RELATED: Best Stealth Games That Turned 10 In 2022, Ranked
Bone Charms are one such tool, with each of the available 35 charms granting a small boon or bonus to Corvo’s abilities. However, Dishonored only allows players to equip a certain number of these trinkets at any one time, making the decision of which ones to choose all the more important. Here are the best picks.
10 Scavenger – Refill Ammo On The Fly
If going for a high chaos, full frontal assault kind of playthrough, players may find themselves running out of ammo for their pistol and crossbow rather quickly. Here’s where Scavenger comes in – it grants Corvo a 50% chance of looting extra ammo.
In a game where bullets and bolts are relatively scarce, and players must make every shot count, scavenging a little extra from dead enemies and nearby buildings makes it far easier for Corvo to blast his way through the legion of guards that stand between him and the Lord Regent.
9 Rat Scent – If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Join ‘Em
Keeping with their status as household pests, rat swarms can become quite a nuisance over the course of the game. If attempting a stealthy maneuver, rat swarms sometimes interrupt Corvo and force him to defend himself, often giving away his position, whereas if going for a louder approach, rats will only become more numerous the more bodies that pile up.
Fortunately, Rat Scent lets players blend in with these pesky swarms, allowing Corvo to avoid having to deal with the majority of them. This can be useful in any playthrough, regardless of chaos level.
8 Strong Arms – Bring Enemies Down Fast
A perfect choice for non-lethal runs, Strong Arms makes choking out enemies much quicker. This minimizes the amount of time Corvo is left exposed and makes it less likely for guards to catch sight of their comrades being subdued.
RELATED: Hardest Stealth Games Ever Made, Ranked
Pair this with the Undertaker bone charm, which lets Corvo move faster carrying a body, and the whole process of taking down enemies and hiding their unconscious bodies becomes a far sleeker and more covert operation. If they wait for the right moment, players can clear entire streets of enemies without so much as a whisper of trouble.
7 Unnerving Target – Dodge Bullets Better Than Neo
Many enemies in Dishonored have access to ranged weapons, but few of them are as damaging or as common as the pistols of the City Watch Officers. These things pack a hefty punch, and unless going down a stealthier approach, Corvo is going to come under fire a lot during the course of the game.
That’s why Unnerving Target can be so useful - it makes enemies have a slight chance to miss their shots, and its upgraded version increases the chance even further. While the base bone charm is a bit underwhelming, Unnerving Target II can prove highly valuable if the player plans on getting into lots of gunfights.
6 Whirlwind - Cross Blades With The Best Of Them
A versatile and effective bone charm, Whirlwind increases the swing speed of Corvo’s sword. This allows the player to draw first blood in combat and strike their opponents with a flurry of fast attacks, often winning the sword fight outright. Whirlwind also makes it easier for Corvo to interrupt the enemy’s ranged attacks and kill any fleeing stragglers before they raise the alarm.
Just like Unnerving Target, Whirlwind also has an upgraded version – Whirlwind II, which increases the swing speed even more. Considering the sword is Corvo’s primary weapon (and the only one without an ammo requirement), Whirlwind is a no-brainer for just about any playthrough.
5 Plague Affinity – Profit From The Plague
This one is best utilized for high-chaos runs. The more people Corvo kills, the higher the chaos level will become, which, in turn, causes more rats and weepers to spawn in. Wise players can turn this unpleasant complication into a handy way to replenish mana by equipping this bone charm.
RELATED: The Case for Dishonored 3
Plague Affinity works to give a small amount of mana every time the player takes damage from weepers. With plenty of these zombie-esque plague victims shuffling around, Corvo can more easily replenish any mana lost from heavy use of magic in combat. This comes at the cost of health, however, although it can be more easily replenished with food.
4 Vengeance – Fight Like A Berserker
Vengeance works similarly to Plague Affinity and is once again better used for a more brutal high chaos run than stealth. If equipped, Corvo gains adrenaline from being damaged in combat. This contributes to the build-up of adrenaline that allows the player to perform a special fatality attack that kills an enemy in one swing.
As fatality attacks ignore the blocking status or remaining health of enemies, they are very good at dispatching more challenging opponents. Vengeance also helps out when Corvo is in a pinch, turning taken damage into pure offensive power to break out of a rut and swiftly eliminate threatening opponents.
3 Tough Skin – Boost Corvo’s Survivability
Having been framed for the murder of the empress and kidnapping of her child, held in prison, and forced to endure the destruction of his name, Corvo is perhaps used to having thick skin. The Tough Skin bone charm takes it to another level, however, giving the player an extra 15% maximum health.
While it’s not a massive increase, the extra health is a welcome bonus and can be the difference between life and death in the dangerous city of Dunwall. Whatever approach is taken, whether stealthy or combative, players can’t go wrong with this health buff.
2 Swift Shadow – Strike From The Dark
Dishonored players have a choice between two stances – standing or stealth. The former is self-explanatory, but the latter allows Corvo to crouch down, decreasing his visibility to nearby enemies.
Swift Shadow increases the speed of movement in stealth, making it easier to do just about anything while remaining hidden. Dash between cover, dart out for a quick kill, or prepare a trap just in time – Swift Shadow is endlessly useful.
1 Blood Ox Heart – Push The Limits Of Mana
On paper, Blood Ox Heart is fairly simple – it gives the player an extra 20% maximum mana. Considering the many abilities and feats that Corvo can perform, this extra mana allows players to chain combinations of spells together to create smart and elaborate ways to take out enemies and traverse levels without the need to spam mana potions.
Maybe the player needs to blink over a long distance to escape a persistent tallboy or Bend Time for an extended period to sneak past an observant guard – the extra mana unlocks entirely new magical possibilities for Corvo to utilize in his mission to clear his name and bring justice to Dunwall.
Dishonored is available on PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Windows.
MORE: Dishonored 2: Crucial Bonecharms & How To Get Them
