From Trinkets to rare sellable goodies, Red Dead Redemption 2 is brimming with secrets that Arthur Morgan can collect across the game’s many states and biomes, and each of them offers a unique reward and effect for those who manage to claim them. There are so many rare items in Red Dead Redemption 2 to find, with many featuring some that players might not even know about.
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Red Dead Redemption 2 requires quite the determination and dedication to hunt for secrets, and there are quite a few that can be missed by the player, so let’s take a look at the rarest collectibles in Red Dead Redemption 2 and where to find them.
8 Squirrel Statue
A Collectible for Beecher's Hope That Proves John Marston is the Best Hunter
- Requirements: Complete all 5 Hunting Requests for Ms. L. Hobbs
- Effects: None
Throughout Red Dead Redemption 2, players can check the Post Office to find a series of letters addressed to them that request perfect animal carcasses for a Wildlife Art Exhibition from the artist, Ms. L. Hobbs. Players who comply with these requests might earn a bit of money, but the main goal is the end collectible to reach 100% completion after a total of 19 perfect carcasses of a specific rodent/animal.
After completing all hunting requests in Red Dead Redemption 2 (which is only available after the Epilogue) players will receive a Squirrel Statue from L. Hobbs at the Taxidermist House just outside of Strawberry in Valentine. While the statue doesn’t do anything, players can return it to Beecher’s Hope to be proud of their hunting skills, even if Abigail goes out of her way to hide it each and every time it appears above the fireplace.
7 Turtle Shell Trinket
Increase Health Bar Refills From a Trip to Gaptooth Breach
- Location: In a lockbox under the stairs of the largest wooden building at Gaptooth Breach, in Gaptooth Ridge, New Austin.
- Effects: Permanently increases Health Bar refill speed by 10%
Gaptooth Breach is a classic gang hideout that players can attempt to lay a siege on against the gang members that may lurk here. Unfortunately, this area is only accessed by John Marston, due to the fact that he can head through New Austin with little trouble in the Epilogue, whereas Arthur Morgan will always be attacked by an invisible sniper that will stop him from venturing too far out.
For those who do manage to head West through New Austin, they can take to Gaptooth Breach where underneath the stairs of the central wooden building, they can find a lockbox that contains the Turtle Shell Trinket, a special Trinket that will increase the speed that a Health Bar refills by to keep John alive a little longer.
6 Raven Black Shire Horse
A Horse Only Found in a Chapter 2 Mission and Nowhere Else
- Location: Don’t sell the Shire Horse given by Hosea in Exit Pursued by a Bruised Ego (Chapter 2)
- Stats: Heath 4, Stamina 4, Speed 3, Acceleration 2
When players start Chapter 2, they might not be too impressed by the behemoth of a horse that Hosea asks Arthur to sell, and considering players want money, they might be so inclined to sell this seemingly underwhelming horse in the Exit Pursued by a Bruised Ego mission. However, players who decide to keep the horse will see themselves rewarded with a few goodies.
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Firstly, with the right saddle, this horse is great. Secondly, this variant of the Shire Horse is the only Raven Black variant in the game, so players who want a horse that truly no one else in the game has, then this is certainly the one for them, and they really shouldn’t sell it.
5 Hawk Talon Trinket
Discovered on Rotting Corpses for a Decrease in Stamina While Using a Bow
- Location: In a lockbox beside a decaying corpse by the waterfall at Deadboot Creek, Ambarino
- Effects: Permanently decrease Stamina drain when using a Bow by 30%.
The Hawk Talon Trinket is located within a lockbox that players can find near Deadboot Creek in Ambarino, right beside the waterfall where the decaying corpse of a man and his horse can be found. While it’s not a pretty sight, it is indeed a pretty Trinket that most might have missed.
For those who enjoy using stealth and committing to some pretty cool gameplay with a bow, the Hawk Talon Trinket is a must for them. With this Trinket, players will see a permanent reduction to the Stamina Bar drain speed by 30% when they are drawing a bow, making this a must-have for a steady aim.
4 Ancient Arrowhead
Find the Dreamcatchers and Enjoy Double Stamina During Bow Usage
- Location: Find and destroy all 20 Dreamcatchers and then loot the cave within Elysian Pool, New Hanover
- Effects: Doubles Stamina when using the bow
The Ancient Arrowhead is a true pain to obtain that will test the resolve and patience of every player who dares this challenge. While it’s not difficult in the sense that they are hunting a legendary animal or an entire gang, it’s difficult simply because there are 20 Dreamcatchers that players must find and shoot, and their locations are rather obscured.
Even after finding all 20 Dreamcatchers, players still need to inspect and loot a cave, all to get an Ancient Arrowhead that’s worth $10. However, it’s not what players can get from selling this that makes it a worthy item, as keeping it provides double Stamina to players using a bow. Simply put, this is a rare item because not many will go out of their way for all Dreamcatchers unless they’re looking to 100% the game.
3 Lion’s Paw Trinket
Kill a Lion to Get a Stamina XP Bonus
- Location: Kill and loot the lion in the Stranger mission: He’s British, of Course - IV
- Effects: Permanently increases Stamina XP bonus by 10%
Finding the circus performer Margaret provides Arthur with a slew of Strangers and crazies for him to fill his day with, and in these sets of Stranger missions, Arthur is tasked with finding the exotic animals that the circus has lost. After a few false finds, like a donkey painted to be a zebra, Arthur eventually comes across an actual living and growling lion.
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Killing the lion is part of the mission, but what most players might have missed is that they can actually cut off the paw of the lion to give themselves the Lion Paw, which can then be taken to any Fence to craft the Lion Paw’s Trinket for $19.75, which gives a permanent increase to stamina XP by 10% to max out those cores.
2 Shark Tooth Trinket
A Trinket Found in a Ship Wreckage to Increase Horse Bonding XP
- Location: In a lockbox near a beached ship in Roanoke Ridge, east of Annesburg, New Hanover
- Effects: Permanently increases Horse Bonding XP by 15%
The Shark Tooth Trinket is a rather tough find for players, and while some may have missed it, it’s not too late to saddle up and find it. The Shark Tooth Trinket can be found east of Annesburg when following along the wall across the beach until a shipwreck is reached. From there, players can find a lockbox containing their loot.
Inside the lockbox will be the Shark Tooth Trinket, a great trinket that will boost the player’s Horse Bonding XP gains by 15%. For late-game players, this might seem a bit insignificant because they will already have a Level 4 Bond with their horse, but it’s always nice to have it in case a new horsey is found.
1 Gold Shield
The Braithwaite Crest, Immortalising a Dead Family on Solid Gold
- Location: Looted above the fireplace in the Braithwaite Mansion during Blood Feuds, Ancient and Modern (Chapter 3)
- Effects: None
The Braithwaites are a despicable breed, representing the Old West in all its faults and squaller, so it’s no surprise that the Van der Linde gang crashes into them for an epic shootout over their disagreements and desires. When the Van der Linde gang finally takes to the Braithwaite Mansion, Arthur might be too concerned with burning it all down and finding Jack Marston to realize there’s some valuable loot in this estate.
Players who venture through to the first room on the left once inside the Braithwaite Mansion can find a fireplace, and on top of it, is the Gold Shield, a crest of the Braithwaites that can be looted. While players cannot sell this item, it’s still a neat collectible that will not be available after the mission.
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
