield greater rewards. Think of the Bounty Hunter role as an express lane to wealth and prestige.
Trader: The Hunting and Hauling Hustle
If you enjoy hunting, the Trader role fits well. This role involves hunting animals, delivering pelts to Cripps at your camp, and selling goods in missions. Trader is efficient for income in Red Dead Online, turning your hunting skill into a lucrative business. Imagine becoming a virtual fur trader with more gunpowder.
Cheat Codes: The Quick (and Questionable) Route to Riches
For instant gratification seekers, Red Dead Redemption 2 offers cheat codes. These console commands provide advantages like money.
Money Cheat: “Greed is Now a Virtue” (Indeed)
Yes, in Red Dead Redemption 2 there is a cheat that conjures $500 into Arthur’s pockets. The code? “Greed is now a virtue.” Input it in the cheat menu for instant wealth (sort of). While $500 might not make you rich, it’s a handy boost when in need. Just remember, using cheat codes disables achievements and can ruin gameplay. But sometimes virtue is overrated when there’s virtual money to be made.
A comprehensive guide to making money off animals and less animal-centric methods in Red Dead Redemption 2 is here. Whether you choose hunting, the lucrative path of trading, or robbery and cheat codes, one thing is certain: there’s always a way to make a buck or quite a few in the Wild West.
