Dishonored 2 is a first-person stealth action RPG where you play as Empress Emily Kaldwin or Royal Protector Corvo Attano. You’ll navigate intricate levels across the Empire of the Isles, using a combination of supernatural powers, gadgets, and combat skills to achieve your objectives. Whether you choose to be a ghost, a phantom killer, or a force of destruction, your choices directly impact the world and its inhabitants, leading to different outcomes and multiple endings.
This guide is your comprehensive companion to mastering the art of assassination and exploration. We'll walk you through every mission, detailing the locations of all collectibles like Bone Charms, Blueprints, and Runes. You'll find strategies for both high and low chaos playthroughs, tips for unlocking specific achievements and trophies, and guidance on finding Sokolov Paintings and Souvenirs to ensure you don't miss a single secret on your journey to reclaim the throne.
Part 1
Embark on your Dishonored 2 journey with Part 1 of our guide. Learn the essential controls and basics to navigate Dunwall and begin your quest.
Alright, let's get you started with Dishonored 2! This first part is all about getting your bearings. Think of it as your crash course in how to move, fight (or not fight!), and generally survive the initial moments in this wild world. We'll cover the absolute essentials so you can jump right into the action without feeling completely lost.
Controls Overview:
First things first, you need to know how to actually play the game. The default control scheme (Preset A) is laid out below. Don't worry if it feels like a lot at first; you'll get the hang of it quickly. You can always tweak these in the options menu if something doesn't feel right for you.
| BUTTON | FUNCTION |
| D-Pad | Quick-select weapons/powers/items |
| Options | Toggle main menu |
| Share | Toggle share/broadcast menu |
| PS Button | Toggle PS4 main menu |
| Touchpad | Toggle mission/powers/bonecharms/lore/travel log menus |
| Circle | Toggle normal and crouch (stealth) mode |
| Square | 'Use' button (or hold to sheathe weapons) |
| Triangle | (Hold) Lean out from cover |
| X-Button | Jump button |
| L1 Button | (Hold) Toggle quick-access wheel |
| L2 Button | Use power or fire weapon in left hand |
| L3 Button | (Hold) sprint |
| R1 Button | Block/Choke button |
| R2 Button | Swing melee weapon |
| R3 Button | Toggle spyglass (zoomed-in) mode for all characters |
| L. Analog | Controls Emily/Corvo's movement |
| R. Analog | Controls camera POV |
Basic Combat & Stealth:
When things get heated, you've got a couple of options. For direct combat, you'll be using R2 to swing your sword and R1 to parry incoming attacks. A well-timed parry can stagger an enemy, opening them up for a lethal takedown – these often have cool, unique animations, especially for major targets.
If you prefer to stay hidden, remember that Circle is your best friend for crouching and moving stealthily. Sometimes, the best way to deal with a situation isn't to fight head-on, but to use the environment or your powers to your advantage.
Getting Started:
This initial section of the guide, often referred to as 'Part 1' or 'A Long Day in Dunwall' in the full walkthrough, is where you'll learn the ropes. Pay close attention to the controls and the basic mechanics. Mastering these early on will make the rest of your adventure through Dunwall and beyond much smoother. Don't rush through this part; take a moment to experiment with the controls and get a feel for the movement and combat systems.
Part 2
Learn essential combat and stealth techniques in Dishonored 2, including lethal and non-lethal takedowns, and discover tips for New Game Plus and game updates.
Lethal Actions:
- Stealth Kill: Approach an unaware enemy from behind and press R2 to slit their throat.
- Drop Assassination: While above a target, press R2 mid-descent to silently pin them to the ground. This instantly kills most enemies, except Clockwork Soldiers unless their head armor is removed.
- Sliding Kill: Sprint towards an enemy and initiate a slide, then press R2 near them. This cuts their throat from the front if aware, or performs a unique animation on unaware targets.
A high killcount increases chaos and leaves corpses. The 'Shadow Kill' ability turns bodies to ash, eliminating the need to hide them.
Nonlethal Actions:
- Sleeper Hold: Approach an unaware target from behind and press R1 to choke them unconscious. This takes time and leaves you vulnerable. Interrupting a choke alerts the enemy. Can be initiated with a punch.
- Airborne Takedown: While falling above a target, press R1 to perform a silent, non-lethal slam. Works on human and hound-sized targets, but not Clockwork Soldiers.
- Sliding Takedown: Sprint towards a human and slide, pressing R1 near them to knock them unconscious. Does not work on large targets like Clockwork Soldiers or hounds.
- Stun Mines: These devices attach to surfaces and incapacitate the first target that enters their proximity. Upgrades allow them to have multiple charges and chain to nearby targets. They cannot instantly incapacitate Clockwork Soldiers by default.
Story Overview:
Reprise your role as a supernatural assassin in Dishonored 2. An otherworldly usurper has seized Empress Emily Kaldwin's throne, leaving the fate of the Isles in chaos. Play as Emily or Corvo Attano, and travel to Karnaca to restore Emily to power. Armed with new abilities, gadgets, and weapons, track down your enemies and take back what's yours.
New Game Plus (NGP):
This mode allows players to replay the game with cleared save file progress. Items that transfer include learned bonecharm abilities, invested runes, and recovered blueprints. Coins, raw whalebone, unspent runes, and bonecharms do not transfer.
- Preparation: Sacrifice all available bonecharms to learn their skills and gain extra whalebone. Invest all free runes into abilities, as unspent runes do not carry over. Use the Bonecharm Crafting tree to manufacture runes if possible.
- Blueprints: Finish the final mission with as many blueprints as possible. In NGP, duplicate blueprints found earn 200 coins.
- Rune Surplus: The NGP rune surplus begins in the second mission. Blueprints must be reinstalled at a black market.
- Ensure all available patches are installed. Updates add NGP mode, a Stats option to the menu, and fix bugs, some of which are critical for trophy hunters.
- Dishonored 2 has no respec system for supernatural powers. Invest runes wisely based on your playstyle. For example, players avoiding kills won't need offensive abilities. Save, test powers, and reload if unsatisfied.
- Enemy AI is more perceptive than in the first Dishonored, making them more likely to spot players at street level.
Part 3
Follow our Dishonored 2 Part 3 walkthrough for 'A Long Day in Dunwall' to navigate Dunwall Tower, collect loot, and learn essential stealth and combat tips.
- 1A Long Day in Dunwall
- Players choose between Empress Emily or Corvo, with no mid-campaign switching. Each has unique skills.
- 2Dishonored 2 is a sequel; playing the first game is recommended. A tutorial is available for acclimation.
- 3Achievements exist for no alerts, no kills, no powers, etc. Ensure game patches are updated for the 'Stats' option, which tracks progress mid-mission.
- 4Completionists should maintain a separate save at the start of each mission to reload if needed.
- 5This walkthrough assumes normal difficulty, stealth, and low chaos. High chaos or no-powers runs may affect loot availability.
- 6Dunwall Tower
- This is largely a tutorial level with limited accessible areas. Both characters start without powers.
- 7Begin in an upper-floor study; the library door is locked. Find documents near the desk.
- 8Crack a window to reach the adjacent bedchamber. Speak with Alexi Mayhew to get the retractable sword and learn about a ship captain at the lower docks.
- 9Explore the upper floor: the bedroom hallway leads to a storage closet, bathroom, and balcony library (guarded by one enemy with the Royal Quarters Key).
- 10Another enemy is on the floor below, potentially available for a drop-assassination.
- 11Before entering the lower throne room, check for loot. Containers do not glow, so manually scan objects.
- 12Loot in Dunwall Tower:
- 10 coins in the bedchamber (pouch in cabinet).
- 1310 coins in the bedchamber (pouch in other cabinet).
- 1415 bath salts in the closet by the bathroom (on shelf).
- 153 coins in the bathroom (in cabinet).
- 1615 bath salts in the bathroom (in cabinet).
- 1715 bath salts in the bathroom (cabinet).
- Stay out of sight, utilize high ground, and lean out from cover.
- Use Dark Vision's x-ray function to see through walls.
- The game has no difficulty-related trophies, so Easy mode is an option if struggling.
- For no-kills runs, animals (rats, fish, hounds, gravehounds) and clockwork soldiers do not count towards your kill total.
- Check the Stats menu frequently to monitor kill counts and other objectives.
- Black markets offer ammo, health/mana potions, mission-specific items (runes, safe combinations), and gear upgrades. They do not reopen once closed for a mission.
- Chaos level (amount of death) affects the game world and endings; high chaos can lead to more bloodflies. Trophies are available for both low and high chaos playthroughs.
- Containers for items do not glow; manually scan all objects to find loot.
- Retractable sword
- Information about a ship captain at the lower docks.
- Access to the lower throne room and further exploration of Dunwall Tower.
Part 4
Follow this guide for Dishonored 2 Part 4 to navigate the Tower, defeat Mortimer Ramsey, and find the hidden safe room. Includes walkthrough, tips, and collectible locations.
- 1Enter the throne room and confront Mortimer Ramsey and his guards. Ramsey will eventually move upstairs, allowing players to deal with him. His guards and corpses can be ignored.
- 2Defeating Ramsey yields his signet ring, which is key to accessing the safe room hidden behind the upstairs bedroom's bookshelf.
- 3Nonlethal Route: Deposit an unconscious Ramsey in the safe room. He will unlock it himself if left alone. Lock the room after entering to complete the imprisonment.
- 4Inside the safe room, find a health elixir and pistol bullets. Corvo's old gun and mask are in a case on the desk.
- 5Press R3 to toggle the eye's telescopic zoom.
- 6Optional: Listen to Jessamine's audiograph (from Dishonored 1) located atop an alcove bookcase.
- 7Exit the safe room using the door next to the gun case to begin the next phase of the escape.
- 8As Emily/Corvo, you begin in the tower's storage balcony, which contains various items.
- 9Look for a portrait of the Pendletons, a callback to Dishonored 1, and some coins on a table near the balcony door.
- 10Descend from the balcony and look for a patrolman above street level who carries a light pouch. Collect all loot in this area as it's inaccessible later.
- 11Observe the castle's front entrance and guard patrols.
- Inspect the chamber's new statue for a minor remark.
- The safe room's position will be marked on your HUD.
- It's impossible to leave the safe room without Corvo's mask and gun.
- Other documents in the safe room are not pertinent to the main objectives.
- The boat on the safe room shelf is the first of ten special objects required for the 'Souvenirs' trophy. These items are not added to your inventory but are displayed in Corvo's quarters in later missions.
- The rooftops do not contain collectibles, but characters may comment on the whaling ship if spotted.
- There are four guards patrolling the area near the castle's front entrance, with an additional guard in the adjacent armory.
Collectibles:
- Coins: 69/1490 (Balcony library; on book stand by hallway entrance)
- Coins: 71/1490 (Balcony library; cabinet by stairwell)
- Coins: 81/1490 (Downstairs; light pouch in cabinet by stairwell)
- Coins: 84/1490 (Downstairs; coins on table near slain maid)
- Coins: 20 (Guard pouch carried by Ramsey)
- Coins: 4 (Safe room, cabinet just after entering from bedroom)
- Gold Ingot: 150 (Safe room, gold ingot in safe)
- Samuel Beechworth Carving (Souvenirs Trophy): 1 (Safe room shelf)
- Coins: 200 (Balcony area - Custis, Morgan and the Postulate Child)
- Coins: 4 (Balcony area; coins near balcony door)
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