Red Dead Redemption: Master All 10 Survivalist Challenges (March 2026)

Ankit Babal
July 2, 2025
Gaming

If you’re looking to become a true Legend of the West in Red Dead Redemption, mastering the Survivalist Challenges is absolutely essential. I’ve spent countless hours roaming the wilderness, and let me tell you – these challenges will test your patience like nothing else in the game. But don’t worry, I’ve got your back with this comprehensive guide that’ll help you collect every single plant and complete all 10 challenges efficiently.

The Survivalist Challenges might not be the hardest in terms of skill, but they’re definitely the most time-consuming. You’ll be searching high and low for dozens of herbs, flowers, and plants across the vast landscapes of New Austin and Mexico. Trust me, Abigail Marston might not appreciate this random bouquet of herbs, but completing these challenges is crucial for achieving 100% completion and unlocking some sweet rewards.

Red Dead Redemption: All Survivalist Challenges at a Glance

Rank	Challenge	Location	Reward
1	Collect 6 Wild Feverfew	Hennigan’s Stead, Cholla Springs	20 Fame
2	Collect 6 Desert Sage	Gaptooth Ridge	20 Fame
3	Collect 4 Red Sage	Rio Bravo, Fort Mercer	20 Fame
4	Collect 8 Prickly Pear	Punta Orgullo, Mexico	20 Fame
5	Collect 9 Woolly Blue Curl	Perdido, Mexico	Double Survivalist Map Duration
6	Collect 8 Butterfly Weed	Diez Coronas, Mexico	20 Fame
7	Collect 10 Hummingbird Sage	Tall Trees, Manzanita Post	20 Fame
8	Collect 12 Prairie Poppies	Great Plains	20 Fame
9	Collect 15 Golden Currant	Beecher’s Hope area	20 Fame
10	Collect 10 Violet Snowdrop + 2 of each herb	Cochinay mountains + All areas	Brew Tonic ability

Essential Tips Before You Start

Before I dive into each challenge, here’s something that’ll save you hours of frustration: always buy Survivalist Mapsfrom general store vendors like Herbert Moon in Armadillo. These maps reveal plant locations on your radar for 20 minutes, making your life infinitely easier. At $20 each, they’re worth every penny.

Pro tip: You can only carry one Survivalist Map at a time, but here’s what I do – buy one, use it immediately, then buy another right away. This is especially helpful in dangerous areas where bears or cougars might interrupt your herb-picking session. Nothing worse than getting mauled by a grizzly when you’re one plant away from completing a challenge!

Also, remember that plants need to be collected in addition to any you already have. So if you’ve been hoarding Desert Sage before starting Challenge 2, those won’t count. The game tracks new collections only after each challenge is activated.

Survivalist Challenge #1: Collect 6 Wild Feverfew

Let’s start with the basics. Wild Feverfew is your introduction to the world of plant collecting, and thankfully, it’s pretty easy to find. I always head to the area around MacFarlane’s Ranch and Hennigan’s Stead for this one.

Where to Find Wild Feverfew:

East of Cholla Springs and north of Armadillo
Around MacFarlane’s Ranch perimeter
West of Thieves’ Landing near Stillwater Creek
Throughout Hennigan’s Stead region

The plant itself is easy to spot – look for green plants covered in small white flowers. They stand out pretty well against the desert landscape. With a Survivalist Map active, you’ll spot these from a good distance away.

Survivalist Challenge #2: Collect 6 Desert Sage

Desert Sage is another relatively easy plant to find, and Gaptooth Ridge is absolutely loaded with them. I usually start my search west of Tumbleweed – you’ll find plenty scattered around there.

Where to Find Desert Sage:

All around Gaptooth Ridge
West of Tumbleweed (best concentration)
East of the railroad tracks near Gaptooth Breach
Throughout the western regions of New Austin

Desert Sage has distinctive purple flowers on green shrubs. They often grow near cacti and other desert vegetation. One trip through Gaptooth Ridge with a Survivalist Map should net you all six easily.

Survivalist Challenge #3: Collect 4 Red Sage

Now things get a bit more dangerous. Red Sage grows in areas where cougars and wolves like to hang out, so keep your repeater handy. Fort Mercer and Rio Bravo are your best bets for finding these crimson beauties.

Where to Find Red Sage:

North of Fort Mercer (use a Survivalist Map here for 5-6 plants)
South of Mercer Station
Throughout Rio Bravo region
East toward Riley’s Charge

Red Sage is notable for its dark red flower heads and tends to grow near cacti. The area north of Fort Mercer is particularly rich in Red Sage – I once found all four in a single sweep with a Survivalist Map active.

Survivalist Challenge #4: Collect 8 Prickly Pear

Time to head to Mexico! You’ll need to have progressed far enough in the story to cross the border. Prickly Pear is probably the easiest plant to identify – it’s literally a cactus with red-tipped flowers.

Where to Find Prickly Pear:

Around Punta Orgullo
Southeast of Chuparosa (best spot)
West of Barranca
Tesoro Azul region
Southeastern corner of the map near Diez Coronas

The area between Chuparosa and Barranca is absolutely packed with Prickly Pear. You can easily collect all eight in one trip. Just watch out for the hostile wildlife in Mexico!

Survivalist Challenge #5: Collect 9 Woolly Blue Curl

Here’s where things get interesting – completing this challenge doubles your Survivalist Map duration from 20 to 40 minutes! Woolly Blue Curl is essentially the blue version of Red Sage and grows in specific areas of Mexico.

Where to Find Woolly Blue Curl:

Around Perdido (best concentration)
South of “Perdido” on the map
Near the railroad tracks heading west
Between Perdido and Las Hermanas

Start south of where “Perdido” appears on your map and work your way west along the railroad tracks. The tall purple stalks are fairly visible once you know what to look for. This doubled map duration is a game-changer for the remaining challenges!

Survivalist Challenge #6: Collect 8 Butterfly Weed

Butterfly Weed requires you to explore the northern regions of Mexico, specifically around Diez Coronas. This large desert area has plenty of the plants you’re looking for.

Where to Find Butterfly Weed:

North region of Diez Coronas
Along the roads and desert paths
Throughout Chuparosa region
Eastern areas of Mexico

Butterfly Weed is identified by its tall green stalk topped with yellow flowers. Stick to the roads and paths – they tend to grow along traveled routes rather than in the open desert.

Survivalist Challenge #7: Collect 10 Hummingbird Sage

Back to the northern territories! Hummingbird Sage has a generous spawn rate, which is good because you need 10 of them. The forests around Tall Trees and Manzanita Post are your hunting grounds.

Where to Find Hummingbird Sage:

Southwest area of Manzanita Post
Throughout southern Tall Trees
Around Tanner’s Reach (great concentration)
Bearclaw Camp area

Look for plants with bright white stalks – they’re quite distinctive in the forest environment. I like to start at Bearclaw Camp with a Survivalist Map active, then work my way to Tanner’s Reach. You can usually find 4-6 plants before even reaching the cabin, and the area around Tanner’s Reach often has enough to complete the challenge in one go.

Pro Tip: There’s actually a clever exploit for early-game players. Head to MacFarlane’s Ranch and travel northeast to Tanner’s Span RR Bridge. Cross the tracks and find the small section of land north of the tracks. Walk to the river’s edge until you get the “Tall Trees” notification, then turn around – you might find Hummingbird Sage right there!

Survivalist Challenge #8: Collect 12 Prairie Poppies

The Great Plains between Beecher’s Hope and Blackwater is where you’ll find these bright yellow flowers. This is buffalo country, so watch out for those massive herds!

Where to Find Prairie Poppies:

Throughout the Great Plains
Between Beecher’s Hope and Blackwater
Areas where buffalo roam
Open grassland regions

Prairie Poppies have bright yellow flowers that really pop against the green grass. They’re relatively easy to spot even without a Survivalist Map, but having one active makes the process much faster.

Survivalist Challenge #9: Collect 15 Golden Currant

Golden Currant grows in the same general area as Prairie Poppies but tends to cluster more around Beecher’s Hope. You need 15 of these, so prepare for a bit of searching.

Where to Find Golden Currant:

Western regions of the Great Plains
Around Beecher’s Hope’s perimeter fence
Near Beecher’s Hope more than Blackwater
Scattered throughout the western grasslands

Look for plants with yellow stalks. I find that circling the fence line around Beecher’s Hope is the most efficient method – Golden Currant loves to grow along these boundaries.

Survivalist Challenge #10: The Ultimate Test

This is it – the final challenge that’ll test everything you’ve learned. You need to collect 10 Violet Snowdrops PLUS 2 of every other herb you’ve collected so far. This is easily the most time-consuming challenge of them all.

Where to Find Violet Snowdrop:

Northern snowy areas of Tall Trees
Cochinay mountains
Snowy fields in the far north
Around the mountainous regions

Violet Snowdrop is tricky because it’s small and hard to spot – green bushes with navy/violet flowers don’t stand out well in snowy environments. Move slowly and keep your Survivalist Map active at all times.

Complete Shopping List for Challenge 10:

10 Violet Snowdrop (new)
2 Wild Feverfew
2 Desert Sage
2 Red Sage
2 Prickly Pear
2 Woolly Blue Curl
2 Butterfly Weed
2 Hummingbird Sage
2 Prairie Poppies
2 Golden Currant

The reward? You’ll gain the ability to brew Tonic while collecting herbs, making you a true survivalist master!

Advanced Strategies and Time-Saving Tips

After completing these challenges multiple times, I’ve developed some strategies that’ll save you hours:

Plan Efficient Routes: Don’t just wander randomly. Plan routes that let you collect multiple plant types in one trip. For example, when in Mexico for Challenges 4-6, collect all three plant types in one journey.
Respawn Timing: Plants respawn after a few in-game days. If you’re short on plants in an area, set up camp, save your game, and sleep for 72 hours to reset the spawns.
Weather Matters: Some plants are easier to spot in certain weather conditions. Bright sunny days make yellow and white flowers pop, while overcast days can make purple flowers more visible.
Combat Readiness: Always have Dead Eye tonic and medicine on hand. Nothing ruins a collecting session faster than getting ambushed by a cougar when you’re focused on finding plants.
Inventory Management: Collected plants don’t disappear after completing challenges, so you can use them for Stranger missions or sell them. Keep this in mind if you’re also working on other objectives.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

I’ve seen plenty of players make these mistakes, and I’ve made them myself:

Don’t Collect Out of Order: Plants collected before a challenge is active won’t count. Wait until each challenge unlocks before collecting.
Don’t Forget Your Map: Seriously, Survivalist Maps are essential. The time saved is worth way more than the $20 cost.
Don’t Rush: Taking your time and being methodical is faster than running around randomly hoping to stumble upon plants.
Don’t Ignore Dangerous Areas: Some of the best plant concentrations are in predator territories. Come prepared for combat.

How Survivalist Challenges Connect to Other Activities

These challenges tie into other aspects of the game beautifully. If you’re also working on the hunting challenges, you’ll be in many of the same areas. The improved Dead Eye from plant collecting helps with hunting, and the Tonic brewing ability from completing all challenges is invaluable for tough missions.

For players interested in achieving 100% completion, the Survivalist Challenges are mandatory. They also contribute to your Legend of the West outfit, one of the most prestigious accomplishments in the game.

The Bigger Picture: Why These Challenges Matter

Beyond the obvious rewards and completion percentage, the Survivalist Challenges teach you the map like nothing else. By the time I finished all 10 challenges, I knew every corner of the game world intimately. This knowledge is invaluable for:

Finding rare animals for hunting
Discovering hidden treasures
Escaping from law enforcement
Completing stranger missions efficiently
General exploration and discovery

The challenges also force you to slow down and appreciate the incredible detail Rockstar put into the game world. Each plant is beautifully rendered and placed logically within its environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to complete Survivalist Challenges for 100% completion?

Yes, all ambient challenges including Survivalist are required for 100% completion and the Legend of the West outfit.

Can I collect plants before the challenge is active?

No, plants must be collected after each specific challenge becomes active. Previous collections don’t count.

What’s the best order to complete these challenges?

You must complete them in order from 1-10. The game won’t let you skip ahead.

How long do Survivalist Maps last?

Initially 20 minutes, but this doubles to 40 minutes after completing Challenge 5.

Do plants respawn?

Yes, plants respawn after approximately 72 in-game hours. You can camp and sleep to speed this up.

Can I sell the plants after collecting them?

Yes, plants remain in your inventory after completing challenges and can be sold or used for other purposes.

What’s the hardest Survivalist Challenge?

Most players find Challenge 10 the most difficult due to the sheer number of plants required and the need to revisit every area.

Are Survivalist Challenges available in Red Dead Redemption 2?

No, these specific challenges are from the original Red Dead Redemption. RDR2 has its own set of different challenges.

Can I complete these challenges in multiplayer?

No, Survivalist Challenges are single-player only. Multiplayer has its own separate challenge system.

What happens if I die while collecting plants?

You keep any plants collected before death, but you’ll need to reapply a Survivalist Map if you had one active.

Conclusion

Completing all 10 Survivalist Challenges in Red Dead Redemption is a journey that’ll take you across every corner of the map. While it might seem daunting at first, with patience, good planning, and liberal use of Survivalist Maps, you’ll be brewing Tonic from collected herbs in no time.

Remember, these challenges aren’t just about ticking boxes for completion – they’re about truly experiencing everything the game world has to offer. So saddle up, stock up on Survivalist Maps, and get ready to become the ultimate herbalist of the Old West. Your Legend of the West status awaits!

Whether you’re a completionist aiming for that 100% or just someone who enjoys exploring every aspect of great open-world games, the Survivalist Challenges offer a unique and rewarding experience. Happy hunting, and may your saddlebags always be full of rare herbs!