RDR2 Vampire Location: How to Find the Hidden Stranger Encounter

Learn how to find the RDR2 Vampire, all blood graffiti locations, the final Saint Denis alley, and what to do after the fight.

The rumours that a vampire is lurking around the streets of Saint Denis are true, and he’s one of Red Dead Redemption 2’s creepiest (and easiest to miss) Easter eggs. The Vampire is a hidden Stranger Encounter that only appears after tracking down five blood-scribbled clues scattered across the city. Complete the trail, return to the right alley at night, and you’ll come face-to-face with a pale figure who can one-shot Arthur if you’re unprepared.

We’ve got everything you need to be ready for that fanged up for with his exact RDR2 vampire location, every clue you need to trigger the encounter, the best way to survive the fight, and what you can do with his prized Ornate Dagger once you win. Here’s everything you need to make the encounter a success, whether you’re doing it for the trophy-hunting, looking for secrets, or just checking the box as a completionist.

Where to Find the Vampire in RDR2 (Quick Answer)

The Vampire in RDR2 appears in a narrow alleyway in Saint Denis, just south of the general store and a few steps from Doyle’s Tavern. The encounter only triggers after discovering all five blood graffiti clues hidden around the city. Once you’ve got all five clues, a skull icon appears on your map at night, marking the final alley where the Vampire awaits.

Quick Location Facts:

City: Saint Denis, Bayou Nwa (Lemoyne)
Encounter Time: Night only (around 12 AM–1 AM is most reliable)
Trigger Requirement: Read all 5 blood graffiti messages
Landmarks: General store, Doyle’s Tavern, cathedral district
Reward: Unique Ornate Dagger

If you just needed the “where,” there it is. But if you want to actually trigger the encounter (and not wander around alleyways for an hour), keep going.

How to Trigger the Vampire in RDR2 (Step-by-Step Guide)

1. Find and Inspect All 5 Blood Graffiti Clues

These disturbing messages are hidden across Saint Denis. You must read each one by pressing the interact button so Arthur “notes” it in his journal. If even one clue is missed or not inspected properly, the Vampire will never appear. Here’s where to find each clue:

Clue #1: Near the Butcher Shop (Northwest Saint Denis)

Location: On a brick wall in the alley directly behind the butcher shop

Neighborhood: Trader’s District
Landmark: Saint Denis Butcher (north end of the city)
Look for: Narrow alley, faded red message on the right-hand wall

Directions: Walk behind the butcher, turn the corner into the alley, and the blood graffiti sits low on the wall beside crates and trash.

Clue #2: Behind the Jade Dragon Restaurant

Location: In the alley behind the Jade Dragon Chinese restaurant

Neighborhood: Central Saint Denis
Landmarks: The “Chinese restaurant” sign, hanging lanterns
Look for: A tight side alley with scattered boxes; message painted on the back wall

Directions: Approach from the street with the big Jade Dragon sign, slip into the alley behind the building, and head straight to the rear wall.

Clue #3: Behind Doyle’s Tavern

Location: In the alleyway behind Doyle’s Tavern

Neighborhood: South-central Saint Denis
Landmarks: Doyle’s Tavern sign, side entrance
Look for: Wall with graffiti partially blocked by barrels

Directions: Start at the tavern’s main front door → walk around the left side → enter the alley behind the building. The clue is on the left wall.

Clue #4: Near the Saint Denis Post Office

Location: On a wall opposite the post office, next to a fenced-off area

Neighborhood: West Saint Denis
Landmarks: Post office with the greenish facade
Look for: Graffiti on the brick wall facing the street, near a pile of wood

Directions: Stand facing the post office door → turn 180° → cross the street. The message is on the right side wall of the adjacent building.

Clue #5: Near the Cathedral (Church District)

Location: Along the fence line beside the Cathedral of Saint Denis

Neighborhood: East Saint Denis
Landmarks: Cathedral, iron fence
Look for: Blood writing on the brick wall near the cemetery-side path

Directions: Walk along the right side of the cathedral toward the cemetery path. The message is along the fence wall halfway down.

Pro Tip: After you’ve found all five, Arthur will automatically sketch the complete pattern in his journal. That’s how you know the Vampire spawn is unlocked.

2. Go to the Final Alley at Night

After you’ve inspected all five blood graffiti clues, wait until nightfall, ideally between midnight and 1 AM, since the Vampire won’t spawn during daylight or early evening. If you need to fast-forward time, set up a camp just outside Saint Denis and rest until night.

Once it’s dark, head to the alley just south of the general store, a few steps from Doyle’s Tavern. When all clues have been found, a skull icon will appear on your map marking the exact spot. Enter the narrow alley slowly, the Vampire will be waiting at the far end and will jump you as soon as Arthur approaches (and he can one-shot you if you’re unprepared).

3. Use Dead Eye the Moment the Fight Starts

Once the cutscene ends, the Vampire wastes no time, he lunges fast, hits hard, and can kill Arthur in a single swipe if he connects. To avoid getting dropped instantly, activate Dead Eye the moment you regain control.

Why Dead Eye is essential:

The Vampire moves quicker than most human enemies
His melee strike deals one-shot damage
He closes the gap almost immediately

How to handle the fight safely:

Pop Dead Eye as soon as the screen fades back in
Aim for the head to stagger or drop him instantly
One or two well-placed shots is all it takes to end the encounter

Don’t forget: Loot his body afterward to claim the Ornate Dagger, the unique weapon tied to this Easter egg.

What to Do With the Vampire in RDR2

1. Loot the Ornate Dagger (Don’t Miss It)

The dagger features:

A carved, gothic-style handle
Faster stab animations than the standard Hunting Knife
Unique flavor text tied to the Saint Denis murder lore
Permanent inventory slot once collected

If you walk away without looting, you’ll miss your only chance to get it.

2. Can You Spare the Vampire?

Not really.

There’s no alternative outcome. Even if you try to walk away or choose “Defuse,” the Vampire always attacks and the encounter always ends with a fight.

3. Can You Come Back Later?

The alley remains, but the Vampire does not respawn.
The Ornate Dagger is yours permanently once looted.

4. Is the Vampire Tied to Any Other Side Quests?

Nope, this is a standalone Easter egg, separate from:

The Saint Denis Murder Mystery
Night Folk encounters
Bigfoot bones
UFO sightings
Any Stranger/Story missions

It’s just one of Rockstar’s best hidden supernatural moments.

Does RDR2 Have Vampires?

Yes, Red Dead Redemption 2 has a fully scripted vampire encounter hidden in Saint Denis, making it one of the game’s most famous supernatural Easter eggs. The Vampire behaves like a unique Stranger NPC, complete with custom animations, voice lines, and a one-time boss-style fight once you unlock the encounter by finding the five blood graffiti messages.

Rockstar tucked this event into their broader collection of weird, mythological, and paranormal secrets, right alongside:

The Night Folk in the Bayou
The UFO sightings near Emerald Ranch and the mountains
The Bigfoot skeleton
The ghost train
The ghost of Agnes Dowd

RDR2 isn’t a fantasy game, but Rockstar loves adding rare, lore-rich oddities that make the world feel stranger and more alive the deeper you dig, and the Saint Denis Vampire is one of the best examples.

The Saint Denis Vampire is a rare encounter that rewards curiosity, nighttime exploring, and a sharp eye for grisly graffiti. Once you track down all five clues, the final alley showdown is quick, intense, and surprisingly deadly if you’re not ready for that one-shot lunge. But with the right prep (and timely Dead Eye), you’ll walk away with the Ornate Dagger and one more supernatural mystery checked off your RDR2 list.

Whether you’re hunting Easter eggs, chasing 100% completion, or just wandering Saint Denis after dark, this little slice of Rockstar weirdness is worth experiencing at least once.

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Red Dead Redemption 2 Vampire: FAQs

How do you trigger the Vampire in RDR2?

You must find and inspect all five blood graffiti messages scattered around Saint Denis. Once Arthur reads the final clue, a skull icon appears on your map at night (around midnight). Head to that alley south of the general store, and the Vampire will spawn.

Should I defuse or antagonize the Vampire?

It doesn’t matter — the Vampire attacks no matter what.

Defuse: Slight delay before he lunges.
Antagonize: Immediate aggression.

Either way, activate Dead Eye as soon as the fight begins to avoid his one-shot melee strike.

Does RDR2 have vampires?

Yes. Red Dead Redemption 2 includes a hidden Vampire Stranger Encounter in Saint Denis as part of Rockstar’s supernatural Easter eggs, alongside the Night Folk, UFOs, ghost sightings, and other world mysteries.

What do you do with the Vampire in RDR2?

After defeating him, loot the body to claim the Ornate Dagger, a unique melee weapon found nowhere else in the game. The Vampire doesn’t respawn, and there’s no alternative outcome, the fight is mandatory once triggered.

Where is the Vampire located in RDR2?

In an alleyway south of the Saint Denis general store, near Doyle’s Tavern. The skull icon appears automatically at night after all five graffiti clues have been discovered.

Why isn’t the Vampire spawning for me?

Common reasons:

You missed a graffiti clue (must be inspected, not just seen).
It isn’t late enough at night.
You’re in the wrong alley.
You haven’t reached Chapter 2.

Revisit the five graffiti spots and try again around midnight.

What reward do you get for killing the Vampire?

The Ornate Dagger, one of RDR2’s unique weapons with custom flavor text and animations.