Red Dead Redemption 2 doesn't make a lot of its mechanics known to the player. There are systems buried deep within that you'd be hard-pressed to come in contact with if you're mainlining the game's major story and side missions. Among these mechanics are special Perks that offer improvements to Arthur's overall abilities.
We know what you're thinking, though: "Perks? You mean like Perks you unlock from an RPG-like progression tree?" Yes, and no. Red Dead Redemption 2 does in fact offer these sorts of Perks, but they're unlocked by obtaining special items known as Talismans and Trinkets, and not from any special in-game progression screen.
Talismans and Trinkets are primarily crafted at Fences--special black market shops that sell all manner of useful items you can't get at any ol' General Shop. You'll need parts from Legendary Animals to craft them. Others are rewarded to you by completing specific missions under special conditions. While Talismans and Trinkets are technically items, know that you don't need to equip them in order for them to be active. Once you acquire one, it'll affect Arthur's abilities permanently, and they can even be equipped as a cosmetic item.
Below we run down all of the Talismans we've found so far, what they do, and what you need to unlock them. Any Talismans or Trinkets that have crafting components marked with a "*" are special items that require you to complete specific missions or challenges; a table can be found further below that details their locations.
If you're looking for more guides, you'd be remiss not to check out our feature highlighting all the tips you should know before playing. Though, we also have guides on more specific subjects, like cheat codes, gun customization and money making. Be sure to read our Red Dead 2 review if you haven't already.
General
The General category has the most Perks affecting a variety of attributes, like weapon degradation, Eagle Eye duration, alcohol resistance, and much more. There are 10 General Perks in total--not including the Eagle Talon Talisman Perk you get from the Special/Ultimate Edition.
| Name | Perk Effect | How To Get |
|---|---|---|
| Beaver Tooth Trinket | Slows weapons degradation by 10% | Crafted at Fences with Legendary Beaver Tooth |
| Buck Antler Trinket | Increases chances of higher-quality parts from skinning animals | Crafted at Fences using the Legendary Buck Antler |
| Elk Antler Trinket | Increases the money you get from looting by 10% | Crafted at Fences using the Legendary Elk Antler |
| Fox Claw Trinket | Increases Eagle Eye duration by five seconds | Crafted at Fences using the Legendary Fox Claw |
| Pronghorn Horn Trinket | Stops animals stored on your horse from decomposing | Crafted at Fences using the Legendary Pronghorn Horn |
| Ram Horn Trinket | Doubles the amount of herbs you get from picking oregano, creeping thyme, and wild mint | Crafted at Fences using the Legendary Ram Horn |
| Wolf Heart Trinket | Doubles resistance to alcohol | Crafted at Fences with Legendary Wolf Heart |
| Owl Feather Trinket | Reduces speed of Health, Stamina, and Dead Eye Core drain by 15% | Reward for completing "Archeology for Beginners" without killing a single person |
| Boar Tusk Talisman | Decreases Core drain speed of your horse's Health and Stamina by 10% | Crafted at Fences using, Cobalt Petrified Wood*, Gold Earring, Legendary Boar Tusk |
| Raven Claw Talisman | Slows weapon degradation by 20% | Crafted at Fences with Old Brass Compass* |
| Eagle Talon Talisman | Increases Eagle Eye duration by five seconds | Available as a bonus for Special/Ultimate Edition owners only |
Health
Not including the Iguana Scale Trinket Perk you get from the Special/Ultimate Edition, there are five Health Perks to collect. Each affects your Health in different ways. While some help your Health Core and bar drain speed, others are more specific in decreasing the type of damage you receive.
| Name | Perk Effect | How To Get |
|---|---|---|
| Tatanka Bison Horn Trinket | Decreases melee damage received by 10% | Crafted at Fences using Legendary Tatanka Bison Horn |
| Moose Antler Trinket | Increases your health XP gain by 10% | Crafted at Fences with Legendary Moose Antler |
| Iguana Scale Trinket | Reduces the damage received while on horseback by 10% | Available as a bonus for Special/Ultimate Edition owners only |
| Bear Claw Talisman | Decreases the drain speed of your Health Core by 10% | Crafted at Fences using Silver Chain Bracelet, Quartz Chunk*, Legendary Bear Claw |
Stamina
There are five Stamina Perks in total--of which we've gathered three thus far. As you'd expect, most of them affect your Stamina gains and drains.
| Name | Perk Effect | How To Get |
|---|---|---|
| Cougar's Paw Trinket | Increases Stamina XP gain by 10% | Crafted at Fences with Legendary Cougar's Paw |
| Lion's Paw Trinket | Increases Stamina XP gain by 10% | Crafted at Fences with Lion's Paw* |
| Bison Horn Talisman | Decreases the drain speed of your Stamina Core by 10% | Crafted at Fences using Abalone Shell Fragment*, Silver Earring, and Legendary Bison Horn |
Dead Eye
There are five Dead Eye Perks in total. Below you can find the three we've discovered so far, which focus on decreasing the speed of Dead Eye Core and bar drain, as well as increase the gain speed of Dead Eye XP.
| Name | Perk Effect | How To Get |
|---|---|---|
| Coyote Fang Trinket | Increases Dead Eye XP gain by 10% | Crafted at Fences with Legendary Coyote Fang |
| Panther's Eye Trinket | Decreases drain speed of Dead Eye bar by 10% for three seconds | Crafted at Fences with Legendary Panther's Eye |
| Alligator Tooth Talisman | Decreases the drain speed of Dead Eye Core by 10% | Crafted at Fences using Vintage Civil War Handcuffs*, Gold Jointed Bracelet, and Legendary Alligator Tooth |
Special Crafting Materials
As stated, some Talismans and Trinkets require special crafting components you can only get from certain instances in the story or by completing challenges. Below you can find a rundown of where these special components are found.
| Crafting Item | Talisman/Trinket Recipe | How To Get |
|---|---|---|
| Cobalt Petrified Wood | Boar Tusk Talisman | Located in a chest under a rock overhang northwest of Lake Isabella |
| Old Brass Compass | Raven Claw Talisman | Located in Francis Sinclair's cabin after mailing all 10 rock carvings in the "Geology for Beginners" mission |
| Quartz Chunk | Bear Claw Talisman | Recieved by mailing in the first dinosaur bone location in the "Test of Faith" mission |
| Lion's Paw | Lion's Paw Trinket | Taken from the lion during the Stranger Mission: "He's British, of Course IV" |
| Vintage Civil War Handcuffs | Alligator Tooth Talisman | Mail in a set of Cigarette Cards |
