The Red Dead Redemption 2 Strange Statues Puzzle is by far one of the most difficult activities featured in the video game published by Rockstar Games for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Diving into the world of Red Dead Redemption 2, one thing becomes abundantly clear – the game’s developers have painstakingly created an immersive, richly detailed environment that rewards exploration.
Be it uncovering the secrets behind a haunted house or unraveling the intricate details of a complex puzzle like the Strange Statues Puzzle, each discovery propels you deeper into the engaging narrative of the game.
Just like the Poisonous Trail Treasure Hunt, this puzzle is not mentioned anywhere in the video game. The difference between this activity and other Treasure Hunts in RDR2 is that in order to complete the Strange Statues Puzzle you need to solve a riddle; instead of finding treasure maps.
Preparation
As a reward for solving the Strange Statues Puzzle in Red Dead Redemption II, you’ll receive 3 Gold Bars; which can be sold at the Fence for $1.500.
Imagine, three gold bars worth $1500, just waiting for the clever, the observant, and the persistent. But before you start picturing yourself as the next Nathan Drake, remember that the Strange Statues Puzzle is not a simple walk in the park.
It’s a carefully constructed riddle that tests your deductive reasoning and patience
Since this activity can be completed as soon as you start Chapter 2 in the game, we suggest you focus on it, the moment you arrive at Horseshoe Overlook.
Finally, it’s worth mentioning that in order to successfully solve the Strange Statues Puzzle in RDR2, you don’t have to interact with any of the NPCs featured in the game. All you need to do is to travel to the first location marked on our map below.
Red Dead Redemption 2 The Strange Statues Puzzle Locations
And now, let’s plunge into the heart of the challenge. Tucked away in an unassuming corner of the game map is the first location that forms the key to this puzzle – the Strange Statues Puzzle Room.
Mission Requirements:
- Complete Eastward Bound
Rewards:
- Gold Bars X 3
Walkthrough:
The first location marked on the map above is known as the Strange Statues Puzzle Room. This room is inside a hidden cave which can be easily missed. The moment you arrive at the location on our map look for a secret entrance inside the mountain (pictured below).
The location of the Strange Statues Puzzle Room
Although the Puzzle Room is quite small, this point of interest holds many secrets, as well as a reward. When you enter you’ll notice 7 statues showing 7 men, placed in a circle. In the middle of the circle, you can see a sculpture depicting a woman with wings.
First, investigate the point of interest and Arthur will draw a sketch in his journal. Now, if you approach one of the sculptures you can see that on its pedestal is a button you can push.
Once pushed that button will come out on the other side; thus resetting the sculpture. The obvious question here is quite clear: Which buttons you must push in order to solve the Strange Statues riddle?
This is where your journey into logic and deduction truly begins. Each statue has a unique number of fingers and a button on its pedestal. The challenge here is not merely about pushing buttons at random, but understanding the logic behind the arrangement.
Closely check each statue in the Puzzle Room
If you take a closer look at each of the Strange Statue, you can notice that although they look the same; they are quite different. Pay close attention to their hands, and more precisely to their fingers. How about counting them?
Yes, you read that right. Numbers, particularly prime numbers, form the crux of this puzzle. And it all begins with counting the number of fingers each statue has. So, roll up your sleeves and start counting.
So, we have 7 statues with the following number of fingers: 2, 4, 5, 8, 3, 4, 6. You can also notice that one of the statues has a missing limb and 4 fingers on the other one.
Keep this in mind and head outside. Check our map above and travel west from your current position. What you are looking for is a painting located under a large rock. Here is a picture of the said crevice.
The location of the Strange Statues wall painting
When you inspect the crevice closer you’ll notice a painting on its wall. You might be wondering, what does a painting have to do with statues and numbers? As it turns out, quite a lot. This painting is not just art, it’s a clue, a part of the puzzle waiting to be deciphered.
This painting resembles the statues you found earlier. There are 7 men on the painting and an eagle in the middle. What you also need to observe are the eagles near the men. All eagles have a specific number of tail feathers.
Make sure you count the feathers on each eagle tail
If you count them, you’ll end up with the following sequence: 2, 7, 5, 8, 3, 4, 6. If you put the two sequences together you’ll notice a small difference (the first 4 in the cave is actually a 7 on the painting).
Now that we have two sequences of numbers, one from the statues and one from the painting, it’s time to put on our detective hats and find the connection. Observe, analyze, compare. This is the moment where the pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place.
Now, travel back to the puzzle room, and when you enter, look to your left to spot an arm on the ground (pictured below).
Count the fingers on the broken hand
Look at it closely and you’ll see that it has 3 fingers. Three is a prime number, which is exactly the clue you need to solve the Strange Statues puzzle.
Finding the broken hand might seem like a minor discovery at first, but it carries a crucial piece of the puzzle. It is the key that brings together the sequences from the statues and the painting, offering the final clue needed to solve this conundrum.
Furthermore, if you add the missing hand to the statue mentioned above, you will match the sequence from the painting (4+3=7).
With this information in mind, let’s start pressing the buttons on the statues with a prime number of fingers. This means 2, 3, 5 and 7. Keep in mind though that 7 is actually the statue with a missing arm, which has only 4 fingers.
Once you press the buttons on all 4 statues, you should hear a distinctive sound. Check the pedestal in the middle and you will notice a small hole with 3 Gold Bars inside. Pick them up as they are the reward for finding the solution of the Strange Statues Puzzle in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Claim your reward for solving the Strange Statues Puzzle in Red Dead Redemption II
Conclusion
And that’s it. That’s how you unravel the enigma of the Strange Statues Puzzle in Red Dead Redemption 2. Not just an exercise in logic and deduction, but a lesson in observation, patience, and perseverance.
Every game, every quest, every puzzle carries a lesson. And as we decode these lessons, we don’t just become better players, we become better problem solvers, better thinkers.
So, keep playing, keep exploring, and above all, keep enjoying the myriad experiences that games like Red Dead Redemption 2 offer. After all, isn’t that what gaming is all about?
Did you manage to solve this Red Dead Redemption 2 puzzle, or have questions about it? Let us know in the comments section below, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more game guides, news, previews, and trailers.
