20 Things I Wish I Knew Before My First RDR2 Playthrough 🤠

Rockstar spent eight years making Red Dead Redemption 2 hyper-realistic, but they hid some incredible shortcuts that completely break the early-game economy straight out of Chapter 2. From dual-wielding weapons hours ahead of schedule to robbing trains without catching a single bounty, this is the ultimate optimization playbook I wish I knew on day one. Whether you're starting your very first playthrough or jumping back in for a fresh save in 2026, these 20 curated mechanical secrets, hidden controls, and survival tricks will turn Arthur into an unstoppable force straight out of Horseshoe Overlook. Reckon you've mastered the frontier? Drop a comment below letting me know which of these tips you wish you knew sooner! 👉 Grab my free phone-friendly hunting checklist in the channel links below, and make sure to subscribe to VanDerLindeVandals for more single-player optimization guides, hidden details, and complete Western walk-throughs. ⏳ Video Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction 0:23 - Breaking the Frontier Economy 1:48 - The Elite Hunter & Fisherman 2:40 - Hidden Controls & Combat Mastery 3:28 - Ultimate Horsemanship & Travel Tips 4:38 - Outro & Final Thoughts #RDR2 #RedDeadRedemption2 #ArthurMorgan #RDR2Guides #VanDerLindeVandals #RockstarGames #RDR2Tips #RDR22026