How to "Reload" in Dishonored: A Guide to Your Arsenal

Welcome to the grimy, whale-oil-powered world of Dishonored. As you begin your quest for revenge, you’ll notice that the combat feels different from other shooters. If you’re frantically hitting the “R” key and wondering why nothing is happening, you’re not alone. This guide will explain how reloading really works.

1. Can You Manually Reload in Dishonored? The Short Answer

No, not in the traditional sense. Dishonored does not have a universal manual reload button that works for all weapons like in games such as Call of Duty or Battlefield.

The Misconception: Many players look for a single key to top up their pistol magazine or crossbow. This button does not exist. Instead, each piece of equipment operates on its own unique system.
Automatic vs. Manual: The pistol reloads itself automatically after each shot. The crossbow, on the other hand, requires you to manually load the next bolt. Understanding this distinction is key to mastering the game’s combat rhythm.

2. How Your Pistol Works: The Automatic Reload

Corvo’s pistol is a powerful, single-shot flintlock-style weapon. Its reload mechanic is straightforward but crucial to understand in the heat of battle.

One Shot, One Reload: After you fire a single bullet, Corvo will automatically begin a short animation to reload the pistol with another bullet from your inventory. You cannot fire again until this animation is complete.
The “Click” Sound: If you try to fire the pistol when you are completely out of bullets, you will hear a distinct empty “click” sound. This is your cue that you need to find or purchase more ammunition.
Upgrades That Matter: While you can’t manually speed up the reload, you can purchase upgrades from Piero’s workshop to improve the pistol’s performance significantly. Focus on Pistol Reload Speed to shorten the animation time and Magazine Capacity upgrades to allow you to fire multiple shots before needing a full reload cycle.

3. The Crossbow: Equipping Your Next Shot

The crossbow is your silent ranged option, and it functions differently from the pistol.

Not a Reload, But a Re-Arm: After firing a bolt, you must “re-arm” the crossbow by loading a new one. This happens automatically but, like the pistol, takes a moment. You cannot fire again until a new bolt is seated. The key difference is that with the crossbow, you can hold multiple bolts, allowing you to fire sequentially after each re-arm until your ammo runs out.
Switching Bolt Types on the Fly: The crossbow’s true strength is its versatility. You can switch between Standard Bolts, non-lethal Sleep Darts, and destructive Incendiary Bolts. To do this, bring up your weapon wheel (middle mouse button on PC, L1/LB on console), highlight the crossbow, and then select the desired bolt type from the sub-menu.
Key Upgrades for Faster Crossbow Use: Visit Piero to purchase the Crossbow Reload upgrade, which shortens the time it takes to load the next bolt, making you much more effective in rapid succession. Also read this minecraft tutorial

For a great visual demonstration of Dishonored’s combat and weapon mechanics, check out this video:

4. Understanding Your Ammunition: Bullets and Bolts

Your ability to use ranged weapons is entirely dependent on your ammo supply.

Where to Find Ammo in the World: Keep your eyes peeled. Bullets and bolts can often be found on shelves, in crates, and on the bodies of guards throughout every level. Exploration is always rewarded.
Purchasing Ammo from Piero’s Workshop: Between missions, you can visit Piero at the Hound Pits Pub to stock up. It’s always a good idea to spend some of your collected coin to ensure you start the next mission with a full supply.
Managing Your Inventory: You have a limited capacity for how much ammo you can carry. You can purchase upgrades from Piero to increase your carrying capacity for both bullets and bolts.

5. What About Other “Weapons”? (Powers and Gadgets)

Your arsenal extends beyond traditional weapons. Here’s how to manage them.

Mana Potions: “Reloading” Your Supernatural Powers: Your supernatural abilities, like Blink and Dark Vision, consume mana. Your mana bar regenerates slowly up to a certain point, but to refill it completely, you must use Piero’s Spiritual Remedy (mana potions). Think of these as the “ammo” for your powers.
Grenades and Spring Razors: These are one-time-use gadgets. Once you throw a grenade or place a Spring Razor mine, it is consumed from your inventory. There is no reloading them; you must find or purchase more.
Do Powers like ‘Blink’ or ‘Dark Vision’ Need Reloading? No. As long as you have enough mana, you can use these powers. If your mana bar is empty, you simply have to wait for it to regenerate or drink a potion.

6. Tips for Effective Ammo Management in Combat

This checklist will help you stay prepared and lethal.

[ ] Make Every Shot Count: Ammunition can be scarce. Aim for headshots with the crossbow for silent, one-hit kills on unarmoured enemies. Use the pistol for louder, more powerful situations.
[ ] Use Your Sword to Conserve Ammo: Your sword is your primary weapon and has no “ammo.” In a one-on-one fight, try to rely on blocking, parrying, and counter-attacking with your blade to save your bullets and bolts for more challenging encounters.
[ ] Choose the Right Tool for the Job: Don’t waste a loud pistol shot on a single, isolated guard when a silent crossbow bolt or a stealth takedown will do.
[ ] Loot Everything: Always take a moment to check shelves, desks, and bodies for supplies. A few extra bullets can make all the difference.
[ ] Upgrade Your Capacity: One of the best early investments is upgrading how much ammo and how many potions you can carry.

Conclusion: Thinking Differently About Your Arsenal

The key to mastering combat in Dishonored is to break the habit of looking for a reload button and instead adapt to the game’s unique rhythm. Each weapon and ability has its own cadence—the pistol’s single shot and automatic reload, the crossbow’s steady re-arming, and the constant management of your mana.

Takeaway

Weapon/Ability	“Reload” Mechanic	How to Improve It
Pistol	Automatically reloads after each shot.	Purchase Reload Speed & Magazine Size upgrades.
Crossbow	Automatically loads next bolt after each shot.	Purchase Reload Speed upgrade.
Supernatural Powers	Consume mana.	Use Spiritual Remedy (potions) to refill.
Gadgets	Single use (e.g., Grenades, Mines).	Find or purchase more.

By understanding these systems and managing your resources wisely, you’ll transform from a confused newcomer into the Royal Protector and a truly supernatural assassin.

How to “Reload” in Dishonored: A Guide to Your Arsenal