How do I use tonics and provisions to survive tough fights?

Surviving tough fights in Red Dead Redemption 2 requires strategic use of tonics and provisions to maintain health, stamina, and Dead Eye. These items are essential for staying alive during intense combat scenarios, such as gang hideouts, bounty missions, or ambushes. Understanding how to effectively use them can make the difference between life and death.\n\nFirst, familiarize yourself with the types of tonics and provisions available. Tonics are divided into three categories: Health Tonics, Stamina Tonics, and Dead Eye Tonics. Health Tonics, like Potent Health Cure or Bitters, restore your health core and provide temporary health boosts. Stamina Tonics, such as Potent Snake Oil or Bitters, replenish your stamina core, allowing you to sprint, climb, or swim longer. Dead Eye Tonics, like Potent Miracle Tonic, refill your Dead Eye core, enabling you to slow down time and target enemies more precisely.\n\nProvisions, on the other hand, are food items like cooked meat, canned goods, or herbs. These restore your cores gradually and can be consumed during combat. For example, eating a piece of cooked Big Game Meat not only restores health but also provides a golden core, which boosts your health regeneration for a limited time. Always carry a mix of tonics and provisions to cover all your needs.\n\nTo use tonics and provisions effectively, assign them to your quick-select wheel. Open the weapon wheel, navigate to the Items tab, and assign your preferred 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 left D-pad and Potent Snake Oil to the right D-pad for quick access.\n\nDuring combat, monitor your cores closely. If your health core is low, consume a Health Tonic or cooked meat immediately. If you''re running out of stamina, use a Stamina Tonic to keep moving and dodging enemy fire. Dead Eye Tonics are particularly useful when facing multiple enemies or a tough boss. For instance, during the assault on Fort Mercer, using Dead Eye to target enemies quickly can save you from being overwhelmed.\n\nAnother key strategy is to craft or purchase stronger tonics. Potent and Special versions of tonics provide greater benefits and last longer. To craft these, gather herbs like Ginseng, Yarrow, or Sage from the wilderness. For example, Ginseng is commonly found near rivers and can be used to craft Potent Health Tonics. Visit a Fence to purchase recipe pamphlets for advanced tonics if you prefer not to gather materials.\n\nCommon gameplay challenges include running out of supplies mid-fight or forgetting to restock. To avoid this, always restock your inventory before missions. Visit general stores, doctors, or camp provisions to buy tonics and provisions. Additionally, loot enemies and search cabins for free supplies. For example, the cabin near Valentine often contains canned goods and tonics.\n\nFinally, practice using tonics and provisions in low-stakes situations to build muscle memory. Engage in random encounters or hunt animals to test your inventory management. This will prepare you for tougher fights where quick decisions are crucial.\n\nIn summary, mastering the use of tonics and provisions involves understanding their types, assigning them to quick-select slots, monitoring your cores, and restocking regularly. By following these steps, you''ll be well-equipped to survive even the most challenging battles in Red Dead Redemption 2.