Cash in Red Dead Online is hard to come by, so it’s essential to spend it wisely. There are a lot of in-game upgrades that will make your life easier and exponentially increase your ability to make money. However, some of the more flashy choices are actually pretty useless.
Strong (but not overly expensive) horses, saddles, and weapons are among the list of “buy these as soon as you can” items, while cosmetics, vehicles, and other upgrades are a waste of money for low-level players. Sure, a new theme for your campsite will look awesome, but will it improve your character’s stats?
10 Buy: A Decent Horse
Sure, Red Dead Online gives out a free starter horse so you don’t have to walk everywhere, but you won’t find any cowboys or cowgirls raving about the Scrawny Nag. Horses are one of the most expensive purchases in the game while they’re also the most important.
Honestly, you’ll spend A LOT of time in the saddle, so you don’t want to be stuck on a horse that wheezes its way across the region. Make those (many) cross-country treks way less painful by shelling out for a horse with some stamina. Just do it.
9 Wait: Wagons
Another unique feature that separates Red Dead Online from its single-player base game is the ability to purchase vehicles. Specifically, players can buy wagons to transport Trader goods, Bounty prisoners, or hunting materials. This allows a major increase in the amount of cash that can be earned per trip or mission. If these wagons are more efficient, aren’t they worth purchasing?
The short answer is “not yet.” Vehicles will certainly come in handy for seasoned Traders and Bounty Hunters, but low-level players short on cash have to prioritize paying for things that will make their gameplay experience a lot easier. Before buying a Bounty Wagon and filling it with outlaws, you should probably get some weapons so you can survive raiding their hideouts. Just some friendly advice.
8 Buy: Special Saddles
Did you know that you can not just buy horses with improved stats, but saddles too? This feature isn’t emphasized as much in the single-player mode of Red Dead. Luckily, better saddles won’t cost too much cash. And, from a cosmetic point of view, most of them look pretty cool.
The saddles unlocked from progressing in a Role are probably your best bet. Specifically, you should work towards the Delgado Saddle and the McKinney Saddle. These pieces of equipment will reduce a horse’s stamina drain rate by at least 30%. When your trusty steed can sprint for that much longer, the extended rides from Valentine to Tumbleweed will feel a lot faster. Worth every penny.
7 Wait: Horse Accessories And Appearance Upgrades
You’re not an outlaw without a majestic, trusty steed, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune in making it look pretty. As with many other cosmetics, Red Dead Online offers a wide variety of customizations for horses, such as masks, special mane and tail styles, unique hair colors, and lanterns.
They look seriously cool, too. However, a lot of these upgrades cost Gold, which is a resource that is very difficult to earn without shelling out real-life cash. Use it wisely on Pursuit upgrades or something instead.
6 Buy: Ranged Rifles
A new character in Red Dead Online starts with just a Carbine Rifle and a Cattleman’s Revolver. The Carbine Rifle is okay but it quickly becomes apparent that a rifle is required with a lot more power. And range. And a scope can also come in handy.
One of the best rifles to purchase early on is the Bolt-Action Rifle. This weapon is very popular among top outlaws because of its high damage, accuracy, and versatility. Definitely worth it to shell out for this one.
5 Wait: Camp Upgrades
Home, sweet home. Another popular feature of Red Dead Online is that players can customize their own private campsites. Unfortunately, these spacious tents and special stew pots come at an outrageous price.
Simply upgrading the appearance of a tent can set someone back at least $100 and up to $700. Sure, there are some useful camp upgrades such as a Fast Travel Post and a Weapon Locker, but these aren’t even unlocked until you’re a much higher rank. Save the cash and avoid the cosmetic stuff.
4 Buy: Collecter’s Equipment
Yes, Collector Pursuit equipment is expensive, and, yes, you’ll need to rank up a bit to unlock it. However, the Metal Detector and the Pennington Field Shovel are absolutely worth their inflated price tags. This is due to the fact your ability to make good money as a Collector increases by A LOT after purchasing these items.
Once the Field Shovel and Metal Detector are bought, additional Collector’s Maps are unlocked that show the locations of Fossils, Family Heirlooms, Lost Jewelry, Coins, and Arrowheads. You will also start finding these items in the open world. Which would you rather sell to Madame Nazar: Royal Victoria Diamond Earrings or a dusty Tarot Card? Does that make the decision a little easier?
3 Wait: Stylish Clothing & Accessories
Red Dead Online boasts an incredible collection of unique hats, coats, vests, shirts, pants, boots, gloves, and accessories. It’s so tempting to visit the local Tailor and buy everything you can get your hands on. The customization possibilities are endless. And who doesn’t want to look like a true Red Dead bandit, especially when people can spot “noob” players from a mile away because they’re still wearing their starter outfit?
As difficult as it is, the best choice is to close your Catalogue or leave the Tailor shop. Most of the best-looking clothes in Red Dead Online are wildly expensive and won’t do anything to improve your stats. Don’t spend $300 on that fur coat when the money could be better spent on a hunting rifle. Or a new horse. Or a metal detector. Prioritize the important upgrades now and buy the pretty stuff later.
2 Buy: Schofield Revolver
The Schofield Revolver is championed by all cowboys and cowgirls as one of the strongest weapons in Red Dead Online. This baby has everything an aspiring outlaw needs: high damage, incredible range, quick reload, and deadly accuracy. Do you know what else is awesome about the Schofield Revolver? It’s unlocked very early.
And what’s even better about this weapon? It’s cheap. Purchase the Schofield Revolver as soon as possible and you’ll continue to carry it even after becoming a seasoned Red Dead Online veteran.
1 Wait: Ability Cards
This one also falls under the category of “helpful later but avoid for now.” Some ability cards are super overpowered, plus you can pay $350 to make each card even stronger. However, purchasing a new ability card and upgrading it can cost more cash than most horses.
Plus, most of the stat-based cards change the rate at which your stats increase or decrease, but they do NOT affect your base level. You can actually increase Health, Stamina, and Dead Eye by performing simple in-game activities. So go fishing and earn some extra cash in addition to your Health increase; don’t waste money on ability cards right away.
NEXT: Red Dead Redemption 2: 10 Wild Encounters You’ll Never Forget
