Red Dead Redemption 2 has a perk system, but it never puts a large skill tree in front of the player. Permanent bonuses come from Trinkets and Talismans. Most begin with a Legendary Animal part, several need a second rare component, and five were added to Story Mode after launch as hidden pickups.

Once a perk is acquired, it stays active. Arthur does not need to equip a Trinket or wear a Talisman, and all of their effects can work at the same time. Talismans can be worn for appearance through the wardrobe, but changing the outfit does not turn the bonus on or off.

Where Trinkets and Talismans Are Made

Take the required materials to any Fence and open the crafting menu. The Emerald Ranch Fence becomes available through the Chapter 2 story, while other Fences can be found in Rhodes, Saint Denis, and Van Horn. This is separate from the Trapper: legendary pelts make clothing at the Trapper, but teeth, antlers, claws, and other perk components go to a Fence.

Legendary animals do not have pelt-quality ratings, so use the weapon that keeps Arthur alive and finish the hunt. The unique crafting part is what the perk needs. If a legendary pelt is lost, the valuable material is still delivered to the correct merchant system, although Arthur will not receive the money from selling the pelt.

The Best Perks to Get Early

Buck Antler Trinket

Hunt the Legendary Buck in Big Valley, northwest of Strawberry, then craft the Buck Antler Trinket at a Fence. It improves the chance of receiving higher-quality animal parts when skinning. That makes it especially useful before the long perfect-pelt grind for Pearson's satchels and Trapper outfits.

The Trinket does not turn every one-star animal into a perfect pelt. Start with a high-quality animal, use the weapon named in the Compendium, and aim for a clean kill. The bonus gives a damaged pelt a better chance to survive a small mistake; it does not replace the hunting rules.

Beaver Tooth Trinket

The Legendary Beaver lives west of Van Horn, near the river south of Elysian Pool. Its tooth crafts a Trinket that slows weapon degradation by 10%. Guns stay effective longer between cleanings, which is useful on wet trips through Roanoke Ridge and the swamps.

Bear Claw Talisman

The early hunt with Hosea introduces the Legendary Bharati Grizzly near O'Creagh's Run. Combine its claw with a Silver Chain Bracelet and the Quartz Chunk, which arrives by mail after sending the location of one dinosaur bone to Deborah MacGuiness. The finished Talisman slows Health core drain by 10%.

Hawk Talon Trinket

Players who use the bow should collect the Hawk Talon Trinket from the lockbox at the top of Deadboot Creek, near the western edge of the snowy Grizzlies. It reduces Stamina drain while drawing the bow by 30%. No Fence recipe or legendary animal is required; the perk activates when the item is picked up.

Arthur Morgan moving through a forest in Red Dead Redemption 2.
The Buck, Beaver, and Hawk Talon bonuses improve work players already do while hunting and exploring. Rockstar Games, via PlayStation.

All Craftable Talismans

  • Alligator Tooth Talisman: slows Dead Eye core drain by 10%. It needs the Legendary Alligator Tooth, a Gold Jointed Bracelet, and Vintage Civil War Handcuffs earned by mailing one complete Cigarette Card set.
  • Bear Claw Talisman: slows Health core drain by 10%. It needs the Legendary Bear Claw, a Silver Chain Bracelet, and the Quartz Chunk earned after mailing one dinosaur-bone location.
  • Bison Horn Talisman: slows Stamina core drain by 10%. It needs the Legendary White Bison Horn, a Silver Earring, and the Abalone Shell Fragment found in an old house in Rhodes.
  • Boar Tusk Talisman: slows the drain of the horse's Health and Stamina cores by 10%. It needs the Legendary Boar Tusk, a Gold Earring, and Cobalt Petrified Wood from a lockbox northwest of Lake Isabella.
  • Raven Claw Talisman: slows weapon degradation by 20%. Complete Geology for Beginners, visit Francis Sinclair's cabin after his invitation, and pick up the Old Brass Compass inside before leaving.

The Eagle Talon Talisman is an edition bonus rather than a normal Fence recipe. It adds five seconds to Eagle Eye and is included with the Special and Ultimate editions. Standard-edition players cannot unlock it through ordinary Story Mode play.

Useful Legendary-Animal Trinkets

  • Fox Claw: adds five seconds to Eagle Eye. The Legendary Fox is north of Rhodes near Mattock Pond.
  • Elk Antler: increases money looted by 10%. The Legendary Elk is east of Bacchus Station.
  • Ram Horn: doubles Creeping Thyme, Oregano, and Wild Mint when picked. The Legendary Bighorn Ram is east of Cattail Pond.
  • Moose Antler: increases Health experience earned by 10%. The Legendary Moose is in the far northeast, near Brandywine Drop.
  • Coyote Fang: increases Dead Eye experience earned by 10%. The Legendary Coyote is in Scarlett Meadows.
  • Cougar Fang: increases Stamina experience earned by 10%. The Legendary Cougar is in New Austin and is normally an epilogue hunt.
  • Panther's Eye: slows Dead Eye bar drain by 10% for three seconds after Dead Eye is activated. The Legendary Giaguaro Panther appears only after Master Hunter 9.
  • Tatanka Bison Horn: reduces melee damage received by 10%. The Legendary Tatanka Bison is in New Austin.
  • Pronghorn Horn: stops animals stored on the horse from spoiling. The Legendary Pronghorn is also in New Austin, so this useful hunting perk arrives late.
  • Wolf Heart: lets Arthur drink twice as much alcohol before feeling the negative effects. The Legendary Wolf is around Cotorra Springs.

The Mission Trinkets

The Lion's Paw Trinket comes from He's British, of Course, a stranger mission available from Chapter 3. Loot the Lion's Paw during the final part of the story, then take it to a Fence. The perk increases Stamina experience earned by 10%.

The Owl Feather Trinket is easier to miss. During the optional Chapter 6 mission Archeology for Beginners, recover Rains Fall's sacred items without killing anyone. Rains Fall gives Arthur the Trinket afterward, reducing the drain rate of Health, Stamina, and Dead Eye cores by 15%. Replaying the mission later can fill a Compendium entry, but it does not reliably place the permanent perk into the active save, so make a manual save before the mission.

Five Hidden Trinkets Added to Story Mode

A Story Mode update added five perks that are found in the world rather than crafted from Legendary Animals. Three can be collected during the main story; two sit in New Austin and are best saved for the epilogue.

  • Hawk Talon: 30% less Stamina drain while drawing a bow. Find it in a lockbox at the top of Deadboot Creek in Grizzlies West.
  • Cat Eye: fortifying tonic effects last 20% longer. Find the lockbox on an island west of Braithwaite Manor in Flat Iron Lake.
  • Shark Tooth: horse bonding experience increases by 10%. Search the wrecked boat on the far northeastern coast, north of Annesburg.
  • Turtle Shell: Health refills 10% faster. Find it beneath the stairs of the main building at Gaptooth Breach in New Austin.
  • Crow Beak: increases looted ammunition by 10%. Finish the Elemental Trail treasure hunt in New Austin.
Arthur Morgan crossing an open field at dusk.
Several components sit far from the main road, while the New Austin perks are naturally saved for the epilogue. Rockstar Games, via PlayStation.

Rare Components You Should Not Sell

Silver Chain Bracelets, Gold Jointed Bracelets, Silver Earrings, and Gold Earrings can appear as random loot. Keep at least one of each until the four component-heavy Talismans are complete. Selling every piece of jewelry to the Fence can leave the legendary part ready while the ordinary-looking ingredient refuses to appear.

The named items are easier to control. The Quartz Chunk comes after the first mailed dinosaur-bone location. Vintage Civil War Handcuffs come after one complete Cigarette Card set. The Abalone Shell Fragment is in Rhodes, Cobalt Petrified Wood is near Lake Isabella, and the Old Brass Compass must be collected from Sinclair's cabin after the rock-carving quest.

A Practical Collection Order

  • Chapter 2: Buck Antler, Beaver Tooth, Bear Claw, Fox Claw, Ram Horn, Hawk Talon, Cat Eye, and Shark Tooth.
  • During normal exploration: gather the Quartz Chunk, Abalone Shell Fragment, Cobalt Petrified Wood, and one of each useful jewelry component.
  • Midgame: finish the Lion's Paw, Raven Claw, Bison Horn, Elk Antler, Moose Antler, Wolf Heart, and Boar Tusk perks as their routes open.
  • Chapter 6: earn the Owl Feather without killing anyone and hunt the Legendary Alligator after it becomes available.
  • Epilogue: clean up the New Austin cougar, pronghorn, Tatanka bison, Turtle Shell, and Crow Beak.

The Buck Antler is the best starting point for hunters, while the Bear Claw, Bison Horn, and Alligator Tooth Talismans help every kind of player. Collecting the rest is less about building one perfect loadout and more about stacking small bonuses until Arthur's weapons, cores, horse, and hunting trips all work a little better.