Saddles can have a substantial impact on the speed, health, and stamina of a horse in Red Dead Redemption 2. The best saddles for a particular horse will also depend on what the horse does well, as well as the deficiencies of that breed. There are two different types of saddles in RD2. The first are stable saddles. These can be purchased from the stables and subsequently upgraded to further improve performance.
RELATED: Red Dead Online Update Will Let Players Rob Camps and Homesteads
The other set of saddles are obtained from the Trapper and provide even better bonuses than the stable saddles. However, Trapper or complete saddles have already been upgraded. Despite this fact, complete saddles can be better than fully upgraded stable saddles. This list will cover the four best saddles in the game, and explain why they stand out above the rest.
4 McKinney Saddle
In terms of looks, the McKinney Saddle is not too impressive. The bonuses of the saddle do provide some notable benefits:
- Core Health Drain Rate: -34%
- Stamina Regen Rate: +20%
- Stamina Core Drain Rate: -34%
- Stamina Drain Rate: 0%
The McKinney Saddle provides better benefits than the Nacogdoches in Health Drain, Regen Rate, and Core Drain Rate. The issue with the saddle is that it does not provide a buff to Drain Rate, which is crucial when trying to extend the horse's range. It looks decent and actually beats the below saddles in a couple of categories, making it a viable option. With Hooded Stirrups, each of these saddles (except the Upland) will receive a +2 speed boost and a 50% stamina drain boost. Getting the Hooded Stirrups is crucial to bridge the gap between the purchased and pre-purchased saddles. With that massive drain boost, the McKinney becomes much more in line with the Upland and Nacogdoches.
3 Delgado Saddle
The Delgado Saddle looks incredible, especially on horses with darker coats. It has some of the best stat upgrades as well:
- Core Health Drain Rate: -22%
- Stamina Regen Rate: +32%
- Stamina Core Drain Rate: -22%
- Stamina Drain Rate: 0%
Just like the above saddle, Delgado does not buff the base Drain Rate of horses. The lack of a buff in that category limits the potential of the saddle compared to the two final options. With very good regen bonuses, the Delgado is still quite impressive compared to the other options. Because many RD2 players care about cosmetics, the best looking saddle in the game had to be included.
RELATED: Red Dead Online Would Thrive As A Free-to-Play Game
Stamina drain may be capped at -50% with the Hooded Stirrups, but the +32% regen will make up for it on longer journeys. The reality is that the McKinney and Delgado will just not go as far because of a base drain rate of 0%. Players can't go wrong with the following two choices.
2 Nacogdoches Saddle
Until the Upland Saddle was introduced, the Nacodoches Saddle was the undisputed top saddle in the game. The stats listed below make it clear why so many players love the saddle:
- Core Health Drain Rate: -20%
- Stamina Regen Rate: +18%
- Stamina Core Drain Rate: -18%
- Stamina Drain Rate: -35%
For gamers that do not have the Bounty Hunter expansion, the Nacogdoches saddle is by far the best. Yes, it will be a little more expensive than the Upland in the end, but it is still quite affordable considering all of the amazing bonuses it provides. When coupled with a Missouri Fox Trotter, the saddle will allow players to zoom around the map without having to make a pit stop. With Hooded Stirrups equipped, the saddle actually has the highest stamina drain rate buff at -85%. Gamers need to decide between a slightly better drain rate or the $125 it will cost for the stirrups.
1 Upland Saddle
Based on the base stats alone, the Upland Saddle is hands down the best in the game. All of the stats for the saddle are listed below:
- Core Health Drain Rate: -24%
- Stamina Regen Rate: +30%
- Stamina Core Drain Rate: -30%
- Stamina Drain Rate: -65%
There is a reason why many in the community still use the Nacogdoches Saddle, however. It has the second best stats and has a few customization options that the Upland Saddle does not. As mentioned above, it has a better Stamina Regen with stirrups too. The Upland Saddle is also the most expensive saddle in the game, but you pay for what you get. Gamers that buy this saddle will not have to mess with getting Hooded Stirrups for it.
RELATED: Red Dead Online Changes That Would Make the Game Even Better
All of the pre-purchased saddles already have the +2 speed incorporated. Similarly, the Nacogdoches saddle ends up being more expensive if the cost of a saddle bag and Hooded Stirrups are included. That being said, either of the two saddles are quite comparable. The main difference in performance will be Stamina Drain Rate. Horses with the Upland Saddle can run almost as far as with the Nacogdoches for a fraction of the cost.