RDR2 Stranger Missions Guide: Best Order to Avoid Missing Content

Introduction

You meet Hamish. You promise to go fishing. Then you finish Chapter 6. Hamish never sees you again. That is a tragedy. This RDR2 stranger missions guide shows you the best order to complete every side quest in Red Dead Redemption 2. Some missions expire after certain chapters. Do not miss them. For a full game walkthrough, see our main Red Dead Redemption 2 guide.

Time-Sensitive Stranger Missions (Do These First)

This RDR2 stranger missions guide starts with missions that expire. Complete these before moving to the next chapter:

Mission Name	Giver	Chapter Expires	Reward
The Veteran	Hamish	Chapter 6 (completes as John)	Buell the horse
The Widow of Willard’s Rest	Charlotte	Chapter 6	Unique hat
Geology for Beginners	Francis	Chapter 6	Compass (trinket)
Arcadia for Amateurs	Albert Mason	Chapter 4	Photos (collectible)

Rule: If you meet a stranger in Chapter 2–4, finish their first mission immediately. The second or third mission may carry over to John, but the first contact expires.

Best Order to Play (Chronological by Chapter)

A proper RDR2 stranger missions guide gives you a chapter‑by‑chapter order:

Chapter 2

A Test of Faith (Deborah – dinosaur bones) – start early, finish any time.
The Noblest of Men, and a Woman (Jim “Boy” Calloway) – unlock the gunslingers.
The Ties That Bind Us (Brother Dorkins) – short, easy honor.

Chapter 3

The Veteran (Hamish) – do part 1 now. Save part 4 for John to keep Buell.
Arcadia for Amateurs (Albert) – all 4 parts available. Do them back to back.

Chapter 4

The Widow of Willard’s Rest (Charlotte) – do part 1 now. Part 2 in Chapter 6.
Geology for Beginners (Francis) – find all 10 rock carvings.

Chapter 6 (Complete before “Our Best Selves”)

The Veteran (part 4) – play as Arthur or John? If as Arthur, you lose Buell. Save for John.
The Widow (part 2) – teach Charlotte to hunt. She survives the winter only if you visit.

The Hamish Decision (Most Important Choice)

This RDR2 stranger missions guide dedicates special attention to Hamish. You meet him in Chapter 3. You fish. You hunt a wolf. In Chapter 6, he calls you for one last hunt. At the end, he gives you his horse, Buell.

If Arthur takes Buell: Buell dies with Arthur. You never see him again.
If John takes Buell: Buell lives at Beecher’s Hope. John can ride him.

Recommendation: Do the first three Hamish missions as Arthur. Save the fourth for John. Buell is a top‑tier horse (Turkoman stats with Dutch Warmblood temperament).

Comparison Table: Arthur vs. John for Stranger Missions

A useful RDR2 stranger missions guide compares who should play which mission:

Mission	Better as Arthur?	Better as John?	Why
The Veteran	No	Yes	Buell survives
The Widow	Yes	No	Charlotte’s dialogue changes
Geology for Beginners	Yes	No	Arthur’s drawings are better
Arcadia for Amateurs	Yes	N/A	John cannot trigger it

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Can I complete all stranger missions as John?
A: Most, but not all. Albert Mason (Arcadia) does not spawn for John. Do it in Chapter 3.

Q2: What happens if I never visit Charlotte?
A: She starves to death. You find her corpse in Chapter 6. It is very sad.

Q3: Does honor affect stranger missions?
A: Yes. High honor unlocks more dialogue options. Some missions (like Charlotte) require high honor to trigger part 2. See our honor guide for details.

Q4: Which stranger mission gives the best reward?
A: The Veteran – Buell is a top‑tier horse. For more on Buell, check our best horse guide.

Conclusion

This RDR2 stranger missions guide ensures you do not miss the best content in Red Dead Redemption 2. Prioritize Hamish, Charlotte, and Albert. Save Hamish’s final mission for John to keep Buell.

For a complete list of missable content (including camp companion activities), return to our main Red Dead Redemption 2 guide.

Internal Cross-References

For more on Buell, the horse you get from Hamish, see our best horse guide.
To ensure you have high enough honor for certain missions, check out our honor guide.