Dishonored 2 guide and walkthrough: safe combinations, painting and blueprint locations

Dishonored 2 has plenty of secrets worth digging up: paintings, hidden objectives, safe combinations, blueprints, bonecharms and runes. Let's track 'em down.

Dishonored 2 is at its most fun when you take stock of your surroundings and objectives, form a plan of action, and either have it away on your toesies or unleash hell if it all goes wrong – and nobody needs a guide for that.

But if you want to see and do everything Dishonored 2 offers without missing a trick, this is the guide for you. We want to make sure you can go into a level knowing precisely all the collectibles you should have found by the time you walk out the other side. We want you to be able to scroll through our walkthrough looking for that one missing bonecharm you can't get to or safe combination you can't figure out. And we want you to hold our hands and come with us step by step if you're struggling in those early missions when it's all so new and terrifying.

Take you want from our Dishonored 2 guide and walkthrough, and let us know if there's a secret we missed, a mystery you're puzzled by or something you're desperate to find.

General Dishonored 2 guides

Beginner's guide: 10 tips for all you aspiring assassins
If this is your first Dishonored game, start here – Arkane's stealth sandbox can be unforgiving if you don't get a handle on the basics.

Safe Combinations
Completed Like Deus Ex's (alarmingly realistic) computer passwords, most safe combinations in Dishonored 2 can be found in the very same room, if you know where to look. Do you actually know where to look, though?

Bonecharm, rune and Outsider shrine locations
Completed. The Heart will guide you to these vital Dishonored 2 collectibles, but knowing where something is and understanding how to get to it are two different matters. Also includes a quick explanation of what these fascinating objects do.

Painting Locations
Completed. On ongoing list of the paintings we find in Dishonored 2. They're worth a stack of cash, so keep your eyes peeled, and add art theft to the growing charge sheet levelled at the Dunwall aristocracy.

Blueprint locations
Completed. Desperate to upgrade your gear? This is a list of the blueprints we've found so far. They unlock some exciting new possibilities – as long as you haven't yet pissed off your local Black Market Shop, of course.

Dishonored 2 Walkthrough
Our walkthrough aims to be both lightweight and comprehensive: you can use it as a quick reference or dive into a full step-by-step guide.

Broken down by loading screen divisions as well as mission, each walkthrough page provides a quick overview of each level – with maps, where available, so we can give you cardinal point references – and a checklist of key items and objectives in each zone. You can use this as a checklist as you explore on your own terms, safe in the knowledge that you won't miss anything.

For those looking for more specific guidance, each page also includes a step-by-step walkthrough of how we made it through each area. The beauty of Dishonored 2 is that you can plot your own course, using whatever abilities and methods you like best – but it never hurts to know at least one guaranteed route, does it? This will also guide you to every collectible and special action on the way to the end goal.

The only thing we'll be skipping over is minor loot. We'll let you know when there's something really tasty, but don't expect the location of every coin in Karnaca. If you want all those expensive crossbow upgrades you'll just have to rifle through the cupboards like the rest of us.

Mission 01: A Long Day in Dunwall part 1 – Dunwall Tower

Mission 01: A Long Day in Dunwall part 2 – Dunwall Streets

Mission 02: The Edge of the World part 1 – A Strange Visit and The Dreadful Wale

Mission 02: The Edge of the World part 2 – Dockyard Quarter and Addermire Station

Mission 03: The Good Doctor – Addermire Institute

Mission 04: The Clockwork Mansion part 1 – Aventa District

Mission 04: The Clockwork Mansion part 2 – Clockwork Mansion

Mission 05: The Royal Conservatory – Cryia Gardens and Royal Conservatory

Mission 06: Dust District – Batista District

Mission 07: A Crack in the Slab – Aramis Stilton's Mansion

Mission 08: The Grand Palace part 1 – Ravina Boulevard, Palace District

Mission 08: The Grand Palace part 2 – Grand Palace