Rockstar Game Tips: Dueling like a Pro in Red Dead Redemption

Posted June 7, 2010 at 5:52pm | Author: R* Y | Filed Under: Games, Social Club

The world of Red Dead Redemption is inhabited by a large cast of characters, all living out their lives as John Marston makes his way across the land.  One characteristic of the townspeople in the game is jealousy...

While becoming famous has perks like shopkeepers giving you discounts and people greeting you by name, it'll also attract attention from gunfighters looking to make a name for themselves.  The more famous you are, the more likely you are to be challenged.

After gaining enough fame, walk around town such as Armadillo in the daytime and chances are, a wannabe gunslinger will challenge you.  Once someone does and you've accepted, you'll have the option to review the dueling tutorial text.  Here are a few steps for coming out on top in a duel:

1. After accepting a duel, the word "DRAW" appears and two meters are displayed on the right side of the HUD.  John's meter is blue and the red meter belongs to your enemy.  Fill up John's meter before your enemy and you'll win.

2. Draw your weapon by either flicking up then down on the Right Analog Stick or by pressing the Left Trigger/L2.

3. Place your shots carefully and quickly using RB/R1, but watch the crosshair.  It will change colors back and forth, red and white.  Depending on where you aim, white will fill John's meter more than red.  Aiming for the gun hand or the top part of the enemy's head when the aiming reticule is white will fill John's meter faster than anything else.

Additionally, here are some tips and tricks if you want to take your dueling a step further:

  • If you want to force a duel, put on the Elegant Suit that John receives after the first few missions and then get caught cheating in a poker game. 
     
  • If you want to gain 100 Fame as well as some Honor, disarm your enemy by shooting the gun out of his hand using Dead-Eye.  (Do note that some duels that take place during story missions have enemies that cannot be disarmed)
     
  • Shoot for the gun first and the hat second - embarassing your enemy in a duel is always good fun.

If you've got any of your own dueling tips or tricks you feel like sharing, give a shout in comments below - and look for more Red Dead tips here in the coming weeks...

Previously:
Rockstar Game Tips: Red Dead Redemption Quick Tips

comment on this article

chmike14September 16, 2010 at 11:34pm
Any tips on how dueling like a pro in multiplayer. I only get inconsistent results.
lllLSDlllSeptember 15, 2010 at 9:50am
@11022616
after u complete story mission "the last enemy that should be destroyed" do a stranger's task that u find in Blackwater 4 the credits. i won't go into details, but u need to complete the story mission in order to unlock the stranger's task
chuychuyJuly 30, 2010 at 1:58am
@ooooooooohhh you get gold guns by geting headshots, (check wepon challenges)
ooooooohhhJuly 20, 2010 at 6:15pm
Is there any way of getting golden guns other than nooby mods and pre ordering wich is a problem considering I already own the game :)
R* YJuly 19, 2010 at 5:26pm
@11022616 Thanks, in short and without spoiling anything...the storyline is not completely over with until you see the end credits.
11022616July 18, 2010 at 9:30pm
eventually i'll probably sign up for the social club deal but i have wireless so MP isn't a big part of my gaming experience. loved the game...kinda puzzled though since I was under the impression that I beat the game...but no credits came--to keep from spoiling this game for other ppl who might still be working throught it--someone just tell me is it only really finished after you do 100% or is that final showdown the end te---ally but it allows the game to still be played for fun of running around doing any leftover sidequests althought I'm quite certain I beat every damn challenge the only thing i haven't bothered doing is beating on the duels as i played the good guy so i chose not to kill the duelers only disarm sometimes or if i was wearing the bandana as well as I haven't done the treasure hunting I tried once and I failed epicly :( again though this game was very worth the time thanks again Rstar.
KwikKarmaJuly 18, 2010 at 7:59pm
I agree with Le-Rock, ya'll coulda done a lot better job on tutorials for dueling seeing as how many times it happens. Bunches of info on hunting and other crap that's pretty much self-explanatory, but nothing on duels, and the tip that WAS given was clear as mud and obviously typed up by someone who's not a good teacher and assumes all players are also developers. Seems like I have to empty gun and splatter the dude to win the duel.
outlaw34July 9, 2010 at 11:30pm
Duelling is a very good part of the game sadly need to release all of bullets from the gun to kill the enemy. I want just ONE shoot in the enemy forehead lol.. Quicker than my own shadow.. Before some music or gold pocketwatch song ... (For A Few Dollars More) .. ok ok kidding.. The game is PERFECT cheers!
Chris-4July 7, 2010 at 2:54pm
Anyone know when the Co-op missions will be fixed yet?
Calvin1300July 3, 2010 at 7:08pm
RS, love the game, except for the MP, can't get into any games, keep getting thrown into that loop that says I can't connect. Please fix this. It seemed to work fine before the DLC, now I can't hardly ever get into any MP, free roam or co-op.
LeonydosJune 30, 2010 at 8:16pm
Hey rockstar, i was just wondering why, in the dlc content one cannot have access to thier unlocked (legendary) mounts. i guess i can see why the guns are removed, but i guess i'm say'n it kinda sux that i have spent "x" amount of time unlocking them and now i can't use them. is there any plans to incorporate them at a later date, or at least in another dlc pack?
xb360shawkeye23June 28, 2010 at 1:32pm
still cant play multiplayer fix it now stop all other work and fix the issues with your game
Le-RockJune 26, 2010 at 9:07am
Dear Rockstar, i would like to know how to disarm and shot hat off in only 2 shots without killing (if it possible) because i did what you tell in your tips and tricks but if i shot the hand first, it full fill the meter and the duel end by disarm.

If i mark the hat first then mark the hand, the meter wont fill enough compare to the enemy's one and i die !

Could you please make a complete tutorial about duel (with a vidéo would be great) because since i have the game i've always thinking about doing hatshot + disarm in duel but never done it yet !

Thanx in advance and sorry for my bad english (i'm french)

Red Dead Rocks !!
Fizz91June 25, 2010 at 11:53pm
@Godfather187um I dll the co-op dlc from the US PSN and then you switch to your Asia PSN account, start up the game and on free roam multiplayer press 'select' to choose the co-op mode. :)
Godfather187umJune 23, 2010 at 9:19am
when is the asian DLC coming out? i looked all over the PSN but cant find it anywhere
EskainedJune 20, 2010 at 5:09pm
Alguien me puede explicar como hay jugadores que consiguen hacer los dos desafios de social club en cero segundos????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
LarryRawrJune 14, 2010 at 8:19pm
This is great! Thank you!
MAJ0RBLOODJune 14, 2010 at 4:09am
Will there be any Indian missions in this game? whats the west without Indians?? Cowboys/Indians!!
R* YJune 11, 2010 at 10:53am
@RawlsDan Thanks, yes, you have to be an Xbox LIVE Gold member for Social Club stats to upload to the site.
RawIsDanJune 11, 2010 at 9:59am
I didn't see this anywhere but do you have to be a gold member to have your stats show ?

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