In the original Red Dead Redemption, there are a lot of random, open-world activities John Marston can participate in or stumble across in his adventures across New Austin (and beyond). One of these mini-events is the Duel, Red Dead Redemption's adaptation of the classic Western high noon shootout.
Red Dead Redemption: How Long to Beat (& Main Mission List)
There are 57 main missions in Red Dead Redemption, and it will take players at least a few dozen hours to finish the story.
There are a few ways to start a Duel in Red Dead Redemption – but once you draw your gun, you'd better be prepared to fire faster and more accurately than your opponent. This guide explains the Red Dead Redemption Duel system, and offers some beginner tips on how to win Duels more often in Rockstar's seminal Western.
How To Duel In Red Dead Redemption
How To Start A Duel In Red Dead Redemption
To Duel in Red Dead Redemption, there are a few ways to initiate a fight – or get someone so riled up that they can't help but challenge John Marston to a duel themselves.
- Random Encounter: While wandering New Austin and beyond, you may find random antagonistic townspeople who want to Duel John, typically one per major settlement.
- Becoming Famous: Once you become Famous enough, more random Duel encounters will appear throughout the world
- Annoying NPCs: If you push an NPC over enough, or run them over with your Horse, there's a high chance that they will get up and challenge John to a Duel on the spot.
- Story & Stranger Duels: During some Story and Stranger side missions, you have to Duel a story character. These enemies cannot be Disarmed, John has to kill them.
- Cheat At Poker: If you get caught cheating at Poker in Red Dead Redemption, there's a high chance that another player at the table will challenge John to a Duel.
After starting a Duel, Red Dead Redemption players should head to the agreed-upon location.
Red Dead Redemption: How To Use Dead Eye (All Levels Explained)
Here's how to use the Dead Eye in Red Dead Redemption, which makes it easier for players to precisely aim at enemies and land hits on them.
The Duel will begin after John arrives at the designated Duel location, which should be marked in the world with a floating X symbol.
Red Dead Redemption Duelling Mechanics
When a duel initiates in Red Dead Redemption, you will be taken to a special minigame-like event featuring you and your opponent standing opposite each other – a scene straight out of an old western.
When the duel starts, the words "DRAW" will flash on screen, and two meters will appear. The Red meter is your opponent's Duel meter, and the Blue meter is John Marston's. Your goal in a Duel is to fill your meter before your opponent fills theirs.
To fill your Duel meter, Red Dead Redemption players must place shots on their enemy while Dead Eye is active. Draw your weapon as soon as the words "DRAW" appear and place your shots with the right bumper on your controller (or click on the enemy when playing Red Dead on PC).
Depending on where you place your shots, your Duel meter will build faster. Your targeting reticle will indicate how much of your meter you will build with each potential shot: a white reticle means your shot will build a lot of your meter, while a red reticle will build a small amount of your meter.
Red Dead Redemption: How To Get The Lasso
Players can get the lasso very early on in Red Dead Redemption, which is helpful since it opens up a number of activities.
Some opponents are more difficult than others, but when your meter is filled by firing enough well-placed shots on your dueling enemy, the Duel will end and you will emerge the victor. You can either kill your opponent or fire the gun out of their hand to end the duel – or, of course, your enemy could win the Duel.
Tips To Win Duels In Red Dead Redemption
In Red Dead Redemption, Duels seem more complicated than they actually are. If you are quick to the draw, are careful when aiming your shots to take advantage of "weak spots", and use a few other simple tricks in a Duel, Red Dead Redemption players will come out on top nearly every time.
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The head and your target's gun-wielding hand are the weakest points on all Duel targets and will build the most Duel meter when shot. Carefully aim your reticle over your target's Head to kill them faster, or over their Gun to disarm them.
- Firing more than a couple of shots at a Duel opponent's hand will kill them – after confirming that you have disarmed them in Dead Eye, end the duel.
- Pressing the left trigger (or the right mouse button on PC) is more reliable than using the analog stick or mouse when it comes to the Draw. You are more used to aiming while holding down this button, so you won't waste any time after drawing your weapon.
- If your target has a Hat, you can shoot it off after firing the gun out of their hand to embarrass them in
Red Dead Redemption
- Released
- May 18, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar San Diego
- Engine
- rockstar advanced game engine
- Franchise
- Red Dead Redemption
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Android, iOS
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Adventure
