Should You Kill Gonzo in Rise of the Ronin?

In one of the early missions of Rise of the Ronin, you’re tasked to take out a group of bandits. However, in the end, you’ll have a boss fight with their leader, Gonzo. You’re then given the option to kill him or not. So, should you kill Gonzo in Rise of the Ronin? 

Rise of the Ronin: Should You Kill Gonzo?

Rise of the Ronin has multiple choices that you’ll have to make, which will have consequences for the rest of the game. After you defeat the bandit leader Gonzo, he’ll be lying on the ground begging for his life. Even though he just tried to kill you, should you let him live? 

Without getting into any spoilers, let’s look at the outcomes of each choice. If you kill Gonzo, you’ll unlock Merciless as a title. This will give you a +1 in Strength when it’s equipped. 

However, If you choose to let Gonzo live, you’ll eventually be able to have him become an ally and obtain his fighting style, Nodachi Jigen-ryu. This will also unlock a side quest where you’ll team up with him. When Gonzo is in your party, enemies will drop more money and Strength Points. This is perfect if you’re going for a Strength build. 

So yes, you should let Gonzo live. This choice gives you much better rewards, a new fighting style, and access to a side quest that you wouldn’t have otherwise. The +1 in Strength from killing him is not worth what you’ll miss out on. 

So, if you’re still wondering if you should kill Gonzo in Rise of the Ronin — you shouldn’t. He’ll eventually become a valuable ally who has a lot of great perks if you let him live. If you’re looking for more tips and tricks, check out our dedicated Rise of the Ronin guides hub.