The Red Dead Redemption franchise takes place during a harsh period of American history and rarely shies away from depicting the brutality humans are capable of inflicting on each other in the name of wealth, revenge, or simple survival. It may not be a surprise that the series focuses on characters capable of thriving in this difficult environment. Now, Red Dead Redemption 2 fans are discussing which of two of the game's toughest characters, Arthur Morgan and Charles Smith, would win in a fistfight.

Arthur Morgan is the protagonist of Red Dead Redemption 2, meaning that gamers may be much more familiar with his capabilities and the kind of thing he can survive, but Charles Smith is well-known in the game for being a great fighter. Charles Smith was also able to escape the cycle of violence the Van der Linde Gang sank into, a task Arthur Morgan may fail at if played with low honor. However, the answer to which man would win a fight may be hard to find a satisfying answer to.

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Charles Smith has a flawless record in fighting tournaments, making him a favorite in prize-fighting, but Arthur Morgan is incredibly tough in both gameplay and story. Furthermore, Arthur Morgan is still fighting well into his tuberculosis diagnosis, possibly right up until the disease gets the best of him. Some of the main symptoms of tuberculosis are weakness, tiredness, coughing up blood, weight loss, chest pain, and fever, all of which would probably make fistfighting quite difficult for most people.

On the other hand, Charles Smith was the only one not showing signs of pain after the bar fight in Valentine, and several users stated under the original post that he could probably strangle, body slam, or even chokeslam a bear. Another user pointed out that Arthur Morgan could probably survive being strangled by a bear, which might be disputed by gamers who've encountered bears in Red Dead Redemption 2. Charlies Smith is also shown tossing Micah Bell around like a ragdoll after the latter gets on his bad side.

As of writing, fans appear to be split on who would come out victorious. Several fans have debated which of the two is more muscular, heavier, or just plain bigger. Some users argued that Charles Smith has the more refined technique, while another pointed out that Arthur Morgan seemed to do better in a bar fight. The general consensus appears to be that Arthur Morgan is meaner and physically tougher, especially before coming down with tuberculosis, while Charles Smith has more fistfighting experience and a more athletic build. Fans still appear to be split on which would win, though a few have noted that Charles Smith and Arthur Morgan get along well and are unlikely to fight for real.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is available now on PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.

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