After the first intro chapter in Red Dead Redemption 2, you’ll be moved to a greener location and an open world map. Red Dead Redemption 2 Chapter 2: Horseshoe Overlook is much larger than Chapter 1 and introduces plenty of intermediate and advanced game mechanics.
Red Dead Redemption Chapter 2 Horseshoe Overlook Walkthrough
We cover the entire story missions of Chapter 2, listing all the Medal Goals to get the Gold rating on the story missions. Note that the missions don’t have to be done in this order.
Americans at Rest
Medal Goals:
- Save Javier within 15 seconds
- Defeat Tommy within 1 minute 30 seconds
Head to the small town of Valentine and meet Javier and Charles there. After the cutscene, fight around during the brawl and pay careful attention to the on-screen instructions on how the fighting mechanics work.
After the cutscene, deal with the man restraining you, then rush to help Javier. Eventually, a bigger individual named Tommy will start fighting you.
He is more dangerous than the others are and cannot be dealt with aggressively. Use the defensive tactics shown on the screen to counter-attack instead. Once you defeat him, a cutscene will play and the mission will end.
Polite Society, Valentine Style
Medal Goals:
- Return the lost wagon horse to its owner
- Find Karen in under 45 seconds
Talk to Uncle at the camp to get this mission started. Head to Valentine with him and the girls. During the journey, you can choose to help the coach driver get his horses back, which will serve as a refresher tutorial.
Once in Valentine, follow Uncle and carry out the various mundane tasks he asks you to. Eventually, a stranger will assault Tilly. Walk to him and intervene to rescue her.
Next up, head inside the hotel and make your way to room 2B upstairs. Knock out the man assaulting Karen and take her back downstairs.
In a cutscene, a man will recognize you and will start to flee. Borrow a nearby horse and chase him. Gallop as fast as you can until you’re close to him.
Eventually, the man will fall from his mount and end up hanging from a cliff. You can either free him or let him die. If you free him, you will gain honor points. You can also return the horse you borrowed to its owner in Valentine for the additional honor.
Who is Not without Sin
Medal Goals:
- Win two hands of poker
- Return Swanson to amp within two minutes five seconds
This story mission serves little than to introduce you to poker in Red Dead Redemption 2. Head to the Flatneck Station and look for the Reverend inside the building. Accept the man’s invitation and play poker if you want.
Once you’re done, head back outside and look for the reverend. Ask the characters and you’ll eventually find him tussling with an individual. Knock him out using defensive and counter-attacking tactics.
Once you do, you’ll notice a passerby witnessed your behavior and will run to report it to the authorities.
Chase after the witness and stop him before he reports the activity. Threaten him, beat him, rob him, and/or perform a warning shot to make sure he doesn’t tell on you.
Once that’s done, head to the nearby railway bridge and save the reverend. After the cutscene, stow Swanson on the horse and take him back to the camp. Drop him off on his bed to end the mission.
The First Shall Be Last
Medal Goals:
- Silently kill the bounty hunters by the river with Javier
- Get ten headshots
- Shoot the rope to free Sean
- Complete the mission without using any health items
Get ready for a long journey on your horse as you meet Javier just north of Blackwater. The entire region is in lockdown, so avoid getting in the sight of any lawmen patrolling on their horses.
After meeting with Javier, follow the boat that sails down the river until it comes to a halt. Use your binoculars to see what’s going on.
Head down on foot and cross the river with Javier. Let Trelawny distract the bounty hunters, then approach them from behind with your knife equipped to take them out.
Move up the canyon from cover to cover and take out the bounty hunters. Look out for snipers on the cliffs. Try to eliminate them with clean headshots. The rest of the mission is largely waves of enemies as you move up the cliff to where they took Sean.
Eventually, you’ll find him hanging upside down. Shoot the rope and cut him free when he’s on the ground to end the mission.
Paying a Social Call
Medal Goals:
- Silently kill four O’Driscolls
- Get 12 headshots
- Finish with at least 80% accuracy
- Complete the mission without using any health items
Speak to Kieran at the camp. Follow him and John on horseback until you reach the hideout. Take the bow with you to remain stealthy for as long as possible.
Use your knife to silently take out the enemies, and then proceed in a stealthy manner at the hideout. Take out as many enemies stealthily as you can using your bow.
Stealth no longer becomes an option when you have to kill the enemies around the campfire. Take them out from cover with a carbine repeater.
After that, head to the cabin for a cutscene. Next, go inside and loot everything you can, including the long double-barrel shotgun and the money from the chimney.
A Quiet Time
Medal Goals:
- Try to make amends with an old rival
- Catch Lenny in the act
- Don’t get arrested
This is a fun mission that doesn’t really need a walkthrough. If you have trouble-finding Lenny in the three instances he disappears, you can find him on the walkway upstairs, then dancing on the bar downstairs, and finally in the main room.
If you want to win all the medals. You can find Tommy, the old rival, sitting at the table in the main room while you’re looking for Lenny the first time. Lenny can be caught having sex in room 1A upstairs when he disappears for the third time.
To escape the law at the end, run on the left side of the alleyway and avoid the wooden barrel before you reach it. Turn right then and jump over the fence.
Money Lending and Other Sins I and II
This mission is divided into three different parts that follow a similar pattern. Speak to Leopard Strauss at the camp for each mission. There are no medal goals for the first two missions.
You will need to locate three different individuals and take money by force from them. Mr. Wróbel is the first. He lives in a small house found in the middle of a marked area.
Confront him, then loot his house to settle the debt. If you want, you can even steal his horse from the barn.
The second is Lilly Millet. She will be sitting on a bench with a man. Confront her to trigger a fight with the man. Knock him out using counter-attacks, and then loot him to retrieve the money.
Finally, you can go after Chick Matthews. To identify him, you will need to talk to various men sitting around the area. While you do, Matthew will flee from the location on his horse. Give chase and stop him using your lasso.
Matthews will give you a treasure map. View it from your satchel, and then head to the waypoint to find the treasure in the hole of the tree.
Return to camp and interact with the tithing box next to Dutch’s tent. This will unlock the ledger.
You can speak to Strauss again to get the second part of this mission. This mission has a medal goal: you will need to complete it within two minutes ten seconds.
Search for Thomas Downes in the marked area and beat him (don’t waste time threatening him, as that won’t help) to trigger the cutscene. Head back to Strauss to complete the mission.
We Loved Once and True
Medal Goals:
- Peacefully convince the Chelonians to let you take Jamie
- Return Jame to Mary within two minutes
Head to Arthur’s tent and read the letter he has received. You will now have to travel to a waypoint on your map. Meet Mary and watch the cutscene. During the cutscene, you will have the choice between accepting the mission or rejecting it.
If you accept the mission, you can ride to the next waypoint. Hitch your horse and walk up to the Chelonians. Try to engage them peacefully. Eventually, you will have to chase a fleeing Jamie.
This lengthy chase will end with the two of you standing at the opposite sides of a rail track.
Jamie will try to kill himself. At this instant, press the right trigger lightly to fill your meter, and then press it fully to draw our weapon and align a clean shot at Jamie’s gun. Take Jamie back to Mary, then head to Valentine’s train station.
Exit Pursued by a Bruised Ego
Medal Goals:
- Track the bear within one minute 30 seconds
- Shoot the bear at least six times
- Complete the mission within 12 minutes
This relatively lengthy mission teaches you various in-game features such as buying new horses, camping, small game hunting, and cooking and introduces legendary animals.
Talk to Hosea at the camp. Remove the saddle on your horse and put it on the larger horse. Ride with Hosea to Valentine and take the horse into the stable.
You will learn how to buy/sell horses and how to customize them over here. Buy a new horse according to the stats and the money you are prepared to spend.
Return to Hosea and follow him. He’ll ask you to hunt a rabbit. Use your bow and shoot a rabbit, then skin it and bring it to Hosea. Set up camp by following the instructions on the screen. Cook plain game twice, and then sleep until morning.
Once you’re done, in the morning you can get back on the horse and follow Hosea. At a certain spot, you will have to look for various clues using your Eagle Eye ability to spot the bear.
You can decide whether to split up or use bait. Either way, you will come across a huge bear. During the Deadeye moment, fire as many times as you possibly can.
Once the event is over, check back on Hosea to complete the mission. You can choose to hunt down the bear or travel back with Hosea to the camp.
Blessed are the Meek?
Medal Goals:
- While escaping, kill all mounted lawmen within 55 seconds
- Get 15 headshots
- Finish the mission with at least 75% accuracy
- Complete the mission without using any health items
Yeah, it’s understandable if you don’t want to rescue Micah either but Dutch believes he’s got a good heart, so let’s believe him for now. Head to Strawberry and talk to the sheriff in the jail. He’ll refuse your request.
Exit the jail, and then turn to its left when facing the door. Micah will speak to you from a window. You can destroy the window either by using a dynamite or the steam engine in front of Micah’s window.
Eventually, you’ll end up in a fierce battle as Micah goes berserk. Jump in an out of cover and land as many headshots as possible.
Follow Micah through this sequence of multiple gun battles through the streets and on your horse. Ride away until you are no longer being chased.
The Spines of America
Medal Goals:
- Loot all the items from the Carmody Dell house
- Don’t get spotted
- Deliver the wagon to Emerald Ranch within one minute 10 seconds
This mission will have you traveling to Emerald Ranch. Hosea can be found sitting next to a bald fellow outside a barn. After the cutscene, ride with Hosea to the target location. Take out your binoculars and scout the barn and the house.
If you are carrying this mission out during the day, you will be presented with the option to either do it during daylight or come back later at night.
In the daytime scenario, you need to sneak into the house through the back door while Hosea causes a distraction. Your time will be limited but you will have the entire house to yourself to search.
Search as many drawers as you can, and make sure to close them after searching. Head to the chimney if you have time and search there as well. When you’re done, head to the back of the house and meet Hosea at the barn.
If you choose to carry the mission out at night, it is even easier. Enter the house through the front door. Stay crouched at all times and move slowly to avoid waking the occupants.
Make sure you close each drawer and shelf you open. Once you’re done, head out and you’ll find Hosea at the front door.
Take the stagecoach back to the Emerald Ranch to complete the mission. You will now have access to Fences.
A Fisher of Men
Medal Goals:
- Complete the mission within seven minutes and 20 seconds
- After arriving at the river, catch a fish within one minute 30 seconds
Abigail who can be found in her tent initiates this quest. Speak to her, then talk to Jack and take him on your horse to the marked destination.
This story mission also serves as a tutorial for the fishing mini-game in Red Dead Redemption 2. Follow the on-screen instructions to fish. Jack will eventually get bored and leave you to fish once more.
Continue doing so until a cutscene triggers. After the cutscene, ride back to the camp to complete the mission.
Pouring Forth Oil
Medal Goals:
- Deliver the wagon to the drop-ff within 1 minute 45 seconds (first part)
- Kill all the train guards before Sean fires a shot (second part)
- Escape the law within one minute 30 seconds (second part)
- Get ten kills using Deadeye (second part)
- Complete the mission without using any health items (second part)
This mission is split into two parts. The first part will have you stealing an oil tank wagon from a factory. This part will be skipped if it is the only story mission available in the game or if it has been available for more than four in-game hours.
Talk to John to start the mission. The one at Cornwall Kerosene and Tar is much harder because of how many guards it has but it is closer to the location where you have to park the wagon. The Valentine one is easier but will take longer.
If you choose to go to Cornwall, avoid a shootout and instead hop over the fence behind the wagon, quickly steal it, then make a run for it without sticking around for too long.
If you choose to get one from Valentine, you will have to wait until the driver delivers it there. You will be free to take possession of the tank any time during the delivery or when it is stationary at its destination.
Whichever method you choose, take the wagon to the camp shown on the waypoint. Wait for one in-game hour to meet him again at the waypoint east of the camp. Take the wagon to the southwest and bring it to a halt on the railway tracks.
Head inside the first carriage and accompany John to rob the passengers one by one. Continue doing so until John asks you to check on Sean. Head to the baggage car at the far end of the train and keep an eye on Sean.
The moment Sean is attacked, activate Deadeye and take down the enemy. Take out the remaining assailants, and then search the baggage car to retrieve the valuables.
As you make your way out of the car, lawmen will arrive after a brief cutscene. Eliminate all of them. There will be multiple waves.
Use Deadeye to get rid of as many targets as quickly as you can. After dispatching all the hostiles, gallop straight north until you’re in the clear zone.
The Sheep and the Goats
Medal Goals:
- Herd all the sheep back to Valentine
- Get 35 headshots
- Finish with at least 80% accuracy
- Complete the mission without using any health items
Head to Valentine at the auction yard with the sheep. John will be there waiting for you. After the cutscene, head over to the Gun Smith and buy the Rolling Block Rifle. Don’t worry; it’s not going to cost you a penny.
After buying the rifle, meet John outside and ride with him up to the cliff. Zoom into the incoming herd and shoot on the ground. Try not to kill the herders – just scare them off.
One of them will not be scared off easily, so simply shoot a little closer to him the second time.
Once the ranchers are gone, head down and to the sheep. You can see all the sheep in the mini-map. You have to move near the stragglers (behind them) so they return to the flock. Start herding them slowly by staying behind them.
Don’t try to ride too fast or you might trample them. Keep a steady pace and if any divert, hold the left trigger and shout at them or shoot in the air to make them go faster.
Once the herd has been returned moved into the auction pin and the cutscene has played out, head to the saloon to talk to Dutch.
Another cutscene will ensue. You’ll be put in a precarious situation where you have to engage with half the town.
When both you and Dutch are outside the saloon, fill your Deadeye meter by pressing the right trigger lightly, then press it fully to draw your weapon and shoot.
You will then have to continue moving forward through the town while shooting down enemies left and right. Move from cover to cover and try to get as many headshots as possible.
Strauss will get shot and go down. During this phase, you will need to stay close to the cart as use it as cover while taking out enemies on both sides of the street. Take special care of the enemies on the rooftops.
Use Deadeye here and get as many headshots as possible.
Once you’re at the end of the street, eliminate anyone in front of you, then carry Strauss and stow him on John’s horse.
More enemies will appear but it’s best to ignore them. Mount your horse and flee the area, getting as far away as possible to end the mission.
An American Pastoral Scene
Medal Goals:
- Headshot each of the mounted guards protecting the wagon
- Kill ten enemies using Deadeye
- Complete the mission within 5 minutes 50 seconds
- Complete the mission without using any health items
This mission can be done even in Chapter 3 but it’s best to finish it as the penultimate mission, especially if you are in need of some cash. Head to Micah’s location east of Strawberry and meet him at the campfire.
Ride with him to the ridge and wait for the stagecoach to arrive. Wear your mask and give chase. You need to kill the mounted guarded protecting the wagon.
Use Deadeye and land headshots to kill them quickly, then take out the two riders on the stagecoach.
Mount the stagecoach with Micah to receive a new rifle. Move along until you are ambushed. Pickoff each enemy, using Deadeye often to meet the medal goals.
Make sure to use cover at all times as there are too many enemies and they’ll kill you quickly. Once they’re done, meet Micah at the stagecoach, shoot the lock, and then collect your reward to complete the mission.
A Strange Kindness
Medal Goals:
- Return the captive to his family within one minute and 40 seconds
- Get five headshots
- Finish with 80% or more accuracy
- Complete the mission without using any health items
Head to your camp and speak to Dutch in his tent. He’ll be sitting with Hosea. After the cutscene, mount your horse and ride with Charles to Dewberry Creek to the southeast.
You’ll come across an abandoned area in front of a corpse. Move slowly around and search the boxes leaning on the final carriage to trigger a cutscene.
After the cutscene, mount your horse and head south. Once you reach the camp, try to free the captive and you’ll be ambushed.
Use Deadeye to eliminate your enemies with headshots to earn one of the four medal goals. Once that is done, take the freed individual back to his family in Dewberry Creek.
Make sure to ride as fast as possible to make the journey within 1 minute and 40 seconds.
