Start with one fighter and one decision at a time.
You command a Gunfighter avatar. Choose an action, let the engine resolve the exchange, then read the result and decide what to do next. You don’t need to master every skill before your first duel.
QuickDuel is our simplest beginner version, not the full game. You face our most basic AI opponent with no special gear or weather effects. No account is required, and there is no turn timer.
A desktop browser is recommended for learning. The game is in beta; mobile play has basic support and a different interface from the one shown in the video.
How a round works
- Choose an available action for your fighter and submit it.
- Wait for the exchange to resolve. The action buttons briefly gray out while the engine processes the round, usually for one to three seconds.
- Read the result and choose again. When the buttons become available, the previous round’s results are displayed and the duel has advanced to the next round.
In QuickDuel, you can take your time deciding. Watch how your choices change your fighter’s position and how your opponent responds.
Watch the beginner tutorial
The video demonstrates the most basic game: actions, counters, and the flow of a duel. You can watch first or use the written basics below as a reference while you learn.
The shorter version lets you skip through and read at your own pace. If the embedded player is unavailable, use the YouTube link.
No account is required. If Crustus beats you, try again—getting to know how he fights is part of learning.
The basics: what you’re trying to do
Reduce the opposing Gunfighter’s Resolve to zero before yours runs out. Your decisions revolve around three stats:
- Resolve
- Keeps your fighter in the duel. The first fighter to run out loses.
- Energy
- Keeps actions available. Preserve enough for drawing, shooting, and movement; running low can force you to spend rounds resting.
- Accuracy
- Reflects your fighter’s steadiness and base chance to hit when you shoot. Actions taken by either fighter can change the actual chance. In the full game, gear and premium bullets can modify it, too.
Duels have two phases: Pre-draw and Post-draw.
Pre-draw: build your position and disrupt theirs.
Before drawing, work on raising your fighter’s Accuracy while keeping enough Energy for what comes next. Your opponent is preparing, too, so consider both the benefit of your action and what it might counter.
- Focus — for example, Staredown
- Builds your Accuracy and Energy a little. Successive Focus actions give increasing Accuracy benefits when they aren’t negated.
- Motion — for example, Gesture
- Builds Accuracy more strongly, but costs Energy. A Motion action negates the opponent’s Focus action, wasting that turn.
- Voice — for example, Taunt
- Builds Energy more strongly and negates the opponent’s Motion action.
Think your opponent will Focus? A Motion action can interrupt that preparation, but it also spends Energy. Need Energy yourself? A Voice action builds it and can counter an opponent’s Motion. That’s the kind of choice you’re learning to make.
Why your draw mark matters
Drawing your weapon sets your fighter’s draw mark. Firing or being hit can knock Accuracy down; rebuilding it is faster while your current Accuracy is below that mark.
When you judge your fighter’s Accuracy high enough, choose to draw—with an eye on the Energy you’ll need afterward.
Post-draw: turn preparation into a win.
This phase begins when one or both fighters have drawn. Your actions include Aim, Recover, Shoot, Reload, Evade, Rest, and Stand. Choose according to your fighter’s condition and what you think the opponent will do next.
Keep watching your Energy and Accuracy as you work to knock the other fighter’s Resolve to zero. A duel is a sequence of decisions, not a test of how quickly you can click.
For your first attempt, concentrate on seeing what changes after each exchange. Afterward, pick one thing to try differently: conserving more Energy, interrupting a Focus action, or changing when you draw.
Beyond QuickDuel: build your stable.
QuickDuel teaches the basic exchanges. The full game adds developing your Gunfighters over time, matching equipment to their skills, and learning to handle opponents with different tactics.
Begin with the basic skills, then start gaining advanced skills at level 10, with nine proficiency paths to explore. Some advanced branches let your fighter draw and shoot in one action—a quickdraw.
Clothing, accessories, and different revolvers offer benefits you can combine to suit a fighter’s skills and tactics. Some pistols are legendary; others may better complement your chosen path. Experiment with different builds across your stable rather than trying to learn everything in the beginner duel.
Choose PvE to play against the computer or PvP to challenge another player. Learning an opponent’s habits and anticipating their choices are part of the appeal—especially when you’re dueling a friend.
Questions, a build to discuss, or feedback on your first duel? Join the conversation on Discord (opens a new tab).