How do I efficiently use tonics and provisions in combat?

Using tonics and provisions efficiently in combat is crucial for surviving tough battles in Red Dead Redemption 2. Tonics restore health, stamina, or Dead Eye, while provisions like cooked meat or canned food replenish your cores. To maximize their effectiveness, you need to understand the game mechanics and plan your usage strategically.\n\nFirst, always keep your satchel stocked with a variety of tonics and provisions. Health tonics like Potent Health Cure or Bitters are essential for restoring health during intense fights. Stamina tonics, such as Potent Bitters or Special Bitters, help you sprint or melee fight longer. Dead Eye tonics, like Snake Oil or Potent Snake Oil, are vital for slowing time and landing precise shots. Provisions, such as cooked big game meat or canned peaches, replenish your cores over time, ensuring sustained performance.\n\nDuring combat, prioritize using tonics when your health or Dead Eye is critically low. For example, if you''re in a gunfight and your health bar is flashing red, pause the game and use a Potent Health Cure to instantly restore a large portion of your health. Similarly, if you''re outnumbered and need to take down multiple enemies quickly, use a Dead Eye tonic to refill your Dead Eye meter and gain the upper hand.\n\nTo use tonics and provisions efficiently, assign them to your quick-select wheel. Open the weapon wheel, navigate to the Items tab, and assign your most-used tonics and provisions to the d-pad shortcuts. This allows you to access them instantly during combat without pausing the game. For example, assign Potent Health Cure to the up direction and Snake Oil to the right direction for quick access.\n\nAnother tip is to craft or purchase stronger tonics. Potent and Special tonics provide greater benefits than regular ones. You can craft these at campfires using herbs like Ginseng, Yarrow, or Sage, which are found throughout the world. For example, Ginseng is abundant near the Kamassa River in Lemoyne, while Yarrow grows in the Heartlands. Purchasing tonics from general stores or doctors is also an option if you have the funds.\n\nIn prolonged battles, such as gang hideouts or bounty missions, manage your resources carefully. Use provisions like cooked meat to gradually restore your cores between waves of enemies. For example, cooked big game meat seasoned with herbs like Oregano or Thyme provides significant core boosts. This ensures you don''t waste tonics on minor damage and saves them for critical moments.\n\nFinally, always be aware of your surroundings and use cover effectively. Taking less damage means you''ll need fewer tonics. For example, during a shootout in Valentine, use the buildings and wagons as cover to minimize enemy hits. This reduces the need for constant health restoration and allows you to focus on eliminating threats.\n\nIn summary, efficiently using tonics and provisions in combat requires preparation, quick access, and strategic usage. Stock your satchel, assign items to the quick-select wheel, and prioritize stronger tonics. Manage resources carefully in prolonged fights and use cover to minimize damage. By following these tips, you''ll dominate even the toughest battles in Red Dead Redemption 2.