Does Killing Rats in Dishonored Do Anything? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, killing rats in Dishonored and Dishonored 2 does do something, though the implications are nuanced and depend on the specific game mechanics you’re considering. While they don’t directly impact the overarching chaos system or your chances of achieving the coveted “Clean Hands” achievement, they can influence your character’s abilities, resources, and even your survival in specific situations. Let’s dive deeper into the multifaceted role of rats in the Dishonored universe.
Rats: More Than Just Pests in Dunwall and Karnaca
Rats are a pervasive presence in both Dunwall and Karnaca, the main settings of the Dishonored games. They’re a constant reminder of the plague and the societal decay that plagues these cities. However, from a gameplay perspective, they’re more than just atmospheric details. They’re a resource, a threat, and sometimes, even a tool.
Benefits of Rat Slaughter
- Health and Mana Restoration (Dishonored 2): In Dishonored 2, certain bone charms, like “Blood Sacrifice”, allow you to restore health by killing bloodflies or rats. Similarly, the “Spiritual Sacrifice” bone charm restores mana. If you’re running low on resources and find yourself surrounded by these vermin, a quick extermination session can be a lifesaver.
- Adrenaline Boost (Dishonored 2): The “Carrion Killer” bone charm in Dishonored 2 provides an adrenaline boost when you kill rats or bloodflies. This can be incredibly useful for quick bursts of speed or power, especially in combat situations.
- Mana Replenishment (Dishonored 1 and 2): The “Gutter Feast” ability allows you to eat white rats to restore mana, providing a readily available resource for powering your supernatural abilities.
- Tactical Advantage: While not directly benefiting the player character, killing rats can clear a path, reduce the likelihood of detection (rats can alert enemies if they scatter), and sometimes even distract guards momentarily.
- Bone Charm Acquisition: In specific scenarios, like the one described in the source article, killing rats can lead to saving a survivor, and acquiring a valuable bone charm.
Drawbacks of Indiscriminate Rat Killing
- Limited Impact on Chaos: While rats themselves don’t increase chaos, the situation in which you kill them might. For instance, carelessly using noisy powers to eliminate a swarm near guards could attract unwanted attention and raise your chaos level indirectly.
- Opportunity Cost: Spending time and resources killing rats might be a distraction from your primary objective. Consider whether the potential benefits outweigh the time and risk involved.
- Moral Implications (Subjective): While not mechanically enforced, some players might find the indiscriminate killing of any creature, even rats, morally objectionable, especially when aiming for a low-chaos playthrough.
What Doesn’t Killing Rats Affect?
- Chaos Level: As confirmed in the original article, rats, hagfish, and river krusts do not directly contribute to your chaos level. You can kill them without fear of tipping the scales towards a darker ending.
- Clean Hands Achievement: Similarly, killing rats will not prevent you from earning the “Clean Hands” achievement, which requires completing the game without killing anyone.
- Body Count: Rats don’t count towards the total number of bodies discovered, so you don’t have to worry about hiding their tiny corpses.
Rats as a Game Mechanic: A Deeper Look
The implementation of rats within the Dishonored series is a clever example of how a seemingly insignificant detail can add depth to the gameplay experience. They contribute to the atmosphere, provide resources, and create tactical opportunities, all without fundamentally altering the core mechanics of the chaos system. This delicate balance allows players to engage with the rat population in a way that suits their playstyle, whether they choose to ignore them, exploit them, or exterminate them.
The Games Learning Society offers insights into how game mechanics like the rat population in Dishonored can create engaging and immersive player experiences. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to explore the intersection of games and learning.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Rats in Dishonored
1. Do rat swarms count as kills in Dishonored?
No, deaths caused by rat swarms do not count towards your kill total. You can use them strategically to eliminate enemies without jeopardizing your chances of a “Clean Hands” playthrough.
2. Can rats detect me in Dishonored?
No, rats themselves cannot detect you. However, their behavior can alert nearby enemies. If you startle a swarm, they might scatter and draw the attention of guards.
3. Do wolfhound kills affect chaos in Dishonored?
While wolfhounds can detect your character and their corpses count as bodies found, killing wolfhounds does not directly impact your chaos level.
4. Does poisoning the still increase chaos in Dishonored?
Yes, poisoning the still in Dishonored will increase your chaos level. It also adds extra Weepers to the next mission, making it a choice with significant consequences.
5. Is Corvo immune to the Rat Plague in Dishonored?
The game suggests Corvo’s immunity stems from his abilities, specifically Vitality, which provides a healing factor that prevents him from succumbing to the plague. Also, regular consumption of health and mana elixirs helps, since they have plague protection.
6. Does killing dogs count in Dishonored for achievements?
No, killing dogs does not count towards your kill total for achievements like “Clean Hands.” They are considered non-human enemies.
7. How do I save the woman from rats in Dishonored?
In Midrow Substation, locate the woman trapped by rats in the basement of a dilapidated building. Kill the rats to save her, and be sure to talk to her afterward to get her to move and claim the nearby bone charm.
8. Does killing Clockwork Soldiers affect chaos or Clean Hands?
No, killing Clockwork Soldiers does not affect either your chaos level or your ability to achieve the “Clean Hands” achievement.”
9. Does killing the whale count as a kill in Dishonored’s DLC?
In the Dishonored DLC, killing the whale does not count as a kill. It’s a moral choice with no impact on your kill count.
10. Do the assassins count as kills in Dishonored?
Yes, using your powers to kill assassins will count as a kill. Even if their deaths are caused by your powers or indirectly by you.
11. Does killing Weepers affect Clean Hands in Dishonored?
Yes, killing the Weepers in the sewers beneath the Hound Pits Pub will count against the “Clean Hands” achievement.
12. Which Dishonored game is harder?
Many players find Dishonored 1 harder than Dishonored 2 due to less refined abilities and sometimes clunky movement mechanics.
13. Is Dishonored 1 or 2 longer?
Dishonored 2 is generally considered longer than the first game, with larger missions and more exploration opportunities.
14. Do deaths from rewired machines count towards kills in Dishonored?
Yes, unfortunately, deaths caused by rewired machines do count against you. This is important to consider when setting traps or manipulating the environment.
15. What happens if you kill too many people in Dishonored?
Killing too many people leads to a high-chaos ending, characterized by increased enemy patrols, more rats, and a generally darker and more pessimistic conclusion to the story. You are better off trying to get a low chaos ending in this case.
Conclusion: The Humble Rat and Its Impact
While the humble rat might seem like a minor detail in the grand scheme of Dishonored, it exemplifies the game’s attention to detail and its commitment to providing players with meaningful choices. Whether you view them as a resource to be exploited, a nuisance to be eradicated, or simply a part of the environment, rats play a subtle yet significant role in shaping your experience in the world of Dishonored.