What’s the best way to save before a difficult mission?

Saving your progress before a difficult mission in Red Dead Redemption 2 is crucial to avoid losing hours of gameplay if things go wrong. The game features an autosave system, but relying on it can be risky, especially before challenging missions. To manually save your game, you need to access the pause menu and navigate to the Story tab. From there, select Save Game and choose an empty slot or overwrite an existing save. This ensures you have a reliable checkpoint to return to if the mission doesn’t go as planned.\n\nOne of the best practices is to save your game at a camp or a safe location before heading out for the mission. This allows you to restock supplies, craft items, and ensure your character is in peak condition. For example, if you’re about to start a mission like The Battle of Shady Belle, which involves intense combat, make sure to save at Clemens Point or another nearby camp. This way, you can prepare by stocking up on ammunition, health tonics, and other essentials.\n\nAnother important tip is to save after completing side activities or collecting valuable items. For instance, if you’ve just hunted a legendary animal or found a rare weapon, save immediately before starting the mission. This ensures that your hard-earned progress isn’t lost if the mission goes south. Additionally, saving before missions allows you to experiment with different strategies without fear of permanent consequences. If a stealth approach fails, you can reload and try a more aggressive tactic.\n\nGame mechanics also play a role in saving effectively. Red Dead Redemption 2 has a dynamic world where time passes, and events can change based on your actions. If you save too far in advance, certain conditions might shift, such as enemy positions or weather patterns. To mitigate this, save as close to the mission start as possible. For example, if you’re about to start the mission Blessed Are the Meek in Valentine, save right outside the town to ensure the environment and NPCs remain consistent.\n\nFor new players, it’s important to understand that some missions have checkpoints, but these are not always reliable. Manual saves give you full control over your progress. Experienced players can also use multiple save slots to create backups. This is especially useful for missions with branching outcomes, such as those involving moral choices. By saving before these moments, you can explore different endings without replaying the entire mission.\n\nPractical tips for saving include always carrying a backup save from an earlier point in the game. This is particularly useful if you encounter a bug or glitch during a mission. Additionally, make sure your horse is well-fed and equipped with the necessary items before saving. A healthy horse can make a significant difference in mission success. Finally, consider saving during daylight hours to ensure better visibility and control over the environment.\n\nIn summary, the best way to save before a difficult mission is to manually save at a safe location, prepare thoroughly, and use multiple save slots for flexibility. By following these steps, you can tackle even the toughest missions with confidence and minimize the risk of losing progress.