What are your personal tips for becoming a strong fighter?

[cowboy1867]

The reason I’m asking this is because lately I have neglected development as a fighter as I’ve just focused on the trader / collector roles in RDR2 online.

Now I’m near level 20 as trader and collector and I’ve reached general rank 50. But I realised today I am a rubbish player who can’t even defend himself properly. I have strong ability cards, a top of the range shotgun etc but it still isn’t enough. 
 

Today I was on the Great Plains just picking herbs etc when some random person just started shooting at me for no reason. I managed to get my revenge once using some exploding  buckShot but after that this player killed me over and over again. It was not even competitive. I want to be good enough to at least defend myself in this situation- not just high rank but seriously good skills. I never attack people I just want to defend myself.

I have been playing with free aim for around 5 levels and am just getting used to it. 
 

what tips can you give me to develop good fighting skills?

 

[Kean_1]

.....moving this to the Online forum. 

 

[HuDawg]

On 5/6/2020 at 2:10 PM, cowboy1867 said:

The reason I’m asking this is because lately I have neglected development as a fighter as I’ve just focused on the trader / collector roles in RDR2 online.

Now I’m near level 20 as trader and collector and I’ve reached general rank 50. But I realised today I am a rubbish player who can’t even defend himself properly. I have strong ability cards, a top of the range shotgun etc but it still isn’t enough. 
 

Today I was on the Great Plains just picking herbs etc when some random person just started shooting at me for no reason. I managed to get my revenge once using some exploding  buckShot but after that this player killed me over and over again. It was not even competitive. I want to be good enough to at least defend myself in this situation- not just high rank but seriously good skills. I never attack people I just want to defend myself.

I have been playing with free aim for around 5 levels and am just getting used to it. 
 

what tips can you give me to develop good fighting skills?

 

PVP in this game is basically down to a few things.

 

Ability card load out and knowledge of how cards work.  (also checking to see what the player you're fighting against is using for ability cards)

Being able to access healing items really fast like food and tonics.

Understanding how auto aim works.

Use of the environment.

And being good with free aim.

 

Best thing you can do is join PVP game modes and engage as many players as possible.  The more you fight players... well.  When you encounter them in free roam it will much more easier. 

 

 

[Vendetta]

HuDawg mentioned some great tips!. I would say to also pay attention to the mini-map. Make them chase after you if you can then once there is distance, be waiting for them. There really is no secret, just have fun. It's the Wild West!.

One thing I think is important is to find weapons that fit your style of play and carry them all the time. In particular, I'm talking about your sidearms. For me, I find that the Colt Navy .36 Cal cap n ball revolvers are the best for me. Some weapons you will rotate depending on what your doing, but probably best to keep a good rifle with a scope on you at all times.   

Edited May 10, 2020 by Vendetta

[SimonTemplar]

On 5/6/2020 at 7:10 PM, cowboy1867 said:

The reason I’m asking this is because lately I have neglected development as a fighter as I’ve just focused on the trader / collector roles in RDR2 online.

Now I’m near level 20 as trader and collector and I’ve reached general rank 50. But I realised today I am a rubbish player who can’t even defend himself properly. I have strong ability cards, a top of the range shotgun etc but it still isn’t enough. 
 

Today I was on the Great Plains just picking herbs etc when some random person just started shooting at me for no reason. I managed to get my revenge once using some exploding  buckShot but after that this player killed me over and over again. It was not even competitive. I want to be good enough to at least defend myself in this situation- not just high rank but seriously good skills. I never attack people I just want to defend myself.

I have been playing with free aim for around 5 levels and am just getting used to it. 
 

what tips can you give me to develop good fighting skills?

 

First up, I wouldn't say that being killed a few times makes you a 'rubbish player'.  I am level 183, have done a lot more PVP recently, but two days ago I had a scuffle with a level 18.  I killed him twice, he killed me once.  There are lots of variables on the day.

Others have made some great points, but I'd add that your general health and stamina are also relevant.  I swim and fish a lot and my general health and stamina are wildly better than they were when I started out.  In a pitched battle both of those stats can really help.  Lower level players seem to love choking (!), I'm often in Valentine and one will come up behind me and get me in a headlock.  A couple of months ago I'd die, whereas now I can almost always break free and reverse it, or have time to draw a weapon despite being hurt.  That's as much down to greater health stats as anything else.

In terms of loadout, I carry twin navies, an Evan repeater and a Rolling Block when it comes to PVP.  I switch my weapons to that loadout specifically for it (otherwise I generally have twin volcanics (working on the 1000 kills achievement), a varmint rifle and a Springfield (both for hunting).  I also swap out my ability cards - Never Without One III, and then also the one which favours twin handguns.  At level III it's really powerful.  Doesn't feel that authentic, but if they're griefing, they're getting it.  I also carry a cleaver as it's great in close and you can chuck it (and there's an achievement).  If someone is hurting me up close, as @Vendetta said, I favour opening up some distance.  Then take a ridge or high ground and pick them off with the Rolling Block.  @Vendetta and I dress alike and play alike!

But really it is just practice, practice, practice.  I'm far from the best but can hold my own against most and don't consider myself a high end gamer.  I love the game for hunting, fishing and general moseying around.  PVP can be fun but isn't my aim but it is possible to get much better at it.  A little while back I thought of myself as cannon fodder, but it does improve.

o7

[clif9710]

For me it's all about staying calm and that has only come with being in the heat of a fight many times. At first the panic of trying to figure out what to do made me mess up doing the simplest things like taking a tonic. Then over time it all becomes natural and you develop the confidence you need to get into a fight and take down targets relentlessly and methodically.

As you level up and can get the more powerful weaponry and ammo, the job gets easier.

As for other players attacking, there isn't too much you can do against sniping except to keep moving. As for melee, never be bashful to fistfight. I've surprised myself to find I could punch another player to death and even when you are jumped you can throw the other player off. If you are roped, hitting the X button on the gamepad will get you free with rapid pressing. Since the other player doesn't have an indication of when you will break free, you have that surprise in your favor.

A tip that might seem obvious is never to travel with your ready weapon a scoped rifle. I've been killed by animals and players simply because in the emergency I draw my weapon only to find it is useless with the scope. For that reason, the bolt action rifle is my best friend and I always stow it with the scope off, ready for melee action.

I have never used dead-eye. I think it's a crutch and it's just one more thing to deal with. Also, back off on the auto-targeting as you get better. This forces you to improve aiming until you are quickly on target before the red dot appears.

When a fight starts and you stay cool, you've done the job and there's no substitute for putting in the time to get there.

[cowboy1867]

Thanks for this answer which is very much appreciated. I’m also intrigued that you never use dead eye. Like you say I have come to use it as a crutch which isn’t good. Although I am using free aim, I can only seem to hunt using dead eye. I know I need to shake the habit and also it will save a ton of cash if I could fight without it (no need for tonics etc)

One thing I find impossible is if I’m riding my horse i cannot aim and shoot a large target or small target while moving. If I can crack this, then I know I will be in a very strong position to develop my skills!

but thank you all for taking the time to answer this - I appreciate each and every answer .

 

[danelaw]

Back in the Beta days, the griefing was so bad and I was a novice PvP player, I decided to do the research the best ability cards via youtube and then immersed myself in Showdowns until I could hold my own in combat. Practice, Practice Practice.

[clif9710]

4 hours ago, cowboy1867 said:

I know I need to shake the habit and also it will save a ton of cash if I could fight without it (no need for tonics etc)

Even without dead-eye, you'll still want the tonics, the ones that boost your health and stamina  bars. Also Minty big game meat (cooking big game meat with mint gives you that) will give you a solid health core for a day (game time) that is only broken if you get killed. Since the speed with which the health bar recovers depends on the strength of the health core, having that guaranteed solid health core when going into a big fight helps lots. The down side is eating lots of meat will make you overweight, so only eat the minty big game meat when you are expecting a hard fight.

 

Edited May 13, 2020 by clif9710

[Parzival]

Say your prayers and eat your vitamins?

[SimonTemplar]

12 hours ago, cowboy1867 said:

Thanks for this answer which is very much appreciated. I’m also intrigued that you never use dead eye. Like you say I have come to use it as a crutch which isn’t good. Although I am using free aim, I can only seem to hunt using dead eye. I know I need to shake the habit and also it will save a ton of cash if I could fight without it (no need for tonics etc)

One thing I find impossible is if I’m riding my horse i cannot aim and shoot a large target or small target while moving. If I can crack this, then I know I will be in a very strong position to develop my skills!

but thank you all for taking the time to answer this - I appreciate each and every answer .

 

I'll second the Dead Eye thing - I literally never use it in online and I win more fights than I lose, including against multiple enemies.  No substitute for practice and putting in the work.

[HuDawg]

17 hours ago, cowboy1867 said:

Thanks for this answer which is very much appreciated. I’m also intrigued that you never use dead eye. Like you say I have come to use it as a crutch which isn’t good. Although I am using free aim, I can only seem to hunt using dead eye. I know I need to shake the habit and also it will save a ton of cash if I could fight without it (no need for tonics etc)

One thing I find impossible is if I’m riding my horse i cannot aim and shoot a large target or small target while moving. If I can crack this, then I know I will be in a very strong position to develop my skills!

Dead Eye isn't a crutch.  Its a core game play mechanic.  But relying on it too much can seem like a crutch.     I mean, I can hold my ground fairly well without tonics or dead eye.  But, with Tonics and Dead eye become a beast.    So if two players of equal skills fight each other, the player using Tonics and Dead Eye will eat that other player alive.

 

 

As far as riding and shooting goes..    If you're using free aim.   Stop your horse and then shoot OR use Paint it Black and paint your target.

 

Also... Paint It Black isn't just for target painting targets.  It can also be used to quickly tighten your aim when shooting if you press fast in between shots.

 

 

Not sure if you know this.    But when you aim, theres a circle around your aim dot.   That circle represents where the bullet may hit.  The tighter the circle the more accurate your shot.   Using Paint It Black as quickly possible by tapping it on and off in between each shot makes that aimer circle 100% accurate.

^That is basically the fastest and most accurate way to shoot in both Auto Aim and Free aim.  

 

So basically.

 

1.) Aim.  

2.) Turn on PIB the moment your aimer is at a target.  (Don't turn it on early, literally right at the target)

3.) Shoot.

4.) Turn in off.

 

Do all of that in under a second^.       Hell, try it while shooting at trees until you get the rhythm down.  It should be an instant thing.   Don't leave PIB on.  Just bing! BANG!  

 

 

 

[clif9710]

One other thing I was reminded of yesterday...if you see another player fast approaching you, be ready to stop an attack but don't act first since it may just be someone passing by minding their own business, particularly if you both are on a road.

Yesterday another player approached at speed. I was standing still on horseback but suspected foul intent, so when he got near I suddenly moved aside. Sure enough he was about to lasso me and missed. It could have gone better for me, though, because he then shot my horse out from under me and as I was thrown he had the chance to use that lasso, tied me up and then placed dynamite next to me to roast me (ugh, not a pretty sight). He intended to do this over and over but with my trusty bolt action rifle, he couldn't get close enough to pull it off, got killed and then left the scene.

PVP is a fun part of the game because it isn't canned, you can't know exactly what the other guy is going to do and that makes it the best challenge. It's for this reason I leave my mode on offensive...it invites other players to try to take me on and that's when you learn if you've mastered the capabilities that RDR2 gives you, but in the beginning you have to expect to be a sponge for bullets and to die often. Stick with it!