Does Killing Guards in Dishonored Affect the Ending?
As the player of Dishonored, you may find yourself pondering the implications of killing guards on your quest for revenge. Are those guards mere obstacles in your path, or are their deaths significant enough to sway the outcome of your adventure? In this article, we’ll delve into the intricacies of Chaos theory in Dishonored, exploring how killing guards, weepers, rats, and other NPC characters can influence the ending of the game.
Does Killing Guards Count Toward Chaos?
Killing guards, as well as weepers and other creatures, can contribute to the game’s Chaos meter. The more guards you kill, the higher your Chaos score will climb. Conversely, the fewer guards you eliminate, the lower your Chaos score will be.
- Alerts:) If you alert any guards or weepers to your presence without eliminating them, it’s still counted as a "kill" towards your Chaos meter.
- Exception:) The exception is if you silence guards without killing them or, if they die through accidents or environmental hazards (such as traps or toxic fumes). In such cases, it won’t raise your Chaos score.
- Rat Tactic: Be wary of summoning rats yourself, as this is NOT counted towards your Chaos meter. Let those rats run wild in areas without triggering them will yield better results..
What’s the Point of Killing Guards Anyway?
Why bother with eliminating guards at all, when they’re just clogs in the system of getting from point A to point B? Well, it’s crucial to **remember that guards aren’t just passive obstacles to skip over. Here’s what killing guards or skipping them can do:
- Tactical Opportunities:) Killing a few guards can free you from having to silence an entire room, thus minimizing alertness and enabling safer exploration.
- Silence and Deception: By carefully positioning and using your Corrupted Walls or DarkVision techniques, you can turn enemy aggression to your favor or set up ambushes from unsuspecting guards.
The Impact on Story-Related Deaths: How Much Does it Affect the Ending?
According to various sources (check the quotes below for additional insight), killing exceeds 20% of the characters within a mission can potentially yield a darker, Cynical Outsider shrine reaction. Story-related deaths might also influence your final ending. Note the bolded text indicating direct quotes:
- "Exceeds 20% of the characters, a good chunk of civilians that died due to me , Chaos level can raise and so can Cynical the Shrine reaction. Now I see why" (- GameFAQs Answer by VintageIsTheNewOld)
- "Yes, story-related deaths…the ending." (- Dishonored FAQ – Steam Community)
This leaves room for interpretation about what "exceeds" exactly means, keeping in mind that context is crucial. It appears less than 20% of guards shouldn’t drastically alter your experience.
Conclusion and Future of Chaos Theory Analysis in Dishonored: Where Next?
Your ability to manipulate the game’s universe with Chaos should now encourage more strategic, cunning gameplay. Think tactically about your goals: when to kill guards (if at all) and when to adopt a stealthier, corpse-free approach to balance your score. Additionally, remember the importance of the Outsider’s influence upon the world and characters; how much do they genuinely care about the deaths surrounding you?
As further content emerges and more answers about Chaos Theory are fleshed out, we ****, too, will examine related aspects of Dishonored.