How Much are 25 Gold Bars Worth in Red Dead Online? Let‘s Saddle Up and Talk Strategy, Partner.
Gold. It drives men mad with greed, tearing apart friendships and filling graveyards. Well, maybe just in the Old West. Nowadays gold bars have gone digital, acting as shiny nuggets of premium currency in games like Red Dead Online. But how much should you be paying for fake video game gold anyway? As your friendly gaming guide, let me walk you through the value of buying 25 gold bars to help kickstart your wild west adventure!
An Introduction to Gold Bars
Before we get to real money prices, let‘s understand what gold bars actually do in Red Dead Online.
Gold bars are special currency that allow you to bypass level/rank requirements and unlock weapons, items and cosmetics early. Without gold, you‘d need to grind for hours and hours just to earn enough XP to unlock something as basic as a fishing rod. It‘s the old western version of a pay-to-win system!
Now, you can earn small amounts of gold naturally by completing tasks like treasure maps, bounties, and daily challenges. But it‘s painfully slow – we‘re talking 1 gold bar per 3-5 hours of repetitive gameplay.
So while some hardheaded cowpokes may insist on slowly earning gold the "honest way," buying some with cash is by far the fastest (and some say wisest) way for greenhorns to get started.
Real Money Prices for Gold Bundles
Let‘s move on to what you really want to know – how much it costs to buy 25 gold bars! Here are the current gold bundle prices in the in-game store:
- 25 Gold Bars – $9.99
- 55 Gold Bars – $19.99
- 150 Gold Bars – $49.99
- 245 Gold Bars – $74.99
The 25 bar bundle is the smallest available, and provides the best value at around $0.40 per gold bar. But the larger bundles provide bigger bulk discounts – the 245 pack drops to $0.31 per bar!
To put that in perspective, historical gold prices in the real 19th century were around $20 per ounce. Today they‘re over $1800! So at $0.40 per bar, the game is giving you a pretty good deal on virtual gold.
What Can You Unlock with 25 Bars of Shiny?
Now on to the good stuff – what sort of goodies can you unlock for your cowboy or cowgirl with 25 gold bars? Here are some of the essentials:
- Bounty Hunter Role – 25 gold bars
- Collector Role – 15 gold bars
- Varmint Rifle – 14 gold bars
- Fishing Rod – 18 gold bars
- Camp Fast Travel – 5 gold bars
As you can see, 25 gold bars can buy you a full role like Bounty Hunter for hunting down outlaws, while leaving enough leftover for a few weapons, camp upgrades or clothing items.
If you want to ride around in style, you could grab a top tier Breton horse for 15 gold bars, or pimp out your mount with an improved saddle and bags for around 9 gold bars. The possibilities are wide open!
Grinding for Gold VS Buying – The Time Cost
I know some of you love the grind and want to earn everything the honest way. That‘s commendable! But let‘s compare the time investment:
- 25 gold bars bought – $10, available instantly
- 25 gold bars earned – Around 75-100 hours of repetitive bounties, chores and fetch quests
Working at optimal gold/hour rates, it takes about 3-4 hours of monotonous gameplay to earn 1 bar. So buying 25 bars saves you potentially 100+ hours – think of it as paying for a time machine!
Of course, you can beat the system a bit by combining purchased and earned gold. Most players suggest buying 25-50 bars to open up roles and weapons, then grinding for cosmetics and convenience items. This lets you save money while still progressing at a satisfying rate.
Watch Your Gold Spending – My Top Tips
Okay, let‘s say you took the plunge and bought some shiny new gold bars. Awesome! But now it‘s time for some tips on spending them wisely:
- Prioritize roles – Bounty Hunter, Collector, Trader are best for new players
- Buy essential weapons first – Varmint Rifle, Fishing Rod, etc.
- Improve your camp – Fast Travel, stew pot, lodging
- Only buy useful cosmetics – Don‘t waste gold on silly hats!
- Invest in ability cards – They provide important combat bonuses
Avoid squandering gold on temporary consumables like ammo and tonics – spend it on permanent upgrades you‘ll use frequently!
| Item | Gold Bar Cost |
|---|---|
| Bounty Hunter Role | 25 |
| Collector Role | 15 |
| Trader Role | 15 |
| Varmint Rifle | 14 |
| Fishing Rod | 18 |
| Improved Camp Lodging | 9 |
| Camp Fast Travel | 5 |
| Breton Horse | 15 |
| Nacogdoches Saddle | 29 |
Is Buying Gold Bars Cheating? My Take as a Player
There‘s a stigma in the community around "buying power" with real money rather than "earning it honestly." As someone who has done both, here are my thoughts:
- Red Dead Online is purposefully grindy to incentivize spending
- Time is money – it‘s understandable to pay and skip an insane grind
- Whales who buy everything ruin leaderboards and competitive modes
- Small gold purchases just help you catch up in PvE, not "cheating" against anyone
- Rockstar prices bundles fairly – they need revenue to fund development
Like anything, moderation is key. Buying 25-50 gold bars avoids wasted time while still leaving you lots to unlock. But paying for a huge advantage does dampen the sense of progression. Play how you want, but keep it reasonable!
In Closing, Should You Saddle Up and Buy Some Gold Bars?
As you ride off into the sunset on your new horse, equipped with shiny weapons and a stylish outfit, you‘ll know purchasing those 25 gold bars was worth every penny. The key is spending them wisely – invest in roles, essentials and upgrades that will benefit you long-term. Avoid squandering gold on temporary items like ammo and tonics. Moderation and strategy is the name of the game!
With your new gold bars and this trusty guide, you‘ll be able to fast track your way to glory and riches in the Old West. Just try not to let greed corrupt you like all those old prospectors – it is still only a game after all. Happy trails partner, and enjoy the frontier!