Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the most realistic games on the market. After all, this is a game where NPCs you shoot retain their injuries, and animal corpses decompose over time. Thus, it's no surprise that the game also contains a weight system. This means, during the game, Arthur can organically gain or lose weight depending on what you're feeding him.
There is a healthy size for the outlaw, which puts him in the best condition possible. But for much of the game, your Arthur will likely be either overweight or underweight. Either way, there will be some positives and negatives to the character's size. This is everything you need to know about the system.
Updated September 27, 2022 By Ben Jessey: A system where you can gain or lose weight would be a surprising addition in most games. However, this is the sort of thing you expect from the immensely detailed Red Dead Redemption 2. Arthur's beard is capable of growing, so why shouldn't his waistline also be able to expand?
He starts the adventure as an average-built cowboy. But you can make him overweight or underweight. This guide shows exactly how you can change how much he weighs. And now, we've updated the piece to make it as easy to understand as ever.
How Arthur's Weight Impacts The Game
The effects of gaining weight in Red Dead Redemption 2 aren't just cosmetic. If you opt for an Arthur that is on the heavier side of the scale, you'll see a significant reduction in your stamina. This means that rigorous activities will require him to stop more frequently than usual. However, he can actually take more damage than his underweight counterpart.
A malnourished, skinny Arthur will see an increase in his stamina but a decrease in how much damage he can withstand. Whether he's overweight or underweight, his cores will drain faster. If Arthur's weight is 'just right,' he will split the difference between these two builds — that is, he will have a moderate amount of both stamina and health. Plus, his cores will drain at a normal pace.
Gain Weight By Eating More Food Than Thought Humanly Possible
If you've decided to bulk up Arthur, there's a bit of a long slog ahead of you. Just like in the real world, massive weight gain doesn't happen overnight. Instead of just eating meals to restore your cores, you'll want to indulge in as much food as possible. This means multiple meals a day for many days in a row.
Arthur's on a strict overeating routine — if you miss a couple of meals, or forget to eat loads of food for a couple of days, he's just not going to bulk up.
Lose Weight By Only Eating Stew From Your Camp
Once Arthur is super-sized, he can start losing weight by restricting his caloric intake. This means he should only eat to restore his cores. The best way to do this is by only eating the stew that is made at camp and avoiding everything else. This should be enough to keep his cores filled while also sloughing off the pounds.
If you want to take the easy way out, just get sent to jail. By the time your sentence is up, you'll be ridiculously underweight, all thanks to those awful jailhouse meals.
Strike A Balance For An Optimal Arthur
Maintaining a weight that rests between 'bulky' and 'scrawny' is simple — just eat a few meals a day. In reality, eating a few meals a day and cutting out the excess is the best way to manage Arthur's size. This size arguably gives the best gameplay stats, too, as you'll be able to take advantage of decent damage resistance and a sizable stamina pool.
Determining Arthur's weight in Red Dead Redemption 2 is a choice that players shouldn't take lightly. Not only is it a significant commitment to gain or lose weight, but it also comes with a direct impact on gameplay. Feel free to try running around with all three body types before you make a final decision. If you don't like one, just change his diet and try out the next.
