Unless you’ve been living under a rock, there’s a good chance that you’re playing Red Dead Redemption 2.
Rockstar Games’ latest entry in the open-world western role-playing game series released to a multitude of critical praise and sales success.
According to Polygon, the game is already one of the best performing entertainment products of all time, with over 17 million sales.
But whether you’re playing Arthur Morgan as a savior of the west or a remorseless criminal, you’ll end up frustrating some people along the way. The result is one of coolest returning mechanics from Red Dead Redemption 1: The Quick Draw shootout.
Here’s a quick rundown of how the minigame works and the best Red Dead Redemption 2 weapons you’ll need to become the fastest hand in the west.
How It Works
A Quick Draw duel can be triggered in a number of ways.
First, if an opponent catches you cheating in one of Red Dead’s card games, there’s a high likelihood of them calling you out.
Some duels are entirely random. Riding into any given town may result in a citizen challenging you.
Finally, there are several mission-based duels you’ll need to complete in order to progress the game’s narrative.
So, how does it all work?
A successful duel requires equal parts intuition and reflexes.
The first portion of the minigame requires your player-controlled character to gently fill a circle by pressing either R2 on the PlayStation 4 or RT on the Xbox One.
We can’t stress this enough: keep it gentle.
If you jam the button down, your opponent will panic and shoot you on the spot.
The more you fill the circle, the more time you’ll have to properly aim at your opponent (or their weapon).
Next, wait for the screen to turn to a light sepia color. This is your signal that it’s time to aim.
Depending on your auto-aim settings, the aiming reticle will automatically target your opponent’s hand, though you can aim anywhere you’d like.
One final note: leveling up your Dead Eye skill will help you as much as any weapon. Dead Eye allows Arthur to highlight enemy weaknesses such as the heart, as well as improve his accuracy.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Weapons for Mastering the Quick Draw
A cowboy is only as good as their weapons.
And though Red Dead Redemption 2 features well over two dozen weapons, from pistols and rifles to dynamite, not every gun is well-suited for a duel.
Here are some of the best RDR2 weapons for your Quick Duel encounters.
Shooting their hand will disarm them, shooting their leg will maim them, and shooting the head — as you can imagine — is an instant kill.
Note that you choose whether to let an opponent live or not, so entering a duel doesn’t mean losing karma.
Schofield Revolver
Of all the Red Dead Redemption 2 guns, the Schofield is maybe the most reliable, making it one of the best handguns in Arthur’s arsenal.
It’s quick, efficient, and gets the job done. Deals enough damage in a single shot and should be more than enough to put your opponent down if you’re quick enough.
Midnight’s Pistol
We’ll be the first to admit that getting Midnight’s Pistol can be a chore. To acquire the weapon, players must best Billy Midnight, one of Red Dead Redemption 2’s many gunslingers.
What makes the task such a challenge is that Midnight is classified as a Legendary Gunslinger, making him one of the most difficult opponents in the game.
The duel itself takes place atop a moving train, making for a memorable set piece.
For their troubles, players will receive Midnight’s pistol, which is one of the fastest guns in the game.
Volcanic Pistol
If you’ve spent much time exploring Red Dead Redemption 2’s online component, chances are you’ve fallen victim to griefers dual-wielding volcanic pistols.
While it isn’t as speedy as a revolver, its firepower makes it a great choice for entering duels.
Aside from its massive damage output, the gun’s cool, golden sheen promises you’ll look every bit as cool as you feel.
Mauser Pistol
If you’ve used the Mauser, you may be scratching your head right now. In fact, its inclusion may make for a controversial choice on this list of Red Dead Redemption 2 guns.
Though the gun itself isn’t powerful enough to scare more than wildlife, it is quite fast.
Between its firing speed and reload speed, we’d suggest keeping the Mauser on Morgan whenever you intend on dueling.
Cattleman Revolver
Eagle-eyed players may note that the Cattleman Revolver is frequently seen on the hips of the game’s non-playable characters.
While some players may be quick to write the gun off as a weak firearm (you do start with it, after all) don’t be so quick to dismiss this awesome revolver.
It doesn’t reload as fast as you may hope, but it’s one of the fastest weapons in the game, so keep it on your person or pick it up from a gunsmith.
Otis Miller’s Revolver
Like Billy Midnight’s Pistol, getting Otis Miller’s Revolver requires some serious dedication.
The revolver, which can be found in a cave in Rattlesnake Hollow, is one of the coolest looking weapons in the game, sporting an eye-popping gold and ivory sheen.
Be careful on your way to retrieve the weapon; Rattlesnake Hollow is quite dangerous. Sharpen your survival game skills before heading there.
Though it isn’t the best weapon in the game by any stretch, it looks cool enough that it’s worth breaking out in a duel.
Repeating Shotgun
In a list filled with pistols and revolvers, we had to include at least one weapon for players who value damage over everything.
If you fit into the above category, a simple repeating shotgun is exactly what you’re looking for.
It’s slow, to be sure, but its reload speed can’t be beaten, and its damage output is quite high.
We recommend players who have a mastery over the Quick Draw mechanics give repeating shotguns a chance.
It’s High-Noon: Choosing The Best Red Dead Redemption 2 Weapons
Above all else, remember that Quick Draw duels, like any game mechanic, require time to learn.
Chances are you’ll lose quite a few duels before you get the hang of it. Don’t get discouraged and keep trying.
With the help of these awesome Red Dead Redemption 2 weapons, you’ll soon be the fastest hand in the west!
Looking for help in another great open-world adventure? Take a break from Red Dead and check out our article on the best weapons in Fallout 4.
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