A Complete Guide to Dueling in Red Dead Redemption

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Everything you need to know about gunfighting in RDR1
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Dueling is a mode in Red Dead Redemption that pits you against a single opponent to see who is the fastest draw. If you fail a duel, your character dies, so knowing how to come out on top will help keep you out of the ground. Once you get the hang of aiming and shooting during a duel, no one will be able to match you.

How to Duel in RDR1

  1. Draw your weapon by pressing LT/L2/ZL/RMB when “Draw!” appears on the screen.
  2. Use the right analog stick or the mouse to aim the crosshairs.
  3. Mark shots when the crosshairs are small and white to fill up your bar faster.
  4. Place your shots by quickly pressing RB/R1/R/LMB.
  5. To fire your shots, press RT/R2/ZR/RMB or wait until the timer runs out.
Section 1 of 3:

Starting a Duel in Red Dead Redemption

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  1. The West is a dangerous place, and conflicts are often settled by who has the fastest hand. Whether it’s part of a mission or you just want to practice, there are a few ways to trigger someone to challenge you to a duel: [1]
    • Cheat at poker: Obtain the Elegant Suit (which unlocks the ability to cheat) and put it on. [2] While sitting at a poker game, press the button that says “Cheat”, then let the meter move into the red so you’ll get caught cheating. [3] This is the easiest way to be challenged to a duel.
    • Get challenged in missions: Several story missions feature a duel, as well as a few of the Stranger quests.
    • Increase your Fame: The higher your Fame, the more likely you are to get challenged by someone looking to make a name for themselves. These challenges can happen as you are walking through the game's various towns and settlements. Fame can be increased by completing missions, jobs, and challenges, as well as winning at poker and killing enemies.
    • Annoy NPCs: Walk around town and push people or knock them over with your horse. Eventually, someone may challenge you to a duel.
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Section 2 of 3:

Gunfighting in Red Dead Redemption

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  1. LT / L2 when Draw! appears on the screen. After you’re challenged to a duel, walk to the spot marked with an X to start the gunfight. Once the duel starts, press LT (Xbox), L2 (PS), ZL (Switch), or the right mouse button (PC) to unholster your gun. [4]
    • You can also draw by flipping your Right Stick DOWN and then UP to simulate pulling the gun out of the holster. However, most people find it easier to press the Draw button.
    • When you start a duel, you'll see two bars in the lower-right corner of the screen. The blue bar represents your score, while the red bar represents the opponent’s. To win the duel, you'll need to raise your bar before your opponent raises theirs.
    • Don’t rush—if you press the button too early, the camera will zoom out and it will be more difficult to hit your opponent.
  2. Time slows down as soon as you draw your weapon. You can slowly move the crosshairs using the Right Stick. Watch the crosshairs, and try to mark your shots when the reticle turns white—that means the shot will be a direct, critical hit. [5]
    • If you’re playing on PC: Use the mouse to move the crosshairs.
  3. RB / R1 to mark the target. Take your time to aim your shots—your bar will fill up faster if you make shots when the crosshairs are small and white (critical hit). Once you’re aiming at the part of your opponent you want to shoot, press RB (on Xbox), R1 (PS), ZR (Switch), or left mouse button (PC) to mark your shots. [6]
  4. RT / R2 when you're satisfied with your marks. This will end the duel. If your bar is more full than your opponents, John will shoot the opponent in each of the places that you marked. [7]
    • If you fill the bar completely or use all of your bullets, the duel will finish automatically.
    • The duel will also end after a set amount of time, even if you haven’t marked all of your shots.
    • If your opponent’s bar was filled higher than yours, you’ll die.
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Section 3 of 3:

Strategies for Winning Duels in Red Dead Redemption

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  1. 1
    Wait until “DRAW” appears to pull your gun. Once the duel starts, let the camera pan in a little toward your opponent. If you draw too soon, you’ll have to duel with the camera zoomed out, which will make it harder to hit your shots. [8]
    • Before it says "Draw" you can move the right analog stick downwards and it will move John's hand closer to his gun. Doing this will decrease the time it takes to draw the gun.
  2. 2
    Target your opponent’s head and chest to fill your bar the fastest. Duels happen quickly, but it’s often worth it to take a little longer aiming, rather than just spamming your shots all at once. Your marks will fill the bar more if you get critical hits on the head and chest—especially if you can hit your opponent in the face. [9]
    • Avoid shooting the Stomach or Legs, as this will not fill the meter very much.
  3. 3
    Shoot the opponent in the hand to disarm them. A proper shot in the gun hand will likely fill your bar in a single mark—but you’ll just knock your opponent’s gun out of your hand instead of killing them. This will give you Honor in addition to the Fame you obtain for winning a duel. [10]
    • If your bar fills up while disarming, end the round—too many hand shots will kill your opponent.
    • If you aren’t able to hit your opponent’s hand with the first two marks, consider a shot in the head or chest so you can still win the duel.
    • Note that you may not be able to disarm opponents during story duels.
  4. As you move the crosshair over the opponent, you'll see the color and size change. Here’s what the different colors mean: [11]
    • If the crosshair is small and white: It’s a critical hit. These shots are worth the most.
    • If the crosshair is large and red: The shots will hit the target but won't be worth as much.
    • If the crosshair is yellow: The shots won’t hit the target at all
  5. The number of available marks is determined by the gun you are using for the duel. With the revolver, you can mark your target up to six times. Your opponent can keep marking shots even after you end the round, so it’s a good idea to keep marking the target until your bar is full or you’ve used all the shots. [12]
    • Each time you make a mark, you'll see your bar increase.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.ign.com/wikis/red-dead-redemption/Dueling
      2. ↑ https://www.ign.com/wikis/red-dead-redemption/Outfits
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/dTPv7JzIWFI?t=160
      4. ↑ https://www.ign.com/wikis/red-dead-redemption/Dueling
      5. ↑ https://www.ign.com/wikis/red-dead-redemption/Dueling
      6. ↑ https://www.ign.com/wikis/red-dead-redemption/Dueling
      7. ↑ https://www.ign.com/wikis/red-dead-redemption/
      8. ↑ https://www.ign.com/wikis/red-dead-redemption/Dueling
      9. ↑ https://www.ign.com/wikis/red-dead-redemption/Dueling
      1. ↑ https://www.ign.com/wikis/red-dead-redemption/Dueling
      2. ↑ https://www.ign.com/wikis/red-dead-redemption/Dueling
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/Tj9bGFOPB1c?t=104

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Press and hold LT/L2 when you see "Draw!"
      2. Use the right stick to move the crosshairs.
      3. Shoot when the crosshair is white, not red.
      4. Press RB/R1 to mark the target up to 6 times.
      5. Press RT/R2 when you're satisfied with your marks.

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