What’s the best way to complete missions with no health item usage?

Completing missions in Red Dead Redemption 2 without using health items is a challenging but achievable task, especially for players aiming for Gold Medals. The key to success lies in understanding game mechanics, planning your approach, and mastering combat strategies. Health management is critical, as taking damage can quickly derail your progress. Here’s a detailed guide to help you complete missions without relying on health items.\n\nFirst, prioritize upgrading your health core and stamina core. These cores are essential for surviving tough encounters. You can improve your health core by hunting, fishing, and completing challenges like Herbalist or Survivalist. Eating cooked meat, stews, or other high-quality food will also replenish your cores. A fully upgraded health core significantly reduces the need for health items during missions.\n\nNext, focus on positioning and cover during combat. Many missions involve gunfights, and staying behind cover is crucial to avoid taking damage. Use the environment to your advantage—hide behind rocks, walls, or wagons to minimize exposure. When engaging enemies, aim for headshots to eliminate them quickly. Dead Eye is an invaluable tool for precision shooting, especially when facing multiple enemies. Upgrade your Dead Eye ability to improve its effectiveness.\n\nAnother important strategy is to avoid unnecessary risks. Some missions allow you to bypass certain encounters or use stealth to reduce the number of enemies you face. For example, in the mission "Pouring Forth Oil," you can sneak past guards instead of engaging them directly. Stealth kills with a bow or throwing knives are silent and effective, reducing the chances of alerting enemies and taking damage.\n\nEquip the right weapons and gear for each mission. A repeater or rifle is ideal for long-range combat, while a shotgun or revolver works well in close-quarters situations. Always carry a bow for stealth missions. Additionally, wear clothing that provides protection against the environment, such as cold weather gear in snowy areas. This prevents your health core from draining due to environmental effects.\n\nPractice defensive maneuvers during horseback chases or ambushes. When riding, use the cinematic camera to maintain control while focusing on shooting enemies. If you’re ambushed, dismount and take cover immediately. Use Dead Eye to target enemies quickly and efficiently. In missions like "The First Shall Be Last," where you face a large group of enemies, prioritize taking out the most dangerous threats first, such as snipers or enemies with shotguns.\n\nFinally, save your progress before starting a mission. If you take too much damage or fail to meet the Gold Medal requirements, you can reload your save and try again. This saves time and resources, allowing you to refine your strategy without penalty. For example, in the mission "American Distillation," you can save before the final shootout to practice your approach and minimize damage.\n\nIn summary, completing missions without health items requires careful planning, strategic combat, and mastery of game mechanics. Upgrade your cores, use cover effectively, and prioritize stealth and precision. Equip the right weapons, practice defensive maneuvers, and save often to optimize your chances of success. With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to earning Gold Medals and mastering Red Dead Redemption 2.