How to Put Weapons Away to Move Faster and Sneak Better

Sneaking through the plague-ridden streets of Dunwall requires stealth, agility, and knowing when to keep your blade out of sight. Many new players jumping into Arkane Studios' classic stealth-action game find themselves wondering in dishonored how to put weapons away to avoid alerting guards or civilians. Keeping your blade and crossbow drawn not only slows your movement speed but also makes you look highly suspicious to neutral NPCs.

In this comprehensive guide, we will break down exactly in dishonored how to put weapons away across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles, while exploring how this simple mechanic impacts your overall gameplay. By mastering this basic control, you can ensure that Corvo Attano remains as silent and swift as possible.

Why You Should Sheath Your Weapons in Dunwall

In the dark, dystopian world of Dishonored, your posture speaks volumes. Walking around with a folding blade in one hand and a loaded pistol in the other immediately signals hostility. If you approach neutral civilians with weapons drawn, they will scream, run away, or alert nearby city watch guards. Learning in dishonored how to put weapons away is one of the first things a player should master to successfully navigate these social stealth situations.

Furthermore, keeping your hands free grants Corvo Attano a significant boost to his movement speed. When your weapons are sheathed, you run faster, slide longer, and climb ledges with much more fluidity. For players aiming for a Low Chaos run, keeping your weapons holstered is absolutely essential to avoid unnecessary confrontations.

Default Controls for Sheathing Weapons Across All Platforms

Putting your weapons away is a simple task once you know the correct button inputs. The game features a context-sensitive "Use" button that double-duties as your holster command when held down. Knowing in dishonored how to put weapons away on PC simply requires holding the default interaction key. Below is a quick reference table for all major platforms.

On PC, players frequently report that they accidentally interact with doors or pick up items when trying to holster. To prevent this, ensure you hold the key down for a full second rather than just tapping it. Tapping the key will trigger an interaction, while holding it will successfully put your weapons away.

For console players, the process is very similar. Holding the reload/use button will initiate a clean sheathing animation. This keeps your hands completely empty, allowing you to traverse the rooftops of Dunwall at maximum velocity.

How Weapon Status Affects Chaos and NPC Interactions

Dishonored features a dynamic Chaos system that changes the world based on your level of violence. How you carry yourself in public spaces plays a major role in how NPCs react to you. Understanding in dishonored how to put weapons away is vital when entering neutral zones where drawing a blade is considered a hostile act.

According to player experiences shared on the Steam community discussions page, maintaining a low profile is much easier when you keep your weapons hidden. If you walk into a neutral area like the Hound Pits Pub or the Boyle Estate with your sword drawn, characters will refuse to talk to you. Instead, they will plead for their lives or call for help, potentially ruining a stealthy approach.

Keeping your weapons holstered also helps you blend into the shadows. While it does not make you invisible, it reduces your visual profile slightly, making it easier to slip past guards who are scanning the area.

Advanced Weapon-Hiding Glitches and Tricks

While the standard holstering mechanic puts both of your weapons away, the gaming community has discovered some interesting workarounds. In addition to the standard controls, community reports have highlighted unique workarounds for dishonored how to put weapons away partially, allowing you to keep one hand free while the other remains armed.

These animation tricks are highly popular among speedrunners and stealth purists. They allow you to maintain a non-lethal posture with your sword hidden while keeping your secondary gadget (like the crossbow or blink spell) ready.

To hide your sword but keep your secondary weapon out, draw both weapons first. Hold the holster button, and just as the animation for putting the sword away begins, press your secondary attack button.

To do the reverse—keeping your sword out while hiding your secondary—hold the holster button and press your primary attack button during the animation. This trick takes some practice due to the fast animation speeds, but it offers a unique way to customize your active loadout.

Customizing Your Controls for Better Stealth Flow

If the default keybindings feel awkward during intense stealth segments, you can easily customize them in the options menu. Many PC players prefer to separate the "Use" action from the "Holster" action entirely. This is especially true during high-difficulty runs, where mastering dishonored how to put weapons away becomes a core survival tactic rather than just a convenience.

By remapping your keys, you can avoid frustrating moments where Corvo accidentally opens a loud metal door while you are simply trying to hide your blade. On consoles, control customization is more limited, but adjusting your controller layout can still help streamline your stealth actions.

We highly recommend binding the holster command to an easily accessible key if you play on PC. Having instant control over your posture allows you to transition smoothly from a sprint to a silent assassination, keeping your momentum high.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still use Blink with my weapons put away?

Yes. You can use your supernatural abilities, including Blink and Dark Vision, even when your physical weapons are sheathed. Activating a power will temporarily show Corvo's left hand, but it will not draw your sword or cause civilians to panic.

In dishonored how to put weapons away quickly during combat?

To put your weapons away quickly, simply press and hold the holster key (F on PC, Square on PlayStation, X on Xbox) while moving. There is a brief animation delay, so it is best to do this while sliding or behind cover to avoid getting hit by enemy projectiles.

In dishonored how to put weapons away automatically?

The game does not feature an automatic holstering system. You must manually initiate the command to put your gear away. Making a habit of holding the holster key immediately after a combat encounter or sprint will ensure you maintain maximum movement speed.