Exploring the Stranger Missions of Red Dead Redemption
In Red Dead Redemption, players encounter various side quests known as Stranger Missions. These missions are initiated when John meets a stranger in different locations, whether along a road, in a saloon, or deep in the wilderness. Each stranger has a task for John that can range from straightforward and violent to intricate and introspective. For example, he might take on the role of a hired gun or embark on a quest to collect herbs for a sick traveler.
While these Stranger Missions do not hold the same weight as the main story missions, they possess their own complexities and narrative depth. Some Stranger Missions are interconnected, requiring players to meet the same stranger multiple times throughout the game. Others lead to larger quests that feel almost like main missions. Depending on player choices, some of these missions can branch into different outcomes, while others serve as light-hearted distractions. There are a total of 19 Stranger Missions in RDR1. Here’s a guide to locating them all.
All Stranger Mission Locations
"I Know You"
The first part of this mission is found southwest of MacFarlane’s Ranch, halfway down the road towards Armadillo. It becomes available after completing Bonnie’s main story mission, A Tempest Looms. Look for a question mark on the map south of the path. Here, John meets a mysterious man who urges him to confront a friend believed to be cheating on his wife. This mission introduces Red Dead‘s Honor system, allowing John to either persuade him to do the right thing or encourage his infidelity.
Note: All three parts of "I Know You" must be completed before starting "The Last Enemy That Shall Be Destroyed"; failing to do so will result in an automatic failure of the mission.
After finishing Irish’s main story mission, We Shall Be Together in Paradise, head south of El Matadero to find the Strange Man again. This time, John must choose whether to rob a nun or donate to her cause. The third part occurs just outside Beecher’s Hope after completing An Appointed Time, and consists of a simple discussion about John’s morality as reflected throughout the game.
"Jenny’s Faith"
Located northeast of Ridgewood Farm, just west of Odd Fellow’s Rest, you can access "Jenny’s Faith" only after completing This is Armadillo, USA. In this brief yet poignant mission, John encounters an injured woman on the roadside, deciding whether to leave her behind or return to Armadillo for assistance.
"Funny Man"
This four-part mission kicks off after finishing Exhuming and Other Fine Hobbies, featuring the hapless journalist Jimmy Saint, whom John must constantly rescue from various predicaments. The adventure starts outside the Benedict Point train station, where Jimmy is working on an article about the diminishing American West.
Part two finds Jimmy lost in the Gaptooth Breach mine after completing Man Is Born unto Trouble. He’s then stranded in Pike’s Basin, and later kidnapped following Empty Promises, leading John to rescue him from a gang hideout.
"California"
After completing Women and Cattle, find the quirky Sam Odessa along the high road southeast of Gaptooth Ridge and north of The Scratching Post. You can listen for the sound of his harmonica to locate him more easily. Each segment of the quest proceeds only after a week has passed in the game.
After a week goes by, Odessa reappears near Cueva Seca, in a ditch north of Tumbleweed, and eventually along the road south of town, where John will collect and deliver his letter to the post office in Armadillo.
"American Appetites"
This peculiar mission series begins after completing Political Realities in Armadillo. You’ll start the quest at the Sheriff’s Office in Armadillo, tracking the marker to Hanging Rock before reporting back to finish part one.
The second part starts outside the Armadillo Sheriff’s Office after Justice in Pike’s Basin and ends in the same spot as part one. The third part kicks off inside the same office after completing Wild Horses, Tamed Passions and wraps up the series.
"Let No Man Put Asunder"
In this mission, John finds himself caught between two bickering couples. "Let No Man Put Asunder" opens after finishing Obstacles in Our Path and is located just north of Coot’s Chapel, southeast of Armadillo.
"Lights, Camera, Action"
Unlocked after completing The Sport of Kings and Liars, this mission tasks John with wrangling a runaway actor from a film set. The quest begins at the movie theater in Armadillo, where the quest giver, MacKenna, can be found napping in a back room.
"Water and Honesty"
In this journey, John assists Andrew McAllister, a dowser, as he seeks to secure what he believes is a valuable property. This mission starts after Political Realities in Armadillo on the road east of Coot’s Chapel. Note that John has the option to kill McAllister after handing him the deed, which earns a free house but costs 30 Honor points.
"Flowers for a Lady"
Arguably the most tranquil Stranger Mission, "Flowers for a Lady" involves gathering nine different flowers to create a bouquet for Billy West’s anniversary. John encounters West after New Friends, Old Problems along the main road east of MacFarlane’s Ranch.
"Who Are You To Judge?"
A straightforward rescue mission, "Who Are You to Judge?" begins after Liars, Cheats and Other Proud Americans, when John meets Jeb Blankenship at the Rathskeller Fork stable.
"Aztec Gold"
This mission revolves around hunting for treasure, following the advice of Basilio Aguirre Olmos de la Vargas. It kicks off after completing Must a Savior Die? and starts in Sidewinder Gulch, just west of Tesoro Azul.
"Deadalus And Son"
A darkly humorous mission featuring an aspiring inventor, "Deadalus and Son" becomes available after finishing We Shall Be Together in Paradise. Located east of Agave Viejo, southwest of Casa Madrugada, follow the high road while keeping north of the train tracks to find it.
"Eva In Peril"
A serious and tragic mission, "Eva in Peril" has John rescuing a sex worker named Eva Cortes from her pimp, Mario Alcalde. This mission is initiated at the northernmost tip of Casa Madrugada after finishing the Landon Ricketts main story quest, Lucky in Love.
"Love Is The Opiate"
In "Love Is The Opiate", John must tame a Hungarian Half-bred horse to secure Zhou’s freedom from servitude. The mission starts at El Matadero’s northernmost building and requires completing Empty Promises and Poppycock first.
"American Lobbyist"
This mission, available after completing An Appointed Time, finds John blackmailing a gubernatorial candidate in a quest for political leverage. It starts at a gazebo in the northern part of Blackwater and wraps up quickly with a visit to the bank.
"The Prohibitionist"
In "The Prohibitionist," John confronts a judgmental teetotaler who’s causing trouble for local drinkers. After completing The Wronged Woman, this mission unfolds outside the central Blackwater saloon, where players can choose to confront or eliminate Forsyth.
"The Wronged Woman"
In this mission, John becomes embroiled in a supposed affair between a local businessman and his children’s nanny, Clara LaGuerta. You can start it by visiting the church in Blackwater between 6 PM and 7 AM, but only after completing An Appointed Time.
Final Thoughts
Remember My Family is the last Stranger Mission in RDR1, becoming available only as Jack Marston after completing The Last Enemy That Shall Be Destroyed. While framed as a side quest, it serves as a critical closure point, resolving significant themes of the game. This mission starts with Jack meeting Howard Sawicki southwest of Blackwater’s main square and involves a series of travels to key locations around the map.
Completing all Stranger Missions in RDR1 may not be essential to the main story, but they enrich the narrative experience, exploring deep themes and rewarding players with cash, honor, fame, and materials to craft clothing. These side quests play a vital role in the immersive world of Red Dead Redemption.
