Red Dead Redemption: Complete Tomahawk Mastery Guide

Tomahawk Mastery is a challenge in Red Dead Redemption and its Undead Nightmare DLC that tasks players with using the tomahawk in a variety of ways.

The Tomahawk Mastery Challenge was not an original challenge in Red Dead Redemption. It was added later as part of the Legends and Killers DLC to both the base game and Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare. Now, with an updated version of Red Dead Redemption being released on the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, players can experience the original game and all of its add-ons, including the tomahawk weapon and its associated challenge.

The Tomahawk Mastery Challenge requires players to perform various feats using only the tomahawk, progressing through five ranks with challenges of varying difficulty in both the base game and Undead Nightmare. When they complete all of the Tomahawk Mastery challenges, they get an interesting reward. Players receive the "Axe Mastery" Trophy/Achievement, and chests at any properties they own will now grant them tomahawks.

How To Complete Tomahawk Mastery Rank 1 In Red Dead Redemption

The first step in the Tomahawk Master Challenge requires players to simply make their way over to Manzanita Post and purchase a tomahawk. Manzanita Post can be found along the railroad tracks between Beecher's Hope and the Pacific Union Railroad Camp. Upon purchasing a tomahawk, players will unlock Tomahawk Mastery Rank 2.

How To Complete Tomahawk Mastery Rank 2 In Red Dead Redemption

Rank 2 of the Tomahawk Master Challenge tasks players with killing one enemy with a thrown tomahawk, one with a tomahawk melee, and one while on horseback. One of the quickest methods for clearing this rank is by traveling to a gang hideout and completing it there, as some of them even have horses that players can use. There are plenty of gang hideouts in New Austin players can visit, including one at Fort Mercer and another at Gaptooth Breach. Players should note that tomahawk melee kills can only be performed while close to an enemy. If players are too far from the enemy, they'll throw the tomahawk instead.

How To Complete Tomahawk Mastery Rank 3 In Red Dead Redemption

Tomahawk Mastery Rank 3 requires players to kill a flying bird with a tomahawk without using Dead Eye. This can be extremely difficult when attempting to hit a bird with a tomahawk in the wild, but there is an easier method. After a gang hideout has been cleared, several vultures will spawn and begin flying in circles, making them easier to hit. Additionally, finding a bird that is grounded and then hitting it just as it flies away is another great method, and the Great Plains are the perfect place for it.

How To Complete Tomahawk Mastery Rank 4 In Red Dead Redemption

Players will need to kill five enemies in a row with the tomahawk without missing in order to complete Rank 4 of the Tomahawk Mastery Challenge in Red Dead Redemption. Perhaps the simplest way to go about completing this rank is to wear the Bureau Uniform and attack civilians, as the outfit prevents players from gaining any bounty. Unfortunately, however, this outfit isn't obtained until very late in the game and this underhanded tactic might not appeal to some players. With that in mind, the best place to accomplish this rank of the Challenge is in Thieves' Landing, where there is no Law Enforcement. One rather helpful aspect of this challenge is that players can switch weapons, as long as they don't miss with the tomahawk when they are using it.

How To Complete Tomahawk Mastery Rank 5 In Red Dead Redemption

The final rank for Tomahawk Mastery in Red Dead Redemption's base game requires players to clear a gang hideout using only the tomahawk. This is a fairly straightforward objective, but the best hideout to raid is at Pike's Basin. Most of the enemies there don't move around much, letting players get in close for the kill with their tomahawks.

How To Complete Tomahawk Mastery Rank 1 In Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare

To complete Rank 1 of Tomahawk Mastery in Undead Nightmare, players will need to save Manzanita Post from an Undead attack. Manzanita Post is not only where players can purchase the tomahawk but also one of the 23 locations overrun by zombies in Undead Nightmare. Unlike other challenges in Tomahawk Mastery, players can use any weapons here. Once they clear the undead from the town, they'll unlock the next rank.

How To Complete Tomahawk Mastery Rank 2 In Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare

Tomahawk Mastery Rank 2 in Undead Nightmare is identical to Rank 2 in the base game but players are now targeting undead. To complete Rank 2, players need to kill one undead with a thrown tomahawk, one with a tomahawk melee, and one while on horseback. Players can complete this rank at any of the towns that are under siege by the undead.

How To Complete Tomahawk Mastery Rank 3 In Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare

Tomahawk Mastery Rank 3 in Undead Nightmare tasks players with killing an undead bat with a tomahawk. Undead bats are everywhere in Undead Nightmare, but an easy method for hitting one with a tomahawk involves the "Birth of the Conservation Movement" Survivor Mission, which can be picked up from the Sasquatch Hunter at Tanner's Reach. During the mission, players are required to kill a Sasquatch. When the Sasquatch dies, bats will swarm the area. This is probably the best opportunity players will have to hit a bat with a tomahawk, so they should seize it while they can.

How To Complete Tomahawk Mastery Rank 4 In Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare

At Rank 4 of Tomahawk Mastery in Undead Nightmare, players will need to kill five undead in a row with the tomahawk without missing. Just as they could in Tomahawk Mastery Rank 4 in the base game, players can swap weapons, so long as they don't ever miss with the tomahawk. This rank can be completed virtually anywhere in the game, but it can be completed quite easily while saving a town from an undead attack.

How To Complete Tomahawk Mastery Rank 5 In Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare

As Tomahawk Mastery Rank 5 required players to clear a gang hideout using only the tomahawk in the base game, Rank 5 in Undead Nightmare requires them to save a town using only the tomahawk. Although it is the last rank of the Tomahawk Mastery Challenge for Undead Nightmare, it is not the most difficult. Players need only remain on horseback when saving a town, and kill the undead in it using only the tomahawk to complete this final challenge and unlock the rewards of "Axe Mastery" and tomahawks in their chests.