Red Dead Redemption 2 tells the tale, unsurprisingly, of Arthur Morgan's redemption. It's an epic with tons of challenges to complete in between story beats. But to get that arc, Arthur can't always be such a gallant western hero. There are many ways to cause havoc throughout the game's gigantic map, yet completing specific bandit challenges unlock a number of rewards.
Unlike some of the more hidden things throughout the game, the specific requirements for each challenge can be found in the progress screen of the pause menu. Each challenge must be completed sequentially, so there's no skipping around. This guide will outline what to do for each and how to finish them easily.
Bandit Challenges In Red Dead Redemption 2
Challenge 1
The first challenge tasks you with holding up 5 townsfolk. This can be done in any combination of towns, but the easiest place to get it done is Valentine, where there are plenty of nooks and crannies to hold someone up in without getting caught. To hold someone up, simply target someone and press the rob command. It's usually a good idea to take your gun out, too. This will expedite the process, as will threatening the person. Put your bandanna on first and make sure to not get caught; if the person gets away, it doesn't count as a hold-up.
Challenge 2
Next, Arthur will have to rob any 2 coaches or return any 2 stolen coaches to a fence. The best way to do this is to hang around Emerald Ranch, where the fence unlocked in Chapter 2 is. There tends to be a bit of traffic in this area of the Heartlands, and it's easy to see far and ride up on someone. While stagecoaches are the more opulent wagons found throughout the world, any old wagon will do for this challenge. It is simplest to hijack anyone you see and take it to the fence straight away, as opposed to waiting for a coach with a lockbox to rob.
Challenge 3
Arthur will have to return to town life and rob 4 cash registers in a single day for the next challenge. To do this, simply walk into a store and hold up the store owner, who will proceed to give you the contents of their register, so long as the robbery goes successfully. There are three shops that can be robbed in Valentine. The rest of the challenge can be completed by robbing a store in Strawberry, Rhodes, or anywhere else. Just be sure to start robbing in the morning as the challenge must be completed in a single day. Stores don't stay open all night long, and if a place has recently been robbed, it won't be open at all.
Challenge 4
Just like Challenge 2, except now Arthur will have to rob or steal 3 coaches in a single day. Once again, wagons count, and Emerald Ranch is the best place to hang out.
Challenge 5
The easiest of all the challenges: amass a $250 bounty. Stick in one state and get away with as many crimes as possible and this will be achieved in no time at all.
Challenge 6
The next challenge asks Arthur to steal 5 horses and sell them to the Horse Fence in Clemens Cove. The Horse Fence is unlocked in Chapter 3 and Clemens Cove is just north and west of Rhodes, on the coast of Flat Iron Lake. Any stolen horse counts, whether it's taken from a solo rider, wagon, or a stable. By lassoing one horse and riding another, two can be taken into the fence at a time.
Challenge 7
To complete Challenge 7, Arthur will have to steal $50 worth of cash or valuables from townsfolk or travelers. Some NPCs don't have much on them, so use judgment when deciding who to rob. Characters with fancier clothes likely have more on them. Saint-Denis may be crawling with police, but there are also plenty of affluent folks walking around who won't miss a gold watch or two.
Challenge 8
Again, like Challenge 2, Arthur will have to steal 7 wagons and sell them to the Wagon Fence at Emerald Ranch. This time the challenge specifies wagons, instead of coaches, but these are much more common anyway. Stick around Emerald Ranch to deliver them quickly and catch anyone commuting to or from the oil refinery, where wagons are especially frequent.
Challenge 9
For the grizzliest of all the bandit challenges, Arthur will have to hogtie three separate people and leave them on the railroad. Check your map for an area where the train tracks are near a normal road to make the commute easier. Simply wait for the first passing stranger, lasso them, and then approach to get the hogtie command. Once the poor stranger is all wrapped up, take them over to the tracks either on your back or by horse. Leave them on the tracks and that's it.
Challenge 10
Finally, Arthur will have to complete 5 train robberies without dying or being caught. This can be difficult, but there's no reason to make it more complicated than necessary. The easiest way to get on a train is to find a station and buy a ticket instead of hoping to find one randomly throughout the world. Holding up any passenger on the train counts as a robbery. After getting someone to fork over some money, simply run to the nearest exit and jump out. Arthur might get banged up a bit, but those 5 robberies will be done in no time.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.