The Compendium in Red Dead Redemption 2 is a collection tracker that rewards players for cataloging every animal, plant, fish, horse, and weapon. Filling the Compendium to 100% unlocks the "Zoologist" and "Gunslinger" achievements. This guide covers every category.
How the Compendium Works
The Compendium is split into five categories:
- Animals
- Plants
- Fish
- Horses
- Equipment
Each entry is unlocked when you:
- See the entry (for animals and plants).
- Catch the entry (for fish).
- Ride the entry (for horses).
- Acquire the entry (for weapons).
Some entries are only available at specific times of day or in specific weather conditions.
Animals
There are 178 animal entries in the Compendium. They are split into:
Mammals
47 entries including deer, bears, wolves, and bison. Most can be found in the wilderness.
Birds
84 entries including eagles, owls, songbirds, and waterfowl. Birds are the most time-consuming category.
Reptiles and Amphibians
20 entries including snakes, lizards, and turtles. Most are in the Bayou NWA region.
Fish
26 entries (covered separately in the fish guide).
Plants
There are 43 plant entries in the Compendium. They are split into:
Herbs
10 entries used for cooking, tonics, and crafting.
Flowers
8 entries used for crafting and decoration.
Mushrooms
5 entries used for crafting.
Trees
15 entries used for crafting and camp upgrades.
Berries and Fruit
5 entries used for cooking.
Horses
There are 23 horse entries. Each unique horse breed counts as one entry. There are 9 horse breeds and several unique horses (like the War Horse and the Arabian).
Horse Breeds
- American Standardbred
- American Paint Horse
- Andalusian
- Appaloosa
- Arabian
- Ardennes
- Belgian Draft
- Dutch Warmblood
- Hungarian Halfbred
- Kentucky Saddler
- Missouri Fox Trotter
- Morgan
- Mustang
- Nokota
- Shire
- Suffolk Punch
- Tennessee Walker
- Thoroughbred
- Turkoman
Equipment
There are 80+ equipment entries. They are split into:
Weapons
44 entries including revolvers, pistols, rifles, shotguns, and melee weapons.
Throwables
8 entries including dynamite, fire bottles, and knives.
Provisions
20+ entries including canned food, herbs, and tonics.
Customization
10+ entries including holsters, belts, and gun belts.
100% Completion Requirements
To get 100% completion in RDR2, you need:
- All Compendium entries.
- All 9 Bounty Hunter missions.
- All 10 Gang Hideouts discovered.
- All 6 Legendary Animals hunted.
- All 5 Stranger Mission chains completed.
- All 6 Treasure Maps found.
- All 7 Dreamcatchers found.
- All 12 Rock Carvings found.
- All 30 Cigarette Cards found.
- All 5 Special Horses broken.
Tips for Fast Completion
Animals
Use Eagle Eye to track animals from a distance. Hunting them with the right weapon preserves the carcass for studying.
Plants
Use Eagle Eye to highlight plants. Walk slowly through fields to find rare plants.
Birds
Birds are the hardest category. Use the binoculars from a distance to avoid spooking them. Photograph them with the camera to unlock the entry without harming them.
Fish
Use the right bait and lure for each fish. Some legendary fish require special lures.
Horses
Break every horse breed at least once. The Turkoman and Missouri Fox Trotter are the rarest.
Common Mistakes
- Don't kill animals you have already discovered. Use the camera for new entries.
- Don't skip the legendary animals. They unlock unique Compendium entries.
- Don't ignore the time of day requirement for some animals.
Final Tips
- Use the online Compendium tracker to mark which entries you have found.
- Save before each hunting session. Reload if you make a mistake.
- Focus on one category at a time for efficient tracking.
With this guide, you will complete the Compendium and earn the "Zoologist" achievement without spending hundreds of hours aimlessly wandering.
FAQ: Compendium
Q: How do I unlock animal entries?
A: Use the camera or binoculars to view the animal. The Compendium entry unlocks automatically.
Q: Can I see the Compendium progress?
A: Yes, the Compendium menu shows your progress for each category.
Q: What rewards do I get for completing the Compendium?
A: The "Zoologist" achievement is awarded for 100% completion.
Q: Can I complete the Compendium in one playthrough?
A: Yes, but it takes 200+ hours of exploration.
Best Compendium Strategies
For best Compendium progress:
- Use Eagle Eye to track animals from a distance.
- Photograph animals with the camera instead of killing them.
- Save before each hunting session.
- Focus on one category at a time.
How to Find Rare Animals
To find rare animals:
- Use the binoculars to scout areas.
- Use Eagle Eye to highlight animals.
- Track rare animals at the right time of day.
- Use the correct bait or lure for each animal.
Common Compendium Mistakes
- Don't kill animals you have already discovered. Use the camera for new entries.
- Don't skip the legendary animals. They unlock unique Compendium entries.
- Don't ignore the time of day requirement for some animals.
- Don't forget to photograph animals before killing them.
FAQ: Compendium
Q: How do I unlock animal entries?
A: Use the camera or binoculars to view the animal. The Compendium entry unlocks automatically.
Q: Can I see the Compendium progress?
A: Yes, the Compendium menu shows your progress for each category.
Q: What rewards do I get for completing the Compendium?
A: The "Zoologist" achievement is awarded for 100% completion.
Q: Can I complete the Compendium in one playthrough?
A: Yes, but it takes 200+ hours of exploration.
Best Compendium Strategies
For best Compendium progress:
- Use Eagle Eye to track animals from a distance.
- Photograph animals with the camera instead of killing them.
- Save before each hunting session.
- Focus on one category at a time.
How to Find Rare Animals
To find rare animals:
- Use the binoculars to scout areas.
- Use Eagle Eye to highlight animals.
- Track rare animals at the right time of day.
- Use the correct bait or lure for each animal.
Common Compendium Mistakes
- Don't kill animals you have already discovered. Use the camera for new entries.
- Don't skip the legendary animals. They unlock unique Compendium entries.
- Don't ignore the time of day requirement for some animals.
- Don't forget to photograph animals before killing them.