Banded Gila Monsters are vibrantly colored venomous lizards, though they are much more fearful of humans in Red Dead Redemption 2 than in real life and are considered non-aggressive creatures in the game.

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Found exclusively in New Austin, these desert dwellers love to skitter about and cover a surprising amount of ground while they’re at it. So if you're on the hunt for Banded Gila Monsters in RDR2 or busting out some Daily Challenges in Red Dead Online, keep your eyes peeled, especially when riding through the Cholla Springs and Rio Bravo territories.

Banded Gila Monster Locations

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  • Hamlin’s Passing is a good place to start your search, north of Ridgewood Farm in the northwest region of Cholla Springs.
  • Banded Gila Monsters like to roam all over this northern section of Cholla Springs, making a spotty trail of local habitats east toward Armadillo.
  • From the town of Armadillo, follow the northern road that leads up past the east of Twin Rocks, and you should find several more Gila Monsters along your way.
  • You may find them skittering alongside patches of road between Ridgewood Farm and Odd Fellow’s Rest as well.
  • There have also been Banded Gila Monster Sightings at the northernmost point and eastern edge of Jordan’s Gap.
  • The lands west and east of Mercer Station are areas with a higher concentration of lizard activity.

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  • Another sweet spot is the region surrounding Lake Don Julio’s northwestern shores.
  • Continuing from Don Julio, the lands further southwest along the Rio Bravo border can sometimes harbor Gila Monsters.
  • Crossing the border into Rio Bravo, one of the Gila Monster’s favorite hangouts is along the shore of Saint Luis River, almost all the way to Plainview.
  • These southernmost dwellers like to stick to the rivers, so continue scoping the creeks that branch north of the Saint Luis.
  • Follow the rivers to the southeast and west of Fort Mercer, where a few less popular lizard dwellings are located.
  • From that western location, continue searching the land sprawling all between Fort Mercer and Benedict Pass as Banded Gila Monster spawns can be fairly sporadic all throughout this area.

If you’re still having issues tracking these reptiles, remember that Gila Monsters are prone to nocturnal activity. Furthermore, if you’re hunting for a perfect hide to fulfill a Daily Challenge, you’ll need to hunt with a Varmint Rifle specifically in order to maintain a Perfect Banded Gila Monster’s spectacular scales.

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