Hey fellow cowpokes! π It's 2026 and I'm still not over Arthur Morgan's death in Red Dead Redemption 2. Every time I replay that masterpiece, I bawl my eyes out as \"Thatβs the Way It Is\" starts playing. π But this year, I decided to give my favorite outlaw a beautiful farewell before his final ride, and it made the experience even more cathartic. Here's how I spent Arthur's last days in the game β maybe it'll inspire you to do the same. π€
1. Ride Across the Map with Your Horse π΄
We spend hundreds of hours riding our trusty steed, and they deserve a proper goodbye too. I plotted a slow, scenic route from the snowy peaks of Ambarino all the way down to the deserts of New Austin. Along the way I stopped to feed, brush, and pat my horse, whispering thanks for all the gallops through gunfire and thunderstorms. π§οΈ Letting Arthur and his horse share a quiet moment before the chaos was the purest thing I've ever done in a game. Seriously, don't skip this β your heart will thank you (even as it shatters). π₯Ί
2. Find a Scenic Spot to Reflect π
Horseshoe Overlook was the first camp we called home, so I set up a little campfire there, poured a virtual whiskey, and justβ¦ watched the sunrise. π You don't have to pick that spot β any cliff, riverbank, or meadow works. I spent a good 15 real-life minutes letting Arthur stare out at the world he'd fought so hard to protect. It felt like a meditation for both of us. The soundtrack, the wind in the trees, the distant howl of a coyoteβ¦ π² Instant tears.
3. Greet Everyone in Town π€
I took Arthur to Valentine and Saint Denis and said \"Howdy, mister!\" to literally every NPC I passed. π At first it seemed silly, but after a while it became a little kindness mission. Some folks said hello back, some ignored me, but each interaction felt like Arthur planting a tiny seed of goodness. π± It's a small thing, but those honor points add up, and it reminded me that Arthur's heart was always bigger than his outlaw reputation. If you're going for a high-honor ending, this is a must. β¨
4. Shave & a Haircut βοΈ
If Arthur's gonna go out, he better look his best. πββοΈ I booked a room at the Saint Denis hotel, gave him a clean shave, trimmed his hair, and dressed him in a new black outfit. Suddenly he looked like the tragic hero he always was β no more road dust, just a man ready to face his fate with dignity. π₯² The cutscene hit so much harder when he didn't look like a mud-covered disaster. I also took a bath, obviously β Arthur deserved to be pampered. π
5. Go Fishing or Hunting π£
I spent an entire in-game day just fishing at O'Creagh's Run, the place where Hamish taught Arthur to fish. π£ There's something so peaceful about the mechanics β casting the line, waiting, reeling in a big one. It felt like Arthur was finally taking a break from the chaos, the hunting, the robbing, the running. π² I even bagged a perfect buck after, which I donated to camp (more on that later). If you want to hear Arthur sigh with contentment instead of pain, give him a fishing pole and a quiet lake.
6. Cook a Last Meal & Pour a Last Drink π²
I raided my satchel for the best ingredients β prime beef, herbs from the Heartlands, and a bottle of that aged pirate rum I'd been hoarding since Chapter 2. π I cooked up a feast right at camp, and Arthur sat by the fire, eating slowly while listening to Javier play guitar one last time. Then I made him down that rum, and his drunk singing had me laughing through tears. ππ» It was the perfect, bittersweet celebration of a life lived hard but loved deeply.
7. Wrap Up Unfinished Business π
I had a few Stranger missions and collectibles left, so I knocked those out too. πΊοΈ I helped the widow Charlotte survive, found the last dinosaur bone, and closed the gunslinger book. Completing these side stories added so much depth to Arthur's legacy β it wasn't about the rewards, it was about knowing he left every corner of the world a little better. π If you're a completionist, this is the ultimate send-off.
8. Donate All Your Money to Camp π°
Arthur can't take his cash with him, and trust me, John doesn't get it. So I dumped every last cent into the camp donation box β thousands of dollars. π΅ It felt like Arthur's final sacrifice for the people he still called family, even as the gang fell apart. Buy the upgrades, fill the medicine and ammo stocks, and let Pearson cook like a king. π² It's a quiet way of saying, \"Be safe, you fools.\"
9. Visit Gang Members' Graves β°οΈ
This one DESTROYED me. I rode to all nine graves β Hosea, Lenny, Sean, Kieranβ¦ Arthur says something unique at each one, and itβs so beautifully scripted. The \"Pay Respects\" trophy popped up, but I wasn't doing it for the achievement. I was doing it so Arthur could say goodbye to his fallen brothers and sisters before joining them. π Standing at Lenny's grave just hit different, I swear. Bring tissues.
10. Leave Money for John π΅
Here's a sneaky one that requires a bit of meta-knowledge, but it's worth it. I visited the Aberdeen Pig Farm before the final mission and let the creepy couple rob Arthur β only to come back as John in the epilogue and retrieve the stashed cash. π·π° It's like Arthur's final gift to John, a bit of financial breathing room before the tragedy of RDR1 unfolds. Knowing I could help John even a little made the ending feel a tiny bit less bleak. π₯²
No matter which ending you get, Arthur Morgan's last ride is going to wreck you. But taking the time to honor him β to laugh, cry, and breathe with him β turns that pain into something beautiful. π These ten little rituals have become my personal tradition, and in 2026 they still work like magic. So, partner, next time you hear that cough getting worse and know the end is near, don't rush. Say goodbye. β€οΈ
Until we ride again, cowboy. π