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From Outlaw to Upstanding Citizen: The Fastest Route to Honor in Red Dead Redemption 2

So, you’ve embraced the outlaw life in Red Dead Redemption 2, but now you’re itching for redemption? Perhaps you want to unlock those high honor missions, experience a different ending, or simply feel less like a scoundrel. The burning question is: What is the fastest way to become honorable in RDR2? The answer, in short, is a combination of consistently choosing honorable actions throughout the game, focusing on specific honor-boosting activities, and carefully managing your reputation. There’s no single magic bullet, but strategically combining actions and avoiding dishonorable ones will significantly accelerate your journey towards becoming a saint of the Wild West. This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of how to do just that.

Understanding the Honor System

Before diving into the methods, it’s crucial to understand how the honor system works in Red Dead Redemption 2. Your honor level ranges from extremely dishonorable to extremely honorable. Certain missions, dialogues, outfits, and even the ending of the game are affected by your honor. Your honor changes based on your actions and the choices you make throughout the game.

Key Actions that Boost Honor

The quickest way to increase your honor involves repeating tasks that give you a positive honor boost. Here are some of the most effective actions:

Greet everyone: Greet every person you encounter. Even just spamming the greet button with the square/x button gives you a slight honor boost over time. This may seem trivial, but it adds up significantly over time, especially when traveling through towns.
Help Strangers: Look out for Strangers in Need. These random encounters offer opportunities to assist individuals in distress. Helping them typically grants a substantial honor boost. Common scenarios include rescuing people from animal traps, giving a ride to someone in need, or helping someone who has been robbed.
Complete Honor Missions: While not necessarily the fastest individual boost, dedicating time to honor-specific missions will grant you substantial honor increases upon completion. These missions become available as your honor rises.
Pay Your Dues: Paying off bounties on yourself and other members of the gang contributes to improved honor.
Chore Time: Contribute to the camp by doing chores. Stacking hay, chopping wood, etc, all contribute to an increase in honour.
Catch and Release: Choosing to catch and release fish instead of killing them gives a slight honor bump.
Animal Handling: Choose to calm your horse rather than whip them.
Donate to Camp and Beggars: Regularly donate money to the camp tithing box and give to beggars found in towns.

Avoiding Dishonorable Actions

Equally important is avoiding actions that decrease your honor. Even consistently performing honor-boosting actions can be undermined by sporadic bouts of banditry.

Avoid Unnecessary Violence: Don’t shoot innocent people or animals. Only use violence when necessary for self-defense or during missions.
Don’t Steal: Refrain from stealing from stores, homes, or individuals.
Be Kind in Conversations: Choose the less aggressive or benevolent dialogue options when speaking to NPCs.
Consider Surrendering: Instead of engaging in a shootout with law enforcement after committing a minor crime, consider surrendering. This reduces the honor penalty compared to killing officers.
Avoid Murder: Killing innocent civilians will severely decrease your honor rating.

The Saint Denis Method: A Fast Track to Honor

A commonly cited and highly effective method involves focusing on Saint Denis. This city provides ample opportunities for both honor-boosting and honor-reducing actions.

Greeting Spree: Saint Denis is a densely populated city, allowing for a high volume of greetings in a short time.
Donations to Beggars: Saint Denis has plenty of beggars roaming the streets, making it easy to donate and earn honor.
The Opportunity: A simple but efficient method involves finding the same beggar over and over again. If you are in a location that is easily accessible, you can help a person get back on their feet, then ride away, sleep for some hours, and come back to see them again and again.

The Power of Companion

After you hit level 2, you can unlock certain upgrades that are extremely helpful when it comes to maintaining your honor. They can also contribute to an increase in honor.

Companion: +5% Honor: This passive is unlocked when you have high honor. Every honor action will provide 5% more honor for the player.
Companion: 10% Discount at All Shops: Any honorable actions done will contribute to a decrease in your bill at various shops.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Honor in RDR2

Here are 15 FAQs designed to address common questions and provide further insights into the honor system in Red Dead Redemption 2:

1. How do I check my current honor level?

You can check your honor level in the game menu by navigating to the “Progress” section and then selecting “General.” Your honor bar will be displayed there.

2. What are the benefits of having high honor?

High honor unlocks unique missions, discounts at stores, access to different outfits, and influences the game’s ending. People will also react more positively to you in general.

3. What are the consequences of having low honor?

Low honor leads to different missions, higher prices at stores, negative interactions with NPCs, and a less favorable ending. Bounty hunters are also more likely to pursue you.

4. Does my honor reset at any point in the game?

No, your honor doesn’t reset. However, it’s worth noting that at the start of the epilogue, your honor level will carry over from the main story.

5. Can I achieve maximum honor in a single playthrough?

Yes, it is possible to reach maximum honor in a single playthrough, even if you start with low honor. It requires consistent commitment to honorable actions.

6. Are there any specific missions that significantly impact honor?

Yes, there are certain story missions and side missions that have a greater impact on honor than others. Pay attention to the choices you make during these missions.

7. Does my honor affect my relationships with gang members?

Yes, your honor can indirectly affect your relationships with gang members. While there’s no direct relationship stat tied to honor, gang members will react differently to Arthur based on his overall demeanor and actions.

8. Is it possible to quickly decrease my honor?

Yes, committing crimes such as murder, theft, and assaulting innocent people will quickly decrease your honor.

9. How does donating to the camp affect my honor?

Regularly donating money and supplies to the camp tithing box contributes to a positive honor increase.

10. Does hunting animals affect my honor?

Hunting animals itself doesn’t directly affect your honor, but needlessly killing animals or leaving them to rot without skinning them can result in a negative honor impact.

11. What’s the best way to deal with law enforcement to maintain high honor?

Surrendering to law enforcement instead of engaging in shootouts reduces the honor penalty. Paying off your bounties as soon as possible also helps maintain high honor.

12. Are there any outfits that provide an honor bonus?

No, there are no outfits in Red Dead Redemption 2 that directly provide an honor bonus. However, certain outfits may be unlocked based on your honor level.

13. How often should I greet people to effectively raise my honor?

There’s no set frequency, but greeting people frequently, especially in populated areas like Saint Denis, is a consistent and effective way to slowly but steadily raise your honor.

14. Does using cheats affect my honor?

Using certain cheats can temporarily disable the honor system, preventing it from changing. However, once you disable the cheat, the honor system will resume with your previous honor level.

15. Can I change my honor in the epilogue as John Marston?

Yes, you can continue to raise or lower your honor in the epilogue as John Marston using the same methods available to Arthur Morgan.

Beyond Gameplay: The Value of Ethical Choices

The honor system in Red Dead Redemption 2 is more than just a gameplay mechanic; it’s a reflection of the choices we make and the consequences that follow. Exploring these ethical dilemmas can be a powerful learning experience, not just in the game, but also in understanding human behavior and moral decision-making. The Games Learning Society, at GamesLearningSociety.org, explores exactly this intersection of gaming and learning, demonstrating how games can be used to foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and ethical reasoning. Consider how the choices you make in the game reflect your own values and how the consequences might affect those around you.

By following these tips and understanding the nuances of the honor system, you can efficiently transform your outlaw into an honorable member of society and experience all that Red Dead Redemption 2 has to offer. Good luck, and may your journey be filled with honorable deeds!