Unleash Your Inner Outlaw: The Definitive Guide to Tanking Your Honor in Red Dead Redemption 2

So, you want to embrace the dark side and become the most notorious outlaw in the Wild West? You’ve come to the right place, partner. The absolute best way to lose honor quickly in Red Dead Redemption 2 is a multi-pronged approach combining efficiency and maximizing dishonorable actions. The key is to focus on activities that rapidly deplete your honor meter while minimizing risks to your health and wealth. This primarily involves massacring civilians in populated areas like Valentine or Strawberry, combined with robbing businesses and stagecoaches and executing lawmen when they attempt to intercede. Remember to ditch your horse afterward, and leave a trail of carnage.

The Art of Dishonor: A Step-by-Step Guide

Here’s a breakdown of the most effective methods to lower your honor, complete with tactical considerations:

1. The Town Square Massacre:

   • Target towns with a high NPC density like Valentine, Strawberry, or Saint Denis.
   • Use a shotgun or a high-powered rifle with explosive ammunition to maximize carnage.
   • Focus on killing multiple civilians with each shot. Aim for groups clustered together.
   • Don’t forget to loot the corpses for an added dishonor boost!
   • When lawmen arrive, prioritize taking them out quickly before they can call for reinforcements.
   • A note to all players. Try to use the same strategy in online mode for Red Dead Online (RDO).

2. Robbery Spree:

   • Rob every shop, train, and stagecoach you encounter. Remember to wear a mask to avoid identification, though it won’t prevent honor loss.
   • Intimidate shopkeepers to get them to open the till faster.
   • Killing witnesses will prevent bounty increases, but contributes to honor loss.
   • Target stagecoaches traveling through remote areas for easier heists.

3. Animal Cruelty:

   • While less efficient than massacring humans, killing domesticated animals like horses, cows, and dogs also contributes to honor loss.
   • Shooting fish in shallow water is a low-effort dishonorable act.
   • Leaving wounded animals to bleed out without a mercy kill is a guaranteed honor hit.
   • Hunting legendary animals and selling their parts to the trapper for an additional loss.

4. Mission Choices:

   • Always choose the dishonorable option in story and stranger missions. This often involves killing, robbing, or betraying people.
   • Take advantage of opportunities to extort or threaten NPCs for personal gain.
   • Embrace the role of the ruthless outlaw.

5. Bounty Hunting (But Not Really):

   • Accept bounty hunter missions, but instead of bringing the target in alive, kill them and loot their corpse. This offers a double dose of dishonor.

6. Exploiting Game Mechanics:

   • While less ethical, some players exploit game mechanics to rapidly lower honor. This might involve repeatedly attacking and bribing lawmen, though this method can be difficult to execute consistently. This tactic is not advisable as game mechanics can be modified by developers.

Important Considerations:

• Bounties: Committing crimes will raise your bounty. Be prepared to pay it off or constantly evade the law.
• Consequences: Low honor affects shop prices and how NPCs interact with you. Be prepared to deal with hostility and higher costs.
• Moral Implications: Remember, it’s just a game! But consider the impact of your actions on the virtual world and the narrative.

A Final Word of Advice: Embrace the chaos! Unleash your inner villain and revel in the freedom of being a truly despicable outlaw.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Losing Honor in RDR2

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about losing honor in Red Dead Redemption 2, covering everything from specific actions to the consequences of being a dishonorable cowboy.

1. What specific actions cause me to lose honor?

   A wide range of actions will decrease your honor. The most impactful include killing innocent civilians, robbing businesses or individuals, attacking lawmen, killing domesticated animals, and choosing dishonorable options in missions. Even seemingly small actions like shooting near an innocent or watching a wild animal bleed to death will contribute to your downward spiral.

2. Is it faster to lose honor in story mode or Red Dead Online (RDO)?

   It’s generally faster to lose honor in story mode due to the greater control you have over the environment and the ability to replay missions with dishonorable choices. However, RDO offers more opportunities for continuous dishonorable actions, such as griefing other players and terrorizing towns.

3. Does robbing trains always lower my honor?

   Yes, robbing trains always lowers your honor. The amount of honor lost depends on the severity of the crime (e.g., killing passengers vs. simply robbing them) and whether you are identified.

4. Does wearing a mask prevent me from losing honor when committing crimes?

   Wearing a mask only prevents you from gaining a bounty on your head, if you are not seen. It does not prevent you from losing honor when committing dishonorable acts. The game still tracks your actions and adjusts your honor accordingly.

5. What are the consequences of having low honor in RDR2?

   Having low honor leads to several consequences:

   • Higher prices at stores.
   • Negative interactions with NPCs (e.g., being insulted or refused service).
   • More loot from enemies, often geared towards mayhem (e.g., Dead Eye tonics).
   • A different ending depending on your choices and honor level.

6. Does my horse’s death affect my honor?

   Yes, neglecting or mistreating your horse can affect your honor. Letting your horse starve, overwork, or die without a mercy kill will result in an honor penalty.

7. How low can my honor go?

   The honor system operates on a sliding scale. The lowest honor ranking is -8, which corresponds to -320 honor points.

8. Can I regain honor after losing it?

   Yes, it’s entirely possible to regain honor by performing honorable actions such as:

   • Helping strangers in need.
   • Completing missions with honorable choices.
   • Releasing captured bounties alive.
   • Making donations to the poor.
   • Doing chores around camp (early game).

9. Is it possible to reach max low honor before the end of the game?

   Yes, it is entirely possible to reach max low honor before the end of the game. By consistently making dishonorable choices and engaging in criminal activities, you can quickly tank your honor meter.

10. Does killing bounty hunters lower my honor?

    No, killing bounty hunters generally does not lower your honor. Bounty hunters are considered outlaws themselves, so killing them is not seen as a dishonorable act.

11. Is it better to play with high or low honor in RDR2?

    Whether it’s “better” to play with high or low honor is subjective and depends on your desired experience. High honor offers benefits like lower store prices and unique outfits, while low honor provides access to different loot and a more challenging, outlaw-focused gameplay experience. Ultimately, the choice is yours.

12. Does honor affect the story ending?

    Yes, your honor level significantly impacts the story ending. The ending you receive as Arthur Morgan will differ depending on whether you have high or low honor, reflecting the choices you made throughout the game.

13. Can I rob banks in free roam to lose honor?

    Yes, with the right mods, you can rob banks in free roam. This is a great way to tank your honor. However, this is not a vanilla feature of the game.

14. Does honor matter as John Marston in the epilogue?

    Honor still matters as John Marston in the epilogue. While it doesn’t affect his personality as much as it does Arthur’s, it still influences shop prices, NPC interactions, and potential story outcomes.

15. Are there any specific locations that are better for losing honor?

    While you can lose honor anywhere, densely populated areas are generally the best for maximizing dishonorable actions. Towns like Valentine, Strawberry, and Saint Denis provide ample opportunities for massacres and robberies. As the article excerpt suggests, Thieves Landing and Casa Madrugada also do not incur bounties, which is a good place to start your criminal endeavors.

    For those interested in the intersection of games, learning, and society, visit the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.