The Bounty hunter role is one of the longest and most in-depth roles in Red Dead Online. It offers players the best cosmetics, emotes, gun tricks and equipment, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the world of RDO. This class is truly the gateway into becoming a true fan of Red Dead Online.

However, leveling up the bounty hunter role and reaching the maximum rank can be difficult. This is due to the challenging nature of the missions and the high level of skill required to complete them. As a result, many players struggle to advance in the role. To help players with this, we have decided to provide guidance and tips in leveling up their bounty hunter rank and reaching the maximum level.

5. Do Bounties

The wanted posters on the bounty board, featuring a level 1 bounty, a level 2 bounty and a level 3 bounty with multiple targets!

This one is a given, completing bounty missions is the only way to earn XP for the bounty hunter role and increase your role rank. It doesn't matter what level the bounty is, as all bounties will yield some rewards that will collectively increase your role rank overall.

Completing any bounty mission will earn you XP for the bounty hunter role. This is true regardless of the level of the bounty, as all bounties will provide some XP gain. Even low-level bounties can provide a significant amount of XP when completed in large quantities. By completing as many bounties as possible, players will earn more XP and increase their role rank. Completing bounties also rewards players with cash and gold. The amount of cash and gold earned from bounties will vary depending on the level of the bounty, but all bounties will provide some reward. By completing multiple bounties, players can earn a significant amount of cash and gold, which can be used to purchase weapons, outfits, and other items in the game.

How it Works:

• Acquire a bounty hunter license by visiting the nearest sheriff's office.
• Check the bounty board for available bounties and select the ones you want to complete.
• Locate the bounty target using your map and compass or by following the mission markers.
• Approach the target using stealth and non-lethal weapons such as a lasso or a tranq gun to subdue the target.
• Hogtie the target by equipping the rope and targeting their hands.
• Escort the hogtied target to the nearest sheriff's office or drop off location.
• Deliver the live bounty and collect your reward, which will be higher than killing the target and also provide more XP for the bounty hunter role.
• Repeat the process with other bounties to earn more cash, gold, and XP while maintaining a high honor level.

4. Don’t Kill Your Bounty Targets

A bounty target who was fatally wounded while being apprehended... Well, this will result in a much smaller reward.

When players begin their Bounty Hunting journeys, they may have the option to kill their bounty targets or capture them alive. While it may be tempting to eliminate the target for a quick and easy payout, capturing them alive is not only more profitable but also provides more XP for the bounty hunter role.

First and foremost, capturing bounties alive provides more XP for the bounty hunter role. The XP gain for capturing a live bounty is much higher than the XP gain for killing them. This is because capturing bounties alive is considered a more challenging task and is therefore rewarded with more XP. And of course, capturing bounties alive yields a higher payout than killing them. The reward for capturing a live bounty is significantly higher than the reward for killing them, providing players with more cash and gold. Additionally, capturing bounties alive also contributes to the player's reputation, which can lead to additional bonuses and rewards.

How it Works:

• Locate the bounty target using your map and compass or by following the mission markers
• Approach the target stealthily to avoid alerting them and potentially causing them to flee
• Use non-lethal weapons such as a lasso or a tranq gun to subdue the target
• Once the target is subdued, hogtie them by equipping the rope and targeting their hands
• Escort the hogtied target to the nearest sheriff's office or drop off location
• Deliver the live bounty and collect your reward, which will be higher than killing the target and also provide more XP for the bounty hunter role
• Repeat the process with other bounties to earn more cash, gold, and XP while maintaining a high honor level
• Note: make sure to avoid killing the target or any innocent people on the way to the drop off location as it will decrease your honor level.

3. Focus on Level 3 Bounties

Wasting time to get the biggest reward possible from this $$$ Bounty. This is an odd mechanic, but you do you, Rockstar!

While doing any sort of Bounty Hunting work will yield you massive rewards eventually, Level 3 bounties are the best option to pick when selecting the first bounty mission of the day. Level 3 bounties are a treasure trove for those seeking to earn XP in the world of RDO. As a seasoned bounty hunter, you'll know that the key to success is selecting the right bounties from the board. These Level 3 bounties are the cream of the crop, offering a steady stream of targets to track down and capture. Not only do they provide a bountiful payout, but they also offer the most XP per bounty, second only to the elusive Legendary Bounties.

The process is simple yet satisfying. Head to the designated location, track down your target, and hogtie them, before escorting them to the nearest Sheriff's Office. Sometimes Bounty Targets will have enemies surrounding them but taking them out is relatively very simple. There is also a ton of variation to Level 3 Bounties, sometimes there’s multiple targets, sometimes the target is hiding and you need to track their scent, they are consistently fresh.

However, to truly maximize your earnings, timing is key. The longer it takes you to deliver the bounty, the higher your payout will be. So, when the timer says 6 minutes, make sure to submit the bounty with only 30 seconds remaining. This little trick will ensure that you get the most bang for your buck, and the most XP to boot.

How it Works:

• Acquire a bounty hunter license from the local sheriff's office.
• Approach the bounty board and select Level 3 bounties.
• Head to the designated bounty location and track down the target.
• Hogtie the target and escort them to the nearest sheriff's office.
• Deliver the bounty with as little time remaining on the timer as possible to maximize payout and XP.
• Repeat the process with the bounties that respawn on the board to maximize XP and cash.

2. Manhunt and Day of Reckoning Events

The final target... this one's extra special because he'll be the reason we get that sweet victory lap in Manhunt!

Alternatively , players can also take part in thrilling free roam events such as Manhunt and Day of Reckoning, both of which offer bountiful opportunities to earn XP for the Bounty Hunter Role. Both events offer players a chance to prove their skills as a bounty hunter in an open-world setting, and with each successful capture or kill, they'll earn valuable XP to advance in their role.

Manhunt invites players to track and capture multiple bounties across a wide open landscape, where they must fend off bandits and collect salvage. There is no PVP damage in either of these modes by the way, but with only one life to live, players must be strategic and quick-footed in their pursuit of the bounties in Manhunt. Day of Reckoning, on the other hand, is a fast-paced race through a bustling town to capture or kill as many bounties as possible and deliver them to the sheriff. This event is all about speed, accuracy, and quick thinking, as players compete to earn the most points and come out victorious. 

How Manhunt Works:

• To participate in Manhunt, players must first reach Rank 12 in the Bounty Hunter Role and purchase the "Manhunt" free roam event from the Role section of the player menu.
• Once in the event, players will be given a map with multiple bounties marked on it, which they must track down and capture.
• Players will also have to fend off bandits in designated areas, with no PvP damage to worry about.
• The event lasts for a set amount of time and players only have one life, if they die, they must spectate others
• The player with the most captured bounties at the end of the event will be the winner.

How Day of Reckoning Works:

• To participate in Day of Reckoning, players must first reach Rank 12 in the Bounty Hunter Role and purchase the "Day of Reckoning" free roam event from the Role section of the player menu.
• Once in the event, players will be spawned in a town where bounties are spawned randomly.
• Players must run around the town and capture or kill bounties, then deliver them to the sheriff
• The event lasts for a set amount of time and players compete to earn the most points
• The player with the most points at the end of the event will be the winner.

1. Legendary Bounties

A good old collection of Legendary Bounties, Etta Doyle is always a sight for sore eyes. She's also super quick to catch, and doesn't require much effort.

As you traverse the perilous lands of Red Dead Online as a bounty hunter, you will discover that the legendary bounties are the cream of the crop - the most challenging yet the most rewarding. These are the most cinematic bounty hunts of them all, the truly terrifying and challenging targets that will push you to the edge. Every single target in the Legendary Bounty Missions is a unique character, and they’ve got their own fun missions with different approaches to take them down.

To maximize your XP, cash, and gold earnings, time is of the essence. As soon as a mission starts, after the cutscene, be sure to set a timer for a half hour. To level up quickly and reap bountiful rewards, focus on tackling legendary bounties and push them to their pinnacle - the 5-star level. A standard legendary bounty grants 1000 XP, but when it reaches the 5-star level, the XP will multiply by 1.5, for a grand total of 1500 XP. Keep in mind that the number of targets in a legendary bounty does not impact the XP earned. So, make every second count, and aim for those 5-star bounties to skyrocket your XP, cash and gold.

Here’s a pro tip, if you’re willing to repeat doing the same Legendary Bounty again and again, Etta Doyle is the easiest one there is. All you have to do is wait for her to reveal herself, then chase her down once she starts running away and subdue her. You can then just hang out near the San Denis Sheriff’s Office and wait 15 minutes to yield the maximum reward. 

How it Works:

• To participate in Legendary Bounties, players must first reach Rank 5 in the Bounty Hunter Role, and then select any of the available Legendary Bounties.
• Once in the mission, players will be transported to a location nearby the Legendary Bounties after the cutscene is over.
• Players must track down and capture the legendary bounty, using all available tools and weapons at their disposal.
• The first step to getting the most XP is to complete the desired Legendary Bounty till it reaches 5 Stars. A 5 Star Legendary Bounty will increase their XP rollout by 1.5 times the base XP for each bounty, along with 1.5 times the cash payout and the Gold payout.
• Players should also set a timer for 30 minutes as soon as the mission starts, this will allow them to get the most XP out of each mission.
• Simply wait at least 15 minutes before turning in the bounty and earn 1500 Bounty Hunter Rank XP!