Welcome to the ultimate guide to earning the Vanished achievement in Dishonored, one of the game’s most iconic stealth challenges. To earn this achievement, you must make your way through the prison and the sewers without being detected. Sounds simple? It’s not. You’ll be relying on patience, timing, and a whole lot of sneaking. In this walkthrough, I’ll show you exactly how to do it step-by-step—including how to handle key threats, where to take risks, and what to avoid entirely.

Understanding Detection: What Counts and What Doesn’t

Enemies in Dishonored have three levels of detection. The first is curiosity—think of it as “maybe it was a cat.” The second level is investigation—they’ll start to actively check out the disturbance. Only the third level is true detection, and if that happens, you’ll need to reload your last save. As long as you stay within the first or second level of suspicion, you’re still in the clear.

The Prison: Step-by-Step to Stay Invisible

Right off the bat, you’ll need to take out a guard and hide his body. There’s another NPC nearby who might spot it otherwise. Tossing the body into a corner works well. Don’t forget to grab the guard’s key—it’s essential for progressing.

The next guard doesn’t see you unless you’re sloppy. I chose to move his body as well, but it’s technically unnecessary. Proceed through a quiet corridor and open a safe to acquire a bomb that will be crucial for progressing later. From here, things start to pick up.

When you reach a guard checkpoint, resist the urge to take the stairs immediately. Wait for the bald-headed guard to turn around—only then are you clear to climb. This part is tricky. One corridor guard turns frequently, and you’ll be tempted to rush. Don’t. The control room may look tempting, but you can’t phase through the glass.

Instead, wait for your moment. When the hallway guard turns his back, sneak in, choke the control room guard (non-lethally), and move on. Killing is allowed for this achievement, but if you want to pair Vanished with Clean Hands, keep it pacifist.

Before opening the next door, always peek through the keyhole to spot enemy movement. Timing here is everything. If you’re chasing pickpocketing achievements too, loot before choking for it to count.

Once you reach the upper level, handle two guards—one downstairs and one on the balcony. I rushed and got away with it, but if you’re unsure, wait until the balcony guard walks away. Either method works if executed cleanly.

The Bridge and Sewer: Minimal Risk, Maximum Stealth

Jump down and approach the bridge area. Swim beneath it to avoid any possible detection. From here, you enter the sewer section, which, for the most part, is empty of threats. Still, keep crouched where rats and guards interact.

You’ll pass through a scene where guards get devoured by rats. Stay out of sight and let nature do the work. A little further ahead, rats become a threat to you. Avoid engaging them. Instead, throw corpses to distract them. Use them like bait and slip by without incident.

Eventually, you’ll reach your first climbable chain—this is where the game teaches you this mechanic. Right after, you’ll spot a trap. Don’t sprint into it. You can safely deactivate it by approaching from above. You’ll also find coins and a health potion—nice pickups for a clean run.

More tripwires will appear. One you can break by smashing wood (no alert triggers here), and another can be sidestepped entirely. Just know your environment and use height to your advantage.

Final Stretch: Underwater Stealth and The Last Guard

You’ll eventually run into two guards mid-conversation. Wait until one walks off, then choke the remaining one. After that, take a swim. This long underwater segment can be completed without surfacing once—Corvo’s lung capacity is more than enough.

On the other side, one final guard awaits. He’s the last real obstacle. Wait until he turns around, then dash past him. Once you’re clear, there are no more enemies. Sprint the rest of the way, find Samuel the boatman, and tell him you’re ready to leave prison life behind.

Achievement Unlocked

That’s it. Vanished should pop as long as you were never fully detected. It’s a satisfying achievement, and now you’ve earned it with style. Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in the next challenge!