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The world of Red Dead Redemption 2 is huge, and it provides hundreds of hours of content if you set out to complete as many of its activities as possible. Completing challenges is one of the various things you can attempt in the game.
There are nine categories of challenges; they all have ten challenges each. Completing all 90 challenges is necessary in order to 100 percent the game, and getting through some of these tasks will also grant you exclusive items, including the Legend of the East outfit. This guide will show players how they can get through all stages of the Weapons Expert Challenges.
Weapons Expert Challenges
There's no doubt that weapons are a big part of Red Dead Redemption 2, so you'll probably want to master them as soon as possible; a good way to do this is by completing the Weapons Expert Challenges.
On top of this, you will also increase your Health, earn some money, and receive exclusive rewards that will come in handy throughout your game playthrough.
You can check your Weapons Expert Challenges progress by opening the Log and visiting the Challenges page. Here you can also take a look at all available challenges from other categories.
There are ten stages that you will have to complete before you're done with the Weapons Expert Challenges. They must be completed in a specific order, so if you've already done some of these tasks before but haven't received the challenge yet, your progress will not count.
These challenges will get become more difficult as you progress. So, even though you might finish the first few parts naturally as you play the game, eventually, you will have to go out of your way and come up with strategies to get through some of them.
Here are all the challenges in order, how to complete them, and what you will receive for doing so.
Weapons Expert 1: Kill Three Enemies With A Knife
With an enemy nearby, take out your knife by opening the Weapon wheel and selecting it in the Melee section. Next, approach them and either select Execute or repeatedly press Stab.
The Hunting Knife might seem like a weak weapon, but up close, it's as deadly as can be. If you use it and quickly press execute an enemy, they will perish in a second.
- Reward: Weapons Expert Holster
Weapons Expert 2: Kill Three Enemies In Ten Seconds Using Only Throwing Knives
Get close to an enemy camp, and right before they notice you and start attacking, activate Dead Eye and throw a knife at an enemy's head so it one-shots them.
Exit Dead Eye to move your camera faster and repeat this process quickly with other enemies.
Be sure to have at least three throwing knives in your satchel when attempting this challenge. You can get them at a Fence.
- Rewards: $5 and health XP
Weapons Expert 3: Kill Three Birds Of Prey Using Only A Tomahawk
It's not uncommon to see crows in Red Dead Redemption 2. When you spot one, and you have this as your active challenge, be sure to get your tomahawk out quickly and throw it at it.
You can purchase up to three tomahawks from a Fence.
You can also go to specific locations to try and get this done in one go. The Heartland oil fields region, between Emerald Ranch and Valentine, is a great location for this challenge due to the open space and abundance of crows in the area.
There you can easily kill a buffalo or a buck and hide nearby until a bird of prey appears. Then, simply throw your tomahawk at it. Rinse and repeat until you've managed to get three kills.
- Reward: Weapons Expert Belt
Weapons Expert 4: Kill Ten Enemies With A Shotgun Using Crafted Ammo
To craft your own ammo, you have to set up camp in the wilderness to open the crafting menu.
Craft either incendiary or explosive shotgun slugs. Then, once you have your shotgun out, pick them by opening the Weapon wheel, selecting the shotgun, and changing the type of ammo in the chamber.
The incendiary shotgun ammo is only unlocked in Chapter 2, and the explosive shotgun ammo is only unlocked in Chapter 3. It is not possible to finish Weapons Expert 4 prior to this.
- Rewards: $10 and health XP
Weapons Expert 5: Kill Five Mounted Enemies Using One Throwing Knife Per Kill
This challenge doesn't require you to get consecutive kills, so it is easier than it seems. All you need to do is take down five mounted enemies, and you will certainly come across some throughout your playthrough.
Be sure to aim for the eye and activate Dead Eye to increase accuracy, and you won't have any problems killing enemies with only a single throwing knife.
- Rewards: $10 and health XP
Weapons Expert 6: Kill Four Enemies At The Same Time With A Single Stick Of Dynamite
In camps, enemies will usually gather around a campfire, especially at night. You can do this by sneaking up on them and throwing a dynamite stick in the middle of them.
- Rewards: $15 and health XP
Weapons Expert 7: Kill Four Consecutive Enemies By Throwing And Retrieving The Same Tomahawk
The best way to be successful when attempting this challenge is by only carrying one tomahawk in your inventory. This way there won't be any chances of you accidentally throwing a different tomahawk and restarting the countdown for consecutive kills.
Like stages two and six, this can be even easier if you tie up your enemies and do it while they cannot move.
- Reward: Weapons Expert Off-Hand Holster
Weapons Expert 8: Kill 15 Enemies Using A Long-Barreled Sidearm
Some weapons in the game are already long-barreled, but you visit a Gunsmith in one of the towns in Red Dead Redemption 2 to check or change your sidearm's barrel length.
Once equipped with a long-barreled sidearm, kill as many enemies as you can until you've completed the challenge.
- Reward: $15 and health XP
Weapons Expert 9: Kill Nine Unaware Enemies From Behind Using The Bow
Unfortunately, the stealth mechanics in Red Dead Redemption 2 complicate this challenge quite a lot. If you shoot an unaware enemy with your bow, his death will most likely alert every enemy nearby to your presence.
To do this challenge, visit the nearest gang hideout, take out an unaware enemy with his back turned to you, and then leave the vicinity and come back so that all enemies respawn.
You can return to the hideout as soon as the red dots on the map disappear completely. Once this happens, the enemies will have already respawned.
- Rewards: $20 and health XP
Weapons Expert 10: Kill A Grizzly Bear Without Taking Damage, Using Only Throwing Knives
This challenge can be completed with any type of throwing knife. You can do it with regular throwing knives, but it will definitely take a while.
You can do it much faster once you've gotten the Poison Throwing Knife Pamphlet, which will give you the ability to craft Poison Throwing Knives.
You can throw a poisonous throwing knife at a bear and wait for it to slowly lose health until it's dead.
- Reward: Weapons Expert Bandolier
While some Weapons Expert Challenges can be done in the same enemy camp, others will force you to return later or find another camp.
While moving around the map and going about your day, you often come across random encounters with various enemies. So, you won't have to resort to visiting camps; you can complete some of these challenges by taking down raiders.
These challenges will definitely take some time, but by the end of it, you will certainly know your way around just any type of weapon available in the game and will certainly have leveled up your health.