The cast of Red Dead Redemption II is amazing and incredibly well-rounded. Every character has their own unique quirk and personality, and each has their own respective relationship with Arthur and Dutch. Of course, their intelligence can also vary. Some members of the Van der Linde gang are intelligent and could better use their brainpower elsewhere. Others are a little behind when it comes to the schemes, ideas, and general machinations of the group.
And we're to suss out the smart from the stupid. These are the ten most intelligent characters of Red Dead Redemption II, ranked!
10 Molly O'Shea
We wouldn't rank Molly O'Shea so low if it wasn't for one glaringly stupid thing - falsely admitting to being the rat. Soon after arriving at Beaver Hollow, a drunk Molly shows up at the camp and begins rambling to Dutch.
In the midst of her rambles, she claims that she ratted out the group to the Pinkertons, a "fact" that understandably enrages both Dutch and Susan Grimshaw. Susan in turn whips out her shotgun and shoots Molly in the stomach. Why she decided to fake Dutch out like that, we cannot say. But it was stupid, and it led to her tragic, warrant-less, and utterly meaningless death.
9 Uncle
We don't really know if Uncle is stupid or just lazy, but either way, he comes off like a doofus. We certainly wouldn't call Uncle stupid, because he generally seems to know what's going on and seemingly knows more than he lets on. But he serves as the primary comic relief, and like many comic relief characters, he is more than a little aloof.
He's incredibly lazy, and he is often chastised by those around him for being inept and generally useless. Maybe it's the drink clouding his thought and ambition, but either way, Uncle certainly isn't the smartest member of the group.
8 John Marston
We love John Marston as much as the next person, but there's no denying that he can be a little dim-witted. He is not known for his intelligence, and it seems like the other members of the gang know that his strengths lie elsewhere. Even Arthur, the person closest to him (aside from Abigail), often calls him an idiot.
And not in a funny, brotherly kind of way. In a "Arthur genuinely thinks he's an idiot" way. He certainly has his uses, and we wouldn't go so far to call him stupid, but we also wouldn't put him in the top tier of the group.
7 Arthur Morgan
Arthur is certainly more intelligent than John, but we also wouldn't put him in the top tier. Arthur is painfully quick to answer with violence instead of thought, and he too is often called an idiot or a fool by those around him. He also remains loyal to Dutch a little longer than he should have.
However, he is also wonderfully self-aware, he can be cunning, and he's smart enough to both realize his flaws and act against Dutch's more insane ramblings and ideas. He can also be poetic, as his writing is rather lush and beautiful and his drawings are richly detailed. He is far from stupid, but he is surrounded by smarter people.
6 Leopold Strauss
Leopold Strauss is a horrible and manipulative person, but like most manipulative people, he is also dangerously intelligent. We don't see or know much about Leopold, but we do know that he is the primary bookkeeper and loan shark.
That kind of business requires a certain amount of brains, and he certainly seems to be good at his job. Putting morals aside, Leopold helped keep the gang afloat during their roughest and poorest moments, and his job was very important to their continued existence. There would be no Van der Linde gang without Leopold Strauss.
5 Micah Bell
The best villains are always the smartest villains, and Micah Bell is frustratingly smart. This not only makes him a terrifying adversary, but a rich, complex, and interesting character. He is selfish, untrustworthy, horribly violent, and completely unpredictable, but never in a stupid or misinformed way.
He was also smart enough to manipulate Dutch and turn himself into Dutch's right hand man, even eclipsing long-time members like John and Arthur. Not to mention he served as a mole for the Pinkertons for quite a while before being discovered. He is dangerous, but worst of all, he is dangerously intelligent.
4 Charles Smith
Charles was easily one of the most intelligent members of the Van der Linde, and we're glad he turned out OK in the end! Charles is very well-spoken, and he proves to be quite competent in a vast number of areas, including fighting and hunting. But above all, he is smart enough to remain honest and honorable throughout the events of the game.
He continually keeps a clear head, and he's smart enough to see through Dutch's increased insanity and increasingly stupid plans.
3 Dutch Van der Linde
The problem with Dutch isn't that he was stupid. Far from it. The problem was that he was so dedicated to living an outlaw lifestyle and refusing to adapt to the modern world that it drove him insane. Dutch is obviously a very smart man, as he crafts schemes, controls dozens of people, and oversees the operations of the gang.
He is also very cultured, as he dresses well, reads, and listens to classical music. In another life, Dutch could have done something very important with his life. He was just born in the wrong place at the wrong time.
2 Hosea Matthews
Hosea is arguably the smartest and most level-headed member of the Van der Linde gang. He is obviously well-spoken and well-read, as he is devout fan of crime novels. He also loves a good caper and would rather craft an elaborate scheme than shoot his way out of a problem.
He sees all the angles of a given situation, and he plays them to his advantage. He is also smart enough to realize that the gang is quickly losing its way and constantly fights for its survival and original vision. It doesn't get much smarter than him.
1 Abigail Roberts
Bit of an unconventional pick here, but seriously, is there a member of the group more intelligent than Abigail? Abigail is fiercely independent, and she cares for nothing else but keeping her immediate family safe and happy. And that means recognizing when the gang is going off the rails, recognizing when things are wrong and need fixing, and recognizing when her husband needs to correct himself.
She is always aware of her family's station in life, and she knows what must be done to keep them on the right path.