What are the best ways to maintain low honor?

Maintaining low honor in Red Dead Redemption 2 is essential for unlocking specific endings and experiencing the darker side of Arthur Morgan''s story. Low honor is achieved by committing morally questionable actions, such as killing innocent NPCs, robbing, and causing chaos. The game''s honor system is dynamic, meaning your actions directly impact your honor level, which is displayed as a bar on the screen. To maintain low honor, you must consistently engage in negative behaviors while avoiding actions that increase honor, such as helping strangers or donating to camp.\n\nOne of the most effective ways to lower your honor is by committing crimes in towns like Valentine, Saint Denis, or Rhodes. Start by antagonizing or attacking NPCs, which will quickly draw the attention of lawmen. Killing lawmen or innocent civilians will significantly decrease your honor. Be prepared for a bounty, as this will make it harder to move freely in the area. To avoid being overwhelmed, use cover and focus on taking out lawmen systematically. Alternatively, you can rob stores or stagecoaches, which also lowers honor and provides additional rewards like cash or valuables.\n\nAnother method is to ignore random encounters that reward high honor. For example, if you encounter a stranded traveler asking for help, you can choose to rob or kill them instead of assisting. Similarly, avoid donating to the camp or helping gang members with chores, as these actions increase honor. Instead, focus on activities like hunting and skinning animals without mercy, or looting bodies after gunfights. These small actions add up over time and help maintain low honor.\n\nCompleting story missions with ruthless choices is another way to ensure low honor. During key decision points, opt for the more aggressive or selfish options. For instance, in missions involving debt collection, you can choose to intimidate or harm debtors rather than showing leniency. These choices not only lower your honor but also align with the narrative of a morally corrupt Arthur.\n\nTo maintain low honor consistently, avoid activities like fishing, which can inadvertently increase honor if you release fish. Additionally, refrain from greeting NPCs in towns, as this can slightly boost your honor. Instead, focus on antagonizing or insulting them to further lower your honor. If you accidentally gain honor, you can offset it by committing more crimes or causing chaos in populated areas.\n\nPractical tips for maintaining low honor include carrying a mask or bandana to reduce the risk of being identified during crimes. This allows you to commit multiple offenses without immediately attracting lawmen. Additionally, always have a fast horse and escape route planned, as lawmen will pursue you relentlessly. Finally, save your game frequently to avoid losing progress if things go wrong. By following these strategies, you can effectively maintain low honor and unlock the darker endings in Red Dead Redemption 2.