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  "path": "/topic/1006227-canon-mission-order-of-red-dead-redemption-1/?do=findComment&comment=1072709844",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-13T12:41:48.000Z",
  "site": "https://gtaforums.com",
  "textContent": "I have put together what I think is the canon mission order for RDR1, determining the order through different factors like geographical location, dialogue, and more. If there are any periods of time waiting for missions, I'll try to fit other missions in there to make it cleaner unless it doesn't make sense. Here is the order with explanations:\n \n\n\n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\tNew Austin Chapter:\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t1. Exodus in America\n \n\n\n\t2. New Friends, Old Problems (B)\n \n\n\n\t3. Obstacles in Our Path (B)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Forced mission order\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t4. This is Armadillo, USA (B)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Makes sense (This mission ends in Armadillo, meaning it would make sense for John to do the Marshal mission straight after this. Plus, some time passes after the previous mission, \"Obstacles in Our Path\", so it makes sense for Bonnie to be doing another errand right after the mission)\n \n\n\n\t \n\t5. Political Realities in Armadillo (M)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Dialogue (Not only does the previous mission end in Armadillo, but in the next Bonnie MacFarlane mission, \"Women and Cattle\", Bonnie talks about how the Marshal told her that John is planning to stay in New Austin. This means John must have met the Marshal prior, so this is the only other mission that could happen)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t6. Women and Cattle (B)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Makes sense (There'd be a bit of downtime between the next Marshal mission so John would probably go back to the ranch and do another errand for Bonnie)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t7. Justice in Pike's Basin (M)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Makes sense (John would then probably go to Armadillo and do the next Marshal mission)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t8. Old Swindler Blues (W)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Makes sense (John would probably bump into West Dickens while riding away from Pike's Basin)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t9. Wild Horses, Tamed Passion (B)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Dialogue (In the mission, \"Spare the Rod, Spoil the Bandit\", the Marshal asks John if he met West Dickens, to which he replies that he has. However, in the mission, \"You Shall Not Give False Testimony, Except for Profit\", John asks for West Dickens' name, and John has to know West Dickens' name before he says that he met him to the Marshal. This means that the mission, \"You Shall Not Give False Testimony, Except for Profit\", comes before \"Spare the Rod, Spoil the Bandit\". John has to wait for West Dickens to come out of the hospital before he can do the mission though. So in the downtime, he'd probably go back to the ranch)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t10. You Shall Not Give False Testimony, Except for Profit (W)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Makes sense (John would go back to West Dickens to meet him in the hospital, the Marshal mission can't happen yet as it was already explained and the next Bonnie mission takes place in a thunderstorm in the night so this is the only mission John can do right now)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t11. Exhuming and Other Fine Hobbies (S)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Influence from other missions (In the mission, \"Spare the Rod, Spoil the Bandit\", John, the Marshal, and the deputies, go to Ridgewood Farm, which was just attacked by Bill Williamson's gang. However, in the next West Dickens mission, \"Liars, Cheats, and Other Proud Americans\", you meet West Dickens at Ridgewood Farm because that's where the previous West Dickens mission, \"You Shall Not Give False Testimony, Except for Profit\", ended. This means that \"Spare the Rod, Spoil the Bandit\" ALSO has to happen after \"Liars, Cheats, and Other Proud Americans\" since it would make no sense for Ridgewood Farm to be attacked while West Dickens is still there. Since this Seth mission is mandatory to unlock \"Liars, Cheats, and Other Proud Americans\", it has to happen next)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t12. Liars, Cheats, and Other Proud Americans (W) \n\tReason: Already explained\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t13. A Frenchman, A Welshman, and an Irishman (I)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Makes sense (This Irish mission and the Marshal mission are both right next to each other in Armadillo, but I'd say that John would do the Irish mission because he was just tasked of it by West Dickens so it is more important)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t14. Man is Born Unto Trouble (I)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Makes sense (Irish tricked John by giving him a false location with no machine gun, so John would be angry and would probably go searching for Irish immediately)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t15. Spare the Rod, Spoil the Bandit (M)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Makes sense (John gets the machine gun from Irish in the previous mission, West Dickens is off somewhere else, and Seth is currently scavenging Odd Fellow's Rest, so it would be most sensible for John to go to the Marshal next about Bill Williamson)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t16. A Tempest Looms (B)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Time of day (After this many missions, it would probably be night-time meaning that this is the appropriate time for the next Bonnie mission)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t17. A Gentle Drive with Friends (S)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Geographically closest (If you're wondering why \"The Burning\" isn't the next mission, there would probably be some downtime until the next Bonnie mission so it probably wouldn't be the next one. The Seth mission, \"A Gentle Drive with Friends\", is geographically the closest so it would make most sense to be the next mission)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t18. On Shaky's Ground (I)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Dialogue (In the previous mission, Seth tells John that his machine gun from Irish has no ammo. So John would probably go confront Irish about it)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t19. The Burning (B)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Geographically closest (The previous mission ends in MacFarlane's Ranch, allowing for the perfect opportunity to do the final Bonnie mission)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t20. Let the Dead Bury Their Dead (S)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Influence from other missions (In the next Marshal mission, \"Hanging Bonnie MacFarlane\", Bill Williamson's gang keeps her in Tumbleweed. And in this mission, John and Seth clear out Tumbleweed of Treasure Hunter bandits. John and Seth clearing Tumbleweed would give Bill Williamson's gang the perfect opportunity to move into Tumbleweed)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t21. Can a Swindler Change His Spots? (W)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Makes sense (John has finished up the leads with Seth and Irish, now he would probably go to West Dickens to finish his part, plus it's geographically closer than the Marshal mission, plus it would take some time for Bill's gang to move into Tumbleweed)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t22. Hanging Bonnie MacFarlane (M)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Makes sense (Some time passes before the last West Dickens mission, so we can assume that John does the Marshal mission in the meantime)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t23. The Sport of Kings, and Liars (W) \n\t24. The Assault on Fort Mercer (M)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Forced mission order\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\tNuevo Paraiso Chapter:\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t1. We Shall Be Together in Paradise (I)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Forced mission order\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t2. The Gunslinger's Tragedy (LR)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Geographically closer (Nothing else to really add)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t3. Civilization, at Any Price (D)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Makes sense (In the downtime between the next Landon Ricketts mission, John would go to Escalera for the lead with De Santa)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t4. Landon Ricketts Rides Again (LR)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Geographically closer (Again, not much to add)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t5. The Demon Drink (D)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Makes sense (In the downtime between the next Landon Ricketts mission, he would go to De Santa to continue that lead. If you're wondering why I'm not factoring in the Luisa mission, go to the explanation for Mission 8: Lucky in Love)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t6. Empty Promises (D)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Dialogue (In the previous mission, De Santa tells John to meet him back at Escalera, meaning that John would need to continue his work with De Santa)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t7. Mexican Caesar (D)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Dialogue (In the previous mission, De Santa tells John to meet him back at Escalera AGAIN, so John would probably do so)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t8. Lucky in Love (LR)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Dialogue (In the final Landon Ricketts mission, \"The Mexican Wagon Train\", Ricketts tells John to contact Luisa as she can help him. This line of dialogue would be what causes John to do missions with Luisa, meaning John must finish up the 2 last Ricketts missions, \"Lucky in Love\" and \"The Mexican Wagon Train\", before he does any Luisa missions)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t9. The Mexican Wagon Train (LR)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Already explained\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t10. My Sister's Keeper (L)\n \n\n\n\t11. Must a Savior Die? (L)\n \n\n\n\t12. Cowards Die Many Times (D)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Forced mission order\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t13. The Great Mexican Train Robbery (R)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Dialogue (In the mission, \"Must a Savior Die?\", Reyes tells John to meet him at his ranch in Agave Viejo, so John would probably go do that, starting this mission)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t14. Father Abraham (L)\n \n\n\n\t15. Captain De Santa's Downfall (L)\n \n\n\n\t16. The Gates of El Presidio (R)\n \n\n\n\t17. An Appointed Time (R)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Forced mission order\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\tWest Elizabeth Chapter:\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t1. Bear One Another's Burdens (G)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Forced mission order\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t2. At Home with Dutch (Mc)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Dialogue (In the previous mission, Edgar Ross tells John to talk with Professor MacDougal, so John would probably do that next)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t3. For Purely Scientific Purposes (Mc)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Makes sense (John wakes up from getting hit in the head in the previous mission, so he would probably rest a bit to get better. Since MacDougal tells him to meet up with him again at the end of the previous mission, John would probably meet him again, starting \"For Purely Scientific Purposes\")\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t4. Great Men are Not Always Wise (G)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Makes sense (The next MacDougal mission happens at night and MacDougal would probably need some time alone after what happened in the previous mission, so in the downtime, John would do a mission with Edgar Ross)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t5. The Prodigal Son Returns [to Yale] (Mc)\n \n\n\n\t6. And You Will Know the Truth (G)\n \n\n\n\t7. And the Truth Will Set You Free\n \n\n\n\tReason: Forced mission order\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\tHomestead Chapter:\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t1. The Outlaw's Return (A)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Forced mission order\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t2. Pestilence (A)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Makes sense (After John and Jack buy cattle from the MacFarlanes during the early morning in the previous mission, John would probably go to Abigail for breakfast)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t3. John Marston and Son (J)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Influence from other missions (The next Abigail mission has Abigail receive a letter so it definitely wouldn't be the next mission since it would take some time for the letter to arrive, in the next Uncle mission, \"By Sweat and Toil\", Uncle sarcastically says that there's nothing worse for an old man than sleeping in the afternoon sun. However, it wouldn't be afternoon by now, so the next mission would probably be the Jack one)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t4. By Sweat and Toil (U)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Makes sense (John tells Jack to do his chores in the previous mission so the next mission can't be a Jack one, now the next mission can either be the Uncle one or the Abigail one, either can work. I prefer to do the Uncle one since I think it would take a bit longer to deliver the letter. I like to think the letter gets delivered to Abigail during this mission)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t5. Old Friends, New Problems (A)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Makes sense (Jack is doing his chores and Uncle says that he's done working for the day in the previous mission so this is the only next one that I think can happen)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t6. Wolves, Dogs, and Sons (J)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Makes sense (There are no more Abigail missions and Uncle said he's done working for the day, so this is the only next one that can happen)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t7. Spare the Love, Spoil the Child (J)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Makes sense (It would probably be night by this time so John would sleep and wake up to Uncle telling him that Jack sneaked out to hunt a grizzly bear. It would make a lot of sense for Jack to sneak out while everyone else is sleeping, so this is the next most plausible mission)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t8. A Continual Feast (U)\n \n\n\n\t9. The Last Enemy That Shall Be Destroyed (J)\n \n\n\n\t10. Remember My Family (?)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Forced mission order\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\tUndead Nightmare:\n \n\n\n\tNote: I've included the Survivor side-missions as they are much more important than in the main game, they will be represented as decimal numbers\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t1. Love in the Time of Plague\n \n\n\n\t2. Curious Tales from Blackwater (U)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Forced mission order\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t3. Start: Get Back in That Hole, Partner (U)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Geographical location (John would head down to New Austin and start the Seth mission next cause he is geographically closer)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t3.1. Paternal Pride (?, B)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Geographical location (While heading to Fort Mercer where West Dickens is located, he would pass through MacFarlane's Ranch and do the mission there)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t3.2. Dinner for Two (?, M)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Geographical location (While heading to Fort Mercer where West Dickens is located and clearing out Coot's Chapel, he would prolly pass through Armadillo and do this mission)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t4. Start: A Cure for Most of What Ails You (U)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Geographical location (From Armadillo, John would clear Odd Fellow's Rest and head to Fort Mercer since it is closest)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t4.1. Filth and Other Entertainment (?)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Geographical location (Plainview, where this mission is located, is right next to Fort Mercer, so John would start this mission, and maybe while on the way to the Tumbleweed graveyard, he would capture a Retcher and bring it back)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t5. End: Get Back in That Hole, Partner (S)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Makes sense (After clearing out Coot's Chapel, Odd Fellow's Rest, and Tumbleweed, he would go back to Seth to finish the mission. He wouldn't finish \"A Cure for Most of What Ails You\" yet since he needs to head back to West Elizabeth to collect Violet Snowdrop)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t5.1. Birth of the Conservation Movement (?)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Geographical location (After heading to Tall Trees to collect Violet Snowdrop for West Dickens, he'd likely encounter and do this mission next)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t6. End: A Cure for Most of What Ails You (W)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Forced mission order\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t6.1. Missing Souls (?)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Makes sense (While waiting for the next mission, \"American Imperialism\", John would probably rescue missing people and bring them back to Fort Mercer to pass the time, this is also required for 100% so we know he canonically did it at some point)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t7. American Imperialism (W)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Forced mission order\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t8. Start: Mother Superior Blues (U)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Geographically closer (Not much to add)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t8.1. Start: Biographies and Lies (?)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Makes sense (Maybe after Mother Calderon tells John to capture and bring a fresh Undead to her in \"Mother Superior Blues\", John meets Landon Ricketts while looking for one) \n\t \n \n\n\n\t9. End: Mother Superior Blues (M)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Makes sense (After the start of \"Biographies and Lies\", John has to wait a bit for the mission to continue so he'd probably finish \"Mother Superior Blues\" in the meantime)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t9.1. End: Biographies and Lies (LR)\n \n\n\n\tReason: Makes sense (Finishing up the business with Landon Ricketts before the final two missions)\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t10. A Civilized Man (R)\n \n\n\n\t11. On a Pale Horse\n \n\n\n\tReason: Forced mission order\n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\t \n \n\n\n\tThis is my personal canon RDR1 mission order, if you think there are any mistakes or anything that could be changed, please let me know! I'd love if you could give me some feedback!",
  "title": "Canon mission order of Red Dead Redemption 1"
}