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Red Dead Online rank unlocks: how to unlock all weapons, Ability Cards, special items and more


Red Dead Online automatically ranks players up as you earn XP, which you do by completing jobs, missions, completing challenges like a set number of headshots, joining a Posse and other actions in the open world.

Almost everything you do in Red Dead Online rewards you with some sort of XP boost, and you'll gradually rise up the ranks to reach the top at rank 100.

Each rank unlocks certain items. The most desirable are weapons and Ability Cards, but it also includes cosmetic items like hats, gun belts and coats, camp items, skins for your horse and pamphlets that let you craft rarer items such as lures and explosive arrows.

Remember though that these are only unlocked for purchase from traders in the world. You may unlock a superb rifle, but you'll still need to earn the money and pay for it. And Red Dead Online is notoriously tight with its payouts, so spend your hard earned cash wisely.

We've listed the rank at which you unlock all the major weapons below, along with all the Ability Cards and a few special items including lethal ammo and handy gear such as the lock breaker and fishing rod.

Red Dead Online unlocks

  • Rank 05: Pump Action Shotgun
  • Rank 07: Bolt Action Rifle
  • Rank 08: Throwing Knife, Varmint Rifle
  • Rank 09: Schofield Revolver
  • Rank 10: Bow, Comeback Stronger ability card, Horseman ability card
  • Rank 11: Repeating Shotgun
  • Rank 12: Lancaster Repeater
  • Rank 13: Rolling Block Rifle
  • Rank 14: Fishing Rod
  • Rank 15: Cleaver
  • Rank 16: Dynamite, Necessity Breeds ability card
  • Rank 17: Double-Action Revolver
  • Rank 18: Lichfield Repeater, Landon's Patience ability card
  • Rank 19: Sawed-off Shotgun
  • Rank 20: Binoculars, Hunker Down ability card
  • Rank 21: Volcanic Pistol
  • Rank 22: Semi-Automatic Pistol, To Fight Another Day ability card
  • Rank 23: Lock Breaker
  • Rank 24: Slow and Steady ability card, Fire Bottle
  • Rank 26: The Unblinking Eye ability card
  • Rank 28: Hatchet, Eye For An Eye ability card
  • Rank 30: The Gift of Focus ability card
  • Rank 31: Express Pistol Cartridges, Express Repeater Cartridges, Express Revolver Cartridges, Express Rifle Cartridges
  • Rank 32: Machete, Strange Medicine ability card
  • Rank 34: Mauser Pistol, Take The Pain Away ability card
  • Rank 36: Tomahawk, Cold Blooded ability card
  • Rank 38: Springfield Rifle, The Short Game ability card
  • Rank 40: Of Single Purpose ability card
  • Rank 41: High Velocity Pistol Cartridges, High Velocity Repeater Cartridges, High Velocity Revolver Cartridges, High Velocity Rifle Cartridges
  • Rank 42: Semi-Auto Shotgun, Hangman ability card
  • Rank 44: Shotgun Slug, Quite An Inspiration ability card
  • Rank 46: Never Without One ability card
  • Rank 48: Winning Streak ability card
  • Rank 50: Carcano Rifle, Slippery Bastard ability card
  • Rank 65: Fast Travel Post
  • Rank 100: Unknown

The Red Dead Online beta is available now for anyone who owns Red Dead Redemption 2. We have a growing guide to Red Dead Online here.

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