In the dusty streets of the Wild West, where honor is measured by the speed of your draw, mastering the art of the duel in Red Dead Redemption 2 can mean the difference between life and death. Whether you’re aiming to disarm your rival with precision or claim victory with a single, fatal shot, this guide will teach you how to outdraw and outshoot any gunslinger who dares to challenge you.
The most important information is that you cannot challenge every person you meet for a revolver duel. They occur at a fixed and planned moments. Revolver duels may occur:
- While completing the mission. A perfect example is the side task of The Noblest of Men, and a Woman, in which you have to play as many as three revolver duels.
- In random meetings. Arthur can be challenged for a duel after he initiates an accidental meeting marked with a small dot on the map. An example of this type of duel may occur during the exploration of Valentine.
Each revolver duel consists of two phases. The first phase is to prepare to quickly pull the gun out of the holster by recharging the Dead Eye bar. Your task is to fill up the round interaction field that appears around the attack icon in the lower right corner of the screen – we marked it on the picture above. You must do this by partially pressing R2 / right trigger. You cannot press the trigger until the very end. It is best to press the trigger more or less halfway.
Once the bar is full, you’ll move on to the second phase, i.e. to quickly pull out the revolver and shoot. Start by pressing the end of the R2 / right trigger. That’s not all, because you have to aim at your opponent and shoot before he does the same.
There is not much time to shoot, so in your first revolver duels, just try to point your target as quickly as possible at any part of your opponent’s body (e.g. his chest) and shoot right away. But after you get to know this mechanism better, you can try to aim at other parts of the body. For example, hitting an opponent’s leg or hand, in which he holds a revolver will allow you to defeat him without having to kill him. This is useful if the game additionally rewards or forces the capture of someone alive or if you want to earn positive honor points for disarming the opponent.
What are the best strategies for disarming opponents in duels
To successfully disarm opponents in Red Dead Redemption 2 duels, follow these strategies:
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Target the Hand: During the duel, aim your reticule specifically at the opponent’s hand holding the weapon. This precise targeting is key to disarming them without causing fatal damage6.
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Perfect Timing: Pay attention to the aiming reticule’s color. When it flashes white, pull the trigger to set a target. Perfectly timed shots fill your blue meter faster and ensure a clean disarm in a single shot.
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Avoid Over-Shooting: Be cautious not to fire too many shots into the arm or hand, as this can still kill the opponent instead of disarming them.
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Practice in Dead Eye Mode: Use Dead Eye mode in free play to hone your precision and timing for targeting small areas like the hand during duels6.
By mastering these techniques, you can win duels with finesse and avoid unnecessary bloodshed.
What are the most effective ways to counter disarms in duels
To counter disarms effectively in duels in Red Dead Redemption 2, consider these strategies:
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Swingblocking: Hold the block button during your attack animations to prevent interruptions and reduce damage. This technique ensures tighter control over your swings, making it harder for opponents to exploit openings for disarms.
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Timing Your Counters: Use precise counter-attacks after blocking or parrying an opponent’s move. This can disrupt their rhythm and prevent them from successfully targeting your weapon2.
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Maintain Momentum: Continuously attack with calculated swings to keep your opponent on the defensive. A strong offense can limit their opportunities to aim for disarms2.
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Avoid Predictable Patterns: Mix up your attack styles and timings to make it harder for opponents to anticipate and exploit openings for disarming maneuvers2.
By mastering these defensive techniques, you can neutralize attempts at disarming and maintain control in duels.
