How can I avoid failing missions by using tonics and provisions effectively?

In Red Dead Redemption 2, missions can be challenging, and failing them often results from poor health, stamina, or Dead Eye management. Tonics and provisions are essential tools to avoid mission failures, as they restore these core stats and keep Arthur Morgan in peak condition. Understanding how to use them effectively can make the difference between success and restarting a mission.\n\nFirst, it’s crucial to know the types of tonics and provisions available. Tonics like Health Cure, Bitters, and Snake Oil restore health, stamina, and Dead Eye, respectively. Provisions, such as cooked meat, canned goods, and herbs, provide smaller but consistent stat boosts. Always stock up on these items before starting a mission. You can purchase them from general stores, doctors, or craft them using herbs and animal parts found in the wild.\n\nTo avoid mission failures, monitor your core stats (health, stamina, and Dead Eye) during gameplay. These are displayed as rings around your health bar. If a core stat is low, Arthur becomes vulnerable to damage, exhaustion, or reduced accuracy. Use tonics proactively rather than reactively. For example, if you’re about to engage in a gunfight, drink a Snake Oil to boost your Dead Eye, allowing you to mark multiple targets quickly. Similarly, use Health Cure when your health is below 50% to avoid being killed by a single shot.\n\nCrafting tonics is a cost-effective way to ensure you always have supplies. For instance, crafting Potent Health Cure requires Yarrow and Ginseng, both of which are abundant in the game world. Yarrow can be found near rivers and open fields, while Ginseng grows in wooded areas like Big Valley. By gathering these herbs during free roam, you can craft powerful tonics without spending money.\n\nDuring missions, pay attention to mission-specific challenges. For example, in the mission ‘Pouring Forth Oil,’ you’ll face waves of enemies while defending a train. Use tonics like Bitters to keep your stamina high for running and dodging, and Health Cure to survive prolonged gunfights. Similarly, in stealth missions like ‘The Sheep and the Goats,’ Dead Eye tonics can help you take out multiple enemies silently and efficiently.\n\nAnother tip is to assign tonics and provisions to your quick-select wheel for easy access. Open the item wheel, navigate to the tonic or provision you want to assign, and press the corresponding button to equip it. This allows you to use items mid-combat without pausing the game, which is crucial in high-pressure situations.\n\nFinally, always carry a variety of tonics and provisions to handle different scenarios. For example, if you’re low on health but also need stamina for a chase, carry both Health Cure and Bitters. Additionally, cooked seasoned meats provide long-lasting stat boosts, making them ideal for extended missions. Cook meat at campfires using herbs like Oregano, Thyme, or Mint to enhance their effects.\n\nIn summary, avoiding mission failures in Red Dead Redemption 2 requires careful management of your core stats using tonics and provisions. Stock up on these items, craft them when possible, and use them strategically during missions. By doing so, you’ll ensure Arthur is always prepared for whatever challenges the game throws at you.