If there’s one thing that’s synonymous with the life of a gun-slinging cowboy, it’s the art of the duel. Since Red Dead Redemption 2 is the ultimate cowboy simulator, it naturally lets you test your own quick-draw skills. In this guide, we’ll explain how RDR2’s dueling system functions and how you can fully master it.
How to Master Red Dead Redemption 2’s Dueling System
You may remember that in the original Red Dead Redemption, duels weren’t something you could initiate at any time. Instead, duels were often key moments found in specific story missions or certain side activities. That’s still the case in Red Dead Redemption 2, though the specific mechanics are slightly altered.
In most cases, the player must duel a famous gunslinger or a wanted bounty target. However, the dueling system is also used in more creative ways. For example, there’s one side mission where an NPC attempts to shoot themselves in the head. However, using the duel system, the player can quickly shoot the gun out of their hands, preventing the suicide.
No matter the context, duels in Red Dead Redemption 2 follow a few basic gameplay rules. Here’s how a duel plays out and how you can make sure you’re not the one eating a bullet:
- During the initial “draw” phase, gently hold down the R2/RT trigger to fill the circular draw meter. You want to press down hard enough to quickly fill the meter without fully pressing the button.
- With the meter filled, you’ll draw your weapon and enter the “aim” phase. If you don’t want to kill your target, aim for their gun hand. Otherwise, aim for their chest to ensure the kill shot.
- Fully press the R2/RT trigger to fire your aimed shot. If you were good about filling your draw meter, you can shoot multiple times.
Even if you’re playing the honorable cowboy, you should only go for non-lethal shots when the game wants you to. Certain NPC’s and bounty targets deserve mercy, but in most cases there’s no reason not to use a kill shot. Once you’ve won the duel, you can often loot your dead opponent. Just make sure there are no witnesses to your looting since it is technically a crime.
For more RDR2 guide content, be sure to read our full Rings and Cores breakdown. We also covered how to complete the grisly American Dreams murder mystery side mission.