Red Dead Redemption 2 Controls

The biggest challenge when starting Red Dead Redemption 2 is navigating the controls layout. The game takes it to another level with different controls for different views in first-person, third-person or both. Here is our guide on all Red Dead Redemption 2 controls.

Red Dead Redemption 2 Controls

Below, you’ll find a full list of Red Dead Redemption 2 controls and button mapping on Xbox One and PS4. It’s important to note that the control scheme will change in certain contexts, like when riding or interacting with your horse. We’ve listed the horse controls as separate lists for those looking for horse-specific button commands, as these can be a bit unintuitive at first. 

Red Dead Redemption 2 Horse Controls on Xbox One

• Left Analog Stick – Steer
• A – Tap to change speed; hold to match speed to companion; double tap to move up in formation
• X – Tap to jump (while riding); jump onto vehicle (while matched to vehicle speed); command horse to stay (while locked onto horse from distance); pat horse (while locked on and near horse)
• Right Analog Stick – Look/Aim
• LS – Calm horse
• X – Tap to jump, climb, or vault over obstacles; hold to pick up items or search objects; while hunting, hold to get the attention of animals
• Y – Tap to mount/dismount; while stationary, hold to hitch horse; while on foot, tap to command to follow or lead horse
• B – Kick a target to either side; stop leading horse
• LB – Hold to view weapons stored on mount
• RB – Tap to slow down; double tap to move down formation
• LT – Hold to lock on to nearby targets
• RT – Tap to draw weapon, fire weapon, or cock weapon between shots (when applicable)
• D-Pad Right – Hold to check horse cargo; feed horse (while locked onto horse)
• D-Pad Left – Brush horse (while locked onto horse)
• D-Pad Left + LT – Toggle shoulder view (while aiming)
• D-Pad Up – Whistle/Call Horse; remove saddle (while locked onto horse); raise your gun to the sky to fire a warning shot (while aiming)

Horse Controls on PS4

• Left Analog Stick – Steer
• X – Tap to change speed; hold to match speed to companion; double tap to move up in formation
• L3 – Calm horse
• Square – Tap to jump, climb, or vault over obstacles; hold to pick up or search objects; while hunting, hold to draw animal attention
• Triangle – Tap to mount/dismount; while stationary, hold to hitch horse; while on foot, tap to command to follow or lead horse
• Circle – Kick a target to either side; stop leading horse
• L1 – Hold to view weapons stored on mount
• L2 – Hold to lock on to nearby targets
• R1 – Tap to slow down; double tap to move down formation
• R2 – Tap to draw weapon, fire weapon, or cock weapon between shots when applicable
• D-Pad Right – Hold to check horse cargo; feed horse (while locked onto horse)
• D-Pad Left – Brush horse (while locked onto horse)
• D-Pad Left + L2 – Toggle shoulder view (while aiming)
• D-Pad Up – Whistle/Call horse; remove saddle (while locked onto horse); raise your gun to the sky to fire a warning shot (while aiming)

Red Dead Redemption 2 Controls on Xbox One

Here is the complete list of Red Dead Redemption 2 controls on Xbox One:

• View – Press to toggle camera view; press and hold to trigger cinematic view
• Select – Display pause menu; hold to open the map
• Left Analog Stick – Move
• Left Analog Stick (in cover) – Peek
• Left analog + A – Hold to run, tap to sprint
• Left analog + X – Jump/Vault/Climb
• Right Analog Stick – Look/Aim
• LS – Crouch
• RS (Weapon Wheel) – Maintain weapon; hold to look behind
• LS + RS – Eagle Eye
• X – Tap to jump, climb, or vault over obstacles; hold to pick up items or search objects; while hunting, hold to get the attention of animals
• X (while aiming) – Tap to dive; tap to block melee attacks
• X (in cover) – Move to next cover spot (with Left Analog Stick)
• Y – Interact with environment, loot bodies, skin animals; hold to rest; (in melee combat) grapple opponent
• B – Reload weapon/melee combat
• LB – Tap to draw/holster weapon; hold to display wheel menu, tap to pick up weapons or objects, or select weapon with Right analog stick and release to equip weapon
• RB – Take/exit cover; hold to study animal or tap to show/hide animal information
• LT – Hold to aim equipped weapon; hold to lock on to nearby characters or animals
• LT (hold) + RT – Aim and shoot
• LT (hold) + RS – Activate Dead Eye while aiming
• LT (hold) + X – Combat dive
• RT – Tap to draw weapon, fire weapon, or cock weapon between shots (if applicable); rapid tap to shoot from the hip
• D-Pad Right – Hold to open satchel or horse cargo
• D-Pad Left – Tap to display log; hold to check journal
• D-Pad Left + LT – Toggle shoulder view (while aiming)
• D-Pad Up – Whistle/Call Horse
• D-Pad Up (while aiming) – Raise your gun to the sky to fire a warning shot
• D-Pad Down – Tap to view current objective (while on mission), expand radar, display honor rating and environmental information; in camp, tap to show status of camp supplies and savings; hold to change radar type

Red Dead Redemption 2 Controls on PS4

Here is the complete list of Red Dead Redemption 2 controls on PS4:

• Left Analog Stick – Move
• Left Analog Stick (in cover) – Peek
• Left Analog + X – Hold to run, tap to sprint
• Right Analog Stick – Look/Aim
• L3 – Crouch
• R3 (Weapon Wheel) – Maintain weapon; hold to look behind
• L3 + R3 – Eagle Eye
• Square – Tap to jump, climb, or vault over obstacles; hold to pick up or search objects; while hunting, hold to draw animal attention
• Square (while aiming) – Tap to dive; tap to block melee attacks
• Square (in cover) – Move to next cover spot (with Left Analog Stick)
• Triangle – Interact with environment, loot bodies, skin animals; hold to rest; (in melee combat) grapple opponent
• Circle – Reload weapon/melee combat
• L1 – Tap to draw/holster weapon; hold to display wheel menu, tap to pick up weapons or objects, or select weapon with Right Analog Stick and release to equip weapon
• R1 – Take/exit cover; hold to study an animal or tap to show/hide animal information

• L2 – Hold to aim equipped weapon; hold to lock on to nearby characters or animals
• L2 (Hold) + R2 – Aim and shoot
• L2 (Hold) + R3 – Activate Dead Eye while aiming
• L2 (Hold) + Square – Combat dive
• R2 – Tap to draw weapon, fire weapon, or cock weapon between shots (if applicable); rapid tap to shoot from the hip
• D-Pad Right – Hold to open satchel or horse cargo
• D-Pad Left – Tap to display log; hold to check journal
• D-Pad Left + L2 – Toggle shoulder view (while aiming)
• D-Pad Up – Whistle/Call Horse
• D-Pad Up (while aiming) – Raise your gun to the sky to fire a warning shot 
• D-Pad Down – Tap to view current objective (while on mission), expand radar, display honor rating and environmental information; in camp, tap to show status of camp supplies and savings; hold to change radar type
• Trackpad – Press to toggle camera view; press and hold to trigger cinematic view
• Options – Display pause menu; hold to open the map

Control Tips for Red Dead Redemption 2

Control Tips for Xbox One

• Hold B (while running): Holding B while running will allow you to tackle them
• D-Pad Left – Tap to display log; hold to check journal
• D-Pad Left + L2 – Toggle shoulder view (while aiming)

Control Tips for PS4

• Trackpad – Press to toggle camera view; press and hold to trigger cinematic view
• Square (while aiming) – Tap to dive; tap to block melee attacks
• Square (in cover) – Move to next cover spot (with Left Analog Stick)

Red Dead Redemption 2 Controls, Summarized

1. Camera Controls:
   • Use Touchpad/Xbox One View button to change your camera.
   • Tap to cycle through third-person distances and first-person mode.
   • Hold for cinematic mode.
2. Weapon Management: L1/LB Button
   • L1/LB handles weapons.
   • Tap to draw or holster your recent weapon.
   • Hold to access the weapon wheel.
   • Pick up discarded weapons by pressing the button while standing over them.
3. Focus and Interaction: L2/LT Button
   • L2/LT focuses.
   • Left trigger aims if you have a gun out.
   • Holstered gun lets you focus on a person or animal.
4. Cover and Targeting: R1/RB Button
   • R1/RB generally finds cover.
   • During Dead Eye, R1/RB tags a target.
   • In Eagle Eye, R1/RB highlights a trail.
5. Shooting Mechanics: R2/RT Buttons
   • R2/RT shoots.
   • Tap to draw when holstered, hold to shoot from the hip.
   • When aiming, right trigger fires or cocks the gun.
6. D-pad Functions: D-pad
   • D-pad up attracts attention (whistle for your horse).
   • D-pad left accesses log or journal; while aiming, switches shoulders.
   • D-pad down provides HUD information or aims through a scope when using a scoped weapon.
7. X/A Button Actions: X/A Button
   • Makes Arthur and his horse move faster.
   • Skips cutscenes.
8. Contextual Buttons:
   • Circle/B punches, square/X blocks, triangle/Y grapples during fistfights.
   • Square/X makes you jump or pick up items; triangle/Y loots corpses, skins animals, or interacts with horses/vehicles.
   • Circle/B reloads your gun, or hogties someone if you have them lassoed.
9. Horse Riding Controls:
   • Similar to being on foot with additional controls:
     • Square/X and circle/B control horseback melee blocking and attacking.

Commit these Red Dead Redemption 2 controls to memory, and you should have little trouble getting used to the control layout on both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Remember, the controls will change slightly when riding or interacting with your horse or during combat, so be mindful of these changes when trying to get acclimated with the controls in Red Dead Redemption 2. For more tips, such as how to fast travel, visit our Red Dead Redemption 2 Guide.

This article includes affiliate links, which may provide small compensation to Prima Games.

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