In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Henry of Skalitz faces numerous threats. You must fend off not only enemy factions and wandering outlaws but also tackle survival challenges like securing food and shelter. Additionally, maintaining a positive rapport with the local populace is essential—committing wrongful acts may earn you their disdain.
Fortunately, this guide offers valuable insights to help you embark on your adventure across the picturesque Bohemian landscape.
Master Combat Techniques with Directional Control
The melee combat in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 remains notoriously challenging, utilizing a direction-based control system represented by a star-shaped icon during battles:
- When you move your mouse or right thumbstick in a direction while hitting the attack button, Henry will respond with an appropriate strike—be it an overhead chop (upward), a lateral slash (left or right), or a direct thrust (downward).
- Executing a perfect block allows for a riposte, giving you the opportunity to attack your opponent’s exposed side when they are least protected.
- You can eventually learn devastating Master Strikes, enabling you to counter an enemy’s attacks by hitting from the opposite direction just as they swing at you.
- Be aware that your stamina depletes with each action in combat, so pulling back for a breather might be necessary.
If you prefer to engage foes from a distance, various ranged weapons like bows, crossbows, and even hand cannons are at your disposal, though be cautioned that these can be tricky to aim accurately.
Be Bold in Battles with Allies
In scenarios where you’re outnumbered, it’s wise to adopt a defensive stance until an opportunity presents itself. However, when fighting alongside allies—be it in a tavern skirmish or during a siege—you should adopt a more aggressive attitude. Opponents will be preoccupied with your comrades, allowing you to attack from behind. Don’t take too long, as the enemy might diminish your allies’ numbers and gain an advantage.
Seek Out Taverns for Rest and Saving
When you’re in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, always keep an eye out for taverns in the villages you visit. Some offer lodgings for the night, with more comfortable accommodations available for a higher fee. This is beneficial for several reasons:
- Resting restores health and stamina effectively.
- Making sure you’re well-rested prevents you from blacking out while exploring.
- Sleeping in personal quarters enables you to create manual saves, which can be invaluable during risky ventures.
- You can also purchase or brew Savior Schnapps, potions allowing for manual saves.
Hunt and Preserve Your Food
As time passes in the game, Henry’s need for sustenance escalates, fundamentally driving the need to carry food. You can procure sustenance by purchasing it from vendors or hunting wildlife.
You have the option to cook, smoke, or dry food items, promoting longer freshness. Drying food and herbs is particularly recommended to avoid spoilage, as consuming rotten goods can lead to illness.
Always Carry a Torch
Living in 15th-century Bohemia means navigating through dark nights. Always ensure you have a torch ready. You can activate your torch by pressing the “R” key on your keyboard or the down button on your controller d-pad. Lighting a torch in towns also helps ease guard suspicions during nighttime excursions.
Know Each Merchant’s Specialties
In each village you explore, you’ll encounter numerous merchants, each specializing in various goods and services:
- Taverns and inns – Rent a room for the night or shop for miscellaneous items.
- Traders – Offer a wide range of items, though their coin reserves may be limited.
- Grocers, butchers, and bakers – Serve essential food items like vegetables, meats, and bread.
- Weaponsmiths and armorsmiths – Focus on the sale and repair of armaments and armor, respectively.
- Smithy – Generally offers a mix of both weapons and armor pieces.
- Tailors and cobblers – Provide clothing and footwear options.
- Apothecaries – Stock a variety of potions, poisons, and herbs.
- Scribes – Sell books that provide lore or experience points for skill enhancement.
- Grooms and saddlers – Provide services related to horses and horse gear.
Haggle Like a Pro
You don’t have to purchase goods at their listed prices. Engage merchants in haggling by pressing and holding the “X” button or key. This initiates a negotiation to lower the cost, whether buying or selling, allowing you to save coins.
However, be cautious; unreasonable offers may not sit well with merchants and could lead to them refusing further negotiation. Also, if you are in need of more Groschen to satisfy your dealings, consider checking out our early-game moneymaking guide.
Keep Track of Your Gear and Outfit Combinations
In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, it’s crucial to manage Henry’s various outfit sets and equipment slots effectively. Here’s a brief overview:
- You can create up to three outfit presets. We suggest the following:
- Preset #1: For combat and general exploration.
- Preset #2: For civilian attire that boosts your Charisma.
- Preset #3: For stealth scenarios, wearing lighter clothing that minimizes noise.
Craft Your Own Gear and Create Potions
If you’d prefer to conserve your currency, you can engage in crafting instead:
- Acquire blueprints to craft weapons, which you can create at the Smithy using an anvil.
- Use specific toolkits to repair damaged items; Sharpening Stones in Smithy shops can restore weapons’ edges.
- For potions, utilize the alchemy bench by combining herbs and bases according to recipes, ensuring you follow each step meticulously for successful brewing.
Boost Your Reputation via Dialogue Skill Checks
Your reputation in the region is influenced heavily by your interactions during dialogue skill checks. These include Persuasion, Coercion, Impression, Domination, Presence, and Intimidation. While each option has its own levels, other aspects also play a role—for instance, Intimidation is more effective when armed with high-quality gear and possessing high Strength, Agility, or Vitality.
These checks can affect your outcomes as well. For example, if a guard catches you pilfering, they might fine you or imprison you. However, convincing them that it’s a harmless jest might rescue you from trouble. To learn more about this mechanic, explore our guide on the reputation system.
Operate Stealthily at Night
For thievery and sneaky activities, it’s advisable to wait until nightfall when villagers are asleep. You can fast-forward time in-game by clicking “Wait.” Be prepared to face locked doors, requiring either lockpicking or searching for alternative points of entry. Once you’ve selected a target, crouch and approach silently, then activate the “Rob” command. The displayed number indicates how long you’ll have to complete the minigame.
This minigame involves pickpocketing, represented by circular panels showcasing hidden items. Successful selection means you keep what you’ve stolen, but being slow will alert the target, drawing guards to your location. Prioritize stealing keys whenever possible to expedite future thievery.
Stay Mounted to Discover Fast Travel Locations
While navigating the Bohemian countryside with characters like Hans Capon, opt to remain on horseback. If you choose to speed up travel before you’ve fully explored an area, you might miss out on discovering potential fast travel points located in other villages. Staying behind an NPC can lead to stumbling upon crucial locations without having to backtrack.
Watch for Ambushes During Fast Travel
When using fast travel, stay alert for random encounters. While many may present no threat—like camps with traveling minstrels—others could be hiding bandits ambushing you. You’ll need to decide whether to engage in combat or flee. Keep in mind that foes are likely to pursue you if you try to escape.
Reunite with Your Loyal Canine Companion, Mutt
In the early stages, Henry and Hans’ party faces an ambush, causing separation from your faithful dog, Mutt. A side quest will arise to locate him, marked on your map. While it takes considerable time to complete, it is undoubtedly rewarding to find Mutt again.
Mutt can aid you in battles by barking to distract enemies and biting foes for an opening. Feeding him various meats and showing affection will enhance his loyalty.
Select Appropriate Perks for Your Playstyle
All the activities you engage in are tied to Henry’s attributes visible in the Player tab:
- Stats: Main Level, Strength, Agility, Vitality, and Speech.
- Skills: Alchemy, Craftsmanship, Drinking, Horsemanship, Houndmaster, Scholarship, Stealth, Survival, and Thievery.
- Combat: Warfare, Swords, Heavy Weapons, Polearms, Unarmed, and Marksmanship.
By consistently performing certain actions, Henry’s expertise will grow. For instance, walking while overburdened enhances your Strength, while sneaking contributes to your Stealth and Thievery skills. Leveraging specific weapons will refine your combat skills as well. Moreover, unlocking certain levels can grant perks, offering lasting benefits that align with your preferred playstyle.
Experience Romance and Relationships
Lastly, Henry has the chance to engage romantically with various NPCs. Often, these interactions occur with bathhouse attendants who provide additional “services” beyond hygiene. You may also encounter potential romances at gatherings or quests. Look for the heart icon to initiate brief amorous encounters and unlock the “Time Well Spent” buff, temporarily boosting your Strength, Agility, and Vitality by +1.
