Overview
A complete guide to all 50 base game achievements. There will be no video guides for ghost nor clean hands in this guide. Make sure to check out my complete guides for The Knife of Duwnall and The Brigmore Witches DLCs.
Overview
This guide will go into detail on all 50 Dishonored base game achievements. Down the right-hand side is the name of the achievements – apart from unmissable story ones which are in one section – are the names of the achievements. This will help you navigate to the achievement you want.
Make sure to check out my other Dishonored achievement guides for The Brigmore Witches and Knife of Dunwall.
The Knife of Dunwall – Achievement guide
The Brigmore Witches – Achievement guide
Disclamier: I used the Dishonored wiki [dishonored.wikia.com] for some of the information and achievement pictures.
Story Achievements (Unmissable)
“Complete the Intro missions.”
Awarded after completing the first mission “Dishonored”
“Eliminate High Overseer Campbell.”
Awarded after completing the second mission, “High Overseer Campbell”
“Find Emily Kaldwin.”
Awarded after completing the third mission, “House of Pleasure”
“Complete the Bridge mission.”
Awarded after completing the fourth mission, “The Royal Physician”
“Complete the game.”
‘Regicide’ and ‘Political Suicide’
“Assassinate the Lord Regent, Hiram Burrows.”
Kill the Lord Regent in the mission, “Back to the Tower”
“Expose the Lord Regent’s crimes and bring about his arrest.”
Do the non-lethal target takedown for the Lord Regent during the mission, “Back to the Tower”
You will have to get one or the other on your first playthrough but only one can be obtained in one playthrough unless you restart the mission.
NOTE: Political suicide & Regicide can be achieved in the same playthrough. First go to the broadcast control station then proceed to get the audiograph from the regrent’s room (in the safe). Kill the Lord Regent and the Regicide achievement will unlock, proceed to play the audiograph and the Political Suicide achievement will pop. ~Credit: rod66
This Is Mine
“Recover your belongings.”
This achievement is obtainable during the “Flooded District” mission and is awarded for retrieveing your gear from the bottom of the Greaves Refinery. Just follow the optional objective and the achievement will pop on finding your gear.
Whilst this achievement is optional, most players will want to retrieve there gear, thus getting the achievement.
Long Live the Empress
“You saved Empress Emily Kaldwin.”
This achievement is guarenteed on a low chaos playthrough, however on a high chaos one Emily can be thrown off the lighthouse by Havelock, or can fall if her grip slips before Corvo can grab her from falling. Still possible for both playstyles and it’s quite hard to screw this up.
‘Just Dark Enough’ and ‘Dunwall in Chaos’
“You completed the game in low chaos.”
Simply complete the game in low chaos (kill no/very few people)
“You completed the game in high chaos.”
Simply complete the game in high chaos (kill lots of people)
Ghost
“Complete all missions after the prologue, alerting no one or killing no one but key targets.”
For this achievement, you must complete all missions after the prologue, alerting/killing no one but key targets. You will also get this achievement if you non-lethally remove all key targets as well.
I would recommend doing a ghost/clean hands playthrough becasue this will get you many of the achievements for not being detected as well as “clean hands”.
You can track this at the end of each mission by looking at the mission summary tick box “Ghost (Never detected)”
Has to be gotten in one playthrough.
Shadow
“Complete all missions after the prologue without alerting anyone.”
For this achievement, play the prologue and then from being thrown in prison, to the end of the final mission, without being seen by a single enemy. I would recommend doing this along with “Clean Hands” but you can kill people and still get this achievement if you wish.
Has to be gotten in one playthrough.
‘Specter’ and ‘Faceless’
“After escaping prison, complete a mission without alerting anyone, and kill less than 5 people.”
“After escaping Coldridge Prison, complete a single mission without alerting anyone.”
These achievements really go hand in hand. Simply complete any mission after the first without being spotted and killing fewer than five people – or even no people – and the achievements will both pop. 2 birds with 1 stone.
Achievements are quite self explanatory for these two.
Clean Hands
“Complete the game without killing anyone.”
Just complete the game without killing anyone. This includes targets. Always find and do the non-lethal way of removing the targets. Refer to the “Poetic Justice” achievement for a brief summary.
During the prologue if you block all the assassins attacks they will teleport off, without killing them. The weepers in the sewers at the Hound Pits Pub will also count as kills if killed.
River Krusts and Rats don’t count as kills.
I am fairly certain Wolf Hounds do not count as well but they are easily avoidable and you can sleep dart them just in case.
Has to be gotten in one playthrough.
Surgical
“Play from the first mission through Kaldwin’s Bridge killing fewer than 10 characters.”
Would recommned getting this while going for the “Clean Hands” achievement. Simply, play from “Dishonored” to “The Royal Physician” killing less than 10 people. You will get this achievement if your aiming for “Clean Hands”.
Mostly Flesh and Steel
“Finish the game without purchasing any supernatural powers or enhancements, besides Blink.”
This achievement can be easily misunderstood from it’s description. For this achievement, playthrough the game without purchasing any supernatural power, including Blink level 2.
Purchasing Blink level 2, or any of the super natural powers or enhancements will not let the achievement pop, upon finishing the game.
Bone charms can still be collected and worn for this achievement, aswell as gear and equipment can be upgraded. This achievement isn’t influenced by your play style.
Can be gotten with “Clean Hands” and any no detect achievements.
Thief
“Pickpocket items worth a total of 200 coins.”
Super easy achievement. Simply, pickpocket NPCs and do this until you reach a total of 200 coins gathered in one playthrough, through pickpocketing. Super easy at the Boyle Estate party in mission five, “Lady Boyle’s Last Party” as the guests have alot of valuables to pickpocket.
Versatile
“Kill characters with each weapon and offensive gadget.”
For this achievement you have to kill and enemy or NPC with all 8 weapons and offensive gadgets in one playthrough.
The weapons needed are listed below:
- The sword
- Bullets
- Crossbow bolts
- Incendiary bolts
- Grenades
- Spring razors
- Sticky grenades
- Explosive bullets
The last two need blueprints to be found for them. The “Small-Scale Combustion Refinement Blueprint” and the “Spiked Grenade Housing Blueprint” are the blueprints required.
The “Small-Scale Combustion Refinement Blueprint” can be found during Return to the Tower in General Tobias’s office or during The Flooded District inside an abandoned rail car in Central Rudshore.
The “Spiked Grenade Housing Blueprint” can be found during Lady Boyle’s Last Party in the security office at the entrance to the Boyle Mansion or during The Flooded District in the looters’ warehouse.
I would recommend getting these as early as possible to make it easier.
Note: It is possible that Piero can craft you weapons, gear and upgrades during the eighth mission “The Loyalists”.
Wall of Sparks
“Kill an enemy using a Wall of Light.”
For this achievement, use a rewire tool on the machine panel often around the wall of light and make an enemy run through it. If rewired the wall of light will fry the enemy and the achievement will pop.
Easily obtained on the second or third mission.
Rogue
“Assassinate 10 unaware enemies.”
Super easy achievement. Simply stealth-kill 10 unaware guards.
Razor Rain
“Kill 5 characters with Drop Assassination.”
Another super easy achievement. When your above and enemy drop down on them and kill them. Do this to five enemies in a playthrough and the achievement will pop.
Purchasing Agility level 1 will allow you to drop assassinate an enemy below as you gain enough height using the power.
Manipulator
“Make others kill 5 of their own allies.”
There are many ways of obtaining this achievement. I got this achievement by accident, by using agility to jump high as guards fired their pistol and klling the person behind me. There are some other methods I found on the Dishonored wiki you could try if your having trouble
“A very easy way of achieving this in a high chaos playthrough is to enter the building to the right of the Boyle Estate main gates, in the mission Lady Boyle’s Last Party. At the bottom of the stairs, there are six weepers in close proximity to each other. Run towards them until they are on high alert, then Bend Time, knock out five of them (leaving one conscious), and unfreeze time. The remaining weeper’s area attack will kill the five unconscious weepers, and the achievement will unlock.”
“An even easier method can be executed during the mission House of Pleasure. In the Distillery District, knock out five thugs, and line them up on the barrels behind the small wall. Get behind a thug and attempt to knock him out. As he is hostile now, run to the barrels, and he will burn both Corvo and his allies.”
The above methods are from the Dishonored wiki and not my own.
Harm’s Way
“Cause 5 unintentional suicides.”
There are two main methods of getting this achievement. The methods listed are from the Dishonored wiki:
“The guests in Lady Boyle’s Last Party can be forced into the wall of light by possessing them, walking to just in front of the wall of light, and then ending the possession. The resulting stagger will then cause them to walk into the wall of light, thus “committing” suicide.”
NOTE: you cannot rewire the wall of light for this to work and it is recommended you clear the guards and overseers. You will also need Possession level 2.
“When an enemy fires a projectile, be it a bolt or bullet, freeze time and possess the person who just shot at Corvo. Position them in front of their projectile and unfreeze time, effectively killing them with their own projectile.”
This however will also require Bend time level 2 as well as Possession level 2
Inhabitant
“Stay in possession of others for most of a 3 minute period.”
For this achievement, you will need at least Possession level 1. You can do this in the “Return to the tower” mission, on the rats in the water lock. Simply keep possessing one rat in a time in the swarm and quickly possessing another after leaving that host. The achievement will eventually pop.
Another – possibly easier way – of getting this achievement is to possess a rat and hope in a rat tunnel. Stay in the rat tunnel for 3 minutes and the achievement will pop. The same can be down with a fish and a drain pipe, although this combination will probably be rarer.
Hornets’ Nest
“Kill 4 enemies in less than 1 second using the crossbow.”
This achievement will require Bend time level 2. This will cost 10 runes. I would recommend getting Bend time level 2 by the fifth mission, “Lady Boyle’s Last Party” and using it on the group of weepers in the building to the right of the Boyle estate. There will be a group of weepers on one of the ground floor corners. Simply Bend time and line up 4 easy headshots and the achievement will pop after they all die.
Speed of Darkness
“Travel 30 meters in less than 1 second.”
I obtained this achievement with level 1 Bend time and at the Hound Pits Pub. Simply, use any Bend time level and then Blink and sprint as far as you can for the achievement to pop.
Tempest
“Kill 6 enemies in less than 1 second.”
This achievement doesn’t even need Bend time for it. I used the arc pylon on mission eight, “The Loyalists” to knock all the enemies unconscious and gathered 6 of them into a pile. Then chuck a grenade in and it will blow them all up. The achievement will pop. If you are struggling also try explosive bullets with the same method above.
You can also use Bend time level 2 to freeze time and kill 6 enemies in 1 second.
Merchant of Disorder
“Acquire 15 equipment upgrades.”
Simply, collect as many coins as you can and upgrade as many weapons and gear as you can between missions. This achievement has to be done in one playthrough. Not much more to add as theres no real strategy.
Occultist
“Collect 10 bone charms.”
Another easy achievement. Simply, pick up 10 bone charms by using the heart to find them.
This achievement can easily be obtained after your first meeting with the outsider, if you own all the DLC, as Corvos room will be filled with bone charms. The achievement will pop after picking up 10.
The Escapist
“After Coldridge Prison, elude 5 pursuers at once without killing them or leaving the map.”
While in combat, quickly flee and hide. When they start searching for you the achievement will pop, if there are 5 or more enemies attacking you during the combat.
The spot I would recommend for this achievement is behind the High Overseers Offices as there are lots of enemies and roofs to blink up to and hide.
Alternatively, you could try this one on the Bridge mission outside Sokolov’s house as there are lots of balconies and you can hit the rail with your sword and then just hide after gathering a crowd.
Cleaner
“Fight with 5 enemies at once, without any of them surviving.”
Simply, start a fight against 5 or more enemies and kill all of them without leaving combat. When they all lie dead the achievement will pop. Another easy achievement.
Vanished
“You escaped prison and navigated the sewers undetected.”
During the mission Dishonored, remain undetected until you finish and the achievement will pop. You will get this if you attempt the “Ghost” achievement.
‘Gentleman Caller’ and ‘Street Conspiracy’
“You completed all the Granny Rags side missions.”
“You completed all the Slackjaw side missions.”
These achievements require you to do side quests for both Slackjaw and Granny Rags.
For “Gentleman Caller” you have to complete these all the following:
- “Gentlemen Callers” during the mission High Overseer Campbell
- Granny Rags second side quest in the mission High Overseer Campbell where Corvo poisons the distillery.
- First side quest for Slackjaw in House of Pleasure (“Slackjaw’s Missing Man, Crowley”) (to trigger the “Flooded District” confrontation)
- And help Granny Rags during The Flooded District, “Help Granny Cook Slackjaw.”
After completeing all the above, the “Gentleman Caller” achievement will pop.
For “Street Conspiracy” you have to complete these all the following:
- “Slackjaw’s Missing Man, Crowley” during the mission “House of Pleasure”
- Also, complete Slackjaws second side quest, the non-lethal way to deal with the Pendleton twins during the mission “House of Pleasure”.
- “Gentlemen Callers” during the mission High Overseer Campbell (to trigger the “Flooded District” confrontation)
- And complete “Help Slackjaw” during his final confrontation with Granny Rags in the mission “The Flooded District”.
After completeing all the above, the “Street Conspiracy” achievement will pop.
The Art of the Steal
“You got the Art Dealer’s safe combination for Slackjaw, but robbed the safe first.”
For this achievement, you have to do Slackjaw’s first side quest in the “House of Pleasure” mission and then start the second side quest. He will send you to go get the art dealers safe combination. Once you have the combination from the Golden Cat, head to Clavering Boulevard where you will find the art dealers apartments. Work your way inside and loot the safe inside with the combination you got. Then proceed to give the combination to Slackjaw and the achievement will pop.
An Unfortunate Accident
“You killed Morgan Pendleton with steam.”
For this achievement, Morgan Pendleton can spawn in the steam room at the Golden Cat during the mission, “House of Pleasure”. If he does, sneak to where the steam room is, and find your way inside the side room. In there you will find a wheel. Pick up the wheel and place it on the pipe and spin it. It will trigger an animation, killing Morgan and the achievement will pop.
NOTE: If Morgan Pendleton does not spawn in the steam room you can still achieve the achievement. He just needs to die there. Just make sure to clean the steam room first (usually a guard and a courtesan), knock out Morgan and drag him downstairs. Then shut the door and follow instructions as above to steam him alive. ~Credit: Chopper
You can only use the steam room once.
Well Mannered
“You completed the Boyle Estate mission without spoiling the party.”
This achievement requires you to complete the fifth mission, “Lady Boyles Last Party” without alerting any guards within the Estate bascily. You have to get in, elimante Lady Boyle – Lethal or non-lethal, although non-lethal is probably easier – and get out without spoiling the party.
The easiest way to do this is by entering over the fence to the right side of the Boyle Estate, sheathing your weapons, then proceding inside. Follow Lord Brisby’s non-lethal method to remove Lady Boyle. Do this without being detected. You can find her idenity by getting Miss White a drink.
King of the World
“You reached the top of Kaldwin’s Bridge.”
Another easy achievement. On the fourth mission, “The Royal Physician”, climb to the top of Kaldwins bridge using Blink and I also recommend Agility level 1 to make this easier although it can still be easily done without. While climbing the achievement will pop when you get high enough.
Bodyguard
“You protected Callista’s uncle, Captain Geoff Curnow.”
This achievement can be obtained during the mission “High Overseer Campbell”. How I would do this achievement is to swap the glasses, let Campbell die and quickly put a sleep dart in Curnow. Carry Curnow to the dumpster and drop him in and then you rescued him. You will have to be quick with the sleep dart, because he will try and run, resulting in overseers killing him.
Mercy is the Mark
“You spared Daud’s life.”
For this achievement, during the Flooded District mission you have to spare Daud’s life. This can be done by sneaking up behind him and rendering him unconscious, then leaving him base where the achievement will pop. Or by fighting him until he teleports onto a platform where he is wounded and asks you for his life. Spare him and the achievement will pop.
Lights Out
“You deactivated at least 5 security systems on Kingsparrow Island.”
For this achievment, you must rewire or remove the whale oil tank on 5 security systems in the final mission.
- You can find two walls of light, one each by the beach-side and harbor-side entrances. The controls for both of these can be accessed through a hatch in the outer wall located roughly half-way between them.
- And two arc pylons, one below the beach-side entrance and one, higher up, on the walkway between the fort and the lighthouse.
- And theres the watchtower set up on the beach, towards the harbor.
Food Chain
“You assassinated an assassin.”
Another easy achievement. Simply sneak up on an assassin and assassinate them. Can be obtained easily on “House of Pleasure” where the 3 assassins can be found on some roof tops and in buildings, towards the Distillery District.
‘Alive Without Breath’ and ‘Creepy Crawly’
“You took possession of a fish.”
“You used a rat tunnel.”
These achievements are both really simple. They both require level 1 Possession. For the first, find a hag fish and possess it and the achievment will pop. For the other, possess a rat and find a little rat tunnel to crawl through and the achievement will pop upon entering.
Back Home
“Grab a live grenade and use it to kill an attacker.”
This achievement is easily obtained on the second mission, “High Overseer Campbell”. When your about to rescue Martin alert the single overseer guarding him and let him chuck a grenade. Quickly pick up the grenade and throw it back at him, killing him.
Big Boy
“Kill a tallboy with only your sword.”
For this achievement, you have to kill a tall boy with just your sword. This is actually very easy. If you have Agility level 1, you can sneak up behind one and jump as high as you can and drop assassinate the tall boy with your sword. You can also Blink to a high place and drop assassinate one or Blink right up to the tall boy and attack it.
Poetic Justice
“You neutralized all key targets using indirect means.”
For this achievement, you have to use the non-lethal method for all targets in one playthrough. You will get this achievement if your aiming for a “Clean Hands” playthrough.
Brief summary of all non-lethal means:
- Using the Heretic’s Brand – which can be located in the Interrogation Room in the Office of the High Overseer during the mission High Overseer Campbell.
- Giving the Art Dealer’s safe code to Slackjaw, who will then have his thugs abduct the Pendleton twins.
- Knocking out Lady Boyle and delivering her to Lord Brisby.
- Broadcasting the Lord Regent’s incriminating recording.
Information for the summary is from Dishonored wiki
Art Dealer
“Collect all the Sokolov paintings.”
You must collect all 11 Sokolov Paintings and this has to be done in the same playthrough. You will also have to trigger the confrontation in the sewers between Slackjaw and Granny Rags as one of the paintings is done there.
The following is a list of the number of paintings in each mission:
- Mission 2: High Overseer Campbell: 1 painting.
- Mission 3: House of Pleasure: 3 paintings.
- Mission 4: The Royal Physician: 1 painting.
- Mission 5: Lady Boyle’s Last Party: 2 paintings.
- Mission 6: Return to the Tower: 1 painting.
- Mission 7: The Flooded District: 3 paintings.
The paintings and locations:
- Mission 2: High Overseer Campbell:
- “The Isometry of High Overseer Thaddeus Campbell” – Campbell’s secret chamber
- Mission 3: House of Pleasure:
- “Light Along the Inverse Curve, Sokolov’s Self Portrait” – Art Dealer’s Apartment
- “Daud and the Parabola of Lost Seasons” – Art Dealer’s Apartment
- “Custis, Morgan and the Postulate Child” – Art Dealer’s Apartment (In the safe)
Mission 4: The Royal Physician:
- “The Obtuse Arguments of Lady Boyle” – First floor of Sokolov’s Safehouse
Mission 5: Lady Boyle’s Last Party:
- “Vera Moray and the Affix of Her Skin” – Top floor of the Boyle Mansion
- “The Spymaster’s Axis of Asymmetry” – Top floor of the Boyle Mansion in one of the bedrooms
Mission 6: Return to the Tower:
- “The Empress and the Empty Set” – Second floor of Dunwall Tower, in the room beside the Lord Regent’s room
Mission 7: The Flooded District:
- “The Commutative Rats and the Weeper” – In the first area after escaping, blink your way onto the rooftops and find this balcony. Inside is the painting.
- “The Torturer’s Quaternionic Groan” – In the Dauds hideout, on one of the floors (third) when climbing down the chain to escape
- “The Outsider and the Circumscribed Void” – In Granny Rags’ room beneath the whale corpse. Have to trigger the side quest confrontaion between Granny Rags and Slackjaw for this.
I hope you found this guide helpful and don’t forget to leave feedback and comments below as well as rating it if you found the guide helpful. Much appreciated 😀