How to Complete Horsing Around Mode in Dead Rails Guide

Trying to survive without your train completely changes how Dead Rails feels. Horsing Around mode strips away your usual safety net and forces you to rely on movement, smart decisions, and patience. Instead of riding across the desert, you’ll be traveling on foot as a horse, aiming to reach the 80 km mark while staying alive. It might sound simple at first, but this mode can easily go wrong if you take unnecessary risks. With the right approach, though, you can finish it consistently and unlock the Horse Class without too much trouble.

Understanding Horsing Around Mode

The main twist in this mode is that you cannot use any class at all. Everyone starts equally, and your goal is clear: reach 80 km without a train. That means no base upgrades, no welding mechanics, and no shortcuts. It’s just you, your movement, and whatever resources you can gather along the way. Because of that, efficiency matters more than anything else.

Early Game Strategy: What to Buy First

Once you start, sell your gold immediately and head to the shop. You don’t need to overprepare here since you won’t be managing a train. Focus on getting:

• Navy Revolver
• Ammo (at least two packs)

This setup is enough to deal with early threats without slowing you down. Avoid buying unnecessary gear early on, since mobility is more important than stacking items.

Movement Tips: The Fastest Way to Travel

Most of your time will be spent moving toward the 80 km goal, so how you handle stamina makes a big difference. Instead of holding sprint nonstop, use this method:

• Sprint until your stamina runs out
• Stop and let it fully recharge
• Sprint again

This is much faster than constantly tapping sprint whenever it becomes available. You can also outrun most enemies, including werewolves, so don’t feel forced to fight everything you see.

Looting: What’s Worth It and What to Skip

Looting can help, but it can also waste time or get you killed if you’re not careful.

Focus on:

• Sheriff buildings for weapons
• Doctor buildings for healing items
• Easy-to-access houses with low risk

Avoid:

• Towns with dangerous enemies like dynamite zombies
• Risky fights that don’t guarantee useful rewards

If you find weapons like a Springfield, you can sell them for extra cash, though sometimes loot can bug out or be hard to retrieve.

Best Ways to Farm Money

You don’t need a lot of money, but having some helps with survival. The safest methods include:

• Selling werewolves and vampires at night
• Farming outlaws from a safe distance using your revolver
• Mining ores (skip coal, it’s not useful here)

Camping near safe zones with working turrets is a reliable way to farm enemies without taking much damage.

Should You Use a Horse or Unicorn?

You might come across horses during your run, but they’re not always worth the trouble. In many cases, sticking to your own movement is safer and more consistent. The only exception is the unicorn:

• Much faster than normal movement
• Can significantly reduce travel time

However, it’s rare and sometimes unreliable, so don’t depend on finding one.

Late Game: Reaching the End Safely

As you approach the 80 km mark, things can still go wrong if you rush. Outlaws near the end can easily overwhelm you if you’re not prepared. Here’s the safer approach:

• Clear all outlaws first before advancing
• Loot nearby buildings for bonds and supplies
• Activate the objective (crank)
• Find a safe spot and wait

Avoid rushing straight into the end zone, especially if turrets or enemies are still active.

Final Tips to Complete the Mode

Finishing Horsing Around mode is mostly about patience. The biggest mistake players make is taking unnecessary risks or wasting time on things that don’t help them progress. Keep these in mind:

• Focus on movement over combat
• Only fight when it’s safe or necessary
• Manage stamina properly
• Use safe zones to your advantage
• Don’t rush the final area

Horsing Around mode offers a different kind of challenge in Dead Rails. Without a train to rely on, every decision matters more, and even small mistakes can cost you the run. It may take some time to get used to the slower pace, but once you understand the flow, it becomes much easier to handle. Stick to a safe and steady approach, and you’ll eventually reach the 80 km mark and unlock the Horse Class without too much frustration.