With Christmas right around the corner and the release of the next generation of Playstation and Xbox gaming systems.Red Dead Onlinewill likely see a large influx of new players saddling up to live out their fantasies of a hardened outlaw.Red Dead Onlinegives players a crazy amount of depth and customization, which is often very overwhelming.
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In the beginning stages of joiningRed Dead Online, how an outlaw spends their first hard-earned cash and gold bars can make or break a player’s success in the wild west. Here are ten items that players should buy first.
Updated June 24, 2025 by Payton Lott:It has been almost three years since the launch of Red Dead Online. While a lot of things have changed in-game, the main beginner essentials are the same as they were a couple of years ago. The original list left out a few key items that people will need as they begin their journey in Red Dead Online. For example, guns aren’t very useful without ammunition. This list of items will help new players, as well as story mode mains get off to a quick start in RDO. Ideally, everyone should have all 15 within a few hours of playtime.
15Horse
One of the most important things people can spend their money on is a horse.RDOhas a massive map that seems to get bigger as time goes on. Having a decent horse makes all the traveling from place to place much more bearable.
Yes, fast travel is an option, but there are only so many points on the map.Every stable has affordable horses, and buying one is essential early in the game.
14Saddle
Of course, each horse will need a saddle. InRDO, saddles do not just enable the player to ride a horse,they provide useful benefits too. These include health, stamina, and stamina drain. Dealing with horse stamina would be frustrating if people were not able to buff it with a saddle.
These can also be purchased from the stables, and there are plenty of cheap options. Later in the game, most people will want to upgrade toa top-tier option.
13Discounted Coupon Items
In the menu under rewards, players cantake a look at all of the active coupons in the game. Using these coupons is a great way to get useful, expensive items for a great rate. There is no need to actually claim them, as purchasing the item at the store will automatically discount a coupon item.
This is technically not a purchase, but anytime there are coupons in the benefits tab, people will want to take advantage of them. Many beginners have no clue that these even exist.
12Camp Upgrades
The main upgrades people will want to get first arethe tent and the fast travel post. Upgraded tents refill cores more and at a faster rate compared to the bed roll or lean-to for example. It is always good to have full health and stamina when setting out.
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Likewise, the fast travel post makes going to and from the camp so much more convenient. Traveling is a part of the game, but no one want to ride on horseback to the camp all the time.
11Food, Ammo, And Bait From The General Store
Buying these essentials may seem obvious, but a lot of newcomers forget that their guns need ammo and their character needs food to survive.The General Store is a one-stop-shopfor the above three essentials.
Players can stop by and get everything they need in one place. Because this is a beginner guide, people will only need the above three items to get by in the first few hours ofRDO.
10Bolt Action Rifle
TheBolt Action Rifleis a new outlaw’s bread and butter. The Bolt Action Rifle gives a player immense stopping power, precision, and range in one package. This gun is so effective that many players use it throughout the entirety of their outlaw life.
With this rifle, outlaws cantake down big game with easeand hold their own in PvP.The Bolt Action Rifle unlocks at Rank 7 and costs $216.00 or 9 gold bars.
9Bow and Arrows
Every outlaw that plans to be an elite hunter needs the Bow and Arrow in their arsenal. The Bow and Arrow allows players to take down small game and medium-sized game without damaging the pelts. The Bow and Arrow is also a deadly weapon against other outlaws and NPCs.
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As a player progresses, outlaws will acquire the ability to make fire arrows, small game arrows, and explosive arrows.The Bow and Arrow unlocks at Rank 10.
8Fishing Rod
Fishing inRed Dead Onlinecan be very lucrative and is highly undervalued. To add to thebenefits of fishing, outlaws should know that catching fish will boost a player’s overall Health Core level.
There are a vast variety of fish spread all over the world ofRed Dead Onlineplenty to keep the enthused fisherman busy. TheFish Rod unlocks at Rank 14and can be bought at any general store or in a player’s Wheeler & Rawson Catalog.
7Frontier Pursuits
Frontier Pursuits has been a great addition toRed Dead Onlineand gives players more layers of depth to enjoy. The Frontier Pursuits more importantly gives outlaws a number of different ways to make large amounts of cash fast and consistently.
Typically Frontier Pursuits cost around15 gold bars, but the return value is immense. Whether an outlaw wants to be a Bounty Hunter,Moonshiner,Collector, Naturalist, or a Trader, either option will make a beginner a lot of money.
6Lancaster Repeater
Arguably the most versatile firearm inRed Dead Onlineis theLancaster Repeater. This gun gives outlaws the ability to hunt a wide range of animals effectively and take down gang hideouts single-handedly.
The Lancaster Repeater has an ammo capacity of 14 and players have the option of adding a long-range scope to add even more versatility. Thisweapon unlocks at Rank 12and costs $243.00 or 10 gold bars and has an overall score of 65.
