Does Killing Rats Affect Chaos in Dishonored? A Deep Dive
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The short answer is: No, killing rats does not affect your chaos level in Dishonored. You can gleefully reduce the rat population without impacting your playthrough’s ending or your chances of achieving the coveted “Clean Hands” achievement.
Chaos and Carnage: Understanding the System
Dishonored’s chaos system is a complex mechanic influenced primarily by the player’s actions regarding human NPCs and other specific creature types. It essentially measures the brutality and consequences of your choices throughout the game. A high chaos playthrough, characterized by widespread death and destruction, leads to a darker ending. Conversely, a low chaos playthrough requires stealth, non-lethal takedowns, and careful consideration for the consequences of your actions.
What Does Affect Chaos?
- Killing Human Enemies and Civilians: This is the biggest contributor to chaos. Eliminating guards, civilians, and key characters escalates the chaos level.
- Alerting Enemies: Being spotted and causing alarms to sound increases chaos. Even if you don’t kill anyone, widespread panic contributes to a more chaotic world state.
- Using Lethal Gadgets and Powers: While some powers can be used non-lethally, directly killing enemies with powers like “Devouring Swarm” (ironically, despite involving rats) or lethal gadgets will increase chaos.
- Kills by Rewired Traps: If you rewire traps like Watchtowers, Arc Pylons, and Walls of Light to kill enemies, those kills do count against you.
- Leaving Bodies Unattended: Leaving corpses lying around can lead to increased rat infestations, which, while not directly increasing chaos itself, contributes to the grim atmosphere associated with high chaos.
Why Rats Are Exempt
The developers clearly distinguished between human and non-human targets when designing the chaos system. Rats, along with other creatures like River Krusts and Hagfish, are considered part of the environment rather than sentient beings whose deaths influence the morality of Corvo’s actions. The narrative frames these creatures as pests and hazards, and their elimination is seen as a practical necessity rather than a moral transgression. This is especially true when rats threaten to devour unconscious (or dead) bodies. It might be a cold act to leave a person to be eaten by rats.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Rats and Chaos
Here are some commonly asked questions about the role of rats in Dishonored and their impact on the chaos system, answered for your convenience:
1. Do Weepers Count as Humanoid?
Yes, Weepers do count as humanoid enemies. Killing Weepers will significantly increase your chaos level. Weepers were once human, turned into infected forms, and are therefore considered human enemies.
2. Can Rats Eat Bodies?
Yes, rats will absolutely devour unconscious or dead bodies. This not only creates a disturbing visual spectacle but can also increase the rat population in an area.
3. Is There Any Benefit to Killing Rats?
Killing rats doesn’t affect chaos, but it does provide practical advantages. Reducing the rat population makes areas safer to traverse, prevents them from consuming bodies (potentially increasing the number of rats further), and makes it easier to sneak around unnoticed. Plus, sometimes they’re just annoying!
4. Does Using “Devouring Swarm” Increase Chaos?
Surprisingly, yes, using Devouring Swarm will increase your chaos level, despite the spell involving rats. The increase in chaos isn’t about killing rats with rats, the spell is considered a lethal force. It directly kills enemies (human enemies), therefore it increases chaos.
5. Can Rats Be Used Strategically?
Absolutely! While you can’t directly control rats (except through the “Devouring Swarm” ability), you can manipulate the environment to attract them to certain areas. Leaving a body in a specific location will draw rats, potentially distracting guards or clearing a path for you.
6. What Creatures Don’t Affect Chaos?
Besides rats, other creatures that don’t affect chaos include:
- Hagfish
- River Krusts
- Wolfhounds (as confirmed by Arkane developer Harvey Smith)
- Fish
- Blood Briars
- Gravehounds
- Clockwork Soldiers
7. Does “Clean Hands” Include Killing Rats?
No, “Clean Hands” does not require you to spare the rats. You can freely exterminate these rodents without jeopardizing your chances of obtaining the achievement. The “Clean Hands” achievement is directly related to human kills.
8. What’s the Best Way to Deal with Rats?
There is no “best” way, it really depends on the situation. You can ignore them entirely (if you’re careful), kill them with your sword or pistol, or use powers to clear them out. Fire works well, too!
9. Can I Lure Rats with Food?
No, you cannot directly lure rats with food items you carry. However, as mentioned earlier, leaving a body in an area is a surefire way to attract them.
10. Are Rat Infestations Affected by Chaos?
Yes, rat infestations tend to be more prevalent in high chaos playthroughs. The increased number of bodies provides them with more food sources, leading to a larger population.
11. Do Rewired Traps Affect Chaos Even If They Kill Only Rats?
No, if a rewired trap only kills rats, it won’t affect your chaos level. However, it’s crucial to ensure that the trap only kills rats. If it accidentally kills a guard or civilian, that kill will count against you.
12. Is There Any Narrative Significance to Rats?
Yes, rats play a significant symbolic role in Dishonored. They represent the plague, the decay of Dunwall, and the consequences of the elite’s neglect of the poor. Their presence is a constant reminder of the game’s themes of corruption and societal collapse.
13. Does the Outsider Comment on My Rat-Killing Habits?
No, the Outsider does not directly comment on your rat-killing habits. His observations are typically focused on more significant choices related to your treatment of human characters and your overall approach to resolving conflicts.
14. Does Difficulty Affect Rat Populations?
No, the game’s difficulty setting does not directly affect rat populations. The number of rats in an area is primarily determined by the game’s environment design and your actions (specifically, the number of bodies left lying around).
15. Can Mods Alter the Way Rats Impact Chaos?
Yes, mods can alter the way rats impact chaos. Some mods may change the game’s mechanics to make rat kills affect chaos, or conversely, make human kills less impactful. Always read the description of any mod before installing it to understand its effects on gameplay.
Games and Learning: A Dishonored Case Study
Dishonored exemplifies how games can be more than just entertainment. The game’s mechanics, including the chaos system, encourage players to think critically about the consequences of their actions. This aligns with the principles of the Games Learning Society, an organization dedicated to exploring the educational potential of video games. By understanding the complexities of systems like the chaos mechanic, players develop strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and a deeper understanding of narrative agency. To know more about the intersection of learning and video games, visit GamesLearningSociety.org.
In conclusion, feel free to thin the rat population of Dunwall without any guilt! Your quest for a low chaos playthrough remains untainted by the demise of these ubiquitous rodents. Now go forth and reclaim what is rightfully yours, one rat at a time!