What is the Most Profitable Crime in Red Dead Redemption 2?

Alright, buckaroos, let’s talk about getting rich the dishonest way in Red Dead Redemption 2. You’re itching to line your pockets with more than just spare change from odd jobs and bounties, ain’t ya? You’re looking for the real scores, the kind that’ll make you a legend in the criminal underworld. So, let’s cut to the chase: while train robberies are iconic and robbing folks on the side of the road can add up, the absolute most profitable crime in Red Dead Redemption 2, both in terms of potential payout and repeatability, is strategic robbery and looting combined with savvy fencing of goods.

Now, before you go thinking this is just about blasting your way through a bank, let me explain. It’s about maximizing your return on investment, minimizing your risk, and playing the long game.

Maximizing Your Criminal Earnings

Here’s the breakdown of why strategic robbery and looting trumps all other criminal activities:

• Gold, Glorious Gold: The real money in Red Dead Redemption 2 lies in gold bars. While robbing banks offers a chance at these, they are fixed events. However, the open world is littered with opportunities to find gold, often guarded by unsuspecting (or not-so-unsuspecting) folks. Robbing homesteads, bandit camps, and even certain story-related locations often leads to discovering these precious bars.
• The Loot is the Root of All Evil (and Profit): Beyond gold, the world of Red Dead Redemption 2 is teeming with valuable items just begging to be pilfered. Jewelry, watches, pocket watches, and even canned goods (yes, even those have value!) can all be found by thoroughly looting bodies, homesteads, and businesses. A sharp eye and a dedication to picking everything not nailed down is crucial.
• Fences: Your Best Friend in the Criminal Underworld: All this stolen loot needs a buyer, and that’s where fences come in. These shady characters offer the best prices for stolen goods. Remember, selling stolen items to general stores will severely impact your honor. Fences are the only way to profit from your crimes without sacrificing your reputation (or, at least, without sacrificing it too much).
• Planning and Execution: Rushing into a robbery guns blazing is a recipe for disaster. Consider the location, time of day, and potential escape routes. Scout your target beforehand, identify valuable items, and plan your approach. A stealthy entry and exit can minimize the risk of attracting unwanted attention, which inevitably cuts into your profits with bounty hunters and lawmen.
• The Power of Repeatability: While train robberies and bank heists are memorable, they’re limited in number and carry significant risks. Strategic robbery and looting, on the other hand, can be performed repeatedly throughout the game. You can clear out bandit camps, rob remote homesteads, and loot corpses after every gunfight. The cumulative effect of these smaller scores adds up to a substantial fortune over time.

The Downside of Other Criminal Activities

Let’s compare strategic robbery and looting with other common criminal enterprises:

• Train Robberies: High risk, high reward… potentially. But train robberies attract a lot of attention, leading to large bounties and relentless pursuit. The payout can be significant if you get away with it, but the cost of failing is equally high. Plus, trains don’t exactly run every five minutes.
• Bank Heists: Similar to train robberies, bank heists are infrequent and extremely dangerous. The rewards can be great, but the likelihood of getting caught or killed is high. They are better left as parts of story missions.
• Bounty Hunting (Criminal?): While technically a way to earn money by capturing (or killing) criminals, bounty hunting is on the “good” side of the law. It earns honor and doesn’t involve the same level of risk as outright robbery. It is, however, an excellent way to hone your combat and tracking skills, which can be applied to more… unconventional methods of income generation.

The Art of the Fence

Knowing where and how to sell your ill-gotten gains is just as important as acquiring them.

• Locating Fences: Fences are scattered throughout the map, often hidden in plain sight. One can be found at Emerald Ranch, another near Saint Denis (as part of a side mission), and a third in Van Horn Trading Post. Each fence has their own unique inventory, so it’s worth visiting them all.
• Building Reputation: While fences don’t have a “reputation” system in the traditional sense, your interactions with them will impact their availability. If you consistently try to scam them or cause trouble, they may become less willing to do business with you. Play it cool, be polite (as polite as a hardened outlaw can be), and maintain a professional relationship.
• The Value of Information: Fences often have valuable information about potential targets. Pay attention to their dialogue and listen for hints about lucrative opportunities. They might point you towards a hidden stash of gold or a wealthy traveler passing through the area.

Becoming a Master Criminal: A Checklist

1. Invest in good weapons: A reliable revolver, a powerful rifle, and a silent bow are essential for any aspiring outlaw.
2. Upgrade your satchel: A larger satchel allows you to carry more loot, maximizing your earnings.
3. Master the art of stealth: Sneaking, distracting guards, and using silenced weapons can prevent unnecessary bloodshed and reduce the risk of attracting attention.
4. Learn to pick locks: Lockpicking opens up new avenues for robbery, granting access to locked chests and buildings.
5. Be observant: Pay attention to your surroundings, look for hidden items, and listen to conversations.
6. Practice your aim: A steady hand and a quick trigger finger can be the difference between a successful robbery and a trip to the gallows.
7. Manage your honor: While being a complete scoundrel can be fun, maintaining a neutral or even high honor level can unlock certain opportunities and prevent certain negative consequences.
8. Learn to cook: A well-fed outlaw is a productive outlaw. Cooking provides valuable buffs that can enhance your stamina, health, and dead eye ability.
9. Utilize your horse: Your horse is your most trusted companion and your primary mode of transportation. Upgrade its saddle, stirrups, and bonding level to improve its speed, stamina, and handling.
10. Have fun: Explore, experiment, and embrace the chaos of the Wild West. After all, that’s what Red Dead Redemption 2 is all about. And remember, the study of games and learning can be fun too, as evidenced by the Games Learning Society. Check them out at GamesLearningSociety.org.

In conclusion, while individual high-stakes heists may seem appealing, the true path to riches in Red Dead Redemption 2 lies in the consistent and strategic application of robbery and looting. By mastering the art of stealth, maximizing your loot potential, and cultivating relationships with fences, you can amass a fortune that would make even Dutch van der Linde jealous. Now get out there and make some money… the illegal way!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can you rob banks outside of story missions in RDR2?

No, you cannot rob banks in free roam. Bank robberies are limited to specific story missions and certain online activities. Pulling off a classic bank heist is just not possible while freely roaming about the map.

2. What is the best role for making money in Red Dead Online?

While roles offer varying income streams, the Moonshiner Role is often considered the most efficient moneymaker in Red Dead Online. It requires less active gameplay compared to the Trader Role and offers faster returns.

3. How can I make $1000 quickly in RDR2?

Completing story missions, robbing banks and trains (during missions), locating hidden businesses, selling horses and wagons, gambling, becoming a bounty hunter, looting bodies, and finding treasure are all viable methods for quickly accumulating cash in RDR2.

4. What are the best items to sell for money in RDR2?

Horses, wagons, gold bars, animal pelts, jewelry, fish, and cigarette cards are all valuable items that can be sold for a profit in RDR2.

5. Where can I find gold bars in RDR2?

Gold bars can be found hidden in various locations throughout the game, including buried treasure sites indicated on maps, strange statues, and certain story-related locations.

6. Can you rob trains in RDR2?

Yes, you can rob trains in Red Dead Redemption 2, although it can attract a lot of law enforcement attention and result in a bounty.

7. Is it possible to become a millionaire in RDR2?

Yes, it is possible to become a millionaire in Red Dead Redemption 2, primarily through finding and selling gold bars.

8. What is the fastest way to make money early in RDR2?

Early in the game, focusing on completing story missions, hunting animals for their pelts, and looting bodies is the most reliable way to earn money quickly.

9. How does honor affect my earnings in RDR2?

Low honor can open up more opportunities for criminal activities, while high honor provides discounts at stores and more positive interactions with NPCs. The impact on earnings is indirect but can be significant.

10. Can I rob stagecoaches in RDR2?

Yes, you can rob stagecoaches in Red Dead Redemption 2. Stagecoaches are a lucrative way to make some money if you are struggling to survive.

11. What is the best way to make money in the epilogue of RDR2?

In the epilogue, focusing on bounty hunting, completing side quests, and selling valuable items like horses and gold bars are the most effective ways to make money.

12. Where is Watson’s cabin and why is it important for making money?

Watson’s cabin is located in the Big Valley area, north of the Little Creek River and northwest of Wallace Station. While not directly tied to making money, it is a great spot to find valuables, which can then be sold.

13. What are the risks of robbing banks and trains in RDR2?

The primary risks of robbing banks and trains include attracting a large law enforcement presence, incurring a significant bounty, and facing the possibility of being killed or captured.

14. Are there any hidden businesses or fronts for illegal activities in RDR2?

Yes, there are several hidden businesses and fronts for illegal activities in Red Dead Redemption 2. These can be lucrative targets for robbery but may also be heavily guarded.

15. How do I find the treasure maps that lead to gold bars?

Treasure maps can be found in various locations throughout the game, often hidden in remote areas or obtained from defeated enemies. Following these maps leads to buried treasure, which may include gold bars.