Look, we've all been there. You’re staring at the final challenge in the Weapons Expert tree, and it feels like Rockstar is personally trolling you. RDR2 Weapons Expert 10 asks you to do something that sounds suicidal on paper: kill a massive, 800-pound Grizzly bear using only throwing knives. Oh, and if it so much as scratches your fancy leather boots, you fail.
It’s intimidating.
Most players imagine themselves frantically kiting a bear through the woods of West Elizabeth, tossing puny iron knives while praying for a miracle. Honestly? If you try it that way, you’re just going to end up as bear chow. But there's a trick to this—actually, a few tricks—that make this "expert" challenge feel more like a cakewalk.
The Secret Weapon: Poison Throwing Knives
If you aren't using poison, you're doing it wrong. Period.
Regular throwing knives in Red Dead Redemption 2 have the stopping power of a wet noodle against a Grizzly. You could pepper that thing with ten blades and it would still be busy chewing on your face. Poison throwing knives, however, are a complete game-changer.
To get these, you’ll need the Poison Throwing Knife Pamphlet. You can buy it from any Fence (the one at Emerald Ranch is usually the easiest to hit up) for about $58. Once you've read it—don't forget to actually read it in your inventory or Arthur won't learn the recipe—you just need a throwing knife and some Oleander Sage.
You can find Oleander Sage all over the swamps of Lemoyne, specifically around Bayou Nwa. Look for the leafy plants with the bright pinkish-purple flowers. They’re poisonous, so don't eat 'em, but they're perfect for making your knives lethal.
Where to Find Your Victim
You need a reliable spawn. You don't want to be riding around for three days hoping a bear shows up.
One of the best spots is Black Bone Forest, just north of Owanjila Lake. If you follow the road north from the lake towards the Trapper’s stall, a Grizzly almost always spawns in the brush to the west of the path.
Another "guaranteed" spot is northwest of Wallace Station. There’s a little clearing where a Grizzly loves to hang out. If you don't see him immediately, try sleeping until morning or reloading your save.
The "Safe" Cabin Strategy
If you’re really worried about taking damage, head to Fairvale Shanty in the northern part of Ambarino (northeast of the Loft). There is a Grizzly that regularly spawns right near the cabin. The beauty of this spot? The bear can't fit through the door.
Basically, you lure the bear over, hop inside the shack, and throw your knives through the open door or window. He’ll huff and puff, but he can’t get in. It’s cheap, sure, but it gets the job done.
How to Execute the Kill
Once you've found your bear, the actual fight (if you can call it that) goes like this:
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- Scent Cover: Use some Scent Cover Lotion. It lets you get much closer before the bear decides to charge.
- The First Strike: Equip your poison throwing knives. Aim for the head or the upper chest. Use Dead Eye to make sure you don't miss—a missed throw usually results in a very angry, very fast bear closing the distance.
- The Reaction: The moment that poison knife hits, the bear's AI usually flips. Instead of continuing the charge, it’ll often stop, let out a pathetic groan, and start walking away. The poison is doing the work for you.
- The Finisher: You can wait for the poison to kill it, but some players report the challenge doesn't always "pop" if the bear dies from the DoT (damage over time). To be safe, wait until the bear collapses. While it’s down and dying, walk up and put an Improved Throwing Knife right in its brain.
As soon as the "Kill" notification appears on your screen, RDR2 Weapons Expert 10 should be marked as complete.
Why People Usually Fail This
The biggest reason people fail isn't the bear; it's the horse.
If you try to do this from horseback, your horse is going to freak out the second the Grizzly roars. Most horses (looking at you, Arabians) will buck you off faster than you can say "outlaw." Once you're on the ground and ragdolled, the bear is on top of you, you've taken damage, and the challenge is failed.
Do it on foot. Stand your ground. It sounds terrifying, but if you have a poison knife ready, you have the advantage. If you hit that bear while it's charging, it will stumble. It’s a programmed reaction to the poison.
Rewards and Next Steps
Completing this challenge isn't just for bragging rights. It’s the final step to unlocking the Weapons Expert Bandolier at the Trapper. More importantly, it’s one of the 90 challenges you need for that elusive 100% completion and the "Legend of the East" outfit.
If you've followed this, you’re officially done with the Weapons Expert tree.
Your next move should be heading straight to the Trapper to buy your reinforced gear. This gear gives you permanent boosts to your Health, Stamina, or Dead Eye bars once you complete the full sets. If you’ve still got other challenge trees like Herbalist or Gambler to finish, I’d suggest knocking out Herbalist next while you're already down in the swamps gathering Oleander. It’s a lot less stressful than being hunted by a predator.
Check your progress in the "Challenges" tab of the Progress menu. If the icon is glowing, you're golden. Go get your gear and enjoy being the deadliest knife-thrower in the West.