Among all the playable characters in the Dishonored universe, Billie Lurk stands apart. She never ascended to the high court, like Royal Protector Corvo Attano. She wasn’t born into royalty, like Empress Emily Kaldwin. Then again, the same can be said about Billie’s mentor Daud, a mercenary assassin who starred in the first game’s DLC. The real difference? Unlike any of the previous three playable characters, Billie Lurk isn’t granted supernatural powers after being marked by the mysterious Outsider. And that makes a big difference when it comes to her new suite of abilities, gadgets and gear in the standalone game, Dishonored: Death of the Outsider.
“We had this idea that the person who takes the Outsider’s life would not bear his mark,” says Creative Director Harvey Smith. “Instead, Billie derives her powers from artifacts that are tied to the Void.”

Take a look at just a few of Billie’s new powers, her unique gear and one very cool gadget in our video interview with Smith.

What other powers does Billie have? Here’s a rundown of what you’ll wield as you work toward taking down the ultimate target: the supernatural, god-like figure who’s been at the center of the events that have roiled the Empire of the Isles ever since Daud (with Billie at his side) assassinated Empress Jessamine Kaldwin in the first game.

POWERS
In Death of the Outsider, Billie’s powers are unlocked as she acquires various artifacts that are tied to the Void. Billie can also find Bonecharms scattered throughout the world in order to upgrade her powers.

Displace. Like Corvo’s Blink and Emily’s Far Reach, Displace is Billie’s mobility power. Unlike Corvo and Emily, Billie’s power is based on placing markers in the world that no one else can see, then swapping positions with the marker. “It’s like Billie Lurk can imagine being in two places at once, and then decide which one of them is the right place that she should be,” Smith says. Billie can use these markers to navigate through a level – or she can strategically place a marker, then use it to stage a surprise attack or quickly escape an area. “It’s important to note that she doesn’t have to be looking directly at the marker,” Smith says. “It can be behind her or down a hall or on a rooftop. The marker has to have a line of sight to Billie – but Billie doesn’t have to be looking at it.”

Void Strike. This powerful charged-up attack will push your foes away from you, giving you more space to maneuver – or allowing you to assassinate an enemy if you take them by surprise. “Void Strike offers you another way in the middle of combat to drive an enemy back and destroy them,” Smith says.

Semblance. Steal someone’s identity, and use it to trick your enemies. Unlike Corvo’s Possession power, Semblance allows for a fuller range of actions, including anything from tricking an ally into unlocking a door to engaging in actual combat with another enemy. “Semblance is one of those powers that I was skeptical about because of the edge cases, but our game design team really nailed it,” Smith says. “You can pass by guards using the face of one of their allies, and get a greeting. But the other day I heard one major character calling to another – clearly getting ready for an important chat. She called out from another room, and he said, ‘Be there in a minute.’ I choked him out and used Semblance, then walked to her and she conversed with me as if I were him. It was a surprise to me, impressing me with how far the team had gone, supporting that major scene.”

Foresight. Whether you’re playing as a bloodthirsty assassin or a merciful agent of justice, you’ll want to get the lay of the land in Death of the Outsider’s intricately designed levels. Foresight allows Billie to pause time, leave her body, and see what lies ahead. While doing so, Billie can also leave a Displace marker, or mark objects of interest to track and follow.

GADGETS AND GEAR
Some of these items – like Billie’s sword and the Sliver of the Eye – are artifacts from the Void. Others are new gadgets that can be combined with Billie’s powers to wreak havoc… or to take out a target without anyone knowing what happened.
Voltaic Gun. Strapped to Billie’s wrist, this electrified projectile launcher can be upgraded to make it more powerful and versatile with a range of lethal and non-lethal ammunition types.

Hyperbaric Grenade. Toss this at your enemies for a non-lethal blast of compacted air. If you find yourself outnumbered and surrounded, the blast from this grenade will send mobs of enemies into the air, making it easier to escape the situation or combine your powers for some awesome kills.

Rat Whispers. Using a special talisman from the love of her life Deirdre, Billie can learn more about her world – and gather some useful clues – via the whisperings of the rats that roam the streets of Karnaca.

Hook Mine. Place this on a wall or floor or ceiling, and it’ll draw an enemy to it. The Hook Mine can be used non-lethally to subdue a person or hide an unconscious body. But if you place enough Hook Mines in an area, you’ll eviscerate anyone caught in the competing magnetic forces. “It can be quite gory,” Smith says. “It’s one of our favorite toys across the Dishonored games.”

Along with these powers and gadgets, Dishonored: Death of the Outsider also includes the Original Game + mode, unlocked after finishing the game. With this mode, players can mix Billie’s new powers with a curated selection of Emily and Corvo’s powers from Dishonored 2.
Dishonored: Death of the Outsider releases on September 15, 2017, on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.