The snow-covered peaks of Mount Hagen become the stage for a final reckoning in Red Dead Redemption 2’s climactic mission, “American Venom.” As John Marston sets out to confront the treacherous Micah Bell, betrayal, vengeance, and redemption collide in a high-stakes showdown that will test your Dead Eye skills and moral resolve. Will justice prevail, or will the ghosts of Arthur Morgan’s past haunt you to the bitter end?
Walkthrough: This is the final mission of RDR2. It is time to avenge Arthur! Go with Sadie and Charles to Strawberry. You will catch Cleet there – drag him to the gallows. Once the cut-scenes are over, you can decide whether you want to kill or spare him. The choice will affect your honor – although Sadie will eventually kill him either way.
Go to the place indicated by Cleet. On your way there, Charles will be shot by a sniper. You have to hide behind rocks and move upwards. Eventually, you will have a good firing position, from where you will be able to take out the hidden shooter.
Continue along the trail, until you stumble upon a large group of enemies. A classic shooting sequence awaits you here – use cover and break through the enemies. Afterwards, a cut-scene will initiate, during which Sadie will be stabbed with a knife. Continue without her – kill three enemies using Dead Eye.
Keep going – you will stumble upon multiple enemies. You go through an exposed area, which is why you should be moving slowly (time is not counted during this mission), killing enemies along the way. Additionally, use items regenerating Dead Eye. Watch the mini-map as well, as the enemies will be leaning out of the mountain tops and attacking from behind.
After some time you will break into the enemy camp. You need to search through it (clearing it off enemies) to check whether Micah is hiding in it. Quite obviously, another group of enemies await you here.
Sooner or later, you will reach a building at the end of the mountain. After a cut-scene, you will face the traitor in a duel. Fighting the enemy is pointless – you cannot defeat him in a conventional way. Instead, shoot at the lamp, close to the fort, to force him out of his hideout.
Wait patiently – once Micah runs behind the hut, the scene will initiate. Dutch will appear during the scene – you now need to press the button responsible for switching between Dutch and Micah. John will initiate a conversation with them.
Ultimately, Dutch will decide to do the right thing for once and will shoot Micah. During the automatic Dead Eye sequence, finish the work, firing intensively at the enemy.
A final cut-scene awaits you here – it is worth to see it through the ending credits to witness, above all else, Jack and Abigail’s wedding. You have now completed the main storyline of Red Dead Redemption 2! Note that RDR2 is a prequel and the continuation on John Marston’s story was told in the previous installment of the franchise.
How to acquire a gold medal in American Venom?
- Help Sadie capture Cleet in less than 35 seconds. A fairly simple task. Once you see Cleet, immediately run towards him and you will catch the man with Sadie.
- Kill the enemy sniper that shot Charles with a headshot. Aid yourself in this task by using Dead Eye.
- Finish with at least 85% accuracy. There are many enemies here, try to be as accurate as possible.
- Complete the mission without using any healing items. Note that you can still use items that regenerate Dead Eye!
What are the key challenges in the American Venom mission
The “American Venom” mission in Red Dead Redemption 2 presents several key challenges:
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Time-Sensitive Objective: Help Sadie catch Cleet within 35 seconds. This requires quick reflexes and strategic positioning to ensure you reach him in time.
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Combat Accuracy: Achieve a headshot on the sniper who shoots Charles. This demands precision shooting skills to take out the sniper quickly and effectively.
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Accuracy and Survival: Complete the mission with at least 85% accuracy and without using any health items. This requires careful shooting and avoiding damage throughout the mission.
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Confronting Micah’s Men: Navigate through waves of Micah’s goons while climbing Mount Hagen. Staying in cover and timing shots carefully is crucial to survive this intense firefight.
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Emotional and Tactical Decisions: The mission involves making tough choices, such as leaving Charles behind and dealing with the confrontation between Sadie and Micah, which can be emotionally challenging and requires strategic thinking.
How does the mission’s ending impact the overall story
The ending of the “American Venom” mission in Red Dead Redemption 2 has a profound impact on the overall story by tying up loose ends and reinforcing the game’s themes of redemption, loyalty, and legacy:
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Micah’s Death: The climactic confrontation with Micah Bell brings closure to the betrayal and tragedy that defined Arthur Morgan’s downfall. By avenging Arthur’s death, John Marston honors his fallen friend and reclaims a sense of justice.
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John’s Redemption: The mission solidifies John Marston’s transformation from an outlaw seeking vengeance to a man striving to protect his family and live a better life. It sets the stage for his eventual fate in Red Dead Redemption.
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Sadie and Charles’ Departure: The ending marks the departure of Sadie Adler and Charles Smith from John’s life, symbolizing the dissolution of the old gang and the fading of their shared outlaw past.
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Foreshadowing Tragedy: Despite its resolution, the ending foreshadows John’s eventual downfall in Red Dead Redemption, emphasizing the cyclical nature of violence and revenge within the story’s world.
