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How to bag yourself Legendary Animals in Red Dead Redemption 2
Crit hits then eat grits - Or, here's our handy guide to, and locations of, all of Red Dead Redemption 2's Legendary Animals...
The vibrant, pristine wildernesses in Red Dead Redemption 2 represent Mother Nature at her absolute finest. The majestic old girl looks so beautiful out there you'll want to send her a thank you card. Next best thing: load up for rhinoceros, stalk her greatest miracles, fashion them into fetching attire and impress her that way. “Hey maw, look what I done made!”
That's right, people. Some folk hunt for sport, others hunt for food. The only thing we're hunting for is an outfit that looks... good. Fortunately, Legendary Animals exist in Red Dead Redemption 2 and, once you butcher them horribly, you can then drape Arthur Morgan in frontier-chic finery. “Fashion Backward”, we believe the term is.
Retro is so hot right now.
John Wayne will have nothing on your fringe game. That said, this being set in the US of A means your options don't include gorilla vests, Irish setter sweaters, a hat that t'were your cat, nor a beret of poodle for your noodle. Swings and roundabouts.
What to Know and How to Load for Bear
Ideally, you'll want two guns. The pump action shotgun for adjusting carnivore attitudes and we cannot stress how OP the bolt-action rifle is at range against flighty herbivores. Even stock it's potent, but if you do want to one-shot beasts, be sure to go to a gunsmith. Get the longest barrel you can and any other upgrades that increase your boomstick's murder stats. Scopes aren't especially required. The auto-aim will do your job just fine.
...turns out it's man
© Rockstar
Once you're ready to go make some gophers into loafers visit Josiah in the first gang camp (Chapter 2). He'll take you on a hunting trip that's something of a toe-dip... with a grizzly bear. Be prepared to pursue this monster when the storyline of that mission wraps. Old Yogi is going to be your first customer and then you'll get a fairly useless map that'll vaguely show you where the other remaining legendary animals hang out. Ignore it for our more pinpointed descriptions of each mark below.
The Hunt is On
The majority of hunts follow a pretty straightforward formula. You get within range of the animal and receive a notification telling you that good eatin' is nearby. At this point your map will update with a picture of the creature with a crown above it and clicking both analogue sticks in will reveal investigation points in the world (these manifest as orange, fountain-like things).
Typically, you go to one of these clues, interact with it and then use the tracking function to follow a trail to the next clue. Repeat this process three times and then keep low and stay silent -- the final clue will spawn the animal in the environment somewhere. Take aim, think of your wardrobe and how fetch you're gonna look compared to cowboys of less discriminatin' tastes, and take your shot in the name of fabulousness.
Legendary Cougar map location
© Rockstar
1. Cougar
Quick note: do not attempt this early on in the game. This is SW on the map, due west of the town of Tumbleweed, and that place is a feeding frenzy of law dogs in the opening hours. Once the plot progresses, go for a wander down and have your guard up. Cougars are vicious. Especially on a Saturday night when you're hammered drunk and without a wingman. This will be a cave fight so make like Corporal Hicks (shotgun -- for close encounters).
Legendary Pronghorn map location
© Rockstar
2. Pronghorn
Being the most controversially named animal on this list (though the bighorn ram was in close competition) the pronghorn sure is hard to lay hands on in Red Dead Redemption 2. This one is way, waaay down in the south west of the map, near the river that borders Mexico. It's east of Fort Mercer and do be careful around that outlaw hideout. Those fellers are shooters.
Non-White, Regular Bison map location
© Rockstar
3. Bison
Much like the cougar on this list, to get this animal is to venture into the New Austin section of the map. In GTA V terms, that's basically five-star wanted death on a stick down there. Wait until the heat dies down by progressing in the story, then head south-east of the MacFarlane Ranch at Hennigan’s Stead.
Legendary (not Uncle) Buck map location
© Rockstar
4. Buck
Weirdly, when it comes to grazing habits and clues this animal doesn't buck the trend at all. Just head north west out of the town of Strawberry until the prompt pops and you find some dung and then some fur not too far away. Final clue resides in an area with a bunch of felled pines in it. We bagged our buck north of the starting point in Black Bone Forest.
Legendary Bighorn Ram map location
© Rockstar
5. Bighorn Ram
Check your saddle bag, Arthur Morgan. Yes, your rig's been upgraded, but who couldn't do with some extra ram? Expect to not have the high ground advantage when hunting this especially horny feller. The last clue will lead you through a stream facing a steep hill. He'll spawn nestled on the other side up the incline so take it very slow.
Legendary Bison map location
© Rockstar
6. White Bison
This isn't a double entry. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a game that features another, more magnificent bison (in order to differentiate between the two, we're calling this one M. Bison). That said, he's a tatanka who offers a very unique challenge when compared to the rest. Because try hunting a white buffalo in a perpetually snowy environment. Oh, and his footprint trail glows white, too. Pro tip: start by the river.
Legendary Wolf map location
© Rockstar
7. Wolf
If you're feeling tough after dropping the legendary bear, head due west to the geyser fields. This fight will be out in the open and the clues are closely grouped together. Trigger the last one and you're in for the ambush of a lifetime. Keep your powder and your pants dry and you'll be fine, pardner. Also, make sure your Dead Eye is full.
Legendary Bear map location
© Rockstar
8. Bear
Yep. We've covered this. Check the vid embedded earlier to see how it all goes down. Just make sure you're loaded and ready to kill him quickly. People have reported great difficulty in making this guy’s respawn for a second attempt. Aim to kill him first go, bear minimum.
Legendary Moose map location
© Rockstar
9. Moose
Everybody loves Bullwinkle. Arthur Morgan more than most, it seems. He's nestled right up in the most south eastern point of the map – right up in hungry hillbilly country, so be careful. First clue is north off the road and can be tough to locate (it's a tree rubbing). Connecting the dots is easy from there and you'll need to take the final shot from the train lines. Keep your ears open as you aim, lest you get railed by the Annesburg Express.
Legendary Beaver map location
© Rockstar
10. Beaver
Having a legendary beaver is pretty brag-worthy stuff, let's be honest. That said, we found this water-dweller can be mighty tough to secure. After piecing together all the clues in and around the river, our beaver spawned in said body of water and we sunk him. Problem: the current kicked in and he floated away (no “collect” prompt will appear on floating debris). Save yourself the chase. Take him down on land.
Legendary Boar map location
© Rockstar
11. Boar
Pumbaa must die. It's a simple as that. Grab a rifle and head out to Bluewater Marsh in the east until you find some pig dung. When you've pieced together a trail with broken sticks and what have you, Mr. Pig will spawn at a fairly extreme distance (but you shouldn't call him that). We'd recommend a scoped rifle, but even then it's highly likely you'll just wound him. Be prepared to chase. Pumbaa is a bleeder, kids.
Legendary Coyote map location
© Rockstar
12. Coyote
This one starts in a dry river bed near a rotten sheep. From that lovely display, connect the dots to some fur, and then a family of nearby boars who have clearly lost a loved one to your mark. Follow this final trail to a field, crouch and watch the tree line. Line up the coyote, try to ignore his deep, yet soothing Johnny Cash voice and any speeches he may give about “finding your soul mate” and put him down.
Legendary Fox map location
© Rockstar
13. Fox
We'd recommend doing this at night when there's fewer varmints active in the area. During the daytime this mini-valley is animal trails-a-go-go, making singling the fox out difficult. Try not to get too distracted by them and focus (literally, with L3 + R3) on solid clues versus trails. The final clue is a smidge to the east of the fox's map icon.
Legendary Elk map location
© Rockstar
14. Elk
This elk irked us. Where this icon is on the map and where the actual hunt takes place are pretty far removed from one another. Get within range of the animal drawing that pops off the map, and then go due north-east, towards the railway line. Expect a fair trot until you reach the first clue. Once you reach it, the others will be very close so take it slow.
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