Arthur Morgan had been riding the same dusty trails for years, but even a seasoned outlaw like him knew that surviving the wild west of Red Dead Redemption 2 meant more than a quick draw. The game is a massive beast—70 hours just for the main story, and well over 100 if you want to chase every squirrel, stranger, and legendary fish. In 2026, the frontier is still alive and kicking, and new players are still getting bushwhacked by a lack of preparation. Some items and upgrades are absolute must-haves; others can be skipped without a second thought. A few are duds, a few could be better, but the ones below are pure gold for the single-player experience. Most folks will stumble across them naturally while browsing stores, but a handful can be harder to find than a sober cowboy on a Saturday night. So saddle up, partner—here is the gear that keeps Arthur in the fight.

13 Masks

Committing crimes in a mask will help Arthur avoid warrants, so they are an essential resource. They also make other people think twice when they see a shadowy figure riding into town. As a nice bonus, Arthur earns tons of fashion points. The Psycho Mask, for example, is a black hockey mask and looks cool as all get-out. There are five in total to be found in the game, and each one is a little ace in the hole when the law starts sniffing around.

12 Horse Station Camp Upgrade

Once Arthur gets to the point where the gang has a camp, he can contribute money and upgrade it. One of the must-have upgrades is the Horse Station, so there is plenty of room to hitch his horse. It costs $300 to upgrade. Arthur cannot ride his horse inside the camp, and hitching the horse raises the bond with it. Pretty much everyone in the camp has a horse, so later in the game this is something every outlaw will definitely want to have. It saves a heap of hassle and keeps the camp running like a well-oiled machine.

11 Dynamite

There are some sections in this game where a bunch of dudes group up in shootouts, and using dynamite on them is very satisfying. On the way back to camp one time, Arthur will run into an interesting group of people in hoods, and that is an amazing place to use one because they are already in a big group. It is also useful to get people out of cover. Or Arthur could always just throw some in the air, go into Dead Eye, and shoot it. It is loud, messy, and exactly the kind of chaos that makes the Wild West feel wild.

10 Explosive and Fire Cartridges

In RDR2, Arthur can craft fire and explosive damage rounds for his guns. These are so fun to use, but he will need the crafting equipment. The explosive ammo is not really what players may think; it is pretty much just a more powerful punch for the ammo. The fire ammo, though, is exactly what they are thinking. When are fire arrows not cool? Arthur needs animal fat for those, but as long as he is hunting regularly, he should have some. It is a surefire way to turn a bad situation into a barbecue.

9 Gun Oil

Arthur does need to clean his guns in this game, and he can do that by taking them to a gunsmith or by cleaning them himself with gun oil. Some people feel it is a bit much to have to clean weapons, but it undeniably adds to the immersion. If he cleans it himself, he just holds down the appropriate button and it cleans in a few seconds. Cleaning improves the performance of the gun, so it is not something anyone can ignore the whole game. A dirty gun is about as useful as a screen door on a submarine.

8 Gun Belts and Bandoliers

These fall into the must-have category of things to get while playing the game. The gun belts allow Arthur to have more ammo for all his guns. There is a ton of ammo in the game, so as long as he has the gun belts, he will basically never run out. Once Arthur gets to Valentine, they become available to buy at the general store. He can literally have 400 rounds for most guns with these and carry two handguns at once. That is not just handy; it is the difference between a fair fight and a turkey shoot.

7 Arthur's Lodging Camp Upgrade

This is the most important upgrade Arthur can get for the camp, because it unlocks fast travel. He gets a map by his bed and can fast travel to any major place he has already been to. Players may want to wait on getting this upgrade a while, though. It is a relief in the late game, but toward the beginning, it is much more fun to explore the world and ride across it personally. Getting fast travel too early could definitely ruin that experience. It is a classic case of hurry up and wait.

6 Lancaster Repeater

The Lancaster Repeater is one of the most accurate guns in the game. The damage is pretty solid, but the accuracy is why people love it. It takes repeater ammo, which is not uncommon, so Arthur will never have to go without it. There is one warning, though: this gun is for people, not animals, so players definitely should not hunt with it. When a rival gang starts acting tough, the Lancaster lets Arthur shoot from the hip and still come out on top.

5 Long Barrel and Iron Sights Upgrade

These weapon upgrades are the most important ones because they increase the accuracy of the weapon. The game does have a snap-to kind of auto-aim feature, but these upgrades are still valuable. Some people found the shooting in the game lacking, so any help to make combat easier is good. Having these also makes aiming in Dead Eye easier. Arthur can get these at any gunsmith, and they are pretty cheap. For a few dollars, they turn a shaky shot into a dead-eye specialist.

4 Miracle Tonic

A Miracle Tonic is probably the best healing item in the game. It fully restores the outer circle of all of Arthur's cores, which is kind of a full heal. Players can buy these or craft them. Always make sure Arthur has a few of them every time he goes into a big mission, just in case. There is one warning: if someone is going for gold medals in missions, most have a stipulation of not using healing items. So keep a few in the satchel, but do not rely on them if glory is the goal.

Final Thoughts for 2026

Red Dead Redemption 2 is not getting any smaller, and in 2026 the game still rewards preparation. A masked Arthur with a Lancaster, a full bandolier, and a Miracle Tonic in his pocket is a force to be reckoned with. The camp upgrades keep the gang happy, the gun oil keeps the iron reliable, and the dynamite keeps things interesting. Players do not need every single item, but skipping the ones above is like bringing a knife to a gunfight. Take the time to grab them, and the frontier will feel a lot less unforgiving.

Item or Upgrade	Why It Matters
Masks	Avoid warrants and look intimidating
Horse Station	More hitch space and higher horse bond
Dynamite	Great against groups and cover
Explosive and Fire Cartridges	Extra punch and fiery fun
Gun Oil	Keeps weapons performing well
Gun Belts and Bandoliers	Massive ammo capacity
Arthur's Lodging	Unlocks fast travel
Lancaster Repeater	Top-tier accuracy for humans
Long Barrel and Iron Sights	Better accuracy and Dead Eye aiming
Miracle Tonic	Best full-core healing item

So there it is, partner. Whether Arthur is robbing a train or just trying to make it back to camp without a bounty on his head, these items and upgrades are the real deal. In 2026, the west is still wild, and the right gear is still the difference between riding off into the sunset and ending up as coyote food. 🤠🐎💥