Sharpshooting in Red Dead Redemption 2 isn’t just about quick reflexes-it’s about precision and control. Mastering the game’s aiming system can mean the difference between a clean takedown and a costly miss, and a few simple tweaks can make your shots land exactly where you want them.
- Step 1 – Hide the hero behind a cover. Ideally, this should be an obstacle behind which most of the surrounding enemies can be fired at.
- Step 2 – Try to rotate the camera more or less towards the opponent or enemies you want to shoot. Remember that they are marked on the radar and that you can enlarge the mini-map if necessary..
- Step 3 – Hold down the weapon aiming button (default is L2 / left trigger). The camera should “stick” to the opponent.
- Step 4 – You can immediately shoot (R2 / RT) or slightly change the position of the camera and aim at the head of the target enemy. This is a great choice especially for missions that have challenges for killing enemies by headshots.
- Step 5 – Release the aiming button and after Arthur returns behind the cover, press it again. The camera should lock on the next opponent..
The main advantage of this technique is that you can easily pause the camera on other enemies. This is much easier and faster than traditional aiming. You can also use this technique during horseback riding and hunting for wild animals.
Best Lock-On Mode setting for beginners in RDR2
For a beginner, the most forgiving Lock-On Mode setting in Red Dead Redemption 2 is Wide for both On Foot and Mount/Vehicle. It gives you the largest “snap” area, so simply aiming in the general direction of an enemy will usually lock on to them automatically.
Recommended lock-on setup
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Set Lock-On Mode (On Foot) = Wide so the aim assist will grab nearby enemies even if your camera isn’t perfectly lined up.
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Set Lock-On Mode (Mount/Vehicle) = Wide as well, since hitting enemies from horseback is harder and benefits a lot from strong auto-aim.
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Keep Aim Assist Strength fairly high (near max) so holding L2/LT will consistently snap you to a target, then make small stick adjustments for headshots.
When to move beyond Wide
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After you feel comfortable, you can switch to Normal for a more balanced feel where the game still helps but requires better camera placement.
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Narrow or Free Aim are better for advanced players who want more manual control or play online PvP where strong auto-aim is less desirable.
How does Wide differ from Normal lock-on for new players
Wide lock-on in Red Dead Redemption 2 provides a much larger targeting radius than Normal, making it far easier for new players to snap onto enemies without precise camera aiming. Normal requires the crosshair to be closer to a target before locking, which demands better initial positioning and stick control.
Key Differences for Beginners
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Snap Range: Wide activates auto-aim when enemies are anywhere near the screen’s edges or in a broad cone ahead, so beginners just point generally forward to lock on. Normal only snaps from a narrower, more central area, often missing off-angle foes.
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Forgiveness in Chaos: During group fights or horseback, Wide grabs the closest enemy automatically even if Arthur is moving, reducing frustration for novices. Normal can fail to lock if your view isn’t perfectly aligned, leading to missed shots.
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Headshot Adjustment: Both allow flicking up from torso lock for heads, but Wide’s easier initial snap means beginners spend less time fighting the controls.
Impact on New Players
Wide turns combat into a rhythm of hold-aim → flick → shoot, letting rookies focus on cover and movement instead of manual tracking. Switch to Normal later for skill-building, as it bridges to Free Aim without feeling punishing.
