Red Dead Redemption 2 has many layers to it, many of which aren’t made immediately obvious to the player. One of those layers is the Trinkets and Talismans system. In Red Dead Redemption 2, Trinkets and Talismans function like RPG perks, granting permanent passive bonuses to the player. This guide will show you how to acquire all of the game’s available Trinkets and Talismans. We’ll also show you where to find the Special Materials needed for certain Talismans and Trinkets.
How Do Red Dead Redemption 2’s Trinkets and Talismans Function?
Most Trinkets and Talismans are crafted at fences using certain rare materials. Most often these materials are obtained by hunting Red Dead Redemption 2’s Legendary Animals. However, some Trinkets and Talismans come from specific story missions. Other Talismans and Trinkets require specific items which we’ve also outlined below.
One Talisman and one Trinket can only be obtained if you purchase Red Dead Redemption 2’s Special/Ultimate Edition. Those items are the Eagle Talon Talisman and the Iguana Scale Trinket. The Eagle Talon Talisman increases Eagle Eye duration for five seconds. The Iguana Scale Trinket, meanwhile, reduces damage taken on horseback by 10 percent.
You don’t need to equip a Trinket or Talisman to gain its effect. As long as its in your inventory, you’ll receive its benefits, equipped or no.
Trinkets
- Elk Antler Trinket – Craft with the Legendary Elk Antler to increase your looting gains by 10 percent.
- Buck Antler Trinket – Craft with the Legendary Buck Antler to increase the odds of higher-quality skinning materials.
- Beaver Tooth Trinket – Craft with the Legendary Beaver Tooth to slow weapon degradation by 10 percent.
- Fox Claw Trinket – Craft with the Legendary Fox Claw to increase Eagle Eye duration by five seconds.
- Owl Feather Trinket – Complete the ‘Archeology for Beginners’ mission without killing a single person. This Trinket reduces drain speed for all your Cores by 15 percent.
- Wolf Heart Trinket – Craft with the Legendary Wolf Heart to double your resistance to alcohol effects.
- Ram Horn Trinket – Craft with the Legendary Ram Horn to double the amount of herbs harvested from wild plants.
- Pronghorn Horn Trinket – Craft with the Legendary Pronghorn Horn to prevent horse-transported animal carcasses from decomposing.
- Tatanka Bison Horn Trinket – Craft with the Legendary Tatanka Bison Horn to decrease melee damage taken by 10 percent.
- Moose Antler Trinket – Craft with the Legendary Moose Antler to increase Health XP gains by 10 percent
- Lion’s Paw Trinket – Craft using the Lion’s Paw to increase Stamina XP gains by 10 percent (see Special Items).
- Cougar’s Paw Trinket – Craft with the Legendary Cougar’s Paw to increase Stamina XP gains by 10 percent.
- Coyote Fang Trinket – Craft with the Legendary Coyote Fang to increase Dead Eye XP gains by 10 percent.
- Panther’s Eye Trinket – Craft with the Legendary Panther’s Eye to decrease Dead Eye drain speed by 10 percent.
Talismans
- Boar Tusk Talisman – Craft with the Cobalt Petrified Wood (see Special Items), Legendary Boar Tusk, and a Gold Erring. Once obtained, decreases horse Health and Stamina drain speeds by 10 percent.
- Raven Claw Talisman – Craft with Old Brass Compass to slow weapon degradation by 20 percent.
- Bear Claw Talisman – Craft using Quarts Chunk (see Special Items), Legendary Bear Claw, and a Silver Chain Bracelet. Once obtained, decreases Health Core drain speed by 10 percent.
- Bison Horn Talisman – Craft with Abalone Shell Fragment (see Special Items), Legendary Bison Horn, and a Silver Erring. Once obtained, decreases Stamina Core drain speed by 10 percent.
- Alligator Tooth Talisman – Craft using Vintage Civil War Handcuffs (see Special Items), Legendary Alligator Tooth, and Gold Jointed Bracelet. Once obtained, decreases Dead Eye Core drain speed by 10 percent.
Special Items
- Lion’s Paw – Obtained from the lion during the ‘He’s British, of Course IV’ Stranger Mission.
- Quartz Chunk – Obtained by mailing in the first location for the ‘Test of Faith’ mission.
- Vintage Civil War Handcuffs – Obtained after mailing in a set of Cigarette Cards.
- Cobalt Petrified Wood – Inside a chest underneath a rock overhang northwest of Lake Isabella.
- Old Brass Compass – Inside Francis Sinclair’s cabin after mailing all 10 rock carvings for the ‘Geology for Beginners’ mission.
- Abalone Shell Fragment – Inside an old house just to the north of the Sheriff’s station in Rhodes.