If you are not playing Kingdom Come Deliverance II, you have only two excuses: you are either stuck in Manor Lords like Arielle, or you are waiting for GTA VI to release any day now.
However, if you are playing one of the best RPGs out there, you would have found out rather quickly that it is not a walk in the park. The game is a brutal and honest depiction of life in the Middle Ages, where just surviving is a feat itself. But what if you want to not just survive but thrive in these testing times?
Luckily, we have a guide handy to get you up and running in the game and turn you from a poor peasant into a slightly less poor peasant!
If you are not playing Kingdom Come Deliverance II, you have only two excuses: you are either stuck in Manor Lords like Arielle, or you are waiting for GTA VI to release any day now.
However, if you are playing one of the best RPGs out there, you would have found out rather quickly that it is not a walk in the park. The game is a brutal and honest depiction of life in the Middle Ages, where just surviving is a feat itself. But what if you want to not just survive but thrive in these testing times?
Luckily, we have a guide handy to get you up and running in the game and turn you from a poor peasant into a slightly less poor peasant!
Have A Family Reunion
Right after the game’s first mission, when Henry and Hans barely make it out alive, it will become apparent that both your trusty steed and dog companion are long gone.
It will also become apparent that travelling can be somewhat tedious and combat a bit more challenging without either friend at your side.
Luckily, Mutt has a side quest to go after him from his last whereabouts. The side quest should not be too tricky early on if you can be patient while dealing with some wolves Mutt has befriended.
To find your trusty steed again, you can head to the stables at Semine, where the local groom will have taken in Pebbles. While you can repurchase Pebbles, the price will be steep.
You can either use a speech check on him (provided you are level 7) or go into the groom’s house at night, sneakily steal his groschen from his chest (he has about 400 on him) and use his money to pay for your horse the following day!
Don’t Cry Wolf
Wolves are a new enemy in Kingdom Come Deliverance II and behave quite differently in combat than human enemies.
If you are struggling with them in your quest to find Mutt or just from wandering the forest in general, here is what I find works best:
They will attack as a pack and dart to your sides to try and flank you. Remember to back away from them consistently and keep them in your sights.
It is also better to deal with them only using counter-attacks—first by perfectly blocking their initial attack and then launching a “riposte” on them, which they cannot dodge or counter.
Rinse and repeat, and the pack will be dealt with soon. Make sure to butcher the wolves for meat, too, as they are not considered poaching like other animals and can be sold to butchers for a handsome price.
Breaking Bad – Bohemia
When you leave the pillory in Troskowitz at the beginning of the game, Henry mentions that he must make some coin first.
And he’s right, as you will have nary a groschen to your name. But fear not, for the ways of the alchemist will fill your purse.
There is an alchemist’s table near the apothecary at the end of the village, where Henry can brew some of the potions that he had already required, such as the chamomile decoction and Saviour schnapps, using the herbs in the apothecary’s garden and selling the brews to the medicine man himself.
Alchemy also comes with great passive perks, such as progressing in strength while picking your plants and increasing your charisma with a certain number of herbs on your person.
Armour Is Not Only For Drip
After your Troskowitz tavern brawl, you’ll be stuck in nothing but your tighty-whities.
You will need to get armoured up soon if you wish to face the world’s dangers, either by robbing some off of the tailor while he is asleep or sneaking into the guard barracks.
Just make sure to stay away from the town while the gear is still “hot”; otherwise, you will end up in said pillory again, naked and afraid.
My Name Is Henry, Not Brand-on (Get It? Cause It’s Brand-Nevermind)
The crime punishment system is one of my favourite new Kingdom Come Deliverance II systems.
The punishment law no longer endlessly chases you for bounties or arbitrarily throws you in jail; your crimes can escalate into more serious punishments.
While you should generally be fine with spending time in the pillory or taking a flogging rather than paying the fine, you really ought to avoid branding.
This severe punishment clamps your activities down greatly, from being barred from trade with merchants in towns to your reputation increasing by 50% less to your next transgression, meaning a public execution!
Generally, if you committed serious crimes, steer clear of that village for a while. Though you will befriend fences and other illegal types of folks more, so there is that.
Rambling, Gambling Man
If you find yourself going to the tavern more than the church in this game, you might as well be putting it to good use. In most inns, someone will play dice and be eager to wager a few groschen against you.
Higher risks mean higher rewards, and you can win big once you master the simple rules.
Playing with badges is a new mechanic that allows a player’s badge (which has tiers of tin, silver, and gold) to manipulate the game rules.
Start playing these modes and win the opponent’s badge, which goes for a pretty penny for any trader.
So don’t listen to the naysayers: gambling is easy and risk-free.
Turns Out Fighting Is Quite A Workout
Whether bare-knuckle fighting the drunkard or fighting for your life against bandits, combat in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II lives and dies (literally) by the stamina system.
You will consume stamina both from blocking and from your attacks. Making sure that the gauge is not running on fumes is crucial.
That means that even if you perfect block and a “riposte” is open, it might not be the best idea if you need to catch your breath first, as an enemy can easily counter, leaving you winded and vulnerable.
Keep your distance from your target to increase your stamina gauge. Opponents don’t tend to close the distance to you actively, preferring to hang back or slowly approach.
Pick Locks Like You Pick Your Nose – Silently
If you have played Kingdom Come Deliverance II and seen the lockpicking, you will know this is no walk-in-the-park twist-the-lock Skyrim mechanic. The lock system in this game is intricate and requires patience.
Trying to lockpick while the pick is in the incorrect spot will also cause a noise, potentially garnering unwanted attention.
If you want to practice this skill more, visit your nearest miller. Miller Kreyzl (who you will meet early on for the main quest) has a chest that you can practice on and lockpicks that he provides.
And they say there is no honour among thieves.
Photo Mode Is For Photos Only – Not For Scouting!
Gamers can just about find any way to cheese things. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II introduces a photo mode that is always a nice addition to any game for wallpaper-worthy moments.
Some gamers, however, have used photo modes in the past to scout outposts or find enemies while stealthing around.
War Horse Studios is one step ahead. Upon exiting photo mode, Henry will make a loud remark like “Nice one!” which will be heard by any enemy in the vicinity or draw attention to you if you are in a restricted area.
So, keep the photo mode only for desktop backgrounds, not enemy camps.
Last But Certainly Not Least, Take A Nice Slow Stroll
Kingdom Come Deliverance II’s pace in both the first and second games is intentionally slow, with the main quest clearly outlining that there is no rush to get to it.
Whether you were finding your way in Rattay or now ambling half-naked in Troskowitz, you are meant to stop and smell the roses.
Take time to immerse yourself in the nearby villages, help locals and discover what is happening in the area from your innkeepers. It’s the way the game is played best.
Bonus: Because Sometimes Hindsight Means Starting Over
At the beginning of the game, before you are attacked, chased away and end up in a pillory, you and your company will camp by a lake and have some downtime.
In this downtime, there will be a cave near your camp (the one that the dice player remarks about). Storing your 800 or so groschen in the storage chest in the cave here means you can “retrieve” it later in the game without losing it in the process of your fleeing.
Happy Adventuring!
If you’re interested in discovering precisely what NAG thinks of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, keep your eyes peeled for our Q1 release of the NAG Magazine 2025, where we’ll feature a full review.