🤠 Hold Your Horses! Can You Actually Mosey on Down to New Austin as John in RDR2? A Rootin' Tootin' Guide!
Alright, partner. Let's get down to the brass tacks on this whole "New Austin as John Marston in Red Dead Redemption 2" situation. For anyone who’s ever played Red Dead Redemption, New Austin is that nostalgic, dust-choked paradise—Armadillo, Tumbleweed, that whole shebang. When you roll up to the Epilogue of RDR2 as John Marston, a lot of folks get that itch to ride back to the old stomping grounds immediately. And the answer, my friend, is a glorious, dust-kicking YES!
Forget all those rumors about invisible snipers blowing your hat off the second you cross the border, or Pinkertons swarming you like flies on a picnic. Those were mostly a painful, soul-crushing reality for Arthur Morgan before the story wraps up. But for our man John? The coast is clear, or at least, clear enough for a decent, law-abiding (mostly) fella like him. You've just gotta put in the work first, which, let's be real, is totally worth it for the sheer vibe of the place.
Step 1: Beat the Main Storyline – No Shortcuts, Buckaroo!
This ain't a mission you can glitch your way into on a Tuesday afternoon. To get to the land of cacti and heatstroke without some unseen force ending your run faster than a saloon brawl, you gotta finish the main narrative of Red Dead Redemption 2.
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| Can You Go To New Austin As John In Rdr2 |
1.1 Grit Your Teeth Through the Final Chapters
You need to power through Chapter 6, and trust me, grab some tissues. Then, you gotta get into the Epilogue: Part I and Epilogue: Part II. This is John's time to shine, and frankly, time to build an honest life, which is just about the most boring part of being a cowboy, but whatever. The game is basically holding your hand and saying, "Hey, we know you wanna go west, but finish your chores first, alright?"
1.2 Lookin' Sharp for the Open Range
Tip: Don’t rush — enjoy the read.
Once you hit the Epilogue, the map opens up. The invisible wall of death that kept Arthur out of Blackwater, Tall Trees, and New Austin is gone. Poof! Like a magic trick, but one that took about 50 hours of gameplay to pull off. John is now free to roam those classic RDR1 territories without the whole "immediately getting executed by an omniscient game mechanic" thing. It's sweet freedom, baby!
Step 2: Saddle Up and Head West!
Now that the game's given you the green light, it’s time to actually ride out! This is where the adventure truly begins, so load up on provisions—it's a long, dusty haul from Beecher's Hope.
2.1 The Route to Riches (and Tumbleweed)
The easiest, most straightforward way is to ride directly from West Elizabeth, crossing into Blackwater, then Tall Trees, and finally, New Austin.
From Beecher's Hope: Head south-east toward the Great Plains.
Crossing the Border: You'll be crossing the Lower Montana River. Congratulations, you're in West Elizabeth.
Keep Pushing: Continue southwest. You'll pass through areas like Tall Trees and Blackwater.
Hello, New Austin: The southern and western portions of the map open up to New Austin, home to classic locations like Armadillo, Benedict Point, and Tumbleweed.
Pro-Tip: If you’ve unlocked fast travel via the camp (or later, John's ranch map), you can speed up the travel time to Blackwater or other western points, cutting out some of the long, scenic ride.
2.2 What's the Deal with the Scenery?
Tip: Jot down one takeaway from this post.
Okay, now let's be real—the New Austin in RDR2 is a bit of a ghost town compared to its RDR1 glory days. The region is mostly empty, devoid of major story missions (beyond a couple of Epilogue-era bounty hunts), and some structures are incomplete or just... different.
Fun Fact: The reason it feels empty is mostly because Red Dead Redemption 2's main story takes place several years before the original. The area hadn't been fully developed or populated yet. It's a deep-cut lore nod!
Don't let that be a buzzkill, though! This area is still vital for 100% completion, packed with unique:
Legendary Animals (Hello, Legendary Pronghorn!)
Exotic Plants for those tough herbalist challenges
Gunslinger Graves and other points of interest
And, of course, the sheer thrill of running around a familiar map.
Step 3: Diving Into the Collectibles Grind
You're in New Austin, you're John, and you're free! This is the perfect time to knock out some of those super tedious challenges that require items only found in the scorching heat of the southern map.
3.1 The Herbalist Challenge Nightmare
Remember Herbalist Challenge 9? Yeah, the one that requires all those desert herbs like Desert Sage, Red Sage, and English Mace? Arthur Morgan literally could not complete this one without relying on sketchy glitches, because those plants only spawn in New Austin. John is your ticket to finally crossing that bad boy off your list! Grab your herb list, slap it on your horse, and get to picking.
QuickTip: Repetition reinforces learning.
3.2 Hunting Down the Last Few critters
New Austin is home to some creatures unique to the region, like the Gila Monster, the Collared Peccary, and the Desert Iguana. If you're aiming for that "Zoologist" or "Skin Deep" trophy, you'll need to spend some quality time tracking these little desert dwellers. They ain't hard to find—just look down!
FAQ Questions and Answers
How to Unlock Fast Travel to New Austin Locations?
You can't directly unlock fast travel to a specific location in New Austin (like Armadillo or Tumbleweed) on the map itself. However, by camping anywhere in New Austin with John, you can use the 'Camp' option to set up camp, then use the Fast Travel from Camp function to jump back to any discovered location on the main map.
Is New Austin the Same as the RDR1 Map?
Yes and no, chief. The geography and layout of the towns like Armadillo and Tumbleweed are fundamentally the same, which is wildly cool for nostalgia. However, due to the timeline difference (RDR2 is a prequel), some buildings are a bit rougher, less developed, and the map is a little emptier than it was in RDR1.
Tip: Read slowly to catch the finer details.
Can I Find Any Easter Eggs as John in New Austin?
Oh, absolutely! Since John Marston is the star of the first game, exploring this area with him feels like a full-circle moment. You can visit the MacFarlane Ranch area and other famous spots from RDR1. Keep your eyes peeled for subtle dialogue changes or environmental details that call back to his future adventures.
Why was Arthur Morgan killed by a sniper in New Austin?
It was a clever (but super annoying) way for Rockstar to maintain the storyline integrity. Arthur’s story arc is not meant to include New Austin exploration; it’s John’s territory. The 'Invisible Sniper' was the game's harsh, uncompromising way of saying "Nope, not yet!"
What is the Biggest Draw for Going to New Austin as John?
Besides the nostalgia overload, the biggest draw is the 100% game completion. Numerous required collectibles (herbs, specific animals, dinosaur bones, cigarette cards, etc.) are locked behind the New Austin borders, making the Epilogue completion a must-do for the perfectionists out there!
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