Do You Need High Honor in RDR2? A Deep Dive into Red Dead Redemption 2’s Morality System
The simple answer to whether you need high honor in Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2) is: no, you don’t need it. RDR2 masterfully avoids forcing players into a specific moral alignment. However, the game’s honor system profoundly impacts your experience, shaping the narrative, gameplay, and even Arthur Morgan’s ultimate fate. The choice is yours: a compassionate gunslinger, a ruthless outlaw, or somewhere in between. Each path unlocks unique content, benefits, and consequences, making it a deeply personal and replayable experience. Choosing between High and Low Honor significantly impacts your journey through the Wild West.
The Allure of High Honor: A Path of Redemption
Benefits and Rewards
Opting for high honor in RDR2 offers a variety of tangible benefits. Firstly, you’ll find that looting becomes more rewarding. Expect to find higher-quality tonics and valuable items on fallen enemies and in discovered locations. This eases the financial burden of survival, allowing you to spend more time exploring the vast world and engaging in side activities.
Secondly, high honor unlocks access to exclusive outfits at general stores and tailors. These outfits, often more refined and dignified, reflect Arthur’s growing reputation as a respectable, albeit flawed, figure. Furthermore, you’ll receive discounts at stores, saving money on essential supplies and equipment.
Beyond the material rewards, playing with high honor also alters Arthur’s interactions with the world. NPCs will be more receptive and friendly, offering assistance and sharing valuable information. Random encounters will often involve opportunities to help those in need, further bolstering your honor and fostering a sense of heroism. Even the music and scenery seem to shift, reflecting Arthur’s internal peace with calming and peaceful settings.
Story Implications
The most significant impact of high honor lies in its effect on the story. While Arthur’s eventual fate remains largely unchanged, his interactions with key characters, particularly the Marston family, become more compassionate and selfless. He becomes a protector, striving to secure their future amidst the chaos of the Van der Linde gang’s downfall.
Perhaps the most compelling reason to pursue high honor is its influence on the game’s ending. Achieving high honor and making the right choices in the final chapters unlocks the “best” ending, offering a sense of closure and redemption for Arthur’s troubled life. It’s an emotionally resonant conclusion that underscores the power of good deeds and the possibility of finding peace even in the face of death.
Embracing the Outlaw Life: The Appeal of Low Honor
A Different Kind of Power
While high honor offers tangible rewards and a sense of moral satisfaction, low honor provides a different kind of power. As an outlaw, you’ll quickly discover an alternative approach to the game. Being known as a villain in the game has benefits.
One of the immediate benefits of low honor is the ability to bribe eyewitnesses for significantly less money. This allows you to commit crimes with greater impunity, avoiding the long arm of the law and the potential for hefty bounties.
Furthermore, low honor unlocks discounts in Thieves’ Landing, a haven for criminals and outcasts. Here, you can purchase goods and services at reduced prices, further fueling your illicit activities.
A more unique advantage is access to a special, unique Dark Horse. This horse, identifiable by its white face and red scars, can be summoned with a whistle, offering a loyal and fearsome companion for your criminal endeavors.
A Darker Narrative
Playing with low honor significantly alters the game’s narrative tone. Arthur becomes more ruthless and selfish, prioritizing his own survival and desires above the well-being of others. This translates into different interactions with gang members, often marked by tension and distrust.
The random encounters also shift, presenting opportunities for exploitation and violence. You might choose to rob travelers, extort businesses, or even participate in more heinous acts. These choices, while morally reprehensible, contribute to a more challenging and gritty gameplay experience.
While a low honor playthrough may not lead to the “best” ending, it offers a unique perspective on Arthur’s character and the harsh realities of the Wild West. It explores the darker aspects of human nature and the consequences of a life lived outside the law. The ending will differ greatly as Arthur will not pass on the way he should have.
Finding Balance: The Dynamic Nature of Honor
The beauty of RDR2’s honor system lies in its dynamic nature. You’re not locked into a single moral path. The game allows you to fluctuate between high and low honor, adapting your actions to the circumstances and your own evolving moral compass.
This fluidity adds depth to the gameplay and allows for greater role-playing opportunities. You might start as a relatively honorable gunslinger, but the hardships and temptations of the outlaw life could gradually lead you down a darker path. Conversely, you might begin as a ruthless criminal, only to experience a change of heart later in the game, seeking redemption for your past sins.
The ability to shift your honor level also encourages experimentation. You can try different approaches to situations, exploring the consequences of both honorable and dishonorable choices. This adds replayability to the game and allows you to discover new facets of Arthur’s character and the world around him.
Honor and the Epilogue: John Marston’s Path
It’s important to note that while honor plays a significant role in Arthur Morgan’s story, its impact diminishes during the epilogue, which focuses on John Marston.
While John’s honor level still affects gameplay mechanics, such as store discounts, it doesn’t influence his personality or the overall narrative to the same extent as it does for Arthur. This is partly due to John’s more established moral compass and his determination to create a better life for his family.
However, John’s actions during the epilogue can still impact the world around him. Choosing to uphold justice and help those in need will contribute to a more positive atmosphere, while engaging in criminal activities will perpetuate the cycle of violence and lawlessness.
The Definitive Answer: It’s Your Story
Ultimately, whether you need high honor in RDR2 is a matter of personal preference. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to play the game. The most rewarding experience comes from embracing the freedom to shape Arthur’s destiny and exploring the consequences of your choices.
If you seek a more challenging experience, or want to fully embrace the outlaw fantasy, low honor is definitely the way to go.
Whether you strive for redemption or revel in your outlaw ways, Red Dead Redemption 2’s honor system will ensure an experience that is as engaging as it is unforgettable. Consider exploring more about how games create these learning environments at the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Do I need max honor to get the “best” ending in RDR2?
Yes, to achieve the most emotionally satisfying ending, you need high honor and must make a specific choice during the final mission. It doesn’t necessarily have to be maximum honor, but being well into the positive honor range is essential.
2. What happens if I have low honor at the end of RDR2?
With low honor, Arthur’s final moments are grimmer. He may be killed by Micah in a more brutal way, and his grave will reflect his dishonorable actions, appearing weathered and neglected.
3. How quickly can Arthur go from Low Honor to High Honor in Red Dead Redemption 2?
It’s possible to shift your honor quickly by performing honorable actions repeatedly, such as helping strangers, doing chores at camp, and avoiding unnecessary violence. Conversely, committing crimes will quickly lower your honor.
4. Is it ok to have low honor in RDR2?
Yes! RDR2 is designed to accommodate different playstyles. Low honor provides a unique and challenging experience, allowing you to embrace the outlaw life and explore the darker aspects of the game.
5. What happens if Arthur dies with high honor?
Arthur’s grave will be well-kept, adorned with flowers, and his epitaph will reflect his good deeds. An eagle will even watch over his resting place.
6. Is it better to be honorable or dishonorable in RDR2?
Neither is inherently “better.” It depends on your preferred gameplay style and the narrative experience you seek. High honor offers rewards and a sense of redemption, while low honor presents a more challenging and morally ambiguous path.
7. Is Arthur Morgan high or low honor by default?
Arthur starts with a neutral honor level. His moral compass is shaped by your actions throughout the game.
8. What does Arthur’s grave say with low honor?
With low honor, Arthur’s epitaph might read: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted,” reflecting a less glorified and more tragic end.
9. Does honor matter at the end of RDR2?
Absolutely. Honor significantly influences the circumstances of Arthur’s death and the emotional impact of the ending.
10. Can you prevent Arthur from dying in RDR2?
Unfortunately, no. Arthur’s diagnosis of tuberculosis is a fixed plot point, and his death is inevitable. However, your honor level will influence the details surrounding his death.
11. How much honor do I need to reach the highest rank?
The honor scale ranges from -8 to +8. You need to accumulate enough positive points to reach the +8 rank, which unlocks the maximum benefits.
12. Is Low honor Arthur canon?
While there isn’t a single “canon” playthrough, all honor paths are valid and contribute to different interpretations of Arthur’s character and his journey.
13. Does honor matter as John Marston in RDR2’s epilogue?
Yes, but to a lesser extent than with Arthur. While it affects gameplay elements like store discounts, it doesn’t impact John’s personality or the main storyline as dramatically.
14. What are the benefits of low honor Arthur?
You can bribe witnesses for less, receive discounts in Thieves’ Landing, and have access to a unique Dark Horse.
15. Can Arthur get full honor?
Yes, but the game intentionally makes it challenging to reach maximum honor early on. The cap is lifted later in the story, allowing you to achieve the highest honor rank.