by Dom's Roundtable
After clocking over 60 hours in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, I’ve levelled my character to a point where finding a worthy opponent turned into an accidental rampage, wiping out every soul in Troskowitz (don’t worry, the unkillable NPCs are still kicking). But I digress. Today, I’m here to share 12 essential tips I ignored for far too long, making my first 20 hours unnecessarily difficult. Whether you're new or seasoned, these insights will save you frustration. So, let's dive right in!
Mastering The Armour Shuffle: Combat, Charisma and Stealth
KCD2’s realism isn’t just for show, your armour choices have real consequences. I made life way harder by not switching armour sets when needed.
Here are the three sets I advise you to use:
Combat Set: Max out your defence. Charisma and stealth don’t matter in battle. I reached nearly max defence in most areas of my body early on, turning multi-enemy fights into easy wins.
Charisma Set: Clean, noble attire boosts your persuasion skills. Don’t layer fancy clothes under peasant rags, visuals matter! Accessories like necklaces and rings add extra charm.
Stealth Set: Focus on reducing your noise, visibility, and conspicuousness. Go all-black, soft materials, and cover yourself head-to-toe. Remember: you can’t be spotted if you’re invisible!
Spend time after big loot hauls optimizing these sets for upcoming missions.
Invest in Skill Trainers Early
Got a few hundred Groschen burning a hole in your pocket? Spend it on skill trainers.
Basic lessons cost 100 and give you a hefty XP boost in specific categories. Advanced skills are pricier but offer even bigger gains.
Also, note that not every perk is worth it; some may clash with your play style. For instance, I skipped several stealth perks because they didn’t fit my approach.
💡Bonus Tip: Save your perk points until the right options unlock, then you'll have more to spend later.
Grindstones: The Underrated Money Saver
Never pay for weapon repairs or buy weapon repair kits for your cutting weapons. Instead, master the grindstone for slashing and chopping weapons. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll restore swords to 100% durability in seconds.
💡Bonus Tip: You’ll gain passive skill XP AND sell freshly sharpened weapons for a tidy profit.
Want more? Check out my full grindstone guide HERE.
Always Carry 8-12 Bandages
Bleeding out miles away from civilization is a nightmare. Shops close at night, and if you’re afflicted with bleed at midnight with no bandages… you’re toast.
Each major wound needs 4 bandages to fully heal, so stock up before long trips. Trust me, this small prep step can save hours of progress if the worst were to happen to you.
Savior Schnapps: Craft or Buy?
You can craft Savior Schnapps with Belladonna, but it’s a pain to find, and alchemy is time-consuming and only somewhat rewarding early on. In the early game, you might save a few Groschen this way, but eventually, you’ll be rolling in money as long as you follow along with my money-making tips.
💡Bonus Tip: Just buy Schnapps (or at least the ingredients for them) from alchemists once you’re financially stable. It’s worth it to avoid the tedium.
Rent a Permanent Room & Read at Night
Find a central town and rent a permanent room. It’s a one-time cost, and at select Inns also comes with a personal storage chest (more on that later).
At night, you'll find shops close around 9-10pm, but you don't need to sleep for 12 hours, it's simply a waste of time, so instead, read skill books.
You only need 4-5 hours of sleep for the maximum energy status, so use the evening to boost your attributes. When your Scholarship hits level 6, grab the Cushion perk for 50% faster reading.
Trust me, this makes a HUGE difference, allowing you to 100% most books in just 2 hours.
Stones: The Ultimate Stealth Tool
Throwing stones is an often-overlooked tactic. Use them to distract guards, sneak past enemies, or set up ambushes. They’re simple, silent, and highly effective. You’ll wonder why you didn’t use them sooner.
Soap & Rivers: Cheap Cleanliness
Skip the bathhouse and grab a bar of soap instead. Washing in rivers is free, more thorough than a trough, and lets you clean all your clothes at once.
Bathhouses only clean the clothes you’re wearing, even if you pay for the premium service. Rivers, soap, and some elbow grease get the job done better and cheaper.
Run Away to Fight Another Day
Early-game combat is brutal. If you’re outnumbered or outmatched, run!
Use the map (which pauses time) to plan your escape to the nearest town.
💡Bonus Tip: If bandits or other enemies attack YOU FIRST, once you reach a nearby town the guards will help you. Let them do the dirty work, then loot the bodies guilt-free.
Avoid Food Poisoning at All Costs
Food is heavy, spoils quickly when not dried or smoked, and at low durability can and will give you food poisoning. This debuff is just as bad as bleeding. It lingers for hours and drains your health.
Always grab a Stomach Decoction, either by purchasing one, creating one through alchemy, or even robbing the local tavern before you go on a long trip. Alternatively, if you are caught out at night with food poisoning if your thievery and lockpicking are good enough, you may be able to break into the local tavern, rob the innkeeper for their keys, and help yourself to a Stomach Decoction.
Fast Travel for Random Encounters
Fast travel is available as soon as you discover two locations to travel between. You don’t even need a horse! But if you own one, it’ll help you scarper from tough encounters on the road.
Fast travelling reveals random events like duelling legendary swordsmen or rescuing nobles. These encounters offer loot, skills, and even ongoing storylines with characters like Jarda the Great.
Use Your Infinite Storage Chest
Your personal storage chest is accessible from most locations that allow you to save, along with a few other key locations. It has unlimited capacity and syncs across all locations where it is available to you.
Dump items you're not ready to sell yet, materials for crafting, and gear you want to repair but may currently be in a state of disrepair. This keeps your inventory light for max loot gathering on the go.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it - 12 tips I wish I’d known sooner in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Follow these and you’ll breeze through the early game, ready to conquer Bohemia. Stay tuned for more guides on money-making, combat tips, and stealth mastery.
Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in the next one. Happy adventuring!
