In Red Dead Redemption 2, morality isn’t just a concept—it’s a gameplay mechanic that shapes your journey through the rugged Wild West. The Honor System tracks every decision you make, from aiding strangers to committing heinous crimes, and its impact ripples across the game’s story, interactions, and rewards. Will you be the virtuous outlaw earning discounts and respect, or the ruthless renegade feared by all? The choice is yours, but beware—your Honor Rank could even alter the fate of Arthur Morgan himself.
How do I check my current Honor?
At the start of the game, the protagonist’s Honor bar is neutral. Good deeds are associated with receiving positive Honor points and bad deeds with receiving negative Honor points. You can easily check your current Honor rating in two main ways:
- By pressing the lower direction on the gamepad’s cross. The Honor bar will appear at the bottom of the screen. White represents a positive value and red represents a negative value.
- By looking at the main character menu. Honor is one of values used to describe the protagonist.
How do I acquire positive Honor?
The game rewards all types of good deeds in the game with positive points of Honor. This includes the following actions:
- Helping randomly encountered innocent people (e.g. an injured person in need of treatment or a civilian attacked by bandits).
- Greeting people you meet in the game world. You can easily “farm” positive Honor by entering e.g. the saloon and greeting the people in it one by one.
- Donating for the development of the camp and helping with chores around the camp (e.g. carrying heavy bags).
- Making certain decisions while completing quests, e.g. releasing the interrogated person instead of killing him/her.
How do I acquire negative Honor?
The game awards negative Honor points for all kinds of shameful and disgraceful deeds. These include, but are not limited to, the following actions:
- Killing innocent persons and lawmen.
- Stealing from other people and plundering buildings that are the property of someone else. Negative points are also awarded for stealing horses.
- Robbing shops, stagecoaches and trains.
- Killing domesticated animals such as dogs or pigs.
- Making certain decisions while completing quests, e.g. beating or murdering the interlocutor instead of extracting information from him/her peacefully, or refusing to help an ally.
How does the Honor system affect the game?
Apart from a few exceptions, the game only rewards you for collecting positive Honor points. You can count on the following benefits:
- Lower prices in shops. After reaching a very high positive Honor level, sellers can reduce prices by as much as half. This is very useful for the most expensive items such as unique weapons, horses and outfits.
- Finding more of specific types of loot (e.g. medicines, food or jewelry).
- Unlocking access to new costumes available for purchase. The game should inform you about their availability.
How does the Honor System impact your relationships with other characters
The Honor System in Red Dead Redemption 2 significantly impacts your relationships with other characters by shaping how they perceive and interact with you. A high honor level fosters trust and respect, leading to more positive interactions, heartfelt dialogue, and even unique story outcomes. Conversely, a low honor level can result in fear or hostility, with characters reacting to you as a ruthless outlaw. This dynamic not only influences individual relationships but also alters the tone of your journey through the game’s world.
How does Honor influence your interactions with non-playable characters
The Honor System in Red Dead Redemption 2 directly influences your interactions with non-playable characters (NPCs) by altering their behavior and dialogue based on your honor level. With high honor, NPCs are generally more friendly, respectful, and trusting, often expressing admiration for your virtuous actions. In contrast, low honor leads to fear or disdain, with NPCs reacting more cautiously or even aggressively toward you. This dynamic adds depth to the game world, making your moral choices feel impactful in everyday encounters.
