RDR2 Legend of the East as Arthur: How to Get the Outfit
Arthur can obtain Legend of the East before the Epilogue through community methods that complete Herbalist 9 in New Austin. The hard part is Blackcurrant, Desert Sage, Red Sage and Wild Feverfew.
- Character
- Arthur
- Main obstacle
- Herbalist 9
- Problem plants
- 4 in New Austin
- Methods
- Community techniques
- Master Roshi Technique
- Quick and easy
What these labels mean
- Master Roshi Technique
The best trick for completing that objective.
- Quick and easy
The quick route, with the steps needed to keep it simple.
Legend of the East is tied to completing all nine Challenge sets.
They are:
- Bandit;
- Explorer;
- Gambler;
- Herbalist;
- Horseman;
- Master Hunter;
- Sharpshooter;
- Survivalist;
- Weapons Expert.
Ten ranks each.
90 Challenges.
John can complete them through normal progression.
Arthur runs into one major roadblock:
Herbalist 9 requires plants from New Austin.
Ninety Challenges. The real roadblock is four plants.
Players have long used a covered buggy to enter the region, shield Arthur from the invisible sniper and pick those plants.
The method is fiddly.
Save first.
Quick answer
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can Arthur get Legend of the East? | Yes, through community workarounds |
| Main roadblock | Herbalist 9 |
| Why? | It requires New Austin plants |
| Problem plants | 4 |
| Which plants? | Blackcurrant, Desert Sage, Red Sage, Wild Feverfew |
| Can Arthur complete Horseman 9? | Yes |
| Does Bandit gate the earliest point? | Bandit 6 requires Chapter 3 |
| Earliest practical chapter | Chapter 3 |
| Are all 90 Challenges normally required? | Yes |
| Is the buggy method official? | No |
| Can it fail? | Yes |
| Should I make saves? | Absolutely |
What Legend of the East gives you
Completing the Challenge sets unlocks the outfit in the wardrobe.
It also comes with passive bonuses affecting things such as:
- weapon condition;
- money looted;
- damage taken;
- Eagle Eye duration;
- core drain;
- experience gains.
The passive effects are not dependent on wearing every piece of the outfit at all times.
Why Arthur cannot do Herbalist 9 normally
Herbalist 9 requires:
pick one of all 43 plant species.
Four key species are in New Austin:
- Blackcurrant;
- Desert Sage;
- Red Sage;
- Wild Feverfew.
Arthur cannot normally explore New Austin during his part of the story.
Entering creates two problems.
Great Plains
Pinkertons and law.
New Austin
An invisible sniper.
The buggy method deals mainly with the sniper.
Before attempting New Austin
Do not start with the hardest part.
Finish almost everything else first.
Complete the other Challenge sets
Finish:
- Bandit;
- Explorer;
- Gambler;
- Horseman;
- Master Hunter;
- Sharpshooter;
- Survivalist;
- Weapons Expert.
Reach Herbalist 9.
Pick all normally accessible Herbalist 9 plants
Use a checklist.
Leave only the actual New Austin plants for the dangerous trip.
Four plants.
Do not use your sniper-protected run for plants Arthur could have picked safely in Lemoyne.
Why Chapter 3 is the practical earliest point
Bandit 6 requires the Clemens Cove horse fence.
That unlocks after:
Horse Flesh for Dinner
in Chapter 3.
This makes Chapter 3 the earliest practical stage for completing every set as Arthur through these methods.
Horseman 9 as Arthur
Horseman 9 requires:
Van Horn → Blackwater in under 17 minutes without touching water.
Arthur can complete it.
The restricted territory is the problem.
Route
Quick and easyUse the dry route:
- Van Horn.
- The Heartlands.
- Flatneck Station.
- Bard’s Crossing.
- Riggs Station.
- Owanjila.
- Owanjila Dam.
- Tall Trees.
- Great Plains.
- Blackwater.
The Challenge can register once you reach Blackwater even if the law becomes a problem immediately afterward.
Bring tonics and Horse Stimulants.
Save first.
Herbalist 9: the four plants
Arthur’s New Austin trip is for:
- Blackcurrant
- Desert Sage
- Red Sage
- Wild Feverfew
Know the locations before entering.
The buggy method becomes much harder if you spend ten minutes circling the desert trying to remember which shrub you wanted.
The buggy
The community method uses a covered Saint Denis buggy.
Its bodywork and canvas can shield Arthur’s head from the invisible sniper when the camera is positioned correctly.
The buggy’s job is simple: keep Arthur’s head covered while you get out, pick the plant and get back in.
Not every covered wagon protects him in the same way.
Use the tested buggy model.
Camera setup
Master Roshi TechniqueA common setup uses:
Camera Follow Level / Camera Height → High
while driving.
The practical rule matters more than the exact menu wording:
keep Arthur hidden behind the buggy.
If the camera angle exposes his head, the sniper can kill him.
Step 1 — steal the buggy in Saint Denis
Find the covered buggy.
Taking one near the edge of town can make escaping the law easier.
Lose your Wanted Level before heading west.
Step 2 — approach Great Plains
Ride toward an Upper Montana River crossing.
A commonly used approach passes around:
- Fort Riggs;
- Beecher’s Hope.
Put a Potent Health Cure somewhere easy to reach.
Step 3 — cross Great Plains
Keep moving.
Pinkertons may attack.
Use tonics when needed.
Your objective is simple:
reach New Austin with Arthur alive and the buggy intact.
Step 4 — enter New Austin
A commonly used crossing goes around the unfinished railway bridge at the Lower Montana River.
Once inside New Austin, the invisible sniper becomes the main threat.
Now the buggy cover matters.
Step 5 — hide Arthur
Move the camera so the buggy covers Arthur.
Do not expose his head.
Watch the opening in the rear of the vehicle too.
The sniper only needs a brief angle.
Step 6 — park beside the plant
Pull the buggy right next to the plant.
Ideally the herb sits beside the side Arthur exits from.
You want:
exit → pick → re-enter.
Arthur should not walk across open desert.
Step 7 — prepare the camera before exiting
Pause and adjust camera settings if needed.
The original community method changes camera-follow behavior before Arthur steps out.
The result you need is simple:
the buggy stays between Arthur and the sniper.
Step 8 — exit under cover
Get out.
Move the camera with Arthur.
Never casually swing around to look at him.
Wait for the Pick / Examine prompt.
Collect the plant.
Step 9 — get back in
Return to the buggy while maintaining cover.
Do not relax after collecting the herb.
Step 10 — repeat
Collect:
- Blackcurrant;
- Desert Sage;
- Red Sage;
- Wild Feverfew.
Every stop is another chance for failure.
Save safely whenever the game allows and when doing so does not destroy the setup.
What can ruin the run?
- Pinkertons;
- crashes;
- rolling the buggy;
- bad camera angles;
- exposing Arthur through a rear opening;
- parking too far from the herb;
- wildlife moving the character;
- the invisible sniper getting a clean angle.
That is why the first step is a manual save.
Can I use another covered wagon?
Do not assume so.
Different wagon models expose Arthur differently.
The method works because the specific buggy blocks the sniper angle.
What about the Angelo Bronte method?
Older community methods use Angelo Bronte, A Man of Honor to access restricted territory.
That route is not a reliable modern solution for Herbalist 9 because the plants you need may not behave as required during the mission state.
For the four herbs:
use the buggy or another proven sniper-cover method.
Carcass-cover method
Another community technique uses a large animal carcass carried over Arthur’s shoulder as sniper cover.
It can work.
It is much slower.
Arthur is also vulnerable to:
- cougars;
- boars;
- terrain;
- losing the cover angle.
Treat it as an alternative.
Herbalist 10
Once Herbalist 9 is complete, the hard part is over.
Herbalist 10 requires the eleven seasoned meat types.
Follow the regular Herbalist checklist.
Finish the set.
When does the outfit appear?
After completing the required Challenge sets, check your wardrobe at:
- camp;
- a rented room;
- a clothing store or tailor.
If Legend of the East is missing:
open Progress → Challenges.
Look at every category.
Check all 90
Bandit
10/10
Explorer
10/10
Gambler
10/10
Herbalist
10/10
Horseman
10/10
Master Hunter
10/10
Sharpshooter
10/10
Survivalist
10/10
Weapons Expert
10/10
Total: 90.
Reinforced gear and Level 10 stats
Challenge gear also increases Arthur’s attribute caps.
Health
- Horseman;
- Sharpshooter;
- Weapons Expert.
Stamina
- Bandit;
- Gambler;
- Master Hunter.
Dead Eye
- Explorer;
- Herbalist;
- Survivalist.
Buy the associated reinforced gear from the Trapper to reach the final Level 10 caps.
Is it worth doing as Arthur?
For official 100% completion, waiting for normal access is much easier.
For a playthrough where you want Arthur wearing Legend of the East through a large part of the story, the difficult part comes down to a handful of New Austin plants.
Recommended order
1. Reach Chapter 3
Unlock Clemens Cove.
2. Complete normal Challenge sets
Finish eight sets.
3. Reach Herbalist 9
Collect every safe plant first.
4. Finish Horseman 9 if needed
Use the dry Blackwater route.
5. Make a permanent save
Before stealing the buggy.
6. Get the Saint Denis buggy
Carry health tonics.
7. Pick the four New Austin plants
One by one.
8. Complete Herbalist 10
Season all eleven meat types.
9. Check 90/90
10. Open the wardrobe
Done.
Frequently asked questions
Can Arthur get Legend of the East?
Yes, through community methods that allow him to complete New Austin-gated Challenges.
Which Challenge causes the problem?
Herbalist 9.
Which New Austin plants does Arthur need?
Blackcurrant, Desert Sage, Red Sage and Wild Feverfew.
What is the earliest practical chapter?
Chapter 3 because Bandit 6 requires the Clemens Cove horse fence.
Can Arthur complete Horseman 9?
Yes.
Why does the buggy work?
Its covered body can block the invisible sniper’s line of fire when the camera is positioned correctly.
Can Arthur still be killed?
Yes.
A bad camera angle can expose him instantly.
Does any covered wagon work?
Do not rely on it.
Use a buggy model proven by the community method.
Does the Angelo Bronte method solve Herbalist 9?
It is not the reliable route for collecting these four plants on current versions.
Do I need all 90 Challenges?
The normal Legend of the East unlock is tied to completing all nine Challenge sets.
More RDR2 guides
Herbalist Challenges
Horseman Challenges
All RDR2 Challenges
Sources
Red Dead Wiki — Legend of the East Outfit.
Red Dead Wiki — Single-player Challenges.
RDR2 community — Arthur Herbalist 9 covered-buggy method.
Last verified: October 5, 2026.