Red Dead Online allows players to roam the entire map - the same map available in the Red Dead Redemption 2 story mode - in search of missions to complete and activities. Among the best activities found in the online mode of the game is the Showdown Series, a playlist of competitive multiplayer modes that allow up to 32 players to compete against one another solo or as a team.
Among the Showdown Series' available modes is the Make It Count mode. This mode is Red Dead Online's take on the popular Battle Royale format. In Make It Count, players must try to survive until the end of the match with limited resources available and a play area that gradually shrinks.
This mode is very different from all the other multiplayer modes in the game, so trying to play it like a regular deathmatch game is going to be difficult. The tips covered in this guide will help become a better player, so continue reading if you're having troubles or want to improve.
Article Contents
Mode Overview
In the Making It Count mode, players will be dropped into a large open area with a limited amount of weapons and resources. In the first few minutes of the match, players have plenty of space to maneuver in, but it eventually starts shrinking as the match goes on, forcing players to fight one another. In this mode, players are not respawned, so if you are killed, the match is over for you. The last player standing wins the match.
Don’t Rely On Your Map
In Make It Count mode, the mini-map and radar aren't particularly useful, as enemy players will not show up on it, no matter what they do. For this reason, it's extremely important to pay attention to your surroundings.
The first thing to do right after the match begins is to get a good idea of the surrounding area and how it can be used to your advantage. Other players will obviously try to do the same, so knowing where it's possible to lay ambushes is extremely important to survive until the end of the match.
Another extremely important thing you must do in Make It Count mode is to pay attention to sounds. Players' footsteps are very quiet, even when rushing, so you need to pay more attention to the sounds produced by the environment, like leaves' rustling, water splashes and so on. When you hear sounds like this, make sure to sweep the camera around you, as an opponent may be trying to creep up on you unawares.
As player movement produces very quiet sounds, it's also important to be careful when approaching big trees and rocks. An enemy player may be waiting for you to come by, so always try to avoid falling into ambushes by moving accordingly.
As a general rule, always use the more zoomed-out camera option, as it will give you much better visibility.
Quick and Steady
As already mentioned, players produce little to no sound when moving in the Make It Count mode, so this can be used to your advantage. In this mode, staying still is incredibly dangerous, as you never know if another player is targeting you, so move as much as possible while staying in the crouching position. Never stand up, unless you are trying to run away from another player, as crouching makes you less visible and doesn't slow you down at all.
Always staying on the move is actually required in the Make It Count mode, not only to be harder to locate, but also to avoid getting penalized by the anti-camping system, which will make you visible on other players' maps if you stay still for too long.
Master Your Weapons
Depending on the map you are playing in, you will be given either the bow and arrows or throwing knives. Needless to say, things are much more complicated with the knives.
The throwing knives are among the hardest weapons to master in Red Dead Redemption 2 and Red Dead Online. They are extremely effective at mid and short range, as they can kill an opponent with a single headshot, but they are hard to use when engaged in active combat, due to the throwing arc. For this reason, don't waste your time if the enemy is running horizontally, as you will likely miss and get heavily damaged in the process.
The bow and arrows are more accurate than throwing knives and they can be used when engaged in combat. For the best possible shot, you need to draw the string back completely, as this increases both range and power.
One very useful maneuver that not too many players know about is the ability to dive while aiming any weapon, including the ones available in the Make It Count mode. This maneuver is performed by pressing the Square or the X button. Thanks to the dive, it's possible to quickly get behind cover, which extremely important in this mode.
The dive maneuver can also be used in a very clever way against opponents who are trying to fight you directly, as you can take a more reactive approach to the fight. Wait for them to shoot at you, then dodge and retaliate. Doing this requires some practice, so try doing this while in Free Roam mode to get a better hang of it.
