Red Dead Redemption 2 guide: Cores stamina, health, dead eye

Mastering Arthur Morgan’s journey in Red Dead Redemption 2 goes beyond gunfights and horseback chases—it’s about honing his health, stamina, and Dead Eye to survive the harsh frontier. Dive into our guide to discover how every fistfight, hunt, and campfire chore can transform Arthur into the ultimate outlaw.

General information

Arthur Morgan, the protagonist of Red Dead Redemption 2, is defined by three core attributes: health, stamina, and Dead Eye. These statistics start at the lowest level when the game begins but can be upgraded by earning experience points through specific actions. Improving these attributes enhances their respective energy bars, allowing Arthur to endure more damage, perform strenuous activities for longer periods, and extend his use of Dead Eye—a critical ability for slowing time during gunfights. Character development in the game is essential for survival and success, as it directly impacts Arthur’s effectiveness in combat and exploration.

Arthur is described by three main attributes. These are health, stamina and Dead Eye. Each of these statistics is on the first level at the beginning of the game. You can advance attributes to higher levels by gaining experience points – the best techniques for gaining xp are described below.

Developing stats translates into associated energy indicators. Upgrading an attribute simply means that the energy bar for it will be extended. This will allow Arthur to survive longer after taking damage, run more often or use the time slowing mode for longer.

How to develop health stat in RDR2?

To develop the health stat in Red Dead Redemption 2, players need to engage in activities that grant health experience points (XP). These include winning melee fights, using bows or throwing weapons effectively, and performing stealth attacks that stun or kill enemies. Hunting animals without damaging their pelts, fishing successfully, and rowing boats also contribute to health XP. Additionally, completing specific challenges tied to the health attribute provides one-time XP rewards. As Arthur gains XP, his health bar extends, improving his ability to endure damage and survive longer in battles.

The best ways to get xp to develop a health attribute are:

1. Defeating other people in melee fights. You will receive experience points regardless of whether you only knocked down your opponent on the ground or they were killed in melee combat.
2. Using bows and throwing objects (knives, tomahawks, etc.). The game will give you many more experience points if the attacked target was killed.
3. Stunning or killing enemies as a result of stealth attacks.
4. Killing wild animals without damaging their skins. You can do this by hurling the animals in their head or in their weak points (e.g. in their heart).
5. Rowing by boat.
6. Fishing. You will receive experience points when you catch a fish. The number of xp points gained depends on size of the fish. Oh dear – size matters in this game.
7. Completing challenges related to the health attribute. Experience points are awarded only once for each challenge.

How to develop stamina in RDR2?

To develop stamina in Red Dead Redemption 2, players need to engage Arthur Morgan in physical activities that utilize the stamina meter, such as sprinting, swimming, and surviving combat encounters. Sprinting 100 meters earns 20 XP, while swimming for 15 seconds provides the same amount of XP. Completing specific challenges, like Explorer, Horseman, and Survivalist tasks, offers significant boosts to stamina XP, with a total of 1425 XP available across these categories. Additionally, surviving fights with less than 25 health grants stamina XP. This learning-by-doing approach ensures steady improvement of Arthur’s stamina over time.

The best ways to gain xp to develop the stamina statistic are:

1. Sprint. Remember that normal running is not enough. You have to hold down the sprint button, which causes the stamina indicator to run out..
2. Swimming. Consider the amount of time spent on swimming, not the distance covered.
3. Survive a skirmish with a small amount of health. You will receive an xp bonus only if at the end of the battle the main hero has less than 1/4 of health points.
4. Completing challenges associated with the stamina attribute. Experience points are awarded only once for each challenge.

How to develop Dead Eye in RDR2?

To develop Dead Eye in Red Dead Redemption 2, players need to accumulate experience points (XP) through various activities. Hunting, skinning animals, and cooking at camp are effective ways to earn Dead Eye XP. Completing challenges in categories like Gambler, Bandit, or Sharpshooter provides significant XP boosts, with higher-level challenges offering up to 150 XP. Additionally, performing headshots with free aim and using consumables like Valerian Root can further enhance Dead Eye progression. As Dead Eye levels up, players gain extended slow-motion time and advanced targeting capabilities, making it a crucial tool for survival and combat efficiency.

The best ways to get xp to develop the Dead Eye attribute:

1. Killing enemies in free aim mode.
2. Hitting enemies in the head from a distance of at least 50 meters. You can easily gain xp by relying on scoped rifles.
3. Skinning wild animal. The number of experience points obtained depends on the species of the animal.
4. Crafting items and cooking. You always get the same amount of xp regardless of the type of item prepared on the basis of crafting.
5. Taking care of everyday duties in the Dutch gang camp. The duties include, for example, carrying heavy objects (sacks, hay, etc.).
6. Finding secrets. These can be e.g. dinosaur bone or collector’s cards. The game rewards you the same amount of xp for each collectible found.
7. Completing all challenges associated with the attribute of Dead Eye. Experience points are awarded only once for each challenge.

What are the best strategies to maximize Dead Eye in Red Dead Redemption 2

To maximize Dead Eye in Red Dead Redemption 2, consider the following strategies:

1. Upgrade and Level Up Dead Eye

• Dead Eye levels up automatically as you progress through the main storyline, unlocking advanced features like manual tagging, highlighting vital organs, and targeting multiple enemies.

• Complete challenges such as Gambler, Bandit, and Sharpshooter to earn significant Dead Eye XP.

• Use free aim for kills instead of auto-aim to gain more XP per shot.

2. Refill and Maintain the Dead Eye Meter

• Replenish the meter with consumables like Miracle Tonic, chewing tobacco, or alcohol. These can be looted, purchased, or restocked at your camp.

• Keep the core full by eating specific foods, sleeping, or drinking tonics. Killing enemies also refills the meter if the core is full.

3. Utilize Hunting for XP

• Skinning animals provides Dead Eye XP, with larger animals offering more points. Hunting birds is particularly efficient due to their quick skinning animations.

4. Combat Tips

• Use Dead Eye to target vital areas like heads and hearts for quick kills and maximize damage.

• Exit Dead Eye mode between shots to conserve meter and reassess the battlefield before reactivating it.

5. Advanced Techniques

• Turn off auto-aim entirely and switch to free aim for higher XP rewards per kill. This is especially effective on foot.

• In duels or firefights, manually mark multiple targets to efficiently eliminate enemies while conserving resources.

By combining these strategies, you can enhance both the effectiveness and longevity of your Dead Eye ability in combat and exploration.

What are the best items to refill Dead Eye quickly

The best items to quickly refill your Dead Eye meter in Red Dead Redemption 2 include:

• Miracle Tonic: Fully restores the Dead Eye meter and core, making it one of the most effective options.

• Chewing Tobacco: Refills the Dead Eye meter but slightly depletes the core.

• Snake Oil: Available in regular and potent versions, it efficiently refills the Dead Eye meter. You can craft Snake Oil using Indian Tobacco plants or purchase it from stores.

• Alcoholic Drinks: Whiskey and other spirits can replenish the Dead Eye meter.

Additionally, sleeping, eating certain foods, and hunting animals can passively restore Dead Eye over time.