[Top 10] RDO Best Ability Cards Every Player Should Have (2024)

Don’t know which ability card to use? Here we are to get you going.

Ability cards are often overlooked by the outlaws in the Wild West. This is a real bummer because these cards can often define your character in Red Dead Online. You can even make card combos that suit your playstyle and boost your strength.

Many of them have some drawbacks to balance them out a bit. However, each has its own perks. Some only work on horseback, some are for dual-wielding, and some just make you a beast in the Wild West.

#10 Horseman

You deal a little more damage while on horseback. This one is for the horse-lover loners. I, personally, love to ride and shoot like a madman. If you’re like me, you’ll love to have this card with you. You can add other mount-focused cards to get a better experience.

Why it’s great:

#9 Sharpshooter

This one’s for the experienced snipers in the game. While using a scope, you deal more damage and take less damage while this card is active. So, even at mid-range, you can avoid extensive damage.

Why it’s great:

The game appreciates your shooting abilities a little.
More damage dealt.
Less damage endured.

#8 Strange Medicine

You regain a little health whenever you inflict damage. Your health will otherwise regenerate at half the normal rate. NPCs often come at you like a swarm of insects. This card will help you regain health when taking damage is unavoidable.

Why it’s great:

You regain a little health each time you’re shot.
You will last longer.
Pair it with other regenerating cards to become a survivalist.

#7 Live for the Fight

Dead Eye normally refills by getting kills and taking tonics or certain foods. With this card, You regenerate your Dead Eye slowly over time. This is very useful if you use Dead Eye a lot. You can pair it with The Unblinking Eye card to make the best use of your dead eye. The regeneration of your dead eye can really help you in PvP.

Why it’s great:

#6 Gunslinger’s Choice

Gunslinger’s Choice offsets the only disadvantage dual-wielding has: poor accuracy. It increases both your accuracy and damage when dual wielding, so it is absolutely essential for players who like to run and gun. Now, instead of missing all your shots if an enemy is more than a few feet away, you’ll be able to blast them with pinpoint accuracy and extreme damage.

Why it’s great:

Makes your dual-wielding experience better.
Makes it easier, too.
You’re more accurate than normal when dual-wielding.

#5 Iron Lung

Your Stamina regenerates faster, and you take less damage depending on your current Stamina level. This card makes sure that you don’t tire out in a fight. Your stamina regeneration will help you run more, and more sprinting means you are less likely to be shot.

Why it’s great:

More stamina means you can run better and farther than your opposition.
More chances to evade a shot.
You can switch positions faster.

#4 Never Without One

Never Without One is basically a second chance at life. If you’re wearing a hat and you get shot in the head, the hat will sponge the damage for you, saving your life and falling off in the process.

The downside to this ability is that you’ll also take more damage when not wearing a hat, but that’s better than being dead. So, just make sure you’re always looking sharp and you should be able to benefit from this greatly. For other pro tips, check out this list.

Why it’s great:

You won’t die if you’re shot in the head.
It makes you look good if you’re into it.

#3 Winning Streak

Each consecutive shot on the same target does a little more damage. This card is really useful for top-notch gunslingers. If you are a fast shooter, this card will boost your PvP abilities even further. It is the opposite of Fool Me Once. This is great if you’re dual-wielding or using a repeater, anything with a high rate of fire. This will help you immensely when you’re in a face-to-face gunfight.

Why it’s great:

You can take down enemies faster.
Great for close and mid-range combat.
You can turn your guns into fierce beasts.

#2 Paint it Black

While Dead Eye is active you can paint targets onto enemies. Fire your weapon to shoot all marked targets. Each shot drains Dead Eye. Paint it Black has a very bad reputation in PvP settings. It’s considered a crutch for those that can’t aim and is a solution for aim-challenged players. However, because it reduces the bloom of weapons, this is a very good option in general.

This is an absolutely essential ability as it pretty much guarantees a hit. The only thing that will stop your heat-seeking bullets is if the enemy manages to dive behind some cover before you can get your shot off.

Why it’s great:

You can basically one-shot people with zero aiming skills :3
If you pair it with Live for the Fight you’re basically an NPC with absolutely accurate aim.
This is aimbot without cheating.

#1 Slippery Bastard

While Dead Eye is active enemy players cannot lock onto you, and you cannot lock onto them. Other enemies are less accurate when shooting at you. The rate at which your Dead Eye drains is dramatically increased. This makes you harder to hit. Use it when moving from cover to cover or to close the distance between yourself and a target. Throwing weapons and arrows are not affected by the accuracy reduction.

Why it’s great:

The name says it, you’ll become a slippery bastard!
Great if you’re a good shooter.
Combining it with Live for the Fight or Unblinking Eye or both will even out the effect on your Dead Eye and make you a worthy opponent.
You’ll be harder to defeat.

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