What happens if I abandon John in the final mission?

In Red Dead Redemption 2, the final mission, titled ''American Venom,'' is a pivotal moment where Arthur Morgan''s story concludes, and John Marston''s journey begins. If you choose to abandon John during this mission, the game''s narrative and ending will take a drastically different turn. This decision is tied to the game''s honor system, which influences the outcome of the story.\n\nWhen you reach the final mission, you are given a choice: help John escape or go back for the money. If you choose to abandon John, Arthur will prioritize retrieving the gang''s hidden money stash over aiding John''s escape. This decision reflects a low-honor playthrough, where Arthur''s actions are driven by self-interest rather than loyalty or redemption. The game mechanics here are tied to your honor level, which is influenced by your actions throughout the story, such as helping strangers, committing crimes, or making moral choices.\n\nIf you abandon John, the mission will proceed with Arthur heading to the cave where the money is hidden. During this sequence, you will face intense combat against Micah and his allies. The gameplay here is challenging, as you must navigate through a hostile environment while dealing with waves of enemies. The mission culminates in a confrontation with Micah, where Arthur''s fate is sealed. In this ending, Arthur succumbs to his injuries and tuberculosis, dying alone in the mountains. This ending is often seen as the ''bad'' or ''low-honor'' ending, as it lacks the emotional closure and redemption found in the alternative path.\n\nTo achieve this ending, you must have a low honor level by the time you reach Chapter 6. Actions that lower your honor include robbing innocent civilians, killing without justification, and generally behaving selfishly. If you want to experience this ending, you should avoid helping strangers, decline side missions that reward honor, and engage in criminal activities. For example, robbing trains, looting bodies, and antagonizing NPCs will lower your honor. Conversely, helping strangers, donating to camp, and making morally upright choices will increase your honor, leading to the alternative ending where Arthur helps John escape.\n\nOne common challenge players face is maintaining a low honor level while still progressing through the story. To achieve this, you must consistently make choices that prioritize personal gain over altruism. For instance, during the mission ''Money Lending and Other Sins,'' you can choose to intimidate or kill debtors instead of showing mercy. Similarly, in random encounters, you can rob or kill travelers instead of assisting them. These actions will ensure your honor remains low, steering the story toward the abandonment ending.\n\nIn terms of gameplay mechanics, the final mission is designed to test your combat skills and decision-making. If you choose to abandon John, you will need to be well-prepared for the intense firefight in the cave. Stock up on ammunition, health tonics, and Dead Eye tonics before starting the mission. Use cover effectively and aim for headshots to conserve resources. The mission''s difficulty spikes during the final confrontation with Micah, so having a powerful weapon like the Schofield Revolver or Lancaster Repeater is recommended.\n\nPractical tips for players aiming to experience this ending include focusing on dishonorable actions early in the game. This ensures your honor level remains low without requiring drastic measures in the later chapters. Additionally, save your game before the final mission so you can replay it and explore the alternative ending. This allows you to experience both outcomes without starting a new playthrough. Remember, the choice to abandon John is irreversible once made, so consider your decision carefully.\n\nIn summary, abandoning John in the final mission leads to a low-honor ending where Arthur dies alone, prioritizing money over loyalty. This outcome is achieved by maintaining a low honor level through selfish and criminal actions. The mission itself is challenging, requiring strategic combat and preparation. By understanding the game''s honor system and making deliberate choices, you can experience this darker conclusion to Arthur''s story.