You've probably been there. You're riding through the Heartlands, the sun is setting over the Grizzlies, and you realize you have no idea how much of Arthur Morgan's story is actually left. It’s a massive game. Huge. Honestly, the rdr2 main mission list is less of a simple checklist and more of a sprawling, branching mess of cowboy drama that can take you anywhere from 50 to 100 hours to untangle.
Most people think it's a straight line. It isn't. Some missions only pop up if you’ve talked to the right person at camp, while others disappear forever if you move the story too fast. If you're looking for the full breakdown of how Arthur (and eventually John) spends those 107-ish missions, you're in the right place.
The Snow and the Mud: Chapter 1 (Colter)
Basically, this is the tutorial. It’s slow, it’s cold, and your horse will probably trip over a rock every five minutes. There are only 6 missions here. You start with Outlaws from the West, which is that iconic intro where you find Sadie Adler, and you wrap it up with Eastward Bound as the gang finally leaves the mountains.
Everything here is mandatory. You can’t skip the shootout with the O’Driscolls in Old Friends or the train robbery in Who the Hell is Leviticus Cornwall?. It's the game's way of forcing you to learn how to shoot, loot, and not freeze to death.
When the World Opens Up: Chapter 2 (Horseshoe Overlook)
This is where the real game starts. Horseshoe Overlook is arguably the best camp in the game because everyone is still (mostly) happy. This chapter has about 17 main story missions, but this is where the rdr2 main mission list starts to get tricky.
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Some missions are "Honor Missions" or optional side-stories that actually count toward your total progress. For example, Money Lending and Other Sins is technically the start of Arthur’s long, tragic downfall, but you can put off some of the later debt collection for a while.
Key Missions in Chapter 2
- A Quiet Time: The legendary "LENNY!" mission at the Smithfield Saloon.
- The First Shall Be Last: Saving Sean from the bounty hunters.
- The Spines of America: This is the one where you steal the stagecoach and finally unlock the Fence at Emerald Ranch.
- A Fisher of Men: You take young Jack fishing. It’s wholesome. It also unlocks the fishing rod, which is basically essential if you want to stop eating stringy stringy bird meat.
You finish this chapter with A Strange Kindness, where the gang is forced to move again because Micah (of course it’s Micah) causes too much trouble.
Dealing with the Grays and Braithwaites: Chapter 3 (Clemens Point)
Clemens Point is beautiful, right on the water, but the missions here get much more violent. There are 17 missions in this block. You’re basically playing two sides of a blood feud between two wealthy families in Rhodes.
It starts with The New South, which is a "bonding" mission with Dutch and Hosea that quickly turns into a chase. By the time you get to Blood Feuds, Ancient and Modern, things have gone completely off the rails. That mission—the assault on Braithwaite Manor—is widely considered one of the best moments in gaming history.
Don't forget Advertising, the New American Art. It’s the mission where you and Hosea hand out free "moonshine" (it's mostly trash) to a bunch of people in Rhodes. It's funny until the shooting starts.
The Decline of the West: Chapter 4 (Saint Denis)
Chapter 4 is where the mood shifts. The gang moves into Shady Belle, which is a damp, miserable swamp house. There are 14 missions here. You spend a lot of time in Saint Denis, the city Arthur absolutely hates.
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The Joys of Civilization introduces you to the city’s underbelly, while Angelo Bronte, a Man of Honor sets up the tragic finale of the chapter. If you haven't done the optional Mary Linton mission Fatherhood and Other Dreams yet, do it now. It adds so much flavor to Arthur's character that you’ll regret skipping it.
The chapter ends with Banking, the Old American Art. It’s a disaster. If you know, you know.
The Tropical Detour and the End: Chapters 5 & 6
Chapter 5 (Guarma) is short—only 9 missions. It’s very linear. You land in Welcome to the New World and you leave in Paradise Mercifully Departed. There isn't much room for exploration here, so just lean into the action.
Then comes Chapter 6. Beaver Hollow. This is the big one. There are 19 missions, and honestly, they’re heartbreaking.
The Full Chapter 6 Mission List
- Icarus and Friends: The hot air balloon mission.
- Visiting Hours: Breaking John out of prison.
- Just a Social Call: Confronting Cornwall.
- A Rage Unleashed: Helping Eagle Flies.
- The Delights of Van Horn: A massive ambush with Bill.
- Goodbye, Dear Friend: Colm O’Driscoll’s final appearance.
- Mrs. Sadie Adler, Widow: Clearing out the last of the O’Driscolls.
- My Last Boy: The final charge with the tribe.
- Our Best Selves: The train heist.
- Red Dead Redemption: The end of Arthur's journey.
There are also several optional "Honor" missions here, like Do Not Seek Absolution and Of Men and Angels. If you want the "good" ending, you really need to pay attention to these. They aren't just filler; they are the heart of the story.
The Epilogue: A New Beginning
After the credits should have rolled, you get two more chapters as John Marston.
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- Epilogue 1 (Pronghorn Ranch): 10 missions of farm work. Yes, you actually milk cows and shovel manure. It’s a slow burn.
- Epilogue 2 (Beecher’s Hope): 11 missions where you build a house, hunt down old enemies, and eventually reach the legendary finale, American Venom.
When people talk about the rdr2 main mission list, they often forget that the Epilogue is basically its own mini-game. It ties everything back to the first Red Dead Redemption.
How to Check Your Progress Properly
If you’re trying to see how far you are, don't just count the icons on the map. Open the Progress menu in the pause screen. Under Story, it will show you exactly which missions you've completed and which medals (Bronze, Silver, Gold) you’ve earned.
To get that 100% completion trophy, you actually only need to finish 107 "Main" missions, but there are dozens of "Strangers" and "Bounties" that flesh out the world.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check your current chapter in the save menu. If you are in Chapter 2 or 3, take your time. Do the camp requests. If you've hit Chapter 6, brace yourself—the story moves fast and certain side missions will lock out once you pass Our Best Selves. Go find the veteran Hamish Sinclair or help the widow at Willard's Rest before you trigger the finale.