As Red Dead Redemption 2 is a game that includes a litany of small details, it's sometimes hard to spot the thing you actually need. Plants are particularly elusive as they tend to blend into the environment. But at least herbs like Indian tobacco and wild carrots are quite common.
Berries, on the other hand, are a rare sight. In fact, you could play for over 100 hours and never find one. And of the four in-game berries, blackberries are arguably the hardest to locate. However, if you want to 100 percent complete RDR2, you’ll need to find some. This guide can help with that.
Updated July 25, 2023, by Sean Murray: Looking for blackberries in RDR2? We've refreshed this guide with improved formatting and breakout tips to make grabbing blackberries that much easier.
Tracking Down Blackberries
When searching for berries in general, it’s best to have your Eagle Eye activated.
With Eagle Eye triggered, interactable plants will be highlighted on the screen – guiding Arthur to berries.
Since blackberries do not spawn in abundance and tend to be out of the way, don’t expect to just stumble on some through gameplay.
Dakota River Berries
Most blackberry locations can be found around West Elizabeth and the Dakota River. More specifically, some can be located to the west of the Dakota River.
Simply head towards Diablo Ridge, and to the west of the trail coming from the Dakota River will be some blackberries fresh for the picking.
Valentine Berries
If you're eager to get blackberries right away, fret not; there are actually a few crops right by Valentine. You're not liable to find them just exploring naturally – simply due to how well hidden they are – but having a map for reference certainly helps.
There are at least four blackberry locations around Valentine.
Uses Of Blackberries
Blackberries don’t have too many gameplay benefits, but they’re not useless by any means. When eaten normally, blackberries restore Arthur’s health. Since they’re so hard to find, however, it’s not exactly worth eating them unless you’re in a pinch.
Similarly, blackberries only sell for a quarter, so there’s no real value in commercializing them either. There are two main reasons to acquire them, though.
Complete Herbalist Challenge 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 has several gameplay challenges that cater to the multiple mechanics and concepts at play. Some of the best rewards in the game are locked behind the challenges, so it makes sense to want to tackle them as they come up.
Unfortunately, most players will find themselves roadblocked by Herbalist Challenge 2, which tasks Arthur with finding and eating four different types of berries, including blackberries. So, make sure to eat one of them when you collect them.
Make Potent Predator Bait
The other main use for blackberries in Red Dead Redemption 2 is to make Potent Predator Bait. Any berry works for the Potent Predator Bait, but there’s no reason not to use a blackberry if you have some extra.
Created by crafting a berry with Gritty Fish Meat, the Potent Predator bait lures high-level animals to Arthur's trap – perfect for big game hunting.