Ultimate Dead Rails Challenges Guide [New Upd]

Dead Rails offers a variety of challenges that test your skills, strategy, and adaptability. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the game, this guide will walk you through proven techniques to overcome every challenge with ease. In this article, we break down each challenge and provide clear strategies and tips so that you can progress confidently and have a great time playing.

New Challenge in the 11/4 Update

1. Fistful of Dollars

Objective: Finish a full game without selling anything.

Reward: 30 Bonds

How to Beat It: This one sounds easy on paper, but not being able to sell means you’ll need to plan your inventory, economy, and combat decisions carefully. Here’s what you can do:

• Focus on Survival: Choose a class with strong solo capabilities like Packmaster or Werewolf to reduce reliance on selling loot for upgrades.

• Stock Up Early: Make use of the limited store items early on. Prioritize essentials like ammo and fuel, because you won’t be getting money back from sold items.

• Avoid Temptation: Even when inventory is full, resist the urge to offload anything for cash. Every item must be managed wisely.

2. Sell the Corpse of Tesla

Objective: Defeat Tesla, carry his body to the 70km checkpoint, and sell it.

Reward: 30 Bonds

Best Strategy: This is the most complicated challenge of the three. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown to help you succeed:

• Step 1: Choose the Right Class Go with the Werewolf class. It gives a massive boost in speed and damage during nighttime, which is key for this challenge.
• Step 2: Timing is Everything Wait until around 5 PM in-game time to trigger the crank. Tesla will spawn shortly after, and it’ll be nighttime—perfect for your werewolf transformation.
• Step 3: Prepare Your Loadout Bring at least 40 Snake Oils. You’ll need them to keep your health and movement speed up as you carry Tesla’s body. Optional: Equip high-damage ranged weapons to quickly finish Tesla off once he spawns.
• Step 4: The Fight and The Escape After defeating Tesla, immediately start using Snake Oils in stacks of 5 to maximize speed. Run directly toward the 70km checkpoint, and keep popping Snake Oils as the effects wear off. Time is limited, so don’t stop to fight or loot—your goal is to reach the checkpoint and sell Tesla’s body before the run ends.

Always clear the area before triggering the crank to avoid distractions or extra enemies during the timed escape.

3. Dancing with Wolves

Objective: Tame 20 wolves in a single game.

Reward: 15 Bonds

How to Complete It Easily: This challenge is surprisingly fun and works best when using the Packmaster class, which already starts you off with three dogs.

How Wolf Taming Works: When a wolf attacks and lands a hit on you, it becomes your ally. That’s right—just take a hit and the wolf joins your pack.

Tips for Success:

• Don’t kill wolves on sight. Instead, let them get close and hit you once to trigger the taming mechanic.

• Move through multiple biomes to find more wolves.

• Stay aware of your health—use Snake Oils or healing items between taming attempts.

All Challenge in Dead Rails

1. Tame a Unicorn Challenge

The unicorn challenge is often considered the easiest to start with, but it can be a bit luck dependent. Here’s how to maximize your chances:

• Choose the Cowboy Class: Start the challenge with the cowboy class to ensure you have the proper gear, such as a saddle that comes with your class item.

• Search for White Horses: Focus on checking every white horse, as unicorns are usually hidden among them. Even if they spawn as outlaw mounts, a white horse gives you the best chance.

• Corral Your Target: Once you spot a promising horse, either corral it towards a teammate or trap it against a rock to secure the tame.

2. Escape Challenge

The escape challenge is straightforward: beat the game. It’s less about specific actions and more about overall game completion. To succeed:

• Follow a Complete Game Guide: If you’re unsure how to proceed, refer to a comprehensive guide on beating the game. Most players will complete this challenge naturally while progressing through the story.

• Stay Focused: Keep your attention on the main objective and let the challenge resolve itself as you complete your game run.

3. Bounty Hunter and New Sheriff in Town

Both these challenges involve dealing with outlaws, and they are often automatically completed as you play through the game. However, you can speed up the process by:

• Hunting Outlaws: Actively track down and eliminate outlaws to complete the bounty hunter challenge quickly.

• Target Specific Outlaws: For the New Sheriff in Town challenge, focus on ensuring you personally kill the outlaws rather than letting your train or other elements do the work.

Having a reliable firearm from the cowboy class can make these encounters much smoother.

4. Werewolf Hunter Challenge

The werewolf hunter challenge is notorious for being time-consuming and somewhat frustrating. To tackle it:

• Clear Key Areas: Always clear castles, as they are prime spawning grounds for werewolves.

• Stay Out of Outposts: Avoid resting in outposts at night because they can eliminate werewolves for you, which only delays your progress.

• Arm Yourself: Equip a shotgun and a rifle for efficient combat. Alternatively, using the electrocutioner can drastically reduce the time spent fighting werewolves.

• Plan for Full Moons: Be ready every full moon to leave outposts and face the werewolves head-on.

5. Zombie Hunter Challenge

This challenge is typically completed naturally as you progress through the game. If you want to ensure its completion:

• Visit Every Town: Make it a habit to stop at each town and eliminate zombies. This tactic will help you hit the required kill count effortlessly.

• Stock Up on Firearms: Use a rifle, pistol, or shotgun to handle zombie encounters more efficiently.

6. Unkillable Challenge

The unkillable challenge is best tackled solo. It requires a careful and cautious approach:

• Play Solo: Avoid the complications that come with multiplayer scenarios. Solo play reduces the risk of random teammates inadvertently causing your downfall.

• Reinforce Your Train: Ensure that your train is fully armored to withstand enemy attacks.

• Take No Unnecessary Risks: Focus on a safe and steady playstyle. Avoid special buildings or situations that could lead to unpredictable outcomes.

7. Pony Express and Pacifist Challenges

These two challenges are often best approached together, especially when using a horse. Here’s a strategy that works for both:

• Sell the Starting Revolver: Early on, sell your revolver to accumulate extra funds and invest in snake oil.

• Stock Up on Snake Oil: Make sure your hot bar is filled with snake oil; it’s crucial for mitigating damage throughout the run.

• Keep Distance from Towns: Stay far away from towns and bandits to avoid accidental aggro. This minimizes risks and helps maintain a pacifist run.

• Use Outposts Strategically: During nighttime, use outposts to loot and recover, but avoid them if you’re trying to maintain a strict pacifist run.

• Extra Horse Backup: Always be on the lookout for additional horses. An extra horse can be a lifesaver in critical moments.

• Duo Play Option: If possible, consider doing these challenges with a partner. One player can hold a safe position (especially at key outposts) while the other focuses on executing risky maneuvers. This division of roles can simplify the run significantly.

Dead Rails challenges may seem overwhelming at first, but with careful planning, smart resource management, and a willingness to adapt, you can conquer every single one. From taming unicorns to surviving werewolf nights and completing pacifist runs, this guide provides the strategies you need to win consistently. Embrace the challenges with confidence and keep refining your tactics until each run feels second nature. Enjoy the game and good luck on your journey through the wild world of Dead Rails!