RDR2 Weapons Expert Challenges: How to Complete All 10

Weapons Expert looks like ten completely different fights.

Several can be simplified with the same idea:

control the enemies → use the required weapon → satisfy one condition at a time.

The ranks needing the most setup are:

Challenge	Method
Weapons Expert 2	Three grouped enemies + Throwing Knives
Weapons Expert 3	Carcass + wait for crows
Weapons Expert 6	Hogtie four enemies + one dynamite
Weapons Expert 7	Hogtie four enemies + retrieve the same tomahawk
Weapons Expert 9	Thieves’ Landing or stealth camps
Weapons Expert 10	Grizzly + Poison Throwing Knives

Weapons Expert 1 — kill three enemies with a knife

Use the melee knife.

Throwing Knives belong to the next rank.

Easy method

Use:

• stealth kills;
• enemy camps;
• missions that already let you approach from behind.

Move in.

Knife kill.

Three enemies.

There is no reason to charge into ten armed men with a hunting knife.

Now the timer matters.

Method 1: group the enemies

Find an enemy camp.

Hogtie three enemies.

Place them close together.

Then:

1. equip Throwing Knives;
2. aim at the head;
3. kill the first;
4. kill the second;
5. kill the third.

Grouping them prevents you wasting the ten seconds running between targets.

Method 2: Paying a Social Call

Paying a Social Call unlocks Throwing Knives and places several O’Driscolls in useful positions.

If the Challenge is active during a suitable playthrough or replay, the mission can work well too.

You do not need to chase eagles through the sky.

Bring the birds to you.

Method

1. Kill an animal in an open field.
2. Leave the carcass.
3. Move away.
4. Wait for scavenging birds.
5. Let one land.
6. Approach with a tomahawk.
7. Use Dead Eye if needed.
8. Throw.
9. Recover the tomahawk.
10. Wait again.

Crows can satisfy the game’s counter.

That is much easier than trying to hit a small bird in flight.

Weapons Expert 4 — kill ten enemies with a shotgun using crafted ammo

You need crafted shotgun ammunition.

Examples include:

• incendiary;
• explosive.

Where

Use a hideout such as:

• Hanging Dog Ranch;
• Thieves’ Landing;
• another large enemy camp.

Method

Load the crafted shells.

Kill ten enemies with the shotgun.

Do not switch back to standard shells and assume they count.

The ammo condition matters.

Every target needs to be mounted.

And each kill must take one knife.

Comfortable method

Build a small bounty.

Wait for bounty hunters in open country.

Many arrive on horseback.

Then:

1. equip Throwing Knives;
2. use Dead Eye;
3. aim for the head;
4. one knife;
5. one kill.

Repeat for five riders.

As Arthur

Great Plains can also produce many mounted lawmen.

It works.

It is much more dangerous.

You do not need a miracle throw during a gunfight.

Method

Find an enemy camp.

1. Hogtie four enemies.
2. Carry them together.
3. Place them close to each other.
4. Equip dynamite.
5. Throw one stick into the group.
6. Move away.

Four enemies.

One explosion.

Done.

Another opportunity

Some KKK random encounters group enough enemies together.

That can work if you still have one available.

The hogtie method gives you more control.

Weapons Expert 7 — kill four consecutive enemies with the same tomahawk

The important word is:

same.

Throw it.

Kill.

Pick it up.

Throw it again.

Easy method

Hogtie four enemies.

Then:

1. keep one tomahawk ready;
2. throw it into the first enemy’s head;
3. retrieve it from the body;
4. throw it at the second;
5. retrieve it;
6. repeat until four.

Do not simply pull another tomahawk from inventory.

The Challenge wants repeated use of the same one.

If Arthur draws another weapon

Do not kill anyone with it.

Retrieve the tomahawk.

Equip it again.

All four qualifying kills still need the same recovered tomahawk.

Reset alternative

Hanging Dog Ranch also allows you to kill one guard, recover the tomahawk, ride away until the area resets and return.

Hogtying a group requires less travel.

Weapons Expert 8 — kill fifteen enemies with a long-barreled sidearm

This requirement is often misread.

It wants a sidearm with a long barrel.

It does not want a long shotgun.

Setup

Visit a gunsmith.

Select a:

• revolver;
• pistol.

Open Components:

Barrel → Long.

Then kill fifteen enemies with that weapon.

If it does not count

Check the gun first.

It must be a sidearm with the long barrel installed.

Weapons Expert 9 — kill nine unaware enemies from behind using the bow

You need all three conditions:

• enemy unaware;
• attack from behind;
• bow.

During the story

Use:

• camps;
• hideouts;
• stealth sections in missions.

Approach from behind.

Arrow to the head.

If the enemy turns and fully enters combat first, use another target.

Once you can reach it normally, Thieves’ Landing provides a repeatable setup.

Del Lobo guards stand around the northern side.

Method

1. Position yourself north of Thieves’ Landing.
2. Find a guard facing away from you.
3. Kill him with the bow.
4. Mount your horse.
5. Ride away until the danger state disappears.
6. Return.
7. The guard can respawn.
8. Repeat.

This prevents you from searching for nine separate camps.

Still playing as Arthur?

Use normal missions and enemy camps.

There is no need to force a New Austin route just for this Challenge.

It sounds much worse than it needs to be.

Poison Throwing Knives make it manageable.

Prepare

• Poison Throwing Knives;
• full Dead Eye;
• a manual save.

You need the recipe and Oleander Sage to craft poisoned knives.

Where

A reliable grizzly area is northwest of Wallace Station in West Elizabeth.

Black Bone Forest is another option.

Method

1. Save first.
2. Find the grizzly from a distance.
3. Equip a Poison Throwing Knife.
4. Keep space between Arthur and the bear.
5. Throw when you have a clean target.
6. Stay outside its reach.
7. If needed, finish it with another Throwing Knife.
8. Take no damage.

Poison does most of the hard work.

Throwing Knives only

Do not shoot the bear first with a rifle.

Do not weaken it with another weapon.

The Challenge requires the bear to be killed using only Throwing Knives.

Poison Throwing Knives still satisfy that weapon type.

Fast route

Missions and camps

• Weapons Expert 1
• Weapons Expert 2

Open-field carcass

• Weapons Expert 3

Enemy hideout

• Weapons Expert 4
• Weapons Expert 6
• Weapons Expert 7

Riders / bounty hunters

• Weapons Expert 5

Any combat

• Weapons Expert 8

Thieves’ Landing or stealth

• Weapons Expert 9

Wallace Station / Big Valley

• Weapons Expert 10

Unlocks

Rank	Gear
Weapons Expert 1	Holster
Weapons Expert 3	Gun Belt
Weapons Expert 7	Off-Hand Holster
Weapons Expert 10	Bandolier

The reinforced gear can then be purchased from the Trapper.

Frequently asked questions

How do I complete Weapons Expert 6?

Hogtie four enemies.

Place them together.

Throw one stick of dynamite into the group.

How do I complete Weapons Expert 7?

Kill with a tomahawk.

Pick it up.

Kill with the same tomahawk.

Retrieve it again.

Repeat until four consecutive kills.

Does Weapons Expert 8 require a shotgun?

No.

It requires a pistol or revolver with a long barrel.

Where can I do Weapons Expert 9 quickly?

Thieves’ Landing provides a repeatable stealth bow kill after resetting the area.

Can Arthur complete Weapons Expert 9?

Yes.

Use enemy camps and stealth mission sections instead of the New Austin shortcut.

How do I kill the Weapons Expert 10 grizzly?

Use Poison Throwing Knives and keep your distance.

Take no damage and use no other weapon.

Can I weaken the grizzly with a rifle first?

Do not.

The Challenge requires the kill using only Throwing Knives.

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More Challenge guides

All RDR2 Challenges

RDR2 Bandit Challenges

RDR2 Sharpshooter Challenges

RDR2 Master Hunter Challenges

RDR2 Gambler Challenges

RDR2 100% completion checklist

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Sources

Red Dead Wiki — Weapons Expert Challenges

GameFAQs — Weapons Expert Challenges

PowerPyx — Red Dead Redemption 2 Challenges

Community methods cross-checked for the same-tomahawk streak, Thieves’ Landing and the Poison Throwing Knife grizzly method.

Last verified: October 5, 2026.

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