Red Dead Redemption 2 has plenty of ways to make your character unique to you. You can change your facial hair, choose which missions to take on, and purchase spiffy new duds. You can also define yourself via your chosen killing implements. Each gun in Red Dead 2 can hold a mess of different types of ammunition. With a little crafting know-how, you’ll always have the right bullet for the job. So, take a look at the following guide to see exactly how to craft ammo in Red Dead Redemption 2.
How to Craft Ammo in Red Dead Redemption 2 – The Basics
In order to craft any ammunition (or anything else), you’ll need to head to a campfire. Once there, your options for what ammo you can create will appear in the crafting menu. Note that you’ll need to purchase the base level ammo at the shop in most cases before you can start customizing. You’ll also need the procure the recipe pamphlet in-game before Arthur will be able to get together the bullets you want. You’ll get a good number of these at the beginning of Chapter 2, and you can find the rest hidden in the world. If you can’t find them yourself, fences will carry these recipes eventually, so keep checking back. Some crafted ammunition will also be available in shops if you don’t already know the recipe.
Red Dead Redemption 2 – How to Craft Pistol Ammo
Pistol ammo is the most versatile of the different types of bullets available to you in Red Dead Redemption 2. They can be used in most pistols, repeaters, rifles, revolvers, and sniper rifles. You can purchase Regular, High Velocity, and Express bullets straight away from the shop. High Velocity boosts your damage and range, while Express just gives a bigger buff to damage.
Split Point bullets can be crafted using Regular ammunition and a Hunting Knife. This will enhance the damage of the bullets as well as give a bigger boost to accuracy. Explosive ammo will give a large damage boost to your Express cartridges as well as generally bust up whatever you fire at. To craft that, you’ll need Express bullets and a stock of Animal Fat.
Do note that you won’t need to worry about stat buffs if you’re regularly using the game’s Dead Eye in your fights. A small buff to range or accuracy means little if you’re popping off slow motion headshots. Red Dead Redemption 2 lets players pick how they want to tackle the world, and these alternate ammo types are just one example.
Red Dead Redemption 2 – How to Craft Shotgun Ammo
Shotguns have their own stock of shells and slugs, ranging from the ordinary to the extraordinary. You can purchase shells and slugs from the store. Slugs give you a range and accuracy boost compared to the normal shells, but you’ll need both if you want to craft additional types of shotgun ammo. Incendiary Buckshot sets enemies on fire with an incendiary effect and increased damage. Arthur Morgan just needs to combine shells with a little Moonshine. As for how adding liquid to a bullet will make it catch fire, that’s up to the magic of video games.
If you’re full up on Slugs instead of Shells, you can instead craft Explosive Slugs. This is similar to the Explosive pistol ammo, but it also gives you the benefits of a Slug. In total, that’s a huge damage boost, smaller boosts to range and accuracy, and a fiery blast to wash the whole thing down. To craft Explosive Slugs, just combine your normal Slugs with more Animal Fat.
Red Dead Redemption 2 – How to Craft Arrows
Unlike bullets, you can only buy one type of standard arrow from Red Dead Redemption 2‘s shops. However, that’s made up for with a whole range of options to use with your bow of choice.
- The Improved Arrow give a straight boost to damage, as the name would suggest. You just need a regular arrow and a Flight Feather.
- The Small Game Arrow is preferable if you want to hunt without damaging your prey too much. This will actually reduce your overall damage by a significant degree. You can craft this by combining a Flight Feather and a Shotgun Shell with a regular arrow.
- The Poison Arrow boosts damage less than the Improved Arrow but makes up for it by dealing out damage over time. You can craft this with your regular arrow and a Flight Feather combined with oleander sage. This is a plant you might find on your travels, so be sure to stock up when you see a batch.
- The Fire Arrow needs a Flight Feather and Animal Fat to craft along with a standard arrow. This will give you a big damage boost and set enemies ablaze. Perfect for a little makeshift barbecue.
- The Explosive Arrow seems to be out of place in the Wild West, but Arthur Morgan has some know-how. Starting with the familiar Flight Feather and regular arrow, Arthur can craft that with a stick of dynamite to make for an explosive good time. This will give you a significant damage boost and blow any targets to kingdom come.
Red Dead Redemption 2 – How to Craft Throwables
If you’d rather use your hands than any of Red Dead Redemptions 2‘s firearms, there is an array of objects you can hurl to cause havoc. This ranges from dynamite to throwing knives to tomahawks. It also includes “fire bottles”, which are more commonly known as Molotov Cocktails. Whatever your preference, you can be sure that you’ll be able to slap some improved versions together with the right recipe and the right items.
- Fire Bottles can themselves be crafted at any campfire. You just need any spare Alcohol and Animal Fat to quickly turn up the heat.
- If you want to get the best results, you’ll want the Volatile Fire Bottle. This can be purchased from the store or crafted in the same way as a regular Fire Bottle, just using Moonshine. It gives you a damage boost and all the effects you’d expect from setting an area ablaze.
- Dynamite is only purchasable at the store. It’s a versatile choice for your throwable. You can either light it in your hand and throw for a midair explosion, or plop it on the ground and lay in wait. Once an enemy’s in range, just fire at the stick and give him a big surprise.
- Later on, you may want to move onto Volatile Dynamite. You can purchase this or convert your regular sticks of Dynamite via crafting. You’ll just need to combine them with Animal Fat and a High-Velocity bullet. Volatile Dynamite improves the damage dealt to enemies lucky enough to survive the initial blast.
Red Dead Redemption 2 – How to Craft Throwing Knives
Both Throwing Knives and Tomahawks are items available at most shops. The choice between the two is mostly aesthetic, but they each do come with unique crafting upgrades to consider. Either way, you’ll be sticking it to your opponents in no time with the following improvements.
- The Improved Throwing Knife can be crafted by adding an eagle or hawk feather to a standard knife. This addition of down comes with many benefits, including enhanced damage, accuracy and range.
- The Poison Throwing Knife boosts initial damage and leaves a lingering sting. To create one of these, you’ll need more of that Oleander Sage to rub onto a standard knife.
- The Improved Tomahawk goes farther and hits harder. To craft this upgrade, you’ll need the same eagle or hawk feathers as with the throwing knife. In exchange, you get a range increase and more damage.
- Homing Tomahawks may not magically lock in on opponents, but they will get the job done. You just need an owl feather for this upgrade, and you’ll get improved range and accuracy in exchange.
