This is it! Our first Monster Mega Trophy Tip Guide.
Past the jump you’ll find a complete walkthrough of all trophies in Rock Band 2, with tips, tricks, and things that will make you feel like a dirty, dirty, trophy whore.
Enjoy!
NOTE: Although this guide was originally built for PS3 Trophies, we find it works just as well for XBox 360 Achievements. To reflect this, we’ve cross-linked it from our XBox 360 Achievement page.
If you’re looking for information about a particular trophy, use a text search (ctrl-f in most browsers).
Trophy: Solid Gold, Baby!
Requirement: Gold Starred a song.
Level: Bronze
Strategy: This trophy is pretty straight forward. To Gold Star a song, you must be playing on Expert level (all instruments) and you must score significantly more points than a ‘5 Star’ performance. Suggested songs to Gold Star quickly: ‘I Was Wrong’, ‘Pretend We’re Dead’, ‘Buddy Holly’ (DLC), ‘Say It Ain’t So’ (Rock Band 1 Track), ‘I Think I’m Paranoid’ (Rock Band 1 Track).
Trophy: Flawless Fretwork
Requirement: 100% a song on Expert guitar.
Level: Bronze
Strategy: No way around it, you’re going to actually have to hit EVERY note in the song, on Expert. If you’re a well-rounded fake guitar player you may want to attempt this trophy on L7’s ‘Pretend We’re Dead’. If you’re better at chord/strumming style songs I’d suggest Social Distortion’s ‘I Was Wrong’. If you have access to the Rock Band 1 track list, you can’t go wrong with Weezer’s ‘Say It Ain’t So’, or the downloadable ‘Buddy Holly’.
Trophy: Flawless Drumming
Requirement: 100% a song on Expert drums.
Level: Bronze
Strategy: Another trophy that you can’t fudge, budge, or judge. Play an entire song on Expert on drums, and don’t miss a SINGLE note. Some songs are easier than others, so I’d suggest: ‘Eye Of The Tiger’ or ‘I Was Wrong’, and if you have access to RB1 songs ‘I Think I’m Paranoid’.
Trophy: Flawless Singing
Requirement: 100% a song on Expert vocals.
Level: Bronze
Strategy: This one is WAY easier than it should be, at least until/if Harmonix patches the game. The ‘talky’ rap sections of songs are currently broken, making it incredibly easy to finish a rap song with 100% on Expert. Attempt this trophy using ‘So Whatcha Want’ or ‘Testify’ and you’ll nail it quickly. You can also use ‘Give It Away Now’, but be aware that the LAST phrase of the song actually has some singing.
Trophy: Flawless Groove
Requirement: 100% a song on Expert bass only using upstrums
Level: Bronze
Strategy: Probably the hardest of the ‘Flawless’ trophies, but only because it takes some getting used to upstrumming. I’d suggest attempting this with ‘Pretend We’re Dead’ or if you have Rock Band 1 songs, ‘Say It Ain’t So’. You’ll probably have to try it a couple of times to get the ‘feel’ of the upstrokes.
Trophy: Flawless Guitar Solo
Requirement: 100% on a guitar solo on Expert, using only the solo buttons.
Level: Bronze
Strategy: The important things to remember on this one:
1. Use the small solo buttons during a blue-colored solo section
2. Use ONLY the solo buttons, do NOT use the strum bar
3. You only have to 100% a solo section, NOT the entire song
With that in mind, attempt this trophy using the Smashing Pumpkins song ‘Today’. The solo is short and relatively easy.
Trophy: The Bachman-Turner Award
Requirement: Maintain deployed Overdrive for 90 seconds.
Level: Bronze
Strategy: I’m still scratching my head on this one, but if you have the Rock Band 1 songs, the easiest track to pull this one off is ‘Foreplay/Long Time’ by Boston. Even though it may hurt your ego, if you’re specifically playing for this trophy, set every instrument to Easy. There are more energized sections, you won’t miss notes, and it seems to me (IMO) that the Overdrive lasts longer.
Trophy: Million Point Club
Requirement: Earn more than 1,000,000 points in a single song.
Level: Bronze
Strategy: To put it bluntly, to do this easily you’ll need a complete band of four players. Set everyone to at LEAST Medium (Hard is better, there are more points available), coordinate your Overdrive deployment so that you’re all hitting it at about the same time, and choose the longest song you can find.
Trophy: Bragging Rights
Requirements: Defeat a player in either Score Duel or Tug of War.
Level: Bronze
Strategy: See the ‘Comeback Kid’ strategy.
Trophy: Comeback Kid
Requirement: Defeat the last player that beat you in either Score Duel or Tug of War.
Level: Bronze
Strategy: Two trophies, one technique. Get one of your friends to play with you online in Score Duel or Tug of War. Whichever player wins the first game purposely loses the second game. In the third match the player that lost the first match loses again. Two players each get two trophies (Bragging Rights and Comeback Kid) for playing three songs. Both Trophy Whores are happy.
Trophy: Band Savior
Requirement: Was a savior 3 times in a single song.
Level: Bronze
Strategy: This trophy is built for at least three bandmates, but can be achieved with two, provided one player can sing and play an instrument at the same time.
One bandmate should be designated as the ‘Savior’ and should be playing bass or guitar so they can activate Overdrive at any moment. Drums and vocals can only activate during designated sections, making it difficult to ‘save’ failing bandmates at a moment’s notice.
Set all instruments to Medium; Easy makes it harder to fail out, and Hard or Expert make it more likely that the designated savior will miss an energized section of notes and be unable to save bandmates.
As the Savior gathers enough energy to engage Overdrive, the other players should hit just enough notes to keep from failing out. When the Savior has enough energy stored to save a player, one player should stop playing and allow themselves to drop out. The Savior ‘saves’ the missing bandmate, and begins storing energy once again.
Repeat the process as necessary, alternating between the two instruments that are not designated as Savior. A single player can only be saved twice, making it necessary to alternate between the other players to pull off the trophy feat.
Trophy: Hello Cleveland!
Requirement: Deploy Vocal Overdrive 4 times in a single song.
Level: Bronze
Strategy: If you’ve done any vocalizing in the game, you’ve probably already unlocked this trophy. In case you haven’t, play through just about any song on Easy or Medium and deploy Overdrive as soon as you have enough energy. Rinse and repeat.
Trophy: Overdrive Overdose
Requirement: Achieve an 8x Band Multiplier
Level: Bronze
Strategy: This trophy can ONLY be achieved with a complete band of four players. Everyone get enough energy to deploy Overdrive, wait for the drummer and vocalist to be in a position to engage, and everyone hit the boost at once.
Trophy: Along for the Ride
Requirement: Beat an instrument-specific challenge while playing another instrument.
Level: Bronze
Strategy: MUST be accomplished by playing a Drum, Guitar, Bass, or Vocal specific challenge. The easiest way to do this is sing and play an instrument at the same time, set both to Easy, and play the challenge. If you have a friend around, play an instrument specific challenge with them. One of the easiest trophies in the game.
Trophy: Challenge Novice
Requirement: Complete 25 Challenges on Medium Difficulty, or 10 Challenges on Hard Difficulty, or 5 Challenges on Expert Difficulty
Level: Bronze
Strategy: It all depends on how good you are, and how much time you’re willing to spend. If you can play on Expert at all, the lower level challenges will get you this trophy very quickly. Concentrate on songs you’re familiar with and the instrument you’re most comfortable with. Play at the highest difficulty you can, and remember that you don’t have to do well… you just have to finish the songs. If you have DLC or the Rock Band 1 songs installed you’ll unlock more challenges as you progress. Challenges that are DLC/RB1 dependent that are very easy (even on Expert level) are the Weezer Red Album challenge and the Pax 2008 Pack challenge.
Trophy: Challenge Master
Requirement: Complete 25 Challenges on Hard Difficulty, or 10 Challenges on Expert Difficulty
Level: Bronze
Strategy: Much like the previous trophy, except the option of playing through on Medium is no longer available. If you can play without failing on Expert (no need to five star any songs, just survive them) get this trophy out of the way quickly by cycling through lower level challenges on Expert.
Trophy: Challenge Savant
Requirement: Complete 25 Challenges on Expert Difficulty
Level: Silver
Strategy: What can I say? You’re going to have to do this on Expert. If you’ve been working through the previous Challenge-type trophies, and you’ve been playing on Expert, you’re already well on your way to accomplishing your goal. The approach I took was to pick an instrument you KNOW you can completely finish on Expert, and work all the way through the instrument specific challenges with it. I chose Vocals, and worked my way through the Impossible Vocal Challenge on Expert. By the time I reached that goal, I had my 25 Expert challenges for this trophy, the ‘Virtuoso’ trophy, ‘The Final Countdown’ trophy, and the ‘Get A Real Instrument Already!’ trophy. Your mileage may vary, but it’s an approach I know worked for me. If you decide to follow my path, beware: ‘Spoonman’ vocals, on Expert, are painfully difficult.
Trophy: The Final Countdown
Requirement: Unlock an Impossible Challenge
Level: Bronze
Strategy: This one is actually pretty easy, and you will undoubtedly receive it in the course of getting one of the many other Challenge-based trophies out of the way. Simply play through any one of the instrument specific sets of challenges and it will populate. It doesn’t matter what skill level you’re playing on, it’s just about unlocking it. If you’re already trying for your ‘Challenge Savant’ or your ‘Get A Real Instrument Already!’, you’ll be getting this trophy by default. My advise? Don’t sweat this one.
Trophy: Stage Igniters
Requirement: Beat the Impossible Band Challenge
Level: Silver
Strategy: A little bit cheap, but if you’re really just hunting the trophy… play through all the band challenges (they require at least two band members) on Easy or Medium. If you’re unable to get a friend to play with you, it’s simple to play guitar and sing at the same time on Easy, or if you have the skills, on Medium. Less of an accomplishment, more like a grind.
Trophy: Lord Of The Strings
Requirement: Beat the Impossible Guitar Challenge
Level: Silver
Strategy: Like the ‘Stage Igniters’ or the other ‘Impossible’ challenges (except ‘Get A Real Instrument Already!) this trophy does not require you to play on a particular skill level. Play through all the guitar specific challenges on a skill level you’re comfortable with. Grind through a set, rinse, repeat.
Trophy: AN-I-MAL!!!
Requirement: Beat the Impossible Drum Challenge
Level: Silver
Strategy: Like the ‘Stage Igniters’ or the other ‘Impossible’ challenges (except ‘Get A Real Instrument Already!) this trophy does not require you to play on a particular skill level. Play through all the drum specific challenges on a skill level you’re comfortable with. Grind through a set, rinse, repeat.
Trophy: Virtuoso
Requirement: Beat the Impossible Vocal Challenge
Level: Silver
Strategy: Like the ‘Stage Igniters’ or the other ‘Impossible’ challenges (except ‘Get A Real Instrument Already!) this trophy does not require you to play on a particular skill level. Play through all the vocal specific challenges on a skill level you’re comfortable with. Grind through a set, rinse, repeat. If you’re also going for the ‘Get A Real Instrument Already!’ trophy, this is probably the easiest to accomplish on Expert… although it’s still a bear.
Trophy: Groove Assassin
Requirement: Beat the Impossible Bass Challenge
Level: Silver
Strategy: Like the ‘Stage Igniters’ or the other ‘Impossible’ challenges (except ‘Get A Real Instrument Already!) this trophy does not require you to play on a particular skill level. Play through all the bass specific challenges on a skill level you’re comfortable with. Grind through a set, rinse, repeat.
Trophy: Get A Real Instrument Already!
Requirement: Beat an “Impossible” Challenge on Expert Difficulty
Level: Silver
Strategy: Another trophy you are required to finish on Expert. This one is tough, but it can be done. Your skill set may vary, but I found it was easiest to finish this set as a Vocalist, followed by Bass, Guitar, then Drums. Good luck… be prepared to fail some songs, but if you keep after it, you can pull it off.
Trophy: Beat It!
Requirement: Complete all beats at 60BPM or higher, or half of the beats at 140BPM or higher
Level: Bronze
Strategy: This one isn’t too bad. One minor bit of advice: set the speed to 180BPM and just start burning through the beats. The progress you make towards ‘The Beat Goes On’ will cover this trophy. Other than that, practice makes perfect.
Trophy: The Beat Goes On
Requirement: Complete all beats at 100BPM or higher, or half of the beats at 180BPM or higher
Level: Bronze
Strategy: Maybe it’s me, but I think this trophy should have been a Silver or even Gold. This trophy is HARD. The best advice I can give you is start at 180BPM on each beat, when you run across one you can’t nail, slow it down until you can, then start nudging the speed back until you’re playing it at 180BPM. Since you only have to pass off half of the available beats at this speed, if there’s one that’s giving you absolute fits, skip it and move to the next beat. [UPDATE] An easier way to get this Trophy is with the help of a friend that can also play drums. One person operates the sticks, concentrating on the pads, and the other person removes the pedal from the drum kit and concentrates on play kicks only. MUCH easier this way.
Trophy: Fill Me In
Requirement: Complete all fills at 60BPM or higher, or half of the fills at 140BPM or higher
Level: Bronze
Strategy: See ‘Beat It!’, it’s practically the same trophy, though significantly easier.
Trophy: Fill Legend
Requirement: Complete all fills at 100BPM or higher, or half of the fills at 180BPM or higher
Level: Bronze
Strategy: See ‘The Beat Goes On’, it’s the same deal, but a LOT easier.
Trophy: Clothes To The Edge
Requirement: Buy over $100,000 worth of clothes.
Level: Bronze
Strategy: Seriously? Play the game a whole lot, get lots of cash, then spend it on clothes. If you want to build cash faster, play at higher difficulty levels, play sets with more songs, and play in the largest venues available to you. This is essentially a grind, but while you’re working on other trophies you’ll constantly be getting cash, so it’s not that bad.
Trophy: Needs More Umlauts!
Requirement: Made a band logo.
Level: Bronze
Strategy: Officially the easiest trophy in the game. Takes about a minute.
Trophy: The San Dimas 4th Annual Award
Requirement: Competed in a Battle of the Bands.
Level: Bronze
Strategy: It takes a few gigs to open up the ability for this one. A Battle of the Bands is an online challenge, pitting your score and abilities against other REAL players. Most Battles have unique rules like not using Overdrive, or playing for the longest streak. Just play one and you’ll unlock the trophy. You can tell venues that have a Battle available by the Trophy icon next to the venue name. This one is easy. Just go do it… it’s fun.
Trophy: You’re Hired!
Requirement: Hire a staff member.
Level: Bronze
Strategy: Another easy one. As you play through World Tour mode you’ll be given the opportunity to hire managers, advisors, PR people… just hire one.
Trophy: You Killed The Radio Star
Requirement: Made a music video.
Level: Bronze
Strategy: As you progress through World Tour mode you’ll be given many opportunities to change one or more of the songs in your set list to a random track while someone shoots a video for you. Do it, you’ll get the trophy.
Trophy: Got Wheels
Requirement: Won a van in World Tour
Level: Bronze
Trophy: Open Road
Requirement: Won a bus in World Tour
Level: Bronze
Trophy: Jet Setter
Requirement: Won a jet in World Tour
Level: Bronze
Trophy: Worldwide Sensation
Requirement: Gain the ability to play around the world
Level: Bronze
Trophy: West Coast Performer
Requirement: Played a set on the West Coast of North America
Level: Bronze
Trophy: God Save The Band
Requirement: Played a set in the United Kingdom
Level: Bronze
Trophy: Heartland Performer
Requirement: Played a set in Middle America
Level: Bronze
Trophy: Western Europe Performer
Requirement: Played a set in Western Europe
Level: Bronze
Trophy: East Coast Performer
Requirement: Played a set on the East Coast of North America
Level: Bronze
Trophy: Eastern European Performer
Requirement: Played a set in Eastern Europe
Level: Bronze
Trophy: Road Dog
Requirement: Played in every venue in the world
Level: Bronze
Trophy: One Million Fans
Requirement: Reached 1 million fans in Band World Tour
Level: Bronze
Trophy: Vinyl Artist ( HIDDEN )
Requirement: Finished the Endless Setlist 2 in World Tour on Medium
Level: Bronze
Trophy: Gold Artist ( HIDDEN )
Requirement: Finished the Endless Setlist 2 in World Tour on Hard
Level: Silver
Trophy: Platinum Artist ( HIDDEN )
Requirement: Finished the Endless Setlist 2 in World Tour on Expert
Level: Gold
Trophy: The Bladder Of Steel Award ( HIDDEN )
Requirement: Finished the Endless Setlist 2 without pausing or failing
Level: Gold
Strategy: The easiest way to do this one is with 2 people that can sing and play guitar at the same time. One person on vocals, one on guitar to start, but if breaks are needed, one player can temporarily take over both duties and vice-versa.
Trophy: Complete Discography
Requirement: Wow! You’ve got every trophy in Rock Band 2!
Level: Platinum
38 Comments
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Bag Of Mad Bastards 
Great guide, thanks for putting it together.
One addendum — the “Get a Real Instrument” trophy requires that you beat any of the Impossible Challenges, *not* necessarily the guitar/bass/vox/drums ones. Since the 80s Hits Challenge (which has a bunch of warmup/apprentice songs in it) was stuck in Impossible Challenges, it’s by far the easiest way to get that trophy.
I know I’m a real asshole for suggesting this but the flawless upstrum bass is actually the easiest to get if you play “So Watcha Want” by the Beastie Boys. It’s only green fret and a repetitive super easy 2 strum (on expert). It’s really boring, really easy, and really cheap. But if you’re a completionist in a hurry, it’s your quickest bet.
This is the way I did it, and it is BY FAR the easiest way…
if you set the guiter to lefty mode and play it right handed, it is even easier. your down strums count as up strums….
Asshole? Absolutely not!
I just had trouble hitting the notes fast enough without double-strumming. Doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea, just means I wasn’t coordinated to pull it off. 😉
Thanks for the tip!
Although an even easier expert bass song is charline
PEOPLE.
For the flawless songs (beside vox)
download “Charlene (I”m right behind you)
it’s only 90 secs long and really , REALLY easy
Also several tracks are really easy for both guitar and bass can be found on the Nirvana pack…most notably something in the way and I haven’t tested Polly on expert yet but I got 100% on hard and I’m not a particularly skilled player.
if u the endless setlist on expert do u get credit for it on hard and medium
@ryan Yes, you DO get credit for hard and medium on the endless setlist when you complete it on Expert.
I enlisted help from Josh and Ali (part of the BOMB crew) and we attacked vocals on Expert taking turns. Only had to retry one song (That Handsome Devil, and I was the one that failed it). Got all the Endless trophies except ‘Bladder of Steel’ on that run. I then went back and went through the setlist playing guitar on Medium without pausing (Josh took a couple songs so I could get a smoke break) to get the last trophy involving the Endless setlist.
Coincidently, it was also the last trophy I needed for my Platinum.
So yeah… long winded answer to your question. If you can get through the Endless setlist on Expert, without pausing or failing, you only have to do it the one time to get all the associated trophies.
Matt
BOMB Matt thank you now i just need some time outta school because im 13, hey can u press the PS button and will that count as pausing?
Unfortunately, pressing the PS button counts as a ‘pause’. That’s why I had Josh there to give me breaks from time to time. We’d just hand off the controller in-between songs.
I found the EASIEST song to get a GS, FC, Flawless groove on was Maps by the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s. very few change ups, medium fast notes, and easy switches.
also on the trophie where you have to get 100 percent with the solo buttons on the guitar, well go on easy mode and cruise right threw it.:->
ps send me friend invites and questions for answers
see ya out there
cincy0101, On that particular trophy, you HAVE to play it on expert. Easy, medium, and hard do NOT count towards this trophy.
Trophy: Flawless Guitar Solo
Requirement: 100% on a guitar solo on Expert, using only the solo buttons.
If it did count, then I would have had it months ago. but as I am just now starting to play on expert I am finding it some what difficult to attain. I end up failing out of most songs before the solo, or failing the song after the solo.
if u fail a song on expert, while going through endless setlist 2, can u still get the bladder of steel award? even if u continue? or is that a pause?
Sorry bro… if you fail a song, it counts as a pause. We had to do the Endless Setlist twice to get the trophy because we failed ONE SONG the first time.
about how long does the endless setlist take? i’m wanting to tackle it, but don’t want to get towards the end and have something come up!
It’s going to take at least 5 and a half hours, I’d plan for 6 just to be safe.
Thanks so much best advice ever so easy to follow thanks for going to the effort to do so keep it up very much appreciated
Badman
[…] help with any Achievement on the list? Our PS3 Trophy Guide should work just as well on XBox […]
Just to add, the easiest way I’ve found is to do this:
Select Beastie Boys: So Watcha Want?
and turn on lefty flip. This way, you can hold the guitar the normal way, strum downwards and still gain the trophy/achievement.
All the best.
You’re missing the Rock Immortal Inductee trophy
Or maybe I just couldn’t find it
Please post if not posted already
can someone clarify the solo button challenge on the guitar. i played it on expert and got 100% on the whole song. i didn’t strum on the smaller notes in the solo and only strummed for the notes that you have to, the bigger notes.
The small notes are the hammer ons and pull offs, the blue section of the song is the solo section, you have to move to the smaller set of buttons on the neck and not strum for the whole solo
ohh thanks. i was still using the large section on the top of the neck to hit the notes
Thanks for the list/advice. It’s been helpful.
Just a couple corrections..
Gold Star is a silver trophy.
One Million fans is silver too.
Groove Assassin is bronze.
Also, “Bragging Rights” is called “Victory!” on my game.
Thanks this guide was really helpful 🙂
Just to clarify, to get the “Bladder of Steel”, can I go on hard instead of expert and still get it? (So i don’t have to worry about visions on expert :P)
Absolutely! In fact, I did the Endless Setlist on Expert for vocals (with help from Josh and Ali) but failed a song and didn’t get the Trophy (but I did get it for completing on Expert). I replayed the setlist on Medium for Guitar, with no breaks (ok, Josh took over for a couple songs so I could hit the bathroom and have a smoke) and got the Bladder Of Steel Trophy.
If you CAN do it on Expert with no breaks or fails, it means you can get a couple of Trophies in one pass, but if you need to, go ahead and do it on a lower difficulty to get the BOS Trophy and worry about the Expert Trophy at a later time.
For a flawless guitar solo, it is easiest to play “I’m Gone, I’m Going.” It’s a relatively easy song anyway, the solo is around 10 notes long and it only uses yellow, blue and orange.
is there any1 to get 100% solo guitar trophy by using any of the guitar hero guitars?
I think Justin is right. I do not see the Rock Immortal Inductee trophy listed. Great list, though. I’m deployed to Afghanistan and we’ve earned almost everything except I don’t think our crew is gonna find an uninterrupted 6 and a half hour window to tackle the Bladder of Steel trophy. Good luck to the rest of you rockband enthusiasts.
Hi there, just someone who’s pretty addicted to RockBand here, but not too great at expert guitar/drums yet. I’ve finally come around to tackling the trophies and I was having a hard time getting the Flawless Fretwork thropy. Anyhow, I tried your suggestions and bombed out (also, lots of suggestions out there for Charlene — it’s short but there’s a lot of change ups)
So for the Flawless Fretwork trophy, I just wanted to suggest “Pork and Beans” by Weezer (downloaded it). I’m fairly good at keeping the rhythem and there’s not many difficult change-ups. There are 532 notes, but honestly, I’m not great at expert guitar and I had only missed 4 change-up notes by the 3rd time through (99%) and I eventually got it flawless on my 5th or 6th try. The whole song is pretty much the same.
I hope that helps anyone out there! Now… to tackle the 100% expert drums (heh, and again, not on Charlene)
Cool, there are actually some worthwhile points on this post some of my subscribers might find this useful, I must send them a link, many thanks.
for any flawless songs use the song we will rock you from lego rockband easiesst song on every instrument
i have a question
if im doing the endless setlist with 2 people & one is playing on hard & the other on expert it counts like finishing the endless setlist on expert???
It goes by the lowest difficulty setting for all bandmates.
In your example it would count it as finishing on Hard.