Where to Find Desert Sage in Red Dead Redemption

As a seasoned cowboy who’s spent countless hours roaming the vast and unforgiving expanse of the American frontier, I can confidently say that the survivalist challenges in Red Dead Redemption are some of the most rewarding experiences this game has to offer. The hunt for rare and exotic plants like Desert Sage is akin to tracking down the last remaining outlaws – it’s not easy, but the payoff is worth every moment spent in the pursuit.


In the expansive, richly detailed setting of Red Dead Redemption, there are countless mysteries to uncover and adventures to embark on. When not engrossed in the primary narrative, you have the freedom to delve into the world, participating in side quests such as Master Hunter and Survivalist challenges, much like in Red Dead Redemption 2.

The survivalist tests, especially, push your ability to locate hard-to-find and unusual plants to the limit. These challenges are divided into levels, with each level asking you to search for unique species of plants. To advance to the second level in the survivalist challenge, you must find and gather six Desert Sage plants. Since these plants aren’t common, they can be difficult to locate without assistance, making it a time-consuming task if you don’t know where to look. If you want to save some exploration time and would like to know the specific areas rich in Desert Sages, this guide should come in handy.

Where To Find Desert Sage In Red Dead Redemption

While being a rare and exotic plant type, Desert Sages can be found in the following four regions:

  • Cholla Springs
  • Rio Bravo
  • Gaptooth Ridge
  • Diez Coronas

You can identify these plants by looking for the bright purple flowers blooming from them.

As a gamer in Red Dead Redemption, I’ve found it tough to spot Desert Sages and other plants due to their clever camouflage among the foliage. Even the time of day can make them blend in, playing tricks on you. That’s why I’d recommend picking up Survivalist Maps from general stores – they can help navigate the rugged terrain and ensure you don’t miss any hidden resources!

When I acquire Survivalist Maps, they conveniently find their place in my satchel, functioning similarly to other consumables. These maps have a unique ability to scan the surrounding environment for useful plants, marking them on my mini-map for easy identification. This beneficial feature remains active for approximately 20 minutes, more than enough time to collect 2 to 3 Desert Sages during a single playthrough.

In the game, plants regenerate or reappear after a complete game day. Thus, if you visit the same location the following day, you’ll be able to harvest that plant once more.

Survivalist Challenges & Side Quests That Require Desert Sage In Red Dead Redemption

Apart from attaining Survivalist Challenge Rank 2, you will also require the assistance of not one but two Desert Sages for the completion of Survivalist Challenge Rank 10. Familiarizing yourself with the locations of certain plants can significantly reduce your need for extensive exploration when taking on the final challenge.

As you journey eastward past MacFarlane’s Ranch, there’s a chance you might encounter an elderly man gathering flowers. Engaging him begins the “Flowers for a Lady” side mission. To complete this mission, you must have or find three Desert Sages, along with Red Sages and Wild Feverfew for the old man.

In the “Undead Nightmare” expansion pack, Desert Sages are vital for accomplishing the survivor mission titled “A Remedy For Many Ills“. Later on in this DLC, these plants prove indispensable as they are used as a key ingredient for making phosphorus bullets.

To round things up, here are some accomplishments linked to gathering Desert Sages, which can be done to finish Survivalist Challenges or missions:

  • Frontiersman
  • Redeemed
  • Judge A Man By The… (Undead Nightmare)
  • Zed’s Dead, Baby (Undead Nightmare)

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2024-11-01 09:03