What’s the best way to survive cold weather?

Surviving cold weather in Red Dead Redemption 2 is essential for maintaining Arthur Morgan’s health and stamina, especially when exploring snowy regions like the Grizzlies or Ambarino. Cold weather can drain your core health and stamina, making it harder to perform actions like running, fighting, or hunting. To survive, you need to equip appropriate clothing, consume warming items, and understand the game’s temperature mechanics.\n\nFirst, you must dress for the weather. The game features a temperature system that affects Arthur based on the clothing he wears. In cold areas, you need to wear warm outfits or layered clothing. Outfits like the Winter Gunslinger or crafted garments made from animal pelts (e.g., bear, bison, or wolf) are ideal. You can purchase warm clothing from general stores or tailors in towns like Valentine or Saint Denis. Alternatively, you can craft warm outfits at a trapper using pelts from animals you’ve hunted.\n\nNext, pay attention to the temperature gauge in the player menu. This gauge shows whether your current outfit is suitable for the environment. If the gauge indicates you’re too cold, your health core will drain faster. To fix this, open your satchel and equip warmer clothing. For example, if you’re in the Grizzlies, consider wearing a coat, gloves, and a hat. Layering is key—combine items like the Ram Shotgun Coat, Wool Shirt, and Range Gloves for maximum warmth.\n\nIn addition to clothing, you can consume items to temporarily boost your resistance to cold. Cooking and eating seasoned big game meat (seasoned with oregano, mint, or thyme) provides a golden health core, which helps mitigate cold effects. You can also drink tonics like Bitters or Potent Health Tonics to restore your health core if it’s depleted. Carrying these items in your satchel ensures you’re prepared for sudden temperature drops.\n\nAnother practical tip is to avoid prolonged exposure to cold water. Swimming or wading through icy rivers will rapidly drain your health core. If you must cross water, do so quickly and dry off by a campfire afterward. Campfires are invaluable in cold regions—use them to cook food, craft items, and restore your cores. You can set up a campfire almost anywhere using the crafting menu, provided you have the necessary materials like wood and animal fat.\n\nFinally, plan your travels carefully. If you’re venturing into snowy areas, stock up on supplies like food, tonics, and ammunition. Towns like Colter or the Wapiti Indian Reservation are good starting points for cold-weather expeditions. Always keep an eye on your mini-map for nearby shelters or cabins where you can warm up. For example, the Loft in Ambarino is a great location to rest and recover.\n\nBy combining these strategies—dressing warmly, consuming warming items, avoiding cold water, and planning your route—you can survive even the harshest cold weather in Red Dead Redemption 2. These tips are especially useful for new players but also serve as a reminder for experienced gamers to stay prepared.