With RDR2's large cities like Saint Denis are bustling, the countryside teems with wildlife, and the interactivity of the game's systems help the player assume the role of protagonist Arthur Morgan. Part of this interactivity comes from RDR2's Core system, which indicates Arthur's health, stamina, and Dead Eye, as well as the health and stamina of his horse.
Red Dead Redemption 2's Core system is two-fold. The core itself is is the center, where the health, stamina, and dead eye logos are, while the ring around the outside is what the game refers to as "bars." These two components essentially differentiate between Arthur's short and long-term attributes. Players can easily notice when the bars drain, because they represent the short-term. For instance, sprinting as Arthur will drain the stamina bar, but the core will remain relatively unchanged until the bar has been depleted.
The core is more an indication of Arthur's overall well-being, as well as a reserve for when a bar drains completely. Each core will be gradually reduced over time, unless Arthur is in the Van der Linde gang's camp, where the cores don't drain. It takes 90 minutes real time for Arthur's cores to go from full to empty if he is healthy and wearing weather-appropriate clothing. However, if Arthur takes too much damage, or uses too much stamina, those respective cores will drain in place of the bars since the bars haven't had a chance to recharge.
How To Manage Red Dead Redemption 2's Cores
For the most part, the cores in Red Dead Redemption 2 can be kept in check by eating and drinking regularly. Various items are found throughout the game that will increase one or more cores or bars. Sleeping will also completely refill Arthur's cores. Certain items, when consumed, will turn the bars a gold/yellow color. Having a gold bar means it won't drain for a little while, which can be especially helpful when chasing someone, or during a long shootout where plenty of Dead Eye is needed.
Aside from using items to replenish cores and bars, players should monitor Arthur's condition. Weather has an adverse effect on core drain. Being too hot or cold will make the cores from full to empty in 10 minutes instead of the normal 90. Getting poisoned has the same effect. There are also RDR2 story-related effects on Arthur's cores, which will remain undisclosed to avoid spoilers. Another way to avoid core drain is to ride Arthur's horse - cores will drain slower while mounted.
Speaking of Arthur's horse, the two cores with a horseshoe in the symbol work much the same way and represent the horse's health and stamina. Similar to managing Arthur's cores, items can be used to replenish the cores and bars, and fortify them (turn them gold) so that they won't drain for a short time. More importantly, though, is how well the player takes care of the horse. Praising, cleaning, grooming, and bonding with horses in Red Dead Redemption 2 will all replenish and increase the cores.
Arthur's cores have a set limit, but the bars can be improved. The only way to do this is to simply play the game. Player's might notice the health, stamina, or Dead Eye icon pop up near the right edge of the screen accompanied by a "+2" or some other denomination. This is just the game notifying the player that that respective attribute has increased. Hunting, swimming, fishing, shooting, and dozens of other activities can all contribute to bar growth in Red Dead Redemption 2, but Arthur's overall health - as represented by the cores - cannot be permanently increased.
