Red Dead Redemption 2 The Ends of the Earth mission explained
Our explainer to the PC-only Stranger mission.
The Ends of the Earth is a brand-new Stranger questline which is, alongside the photo mode, exclusive to the PC version of Red Dead Redemption 2.
It features a kindly traveller who asks you to collect herbs for him in exchange for some beneficial rewards.
Though the questline plays out differently than most Stranger missions, it has a definitive start point and task. This page explains how to start The Ends of the Earth quest, find the Yarrow location, and what happens next.
On this page:
For more help, our Red Dead Redemption 2 walkthrough explains the requirements for fully completing the game's many story missions.
How to start The Ends of the Earth in Red Dead Redemption 2
To begin this Stranger quest, you'll need to have made it through Chapter 1. Once you've set up camp in Horseshoe Overlook, you'll be able to find the quest-giver by heading west and keeping an eye out for smoke in the sky.
This is actually a good way of tracking down Strangers in general, as many of them will be in their own camps and therefore have fires going. Where there is smoke, there is a campfire and possible a stranger quest or a group of bandits - as the saying goes.
You can find this herb enthusiast just north of the L in The Heartlands on the map. Head on over to him and strike up a conversation to find out why he does what he does, and perhaps more importantly, what's in it for you.
He'll ask you to hunt down some Yarrow, which in real-life tends to be a plant with a white flower, but in Red Dead Redemption 2 it has red flowers. It can be found all over the place, and you might already have some on you.
Finding the Yarrow location in Red Dead Redemption 2
In the event you don't, then you can find it by heading just south of the H in The Heartlands and activating your Eagle Eye.
Eagle Eye will cause collectable herbs to glitter and shine slightly, but you should be able to find it reasonably easy by looking out for the red flowers.
Once you've got some, head on back to see the herbalist and give him the yarrow flower. He'll talk about its medicinal properties for a bit after taking a bite of it (not recommended in the real world upon finding a new plant) and will hand over a Horse Reviver.
This is an excellent gift for early on in the game, just in case you jump your horse off of something high or ride into a rock. It happens to the best of us.
What happens next in The Ends of the Earth in Red Dead Redemption 2?
Once you return the Yarrow, it seems as though this particular Stranger mission is technically complete.
However, you can find this friendly botanist in a variety of places during your playthrough. It doesn't seem to be linked to chapter progression, but possibly the time of day and or even the in-game lunar cycle.
According to reddit and our own experience, he can be found near Clemens Point, Scarlet Meadows stable, and the Mysterious Hill Home.
It's a bit different to the other Stranger quests, then, but if you can find him for more rewards. Just make sure to always have a good stockpile of herbs on you, and you should be able to fulfill his requests!
Looking for more things to find and collect Red Dead Redemption 2? We recommend the following:
Treasure Maps:
- Red Dead Redemption 2 Jack Hall Gang Treasure Map locations
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- Red Dead Redemption 2 High Stakes Treasure Map locations
- Red Dead Redemption 2 Killer Clue locations
- Red Dead Redemption 2 Le Tresor Des Morts Treasure Map locations
- Red Dead Redemption 2 Landmarks of Riches Treasure Map locations (PC only)
- Red Dead Redemption 2 The Elemental Trail Treasure Map locations (PC only)
Collectables:
- Red Dead Redemption 2 Dreamcatcher locations
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- Red Dead Redemption 2 Dinosaur Bone locations
- Red Dead Redemption 2 Rock Carving locations locations
