Red Dead Online launched as a standalone purchase on 1 December 2020 at 4.99 dollars, split off from Red Dead Redemption 2 so players could buy the multiplayer without the story mode, and settled at 19.99 dollars after the introductory window closed on 15 February 2021. It puts up to 32 players in the same 1898 map across Ambarino, New Hanover, Lemoyne, West Elizabeth and New Austin, with five specialist Roles carrying most of the progression. Rockstar announced on 7 July 2022 that major themed content updates had ended so staff could move to the next Grand Theft Auto, so treat this as a finished game with seasonal events rather than an active live service.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster Repeater | S | Free Roam fights, Showdown Series and clearing bounty escorts | The default competitive repeater, with a rate of fire and reload that beat the Litchfield while still killing in two body shots at typical Free Roam ranges. |
| Bolt Action Rifle | A | Hunting deer, elk and bison for Cripps and camp materials | A cheap, hard-hitting rifle that drops most large game in one shot to the vitals and is the standard Trader hunting weapon. |
| Springfield Rifle | A | Bear, bison and long-range single-shot hunting | Higher damage and longer range than the Bolt Action with an even slower fire rate, which makes it the pick for large or dangerous game where a clean single shot matters more than a second attempt. |
| Varmint Rifle | B | Perfect small game pelts and Naturalist sedation work | A small-calibre rifle that produces perfect pelts on rabbits, squirrels, birds and other small game where anything heavier ruins the carcass. |
| Schofield Revolver | B | Close-range backup and early-game players short of cash | A fast-reloading sidearm with a solid damage to fire rate balance, and the standard backup once a repeater runs dry mid fight. |
S-Tier: Lancaster Repeater
The default competitive repeater, with a rate of fire and reload that beat the Litchfield while still killing in two body shots at typical Free Roam ranges. Most player-versus-player fights in Red Dead Online are decided by whoever handles a Lancaster better.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Free Roam fights, Showdown Series and clearing bounty escorts |
| Key Mechanic | Five specialist Roles |
| Recommended Build | Bounty Hunter |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Lancaster Repeater: Pairs naturally with Bounty Hunter thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Bolt Action Rifle
A cheap, hard-hitting rifle that drops most large game in one shot to the vitals and is the standard Trader hunting weapon. It is also strong at long range against players, at the cost of a slow follow-up shot.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Hunting deer, elk and bison for Cripps and camp materials |
| Key Mechanic | Gold Bars as the unlock currency |
| Recommended Build | Trader |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Bolt Action Rifle: Pairs naturally with Trader thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Springfield Rifle
Higher damage and longer range than the Bolt Action with an even slower fire rate, which makes it the pick for large or dangerous game where a clean single shot matters more than a second attempt.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Bear, bison and long-range single-shot hunting |
| Key Mechanic | Ability Cards and Dead Eye |
| Recommended Build | Collector |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Springfield Rifle: Pairs naturally with Collector thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Varmint Rifle
A small-calibre rifle that produces perfect pelts on rabbits, squirrels, birds and other small game where anything heavier ruins the carcass. It also fires the Naturalist's sedative ammunition for sampling animals alive.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Perfect small game pelts and Naturalist sedation work |
| Key Mechanic | Posses and Free Roam Events |
| Recommended Build | Moonshiner |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Varmint Rifle: Pairs naturally with Moonshiner thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Schofield Revolver
A fast-reloading sidearm with a solid damage to fire rate balance, and the standard backup once a repeater runs dry mid fight. It is cheap enough to buy very early and stays useful at every rank.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Close-range backup and early-game players short of cash |
| Key Mechanic | Camp and Moonshine Shack property |
| Recommended Build | Naturalist |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Schofield Revolver: Pairs naturally with Naturalist thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear New Hanover
- Bolt Action Rifle → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Springfield Rifle → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Lancaster Repeater → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying. One strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Make Collector your first Role. The Collector's Bag costs 15 Gold Bars, the collectibles it unlocks cost nothing to gather, and complete sets sold to Madam Nazar pay several hundred dollars each, which funds every other Role without needing more gold.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Red Dead Online Guides
- Red Dead Online Red Dead Online Overview
- Red Dead Online Best Builds
- Red Dead Online Tier List
- Red Dead Online Walkthrough
- Red Dead Online Beginner's Guide
- Red Dead Online Tips & Tricks
- Red Dead Online Combat Guide
- Red Dead Online Boss Guide
- Red Dead Online Maps & Locations
- Red Dead Online Crafting Guide
- Red Dead Online Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Red Dead Online, check out these related guides:
- Red Dead Redemption 2 Weapons Guide: adventure game with similar mechanics
- Sea of Thieves Weapons Guide: adventure game with similar mechanics
- Dredge Weapons Guide: adventure game with similar mechanics
