Blink

Blink is a supernatural ability in Dishonored and its DLCs, along with Dishonored 2, that allows Corvo Attano and Daud to rapidly traverse mid-sized distances in an instant, with Daud being able to stop time while aiming. Blink consumes 20% of the user's total mana, making it one of only four powers (along with Dark Vision, Void Gaze and Far Reach) that can be used indefinitely without running out of mana.

Dishonored

Tier I - (0 runes)

Corvo's Blink destination.

With Tier I of Blink, Corvo or Daud can move up to 10 meters almost instantly.

Tier II - (3 runes (Corvo) / 4 runes (Daud))

Daud's Blink destination.

With Tier II of Blink, Corvo and Daud can move up to 15 meters almost instantly.

Dishonored 2

Ability	Runes	Previous upgrade	Description
Blink	0	None	Move forward rapidly.
Greater Blink	4	Blink	Extend range of Blink.
Redirective Blink	3	Blink	Time stops if you aren't moving while aiming Blink.
Blink Assault	1	Blink	Throw enemies to the ground by attacking just as Blink ends.

Usage tips

• The reach of Blink takes the form of a squashed sphere; this means it extends significantly further horizontally than vertically.
  • The ability Agility is useful when combined with Blink, as it allows for significant extension of the power's vertical range.
• Like all tools carried in the left hand, this ability can be used while carrying bodies.
• If the marker denoting the user's destination changes into an arrow pointing up, the user will immediately climb on top of the targeted object after he blinks. This can be important when scaling tall buildings or when trying to stay above guards in a narrow corridor.
  • In Dishonored, the user cannot climb while holding a body. In Dishonored 2, they can.
• Provided the user waits for their mana to refill between uses, Blink can be used without having to consider long-term mana management.
  • Mana does not recharge when time is stopped because of Blink.
  • The bone charm Spiritual Pool is particularly useful for minimizing downtime between blinks. Void Surge and Void Favor both give the user a chance of not consuming mana when a power is used, allowing for a much shorter downtime between blinks.
• Any physical object in the path of Blink will be treated as if running into it at high speed.
  • This includes walls of light, which will kill Corvo or Daud if they attempt to blink through them.
  • The same is true for arc pylons; however, if the arc pylon has not already fired when they blink, they will avoid damage.
  • In Dishonored 2, Corvo can pass through glass, smashing it but taking no damage.
  • If an enemy is in the user's path while blinking, the opponent will be pushed with low force. If the path manages to only overlay with an enemy's head, he will knock them down onto the floor for a short time.
  • Aiming Blink close or directly at a foe allows Corvo or Daud to deal a critical blow with a well-timed sword slash. This is also possible for tallboys.
• Blink can be used to mitigate fall damage as blinking does not count as falling. However, it does not reset the fall counter.
• A useful strategy when attempting a stealth playthrough is to blink behind an opponent, incapacitate them, blink back to safety then repeat. This allows for relatively risk-free and resource-light clearing of guarded areas.
  • The black bone charm Fading Light is very helpful for this as it prevents Blink from consuming mana if Blink is used within a second of assassination.
• The time stop ability only functions when no movement controls are being held, including the jump button.
• The ability to stop time allows for more flexibility in terms of destinations, such as blinking around corners, or reaching ledges only accessible at the very peak of a jump.
• While time is stopped, Daud can still look around and interact with items (pickpocket, open chests, carry bodies etc.). He can use this feature as a free Bend Time to rapidly interact with objects before quickly escaping with Blink, thus making it an excellent power for stealth oriented playthroughs.
  • Corvo, while still free to look around, is unable to interact with anything.
  • Although this requires fast reactions, it is sometimes possible for Daud to negate the effects of a broken tripwire by catching the trap's ammunition in mid-air: Once the trap is sprung, Daud should initiate his time-stopping Blink ability. This should be followed by Daud facing the projectile while making micro-movements towards it until it is in reach to pick up.
• Blink Assault is very useful during combat, allowing Corvo to kick enemies out of the fight for a short time. While it cannot kill them if they fly into walls, a well-aimed Blink Assault can knock them over ledges to their death.
  • Witches will Blink when kicked, reducing the effectiveness of this strategy.

Related Bone Charms

Dishonored

• Void Channel - Increased range for Blink.

Dishonored 2

• Fading Light - Far Reach and Blink consume no Mana if used within a second of Assassination.
• Relocation Sickness - Witches sometimes stumble off-balance after magical relocation.
• Corruption - Witches magically relocate more often.

Trivia

• Blink is the only supernatural ability given to Corvo for free, when he first meets the Outsider during either game.
• Several other characters in the games also use Blink, including Granny Rags, the Brigmore Witches and the Whalers.
  • This decision was reached towards the end of Dishonored's development, with one of the developers asking "Why don't we give all the characters Blink?"^{[citation needed]}
• Each group of Blink users associated with a particular marked individual has their own blink animation and sound. When Daud and his assassins blink, they will fade into ash. Granny Rags will fade into feathers. Delilah Copperspoon and the Brigmore Witches fade into a rain of petals. Corvo vanishes and appears in a ball of light.
  • None of the NPCs in the franchise react to these visual effects, even when they should be able to see them.
• Blink Tier II is the only supernatural ability to cost more runes for Daud than for Corvo.
• When Corvo uses Blink, nearby sounds will temporarily be distorted. Sounds remain the same for Daud.
• When using Blink, a voice will mutter phrases as Corvo aims and executes this ability. Daud has a loud percussive noise play when he aims his Blink, with the travel sound being wind rushing around him.
• Skilled users of Blink can change direction multiple times, which is how Granny Rags manages to reach the bottom of her staircase in a single Blink, and how the Whalers have a much greater range. This is because viewing the destination with one's eyes limits the power. Less skilled users can only travel in a straight line to a visible destination.
• The Whalers and the game's files refer to Blink as "Transversals".
• In the debut trailer for Dishonored, Corvo blinks and smashes through a window. In the games, he does not gain this ability until Dishonored 2.

Audio

Description	Sound effect
Sound while aiming Blink.
Sound during movement.

Gallery

Old Blink icon.

Alternate Blink icon.

Daud's Blink icon.

Alternate Daud's Blink icon.

Corvo's Blink tutorial.

Daud's Blink tutorial.

Blink in action (GIF).

Billie Lurk using Blink (GIF).

Corvo before blinking.

Corvo while blinking.

Daud's Blink destination with an arrow.

Daud while blinking.

Daud uses Blink to avoid being shot.

Daud using Blink causing a Hatter to be frozen in time.

An assassin in the process of blinking.

An assassin blinking.

Granny Rags' Blink.

Granny Rags blinking in her lair (GIF).

Corvo using Blink (GIF).

Promotional image of Corvo using Blink.