Instead of trying to oppress opponent with your offensive pressure, it's better to keep the block button pressed to block the opponent's attacks. Hand-to-hand combat in Red Dead Redemption 2 and Red Dead Online is better approached in a reactive, rather than pro-active way: if you just mash the punch button, you will have a hard time winning without getting damaged heavily. If the NPCs rises up to your challenge, you will see both the AI controlled character and Arthur get in a guard stance. To begin fistfighting any NPCs, you just need to get close to them and press the punch button without any weapon equipped. On PC, the controls are LMB/H for Punching, RMB for Aiming, F for Grappling, and Space for Blocking.

Of all the possible actions, however, two of them are the ones used the most to win: punch and block. During fist fights, you can punch, which is done with the B button on Xbox One and the Circle button on PlayStation 4, block, which is done with the X button on Xbox One and the Square button on PlayStation 4, grapple, which is done with the Y button on Xbox One and the Triangle button on PlayStation 4 and break free, which is done by tapping the B button on Xbox One and the Circle button on PlayStation 4. Now that your hands are free, it's time to check out the controls. Doing so is very easy, just access the Weapon Wheel and highlight the hand symbol on the right. Before being able to engage any NPC in both story mode and online, you must unequip any weapon you have on hand.

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