Embarking on Arthur Morgan’s journey through the Wild West in Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic adventure, and at its heart lies a trusty steed. The bond with your horse is paramount, affecting everything from travel speed and combat effectiveness to your overall immersion. But with a stable full of options, how do you ensure you have the best horse in RDR2 story mode? This guide delves deep into understanding horse breeds, their stats, acquisition methods, and care, ensuring your equine companion is second to none.
Choosing the right horse isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about optimizing your gameplay. Different breeds offer distinct advantages, from raw speed and acceleration to stamina and health. The vast world of RDR2 demands a horse that can keep up with your ambitions, whether you’re on a long-haul delivery, a high-stakes chase, or a desperate escape.
The Thrill of the Ride: Understanding Horse Stats
Before you can find the best horse in RDR2 story mode, you need to understand what makes a horse “good.” Every horse in the game possesses a core set of stats that dictate its performance:
- Health: Represents the horse’s toughness and how much damage it can sustain. Higher health means your horse can endure more, especially in firefights.
- Stamina: Governs how long your horse can sprint before becoming exhausted. This is crucial for long journeys and quick getaways.
- Speed: Determines the horse’s maximum top speed. Essential for covering ground quickly.
- Acceleration: How quickly the horse reaches its top speed. More important than top speed in many chase scenarios.
- Reaching: Affects how quickly the horse’s stamina regenerates. A higher “Reaching” stat means your horse’s stamina bar refills faster, allowing for more frequent sprints.
These stats are often represented by five bars, which can be upgraded through bonding with your horse. The base stats, however, vary significantly between breeds, making the initial choice critical.
Exploring the Diverse Breeds: Types of Horses in RDR2
Red Dead Redemption 2 features a wide array of horse breeds, each with its own unique characteristics and strengths. Understanding these breeds is key to identifying the best horse in RDR2 story mode for your playstyle. They are generally categorized into several groups:
Work Horses
These are sturdy, reliable horses known for their high health and stamina, making them excellent for long-distance travel and hauling. However, they often lag in speed and acceleration. Breeds include:
- Belgian Draft: Exceptional health and stamina, but slow.
- Clydesdale: Similar to the Belgian, known for size and strength.
- Shire: Another large draft horse with impressive durability.
- Percheron: A solid workhorse, good for durability.
Rapid Horses
As the name suggests, these horses excel in speed and acceleration, making them ideal for races and quick escapes. Their health and stamina might be lower, requiring more careful management. Breeds include:
- Arabian: Widely considered one of the best all-around horses, particularly the White Arabian. Excellent speed, acceleration, and stamina, with good health.
- Turkoman: A beautiful and fast horse with good stamina.
- Hungarian Halfbred: A balanced horse with good speed and stamina.
- Morgan: A versatile horse, good for general use.
Riding Horses
This category offers a balance between speed, stamina, and handling, making them suitable for a variety of tasks. Breeds include:
- American Standardbred: Known for its speed and stamina, a good all-rounder.
- Tennessee Walker: Famous for its smooth gait, good for long rides.
- Suffolk Punch: A sturdy riding horse with decent stamina.
Outlaw Horses
These breeds are often associated with the rougher elements of the West, typically featuring a rugged appearance and a good balance of stats suitable for a life of crime. Breeds include:
- Mustang: Hardy and resilient, good for traversing tough terrain.
- American Quarter Horse: Known for its agility and quick bursts of speed.
- Appaloosa: Distinctive coat patterns, offers a good mix of stats.
- Kentucky Saddler: A reliable horse for general riding.
Elite/Special Horses
Some horses stand out due to their exceptional stats or unique acquisition methods. These often represent the pinnacle of equine performance in the game.
Finding Your Perfect Mount: Where to Acquire the Best Horses
The journey to acquiring the best horse in RDR2 story mode involves more than just looking at stats; it’s about how and when you obtain them. Here are the primary methods:
1. Purchasing from Stables
This is the most straightforward method. As the story progresses, more advanced stables become available in larger towns like Valentine, Strawberry, Blackwater, and Tumbleweed. These stables offer a rotating selection of high-tier horses. Keep an eye out for breeds like the Arabian, Turkoman, and Missouri Fox Trotter, which are often considered among the best.
2. Horse Chasing and Taming
For a more hands-on approach, you can find wild horses scattered throughout the map. Taming a wild horse can yield some excellent breeds, especially if you focus on specific regions known for certain types. For example, wild Mustangs and Appaloosas can be found in the northern parts of the map, while Mustangs and Pinto variants might appear in the West. This method is free but requires patience and skill.
3. Story Missions and Free Roam Events
Certain horses are acquired through story progression. For instance, the Missouri Fox Trotter is often obtained through a mission later in the game and is widely regarded as one of the absolute best horses due to its exceptional speed and stamina. Keep an eye on mission rewards and unique encounters.
The White Arabian: A Legendary Choice
The White Arabian is a breed that frequently tops discussions about the best horse in RDR2 story mode. It can be found in the wild, specifically around the northwestern shores of Lake Isabella in the Grizzlies West region.
- Stats: The White Arabian boasts impressive base stats for speed and acceleration, with good stamina. While its health isn’t as high as some of the larger breeds, its overall balance makes it a formidable mount, especially when its bonding level is increased.
- Acquisition: You can tame this magnificent horse like any other wild horse. However, be prepared for a challenge, as it’s a skittish animal and can be difficult to track and break. It becomes available relatively early in Chapter 2, making it an accessible top-tier horse.
Beyond the Arabian: Other Top Contenders
While the White Arabian is a popular choice, several other breeds offer compelling reasons to be considered the best horse in RDR2 story mode, depending on your priorities:
Missouri Fox Trotter
Often cited as the ultimate horse, the Missouri Fox Trotter truly shines.
- Stats: Exceptional speed and stamina, coupled with good health, make it a powerhouse. Its ability to maintain high speeds for extended periods is unparalleled.
- Acquisition: This breed is typically acquired later in the game, often through story missions or purchased from high-end stables. Its late-game availability means you’ll likely have already bonded with other horses, but the upgrade is significant.
Turkoman
A beautiful and capable breed, the Turkoman is a fantastic all-around choice.
- Stats: High speed and acceleration, with solid stamina. It’s a great option for players who want a fast and responsive horse that can also handle longer rides.
- Acquisition: Can be purchased from stables in later chapters.
Buell (War Horse)
While technically a unique horse and not a breed, Buell is a special case.
- Stats: Buell is a War Horse, meaning it has exceptionally high health and good stamina, making it incredibly durable in combat situations. It’s slower than the Arabians or Fox Trotters but can withstand a lot of punishment.
- Acquisition: Acquired through a specific side mission involving a character named Buell.
The Importance of Horse Bonding
Regardless of the breed you choose, the bond you share with your horse is crucial. As you ride, groom, feed, and calm your horse, your bonding level increases. Each level unlocks new abilities and improves your horse’s core stats:
- Level 1: Basic riding.
- Level 2: Unlock gentle voice commands.
- Level 3: Unlock the ability to siphon stamina from other horses.
- Level 4: Unlock the ability to perform the “Drift” maneuver.
- Level 5: Unlock the ultimate ability to summon your horse from further distances and gain access to improved stats (further increases to Health, Stamina, Speed, and Acceleration).
Achieving Level 5 bonding with any horse significantly boosts its performance, making even a standard breed feel like a champion. This is where the true potential of finding the “best horse” is realized – it’s not just the breed, but the partnership.
Caring for Your Champion
To maintain peak performance, proper horse care is essential. This includes:
- Feeding: Regularly feed your horse food like Hay, Oatcakes, or Biscuits to keep its cores (Health and Stamina) full. Special horse meals provide more significant regeneration.
- Grooming: Keeping your horse clean prevents its cores from draining faster and increases your bond.
- Calming: Use the calm command when your horse is spooked by predators or gunfire. This prevents it from bucking you off and helps maintain your bond.
Conclusion: Your Ultimate Riding Companion
In the vast and dangerous world of Red Dead Redemption 2, your horse is more than just a mode of transportation; it’s your partner. While breeds like the Missouri Fox Trotter and the White Arabian consistently rank high for their exceptional stats and performance, the “best horse” ultimately depends on your personal playstyle and priorities.
Remember that the bonding level plays a significant role, often closing the gap between different breeds. By understanding horse stats, exploring the available breeds, knowing where to find them, and diligently caring for your steed, you’ll be well on your way to experiencing the ultimate ride. Whether you seek raw speed, unwavering stamina, or steadfast durability, the perfect equine companion awaits to help you forge your legend across the plains.
Consider the Missouri Fox Trotter if you aim for unparalleled speed and stamina for late-game adventures. For an accessible, high-performing option available earlier, the White Arabian is an outstanding choice. However, don’t discount the sturdy War Horses or other balanced breeds like the Turkoman if their strengths align with your needs. The true joy lies in the journey with your chosen companion, making every ride a memorable part of your RDR2 story.
