Does John Get Arthur’s Money When Arthur Dies? A Comprehensive Guide
The burning question for many Red Dead Redemption 2 players is: what happens to Arthur Morgan’s hard-earned cash after his tragic demise? The short answer is yes and no, but mostly no initially. While John Marston doesn’t inherit Arthur’s money directly upon his death, the process of regaining some of that wealth is a bit more complex and tied to the game’s narrative. Understanding the nuances of this transfer requires a deeper dive into the epilogue.
Initially, when Arthur dies at the end of Chapter 6, you lose all of the cash held in his inventory. This means that the money you had painstakingly collected throughout your journey is seemingly gone for good. This can be quite a blow to players who have amassed considerable savings as Arthur. The game does this to establish a sense of loss, reflecting the chaos and tragedy of the Van der Linde gang’s downfall. However, the story of wealth isn’t entirely over for the player.
The Epilogue and the Retrieval of Funds
The key to understanding the financial situation lies in the epilogue. After a significant time jump, you begin playing as John Marston, now trying to rebuild his life. Initially, John is far from wealthy, reflecting his struggles and new beginnings.
The Return of the Satchel and 20,000 Dollars
As you progress through the epilogue, you’ll eventually embark on missions that lead to the recovery of Arthur’s belongings. Crucially, this includes his satchel. When John gets Arthur’s satchel back, this signifies that John inherits more than just sentimental items. Arthur’s money, while not directly transferred upon death, becomes accessible again through the story.
The most notable financial boon comes at the end of Epilogue 2 when John receives $20,000. This isn’t necessarily the exact amount that Arthur had, but it’s a significant sum, helping John to establish his new ranch and provide for his family. This money functions as a compensation and a re-establishment of wealth in the game.
The Aberdeen Pig Farm Exception
Interestingly, there’s a peculiar exception to the initial money loss. If you were robbed by the Aberdeen family at the Aberdeen Pig Farm and chose to leave your money there as Arthur, the money will still be there if you return as John. This means if you hid all your money on the pig farm before the end of the sixth chapter, you can retrieve it during the epilogue playing as John. This is a rare instance of money effectively transferring post-Arthur’s death.
Blackwater Money and the Final Mission
Another significant financial event occurs during the mission “American Venom”, which is the final story mission of the game. During this mission, John comes across a chest containing the Blackwater money. John’s share is specifically $20,000. This is not money that Arthur directly possessed but rather, John’s portion of the ill-fated Blackwater heist. While it’s not transferred from Arthur’s pocket, it adds to John’s financial gains and the overall narrative of the game.
Beyond Money: What John Keeps and Loses
It’s important to note that the transfer of wealth in RDR2 is not solely about cash. John keeps all the weapons and clothes that Arthur had purchased. This is a tangible continuation of your previous gameplay and choices, meaning that you won’t need to start from scratch regarding equipment.
Unfortunately, all of Arthur’s horses are lost. This is a significant loss for many players, as their bond with their primary horse can be strong. This forces players to start anew in terms of horse ownership during the epilogue.
Conclusion
While the money that Arthur had in his inventory is lost at the moment of his death, the narrative provides pathways for John to regain wealth, albeit in a different form. Through the retrieval of the satchel and the final mission, John ultimately gains significant funds that support the epilogue and his character progression. This financial journey, combined with the preservation of weapons and clothes, creates a meaningful bridge between Arthur’s story and John’s new beginning.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Do I lose all my money in Red Dead Redemption 2 after Arthur dies?
Yes, all the cash you had in Arthur’s inventory is permanently lost at the beginning of the epilogue. This is not just a simple transfer; it’s a narrative reset to reflect the major shift in the story.
2. Does John get all of Arthur’s money?
Not directly. John does not inherit all of Arthur’s exact funds from his inventory, but he receives $20,000 after completing the final mission of Epilogue 2 and gains access to any money left at the Aberdeen Pig Farm and also the Blackwater Money of $20,000 during the “American Venom” mission.
3. What exactly does John inherit from Arthur?
John inherits Arthur’s clothes, weapons, and eventually, through the epilogue storyline, he accesses a sum of 20,000 dollars, and also he can get any money he had stashed in the Aberdeen Pig Farm while playing as Arthur.
4. What happens to Arthur’s horses when he dies?
Unfortunately, all of Arthur’s horses are lost upon his death. This is a narrative and gameplay reset that forces you to acquire new horses as John.
5. Is it possible to retrieve all of Arthur’s belongings?
No, while you regain his weapons, clothes, and eventually some of his money, some belongings, such as specific items and horses, are lost for good.
6. Can you find Dutch’s money as John?
Yes, you can go back to Beaver Hollow as John and Dutch’s chest will still be there, but you cannot interact with it or access its contents either as John or Arthur.
7. Does John know Micah killed Arthur?
It’s mentioned that John knows that Micah ratted the gang out, but the game never directly confirms whether he knows that Micah killed Arthur or not, whether he actually knows that Micah brutally beat Arthur is never directly said..
8. Where is Arthur’s grave if you go back for the money?
Arthur Morgan’s grave is located east of Donner Falls and northeast of Bacchus Station in Ambarino. The location of the grave changes depending on whether you had high honor or not while playing as Arthur.
9. How much money was in Blackwater?
The money the Van der Linde Gang was trying to retrieve in Blackwater was roughly $150,000.
10. Can you play as Arthur after he dies?
The only way to continue to play as Arthur after the story is over is to reload a save from before the ending of Chapter 6.
11. Can you keep Arthur’s special horse Buell?
Unfortunately, no, Arthur loses all of his horses, including special ones like Buell, after he dies.
12. What can you do as Arthur that you can’t as John?
There are several actions unique to Arthur, including decorating and improving camp, herding sheep, showing growth as a character, humming while riding, pulling off a long beard, getting sick, maintaining the same eye color and swimming.
13. Does John have a happy ending in RDR2?
While the game shows John starting fresh with his family, John’s overall story does not have a happy ending when considering the events of the original Red Dead Redemption.
14. How does John get his $20,000?
John receives $20,000 upon completing the final mission of Epilogue 2. He also gets $20,000 when the story ends with “American Venom” mission.
15. What is the bad ending in RDR2?
The bad ending occurs if you choose to go back for the money rather than helping John escape. Arthur gets the money, but Micah ambushes him. This results in a negative, low-honor ending for Arthur.