Red Dead Redemption 2: How to Get the Best & Worst Ending (Spoilers)

How to Get the Best & Worst Endings in Red Dead Redemption 2

Spoiler Warning: Obvious spoilers are obvious. In this guide we will be discussing how to get the best and worst endings in Red Dead Redemption 2. Only enter this article if you’re prepared to learn about these endings, otherwise don’t read on.

Red Dead Redemption 2’s plot more or less follows a linear path. While there is a ton of distractions, if you follow along the main story, all players will arrive at the same point up until the very end of Arthur’s story where it branches off, and your final cinematic will be different.

During the final mission, Arthur and John split up from Dutch, Micah and the rest of the gang that is still loyal to him. Arthur can choose to either help John escape, or go for Dutch’s money. Making this choice will have a dramatic impact on your Honor/Dishonor respectively.

If you go for the money, you’ll return to Beaver Hollow, in search of the chest filled with the gang’s money, while fending off Pinkertons.

If you help John, you’ll travel up the cliffs with him, and fight Pinkertons.

In either scenario, you’ll end up with a showdown with Micah.

This is where things get tricky, and there are conflicting reports on exactly how to get either the “best” or “worst” ending. Some outlets are reporting that it’s dependent on whether or not you help John earlier in the mission.

However, we have tested this and we believe its dependent on whether or not your Arthur has more honor, or dishonor. As two of our staff members both decided to help John, but got different endings, the difference is one person played through dishonorable, and the other was honorable.

Let’s go over the two endings.

Honorable, Best Ending

Micah and Arthur fight to a draw, and Dutch interrupts Arthur’s attempt to grab a gun and finish Micah off. Arthur talks about how in the end he tried to change and did his best to do so and thus even though he’s dying, he feels like he won.

It is basically a big ol’ slap in the face to how Dutch and Micah both stayed awful people instead of trying to change.

Then, since his tuberculosis is killing him anyway, Micah & Dutch leave to avoid the Pinkertons, leaving Arthur behind to die in peace. Arthur passes away while looking off into the sunset.

The game ends with another Deer sequence that honorable Arthur has seen throughout the game. This time, it’s frolicking all happily.

Check out video of that here.

Dishonorable, Worst Ending

After fighting Micah to a draw, Dutch appears and interrupts Arthur from grabbing a gun and shooting Micah. Arthur tries to plead with Dutch that Micah is actually the rat, but he sorrowfully abandons Arthur.

It’s unclear whether Dutch believes Arthur, or if he just doesn’t care. Arthur is sick and weak, and doesn’t have anything left in him. Micah grabs the gun, shoots Arthur in the face, and laughs.

The game ends with another one of the Wolf sequences that dishonorable Arthur has seen throughout the game.

That does it for how to get the best (honorable) ending, and the worst (dishonorable) ending in Red Dead Redemption 2. Check out our wiki guide for tips and tricks. If you wantthe ending explained, or a story summary, or would just rather read a spoiler free review, you can click those links to check that out as well.