Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Guide: Choosing your Early Game Playstyle

Welcome to the unforgiving world of 15th-century Bohemia. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 throws you into a hyper-realistic medieval setting where survival depends on more than just quick reflexes. Building your version of Henry requires smart planning, especially in the early hours when you're poor, unskilled, and vulnerable. Forget fumbling around, this guide will give you a clear, powerful path to establish yourself as a formidable force from the very beginning. We'll combine a robust combat build with clever strategies for gearing up, mastering essential skills, and navigating the challenges of your new life.

Which Starting Playstyle is Best for Beginners?

Right at the start of the Easy Riders quest, you'll be asked to define Henry's role. This choice sets your initial stats and how people react to you. While you can develop any skill later, your starting choice gives you a significant head start. For new players, the choice is clear: pick the Soldier.

KCD2 Initial Playstyle selection Screen

The Soldier path focuses on combat, which is a massive and often difficult part of the game. This playstyle makes the initial learning curve much more forgiving. The other options, Adviser (focusing on speech and charisma) and Scout (focusing on stealth and archery), are powerful but require a deeper understanding of the game's systems to be effective early on.

Here’s a quick breakdown of your options:

Playstyle	Primary Focus	Best For
Soldier	Melee Combat, Heavy Armor, Shields	New players who want a direct, combat-ready start.
Adviser	Speech, Charisma, Persuasion	Players who prefer talking their way out of trouble.
Scout	Stealth, Archery, Daggers	Tactical players who enjoy striking from the shadows.

By choosing Soldier, you're setting yourself up for success in the many fights you'll inevitably face.

Your 4-Step Plan for Gearing Up Fast

Groschen is tight and good gear is expensive. Don't waste your time grinding for scraps. Follow this plan to get a solid set of weapons, armor, and even a horse without spending a fortune.

Step 1: Get a Real Sword

Your first priority is a decent weapon. Head to the location for the Mutt quest, just past Bozhena's hut. You'll find a vagabond looting a body. When he confronts you, refuse to surrender and fight him. Once you defeat him, you can loot his body for a Military Sword—a fantastic early-game weapon that will serve you well.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Sword

Step 2: Train with Tomcat

With your new sword in hand, find Tomcat at the Nomad Camp. Ask him for combat training. He will teach you two essential sword combos. Practice these until you've got them down. More importantly, keep training with him to learn the Master Strike. This defensive maneuver is a game-changer, allowing you to counter an enemy's attack and land a free hit. It's crucial for surviving duels against tougher opponents.

Step 3: Acquire Armor and a Shield

You have two great options here. The "honest" way is to follow the Blacksmith route during the Wedding Crashers quest. This path will reward you with a decent set of armor, a shield, and your first horse.

tip

For a faster and more lucrative approach, embrace thievery. Go to the town of Troskowitz. Find the guard standing near a house wall north of the tavern's stable area. Sneak up and pickpocket his Keys. Use these keys to unlock the small shack next to the tavern and the chest inside. You'll find high-quality armor and a shield. Just be sure to leave town before equipping your stolen goods to avoid getting caught!

Step 4: Secure a Mount

Horses are expensive, so don't buy one. Steal one instead! Find a horse at night when there are fewer witnesses, mount it, and ride away quickly. Head to a Black Market Horse Handler, like Mikolai at the Nomad Camp, to register it for a small fee. This makes the horse legally yours.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Mount

Alternatively, if you stick with your trusty starting horse, Pebbles, you'll be rewarded. After riding him for 35 kilometers, you unlock the hidden perk Good Old Pebbles, which massively boosts his stats, making him one of the best mounts in the game.

Mastering Core Survival Skills

Gear is only half the battle. To truly thrive, you need to master these key mechanics.

How to Dominate in Combat

Combat in KCD2 is about patience and timing, not button-mashing. Master the Perfect Block: Blocking at the exact moment an enemy swings uses no stamina and opens them up for a counter. Use Your Master Strike: As mentioned, this is your most powerful tool. Learn it from Tomcat and use it to turn the tide of any fight. * Control the Battlefield: Never let yourself get surrounded. Use doorways, tight corridors, or simply backpedal to keep enemies in front of you. Let your dog, Mutt, distract one opponent while you focus on another.

Why You Need Mutt Immediately

As soon as you can, complete the quest to find your dog, Mutt. He is an invaluable companion. In combat, he'll attack enemies and draw their attention, giving you breathing room. He can also help you hunt and find hidden treasures. Perks like Life Saver and Charming Companion make him even more effective.

The Power of Three Outfits

Your appearance dramatically affects gameplay. Use the three available loadout slots to create specialized outfits:

Combat Loadout: Your heaviest armor and best weapon. Equip this before any fight.
Theft Loadout: Dark, lightweight clothing that makes minimal noise for sneaking.
Speech Loadout: Your finest clothes, jewelry, and accessories to boost your Charisma for persuasion and haggling.

important

Always switch to the appropriate loadout before starting an activity. You can't change gear once combat begins or during a sensitive dialogue.

Beginner Build Breakdown

This build provides a balanced foundation, making you a threat in combat while giving you the utility to handle other challenges.

Recommended Weapons & Armor

Your primary setup should be a one-handed sword and a shield. The shield is fantastic for beginners, as a perfect block can push an enemy back, guaranteeing a follow-up hit. Always carry a Longbow to pick off enemies from a distance and a Dagger for stealth kills.

Slot	Recommended Gear	Purpose
Primary Weapon	Military Sword (or better one-hander)	Fast attacks and effective combos.
Off-Hand	Any Shield	Superior blocking and push-back on perfect blocks.
Ranged Weapon	Longbow	Thin out enemy groups before they reach you.
Stealth Weapon	Dagger	Enables the Stealth Kill perk for silent takedowns.
Armor	Heavy Armor (Plate)	Maximum damage resistance for survivability.

Must-Have Early Game Perks

Don't get overwhelmed by the skill trees. Focus on unlocking these high-impact perks first.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Stats and Perks, Photo taken from Polygon

Main Stat Perks

Strength: Vanguard (shield blocks cost 30% less stamina) and Pack Mule (carry capacity +12 lbs). Agility: Nimble Stance (dodges cost 40% less stamina). Vitality: Thick-Blooded (bleed slower) and Ascetic (get hungry 30% slower). Speech: Silver Tongue (+4 speech for haggling).

Key Skill Perks

Stealth: Stealth Kill is your number one priority for eliminating lone guards. Survival: Flower Power (+2 Charisma if you have 30+ herbs) is an easy, constant buff. * Combat (Sword): Opening Strike (deal more damage with your first attack) gives you a huge advantage.

Essential Potions to Brew

Alchemy is incredibly powerful. You can find recipes online or steal them, so there's no need to buy them. Brewing your own potions will save you thousands and give you a huge edge.

warning

Don't buy potions unless you absolutely have to. Picking herbs and spending a few minutes at an alchemy bench will provide you with all the healing and buffs you need, plus extra potions to sell for a massive profit.

Get Going Henry

Focus on crafting these: Strong Marigold Decoction: Your primary healing potion. Heals 40 health over time. Bowman's Brew: Increases Marksmanship by 3 for 10 minutes. Essential for making early bow shots count. Buck's Blood: Increases your stamina by 30% for 20 minutes, letting you fight and sprint for longer. Nighthawk: Lets you see better in the dark for 15 minutes, perfect for nighttime theft or infiltration. By following this guide, you'll build a strong, adaptable Henry who is ready for anything Bohemia throws at him. Good luck, and may your sword stay sharp.