What are the best perks to pick in Kingdom Come 2 Deliverance? Believe it or not, there are 20 different skills with more than a dozen perks to choose from within them in this massive Bohemian adventure. It can be more than a little daunting to know which ones to pick as your version of Henry of Skalitz. Well, we’ve put over 100 hours into the game and have some recommendations to help you along.
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is complicated when it comes to choosing perks, and it can take a while to level up your skills to unlock said perks in the first place. We’ve gone ahead and put together a guide on how to level skills fast so you don’t have to stress too much figuring it all out.
Best Kingdom Come 2 Deliverance perks
As you level up each individual skill and reach even thresholds (6, 8, 10, and so on to 30), you’ll obtain a perk point and unlock the ability to choose between perks. You can always save perk points to select two later perks. Furthermore, some perks are exclusive with another. As a result, it’s rather difficult to decide what perk to take, so we’ve broken down the best perks available in each of the three different categories that house a total of 20 different skills.
Best Kingdom Come 2 Deliverance main stat perks:
- Main level: Martin/Radzig’s Heritage, Undaunted Cavalier
- Strength: Train Hard, Fight Easy, Tight Grip
- Agility: Deft Hands, Totentanz
- Vitality: Thick-Blooded, Well-Dressed
- Speech: Jack of All Trades, Battle Cry
Best Kingdom Come 2 Deliverance skill perks:
- Alchemy: Secret of Matter, Water of Life
- Craftsmanship: Thorough Maintenance, Keen Eye
- Drinking: Nightcap, Enhanced Mixture
- Horsemanship: Head Start, Ride Like the Wind
- Houndmaster: Bark, Charming Companion
- Scholarship: Liberal Arts, Explorer
- Stealth: One Way or Another, Surprise Attack
- Survival: Leg Day, Leshy
- Thievery: Rapid Flight, Mischief Artist
Best Kingdom Come 2 Deliverance combat perks:
- Warfare: Against All Odds, River
- Swords: Showtime, Magister Dimicator
- Heavy Weapons: Onslaught, Concussive Blow/Green Knight
- Polearms: Iron Harvest, Tormenting Strike
- Unarmed: Start Me Up, Sandman
- Marksmanship: Hal Shot First, Crippling Shot
All Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 stat perks
Main Level
Martin’s Heritage and Radzig’s Heritage are two of the best perks in the game; however, you can only choose one or the other. If you prefer heavy weapons, go with Radzig, and if you prefer sword fighting, choose Martin. That said, Radzig’s Heritage is a bit more useful with a bonus to Marksmanship as well. Finally, we recommend Undaunted Cavalier, as armor later in the game will give you significant bonuses to Charisma, compounding your defensive capabilities.
| Perk | Level | Effect | Exclusive with |
| Charming Man | 6 | +10% Reputation gained | Opportunist |
| Opportunist | 6 | +10% Reputation lost | Charming Man |
| Driven by Vengeance | 8 | Gain attack damage and faster stamina recovery after killing an opponent | |
| Memorable | 8 | Reputation changes spread more widely | |
| Undaunted Cavalier | 8 | Charisma higher than 20 will increase armor | |
| Burgher | 10 | Gain +1 to Strength, Agility, Vitality, and Speech near towns and villages | |
| Local Hero | 10 | +2 to Strength, Agility, Vitality, and Speech when in an area with good reputation | |
| Martin’s Heritage | 10 | Improve in Sword Fighting, Crafting, and Survival skills faster | Radzig’s Heritage |
| Radzig’s Heritage | 10 | Improve in Heavy Weapon, Marksmanship, and Scholarship skills faster | Martin’s Heritage |
| Criminal Element | 12 | Criminal brands disappear faster. You sell stolen goods for 10% more, look more menacing, and gain +2 bonuses to Coerce, Dominate, and Dread | Good Natured |
| Good Natured | 12 | +2 bonus to Persuasion, Impression, and Presence. People are more likely to solve problems with you instead of going for a guard | Criminal Element |
| Night Crawler | 12 | At night you have a +2 bonus to Strength, Agility, and Vitality along with a +3 bonus to Stealth | |
| Pacifist | 14 | Not killing anyone for 12 hours increases non-combat skills by 2 and Speech by 3 | Warmonger |
| Warmonger | 14 | Gain +2 to Strength, Agility, and Combat skills after winning a fight for 6 hours | Pacifist |
| Heroic Vigour | 16 | Each level of Vitality retroactively adds a stamina point | |
| Well-Built | 16 | Your carrying capacity increases faster based on your Strength |
Strength
Believe it or not, the perks in the Strength tree aren’t all that important outside of Train Hard, Fight Easy I and II. These perks will lower the Strength requirement for all weapons, making them easier to wield. As you start the game with low Strength and it takes a while to level up, these are crucial. Finally, take Tight Grip to make stealth kills more of a sure thing, unless you’re truly dedicated to being an honorable knight.
| Perk | Level | Effect | Exclusive with |
| Hard-Working Lad | 6 | The weight of carrying something large is halved, plus adds +8 to carrying capacity | None |
| Train Hard, Fight Easy! | 6 | Strength required for all weapons is decreased by 2. | None |
| Pack Mule | 8 | Increased carrying capacity | None |
| Wrestler | 8 | Fights are easier to win | None |
| Tight Grip | 10 | Your Strength skill makes it easier to kill someone stealthily or knock them out | None |
| Train Hard, Fight Easy! II | 10 | Strength required for all weapons is decreased by 5 | None |
| Strong as a Bull | 12 | +20 pounds carrying capacity | None |
| Vanguard | 12 | Shield blocks cost you 30% less stamina | None |
| Grand Slam | 14 | Blunt damage from all weapons is increased by 5% | None |
| Thrasher | 14 | Charged attacks deal 5% more damage | None |
| Strong Arm | 16 | While fully charged to attack, your stamina will slowly recover | None |
Agility
Deft Hands and Deft Hands II are two of the best perks in the game, lowering the Agility requirements of agile weapons like swords and crossbows by a significant amount. You likely won’t be able to wield a decent sword without these perks, so take them right when you can. Totentanz is a great choice as well, as if you nail dodging you get a significant damage boost on follow-up attacks.
| Perk | Level | Effect | Exclusive with |
| Deft Hands | 6 | 2 less Agility required for all weapons | None |
| Featherweight | 6 | Fall damage reduced by 30% | None |
| Dominant Hand | 8 | Using a one-handed weapon without a shield costs less stamina to attack and block | None |
| Nimble Stance | 8 | Dodges cost 40% less stamina | None |
| Deft Hands II | 10 | The required Agility for all weapons is reduced by 5 overall. | None |
| Ranger Run | 10 | Gain a stamina boost and increased stamina recovery after sprinting for 10 seconds | None |
| Creeping Phantom | 12 | Movement speed is 15% faster while sneaking | None |
| Totentanz | 12 | When perfect dodging, gain a 15% weapon attack bonus for 5 seconds | None |
| Finesse | 14 | Slashing damage is increased by 5% | None |
| Viper | 14 | Piercing damage is increased by 5% | None |
| Creeping Phantom II | 16 | Movement speed is 35% faster while sneaking | None |
| Finesse II | 18 | Slashing damage is increased by an additional 5% | None |
| Viper II | 18 | Piercing damage is increased by an additional 5% | None |
Vitality
Thick-Blooded is a great perk to take as soon as possible as, for the first dozen hours of the game, you’ll find yourself bleeding from enemy hits. It’s not so important later when you have great armor, however. Finally, Well-Dressed is a great pick for those who want to make the best impression during dialogue and trading, as dirty clothes and body make people like you a lot less.
| Perk | Level | Effect | Exclusive with |
| Ascetic | 6 | Nourishment level decreases 30% slower | None |
| Thick-Blooded | 6 | You bleed slower when wounded | None |
| Balanced Diet | 8 | If you don’t overeat for 3 consecutive days, 20% faster stamina regeneration and 10% faster Vitality experience gained | None |
| Creative Soul | 8 | Your Energy slowly replenishes while doing Alchemy, Blacksmithing, Sharpening, or Dice | None |
| Next to Godliness | 10 | Using a tub or pier will cure 10 points of your health. If you go to bed clean, you heal 25% faster | None |
| Well-Dressed | 10 | Your clothes and body will get dirty 20% slower. Furthermore, using a tub will get rid of all the dirt on your body | None |
| Hermes’ Haste | 12 | 20% faster while sprinting | None |
| Marathon Runner | 12 | Consume stamina 20% slower when running | None |
| Red Mist | 14 | When your health drops below 25, you gain Strength, Agility, and Stamina bonuses | None |
| Revenant | 14 | Your health gradually regenerates up to 50 points | None |
| Diehard | 16 | A wound that normally would kill you leaves you with 25% health instead | None |
| Never Surrender | 18 | Gain a bonus to your armor if your health drops below 25 | None |
Speech
For our money, the best perks in this tree are Jack of All Trades and Battle Cry. The former gives you bonuses to skill checks during dialogue as well as more experience for making them. This will allow you to level the skill faster and be far more convincing during tense dialogue sequences. Battle Cry is simply a flat damage buff that’s easy to activate during combat. It also has Battle Cry II to increase the damage buff further.
| Perk | Level | Effect | Exclusive with |
| Polished Wares | 6 | 10% more money for near-perfect equipment sold | None |
| Silver Tongue | 6 | +4 Speech bonus to haggling | None |
| Adept of the Mystic Arts | 8 | 10% better price buying and selling herbs recipes, and books | None |
| Artisan | 8 | 10% better price buying weapons, armor, and clothing | None |
| Hustler | 10 | Selling stolen goods becomes easier and you gain Stealth and Thievery experience when doing so | None |
| Jack of All Trades | 10 | +2 bonus to skill checks and gain more experience from them | None |
| Battle Cry | 12 | Deal 10% more damage for 10 seconds if you use a battle cry in combat | None |
| Ladies’ Man | 12 | Gain +2 to skill checks, 15% discount on purchases, and a 25% discount at bathhouses when dealing with women | None |
| Dreaded Warrior | 14 | If you use a battle cry, decrease enemies’ courage making them more likely to run away | None |
| Final Offer | 16 | When a merchant loses patience with you while haggling, they’ll give you one more chance to make an offer | None |
| Battle Cry II | 18 | You deal 15% more damage total after using a Battle Cry | None |
| Dreaded Warrior II | 20 | Dreaded Warrior is even more powerful | None |
All Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 skill perks
Alchemy
The Alchemy tree is difficult to level up as you have to dedicate yourself to brewing potions; that said, if you do so, you’ll be rewarded with great perks like Water of Life that provide flat healing bonuses when you drink a potion. To help keep you stocked up, we recommend Secret of Matter and Secret of Matter II to gain more potions each time you craft.
| Perk | Level | Effect | Exclusive with |
| Art of Preservation | 6 | Raw food and herbs decay 50% slower | None |
| Enthusiast | 6 | Energy replenishes and Nourishment doesn’t decrease while brewing | None |
| Potion Seller | 6 | Brewed potions sell for 30% more | None |
| Secret of Equilibrium | 8 | The brewing process is more tolerant of minor mistakes | Secret of Matter |
| Secret of Matter | 8 | When you successfully brew a potion, you get 1 extra of the same quality | Secret of Equilibrium |
| Poison Specialist | 10 | You can poison more arrows from a single dose. It lasts on weapons for more hits | None |
| Purple Haze | 10 | Each potion or alcohol effect you have active gives +1 Vitality | None |
| Dark Arts Apprentice | 12 | Brewing potions after midnight makes the process easier and you gain +2 to Coercion, Domination, and Intimidation | None |
| Water of Life | 12 | Potions heal 25% faster | None |
| Secret of Equilibrium II | 14 | Mistakes made during brewing are much less severe | Secret of Matter II |
| Secret of Matter II | 14 | Each time you successfully brew a potion, gain 3 of the same quality | Secret of Equilibrium II |
| Secret of Secrets | 16 | If you perfectly brew a potion, gain the exceptional quality | None |
| Poison Specialist II | 18 | You poison more arrows when doing so | None |
| Purple Haze II | 18 | Each potion and alcohol effect gives you +2 Vitality | None |
| Special Powder | 18 | Firearm efficiency increases when using powder you craft yourself | None |
Craftsmanship
The goal with the Craftsmanship tree is to nab the Martin’s Secret perk, which will grant a fourth level of quality to your weapons if you craft them yourself. However, to get there we recommend taking the Keen Eye perk to gain some experience whenever you pay to have your armor repaired. Before that, don’t skip on Thorough Maintenance and Thorough Maintenance II as degraded weapons and armor will suffer permanent quality loss.
| Perk | Level | Effect | Exclusive with |
| Razor Sharp | 6 | 10% damage bonus to weapons you sharpen yourself | None |
| Seven-League Boots | 6 | 25% less Stamina used when wearing boots you repaired yourself | None |
| Well-Fitted | 6 | Equipment makes less noise if you repair it yourself | None |
| Helping Hand | 8 | Craftsman repairs are 20% cheaper | None |
| Thorough Maintenance | 8 | Gear damages 10% slower | None |
| Hardened Steel | 10 | Weapons you forge will degrade 20% slower | None |
| Keen Eye | 10 | You gain Craftsmanship experience by paying to have your items repaired | None |
| Locksmith | 12 | Thievery will be 3 higher when picking locks, plus scrap metal will give you more chances | None |
| Totally Legit | 12 | Items will lose their stolen status faster | None |
| Bowyer | 14 | Bows and crossbows you repair with a bowyer kit deal 10% more damage | None |
| Thorough Maintenance II | 14 | Gear takes 20% less damage | None |
| Martin’s Secret | 16 | You can forge weapons of the fourth-highest quality | None |
| Seven League Boots II | 16 | 50% less Stamina used when using self-repaired boots | None |
Drinking
Definitely take the Nightcap perk if you plan on drinking a lot as you travel through Bohemia, as this will help you sleep well, avoiding the negative effects of alcohol. After that, the best perk in this tree is Enhanced Mixture, which allows any potion to heal you – not just the ones made specifically for it.
| Perk | Level | Effect | Exclusive with |
| Nightcap | 6 | You won’t get hungover as easily and beds are 10% more comfortable | None |
| Saint Vivian’s Grace | 6 | Less fall damage while drunk | None |
| Beerfoot | 8 | Make 20% less noise when moving indoors while drunk | None |
| Lucky Day | 8 | The drunker you are, the less likely you are to waste your badge while playing dice | None |
| Beer Belly | 10 | Beer satiates you twice as much and potions satiate you half as much, allowing you to drink more | None |
| Drunk’s Luck | 10 | The positive phase of drunkenness gives you +4 to Thievery | None |
| Heavy Duty | 10 | The positive phase of drunkenness gives you +4 to Craftsmanship | None |
| Cheers! | 12 | Drinking wine or beer will heal you for 5 health and can heal poison | None |
| Indomitable Drunk | 12 | The effects of drunkenness are lessened | None |
| Drunken Fool | 14 | You can excuse yourself from minor crimes while drunk | None |
| Tavern Brawler | 14 | The positive phase of drunkenness gives you +4 to Unarmed | None |
| Enhanced Mixture | 16 | When you are drunk, any potion will heal you | None |
| Experienced Reveller | 16 | The bonuses from the positive drunk phase happen sooner | None |
Horsemanship
Ride Like the Wind and its subsequent perk and Head Start will ensure your horse has the stamina to keep going and a burst of speed when you need it most; however, if you plan to attack from horseback more often you may want to consider focusing on the lights of Towering Menace and Into the Fray.
| Perk | Level | Effect | Exclusive with |
| Knight Training | 6 | 15% less stamina cost while attacking from horseback | None |
| Saddler | 6 | Cobbler’s kit repairs are 20% more efficient and +1 bonus to pickpocketing | None |
| Head Start | 8 | Your horse will dash quickly with Quick Start | None |
| Towering Menace | 8 | Your horse rearing will frighten enemies more readily | None |
| Ride Like The Wind | 10 | Your horse consumes less stamina while galloping | None |
| Roadrunner | 10 | Your horse consumes less stamina on roads | Wildrunner |
| Wildrunner | 10 | Your horse consumes less stamina off roads | Roadrunner |
| Final Stretch | 12 | Your horse can have a burst of speed when stamina is nearly depleted every 120 seconds | None |
| Trample | 12 | Enemies morale will drop if you charge at them, making them run away or easier to defeat | None |
| Into the Fray | 14 | Fully charged attacks from the saddle deal 20% more damage | None |
| War Horse | 14 | Enemies killed in the saddle increases horse morale | None |
| Head Start II | 16 | Your horse doesn’t lose stamina during Quick Start | None |
| Ride Like the Wind II | 16 | Your horse consumes 10% less stamina | None |
| Final Stretch II | 18 | When spurring your horse, recover much more stamina than before | None |
Houndmaster
Mutt is the best boy and you’re going to want to focus on different perks depending on your build. Sneaky players will definitely want to save perk points for Bark and Dogs’ Best Friend, as this will greatly help you when distracting enemies and not getting caught. However, we recommend Charming Companion for a flat buff to Charisma.
| Perk | Level | Effect | Exclusive with |
| Lifesaver | Start | Mutt will defend you in battle | None |
| Hunt! | 6 | Mutt will search for wild game | None |
| Search! | 6 | Mutt will sniff out points of interest | None |
| Body Heat | 8 | Bed quality in the wild increases by 20% | None |
| Loyal Companion | 8 | Mutt will return quicker after fleeing | None |
| Charming Companion | 10 | If Mutt is nearby Charisma increases by 3 | None |
| Hellhound | 10 | You’re more intimidating and enemies will be more likely to flee with Mutt nearby | None |
| Bark! | 12 | Mutt will attract attention by barking | None |
| Dogs’ Best Friend | 12 | Dogs won’t growl at you when sneaking | None |
| Heightened Scent | 12 | Mutt can sniff out enemies when exploring or fast traveling easier | None |
| Defender | 14 | Mutt takes 10% less damage | None |
| Faithful Companion | 14 | Mutt’s obedience decreases slower | None |
| Rip and Tear | 18 | Bleeding inflicted by Mutt will cause opponents to fall quicker | None |
| Sic ‘em! | 20 | Mutt’s attacks are 20% stronger | None |
Scholarship
You should try and level Scholarship as much as possible to unlock both the Liberal Arts and Explorer perks, which will let you know the difficulty of skill checks during dialogue as well as reveal the whole map – two of the most important perks in the game.
| Perk | Level | Effect | Exclusive with |
| Cushion | 6 | +50% Comfort effect while sitting | None |
| Wonders of Beasts | 8 | Houndmaster and Horsemanship skills increase faster | None |
| Wonders of Man | 8 | Craftsmanship and Thievery skills increase faster | None |
| Wonders of Nature | 8 | Survival and Alchemy skills increase faster | None |
| Liberal Arts | 10 | Able to see skill check difficulty during dialogue | None |
| Contemplative | 10 | Your Energy and Nourishment reduce much slower when remaining still | None |
| Fundamentals of Law | 12 | When dealing with guards, your Speech counts as 2 higher and fines are lower | None |
| Fundamentals of Medicine | 12 | Bandages are more effective and healing effects are doubled | None |
| Fundamentals of Medicine II | 14 | Potions heal you 20% more | None |
| Fundamentals of Theology | 14 | Praying at shrines grants a buff that protects you from mortal injury in combat for 12 hours | None |
| Fundamentals of Law II | 16 | You can possibly escape punishment when caught with a crime | None |
| Explorer | 18 | Reveal the entire map and all locations | None |
| Fundamentals of Theology II | 18 | Reputation recovered during a pilgrimage will be more effective | None |
Stealth
One Way or Another, which grants a debuff if an enemy resists a stealth kill, and Surprise Attack, which gives a damage boost for an unseen ranged attack, come in handy whether you’re a sneaky thief or a hardened warrior.
| Perk | Level | Effect | Exclusive with |
| Stealth kill | Start | With a dagger equipped, you can perform a stealth kill | None |
| Takedown | Start | You can knock people out during a chokehold | None |
| Bushman | 6 | Make 50% less noise in bushes | None |
| One Way or Another | 6 | Defending against a stealth kill decreases your opponent’s stats for 20 seconds | None |
| Fleeting Shadow | 8 | When you’re wanted for a crime, you gain bonuses to Stealth, Agility, and Vitality | None |
| Natural Camouflage | 8 | The dirtier you are, the harder it is for other people to notice you | None |
| Ordinary Man | 10 | People forget the crimes you commit more quickly | None |
| Rodent | 10 | You make 25% less noise when sneaking indoors | Weasel Boy |
| Weasel Boy | 10 | You make 35% less noise sneaking outdoors | Rodent |
| Deceptive Stance | 12 | Warfare counts as 3 higher when not wearing armor | None |
| Escape Artist | 12 | People will stop searching for you sooner while committing crimes | None |
| Surprise Attack | 12 | If you hit an enemy with a ranged attack and they don’t see you, they receive an attack debuff | None |
| Quickhand | 14 | People won’t notice you as easily while picking locks or pickpocketing | None |
| Escape Artist II | 16 | People will stop searching for you even sooner while committing crimes | None |
| Ambusher | 18 | Hitting a target unaware of you will deal 20% more damage | None |
Survival
Leg Day makes picking herbs worth it as it will grant you a small amount of Strength experience. After that, we recommend taking Leshy and its subsequent perk, Leshy II, as it gives great flat stat boosts outside of towns – especially when paired with Wild Man.
| Perk | Level | Effect | Exclusive with |
| On the Poacher’s Trail | 6 | Sell herbs, game, hides, and trophies for double | None |
| Wanderer | 6 | Quality of beds improve based on Survival skill | None |
| Flower Power | 8 | +2 to Charisma if you have 30 non-spoiled herbs in your inventory | None |
| Master Cook | 8 | Cooked or smoked food will have 100% condition regardless of raw condition | None |
| Bounty of the Wild | 10 | You can get more items from killed animals | None |
| Leg Day | 10 | Small Strength increase when picking herbs | None |
| Lucky Find | 10 | Sometimes gain an extra herb or treasure when collecting them | None |
| Heartseeker | 12 | Hitting a target in the chest with a ranged weapon does 10% more damage | None |
| Leshy | 12 | Scent is halved, stamina recovers faster, and Strength, Vitality, and Stealth gain bonuses in forests | None |
| Master Fletcher | 14 | Your arrows and bolts fly further and penetrate armor more | None |
| Wild Man | 16 | The effects of Leshy and Leshy II apply to everywhere outside of towns | None |
| Heartseeker II | 18 | Shots to the chest deal 25% more damage | None |
| Leshy II | 20 | Your Strength and Agility count as 2 higher in forests, and your Stealth counts as 4 higher. Stamina also regenerates 25% faster | None |
Thievery
As pickpocketing and lockpicking are quite difficult, you’ll want to take the Rapid Flight perk to make it less likely that you’ll get caught. Finally, the Mischief Artist perk makes all this debauchery much easier to manage.
| Perk | Level | Effect | Exclusive with |
| Nimble Fingers | 6 | You gain time 10% faster during the pickpocketing mini-game | None |
| Silent Fiddler | 6 | You’re almost silent using and breaking lockpicks | None |
| Rapid Flight | 8 | Your victim won’t notice you if you fail the pickpocketing mini-game | None |
| Tool Master | 8 | Lockpicks are more durable | None |
| Hidden Pockets | 10 | You have a 33% chance to get away with being searched | None |
| Thief’s Eyes | 10 | You can tell where items are considered stolen | None |
| Back Alley Skirmisher | 12 | Using a one-handed weapon without a shield deals 10% more damage | None |
| Lawbreaker | 12 | If you’re wanted for a crime, can bonuses to Strength, Warfare, and Agility | None |
| Mischief Artist | 14 | Gain a +3 bonus to Thievery and Stealth after picking a lock or pickpocketing | None |
| Stamping Ground | 14 | Stealth +3 in human settlements | None |
| Trafficker | 16 | Stolen items lose their stolen status more quickly | None |
| Inconspicuous | 18 | The person you’re robbing may not see you | None |
| Master Thief | 18 | You unlock simple locks almost instantly | None |
All Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 combat skill perks
Warfare
There are too many great Warfare perks to count; however, we recommend taking Against All Odds and River as soon as you can. The former will give you flat stat boots when outnumbered – which happens quite often – while the latter gives a great bonus to Warfare itself and stamina regeneration each time you dodge an attack.
| Perk | Level | Effect | Exclusive with |
| Evade | Start | Press jump and a direction to avoid an attack | None |
| Feint | Start | Quickly change direction before an attack to make it harder for your opponent to parry | None |
| Perfect Block | Start | Block at the right moment to reduce stamina used | None |
| Riposte | Start | Attack after a perfect block | None |
| Head Protection | 6 | Blows to the head cause 20% less damage with a helmet on | None |
| Steadfast | 6 | Blocks cost 20% less stamina and weapons wear down 20% slower | None |
| Against All Odds | 8 | When fighting against superior numbers, gain bonuses to Strength, Agility, and Warfare | None |
| Hardened Veteran | 8 | Stamina regenerates 10% faster in combat | None |
| River | 10 | Doding or Sprinting during combat provides a +3 bonus to Warfare and 15% stamina regeneration | None |
| Rock Solid | 10 | Gain +20 to your Armour when you do not sprint or dodge for 10 seconds | None |
| Ironclad | 12 | The weight of your armor affects your stamina less | None |
| Unbreakable | 12 | If you are outnumbered, your stamina recovers 20% faster | None |
| Knight in Shining Armour | 14 | Gain a bonus to Charisma when wearing plate armor | None |
| Masterful Feint | 14 | Feint is easier to pull off, even against tougher opponents. | None |
| Hardened Veteran II | 16 | Your stamina recovers an additional 10% faster in combat | None |
| One Man Army | 16 | Deal 10% more damage when outnumbered | None |
Swords
Once you’ve gotten combos down, Magister Dimicator is an amazing skill to have for a flat damage increase when you pull one off while using a sword. Before that, however, you’ll want to take Showtime to keep your stamina up while performing combos and master strikes.
| Perk | Level | Effect | Exclusive with |
| Opening Strike | 6 | Subsequent attacks after wounding an opponent will be harder for them to block | None |
| Precise Strike | 6 | Charged sword attacks will also be harder to parry | None |
| Showtime | 8 | Sword combos and master strikes restore stamina | None |
| Tendon Slicer | 8 | Successful sword combos reduce opponent’s agility and strength | None |
| Gladiator | 10 | +5 bonus to Sword Fighting skill when fighting without a shield | None |
| Swordmaker’s Wisdom | 10 | +3 to Craftsmanship and all sword-like weapons get 25% less damage during combat | None |
| Cleaver | 12 | Deal 15% more crushing damage with hunting swords | None |
| Cutting Edge | 12 | Bleeding caused by sabres is faster | None |
| Whirlwind | 12 | Using a sword sword increases defense by 30% and costs 20% less stamina to block | None |
| Magister Dimicator | 14 | When you perform a combo, you gain +5 to Swordsmanship for 30 seconds | None |
| Opening Strike II | 14 | The effects of Opening Strike are increased | None |
| Arm of Beowulf | 16 | You can use a longsword with a torch. Attacks are slower and cost more stamina | None |
| Slice and Dice | 18 | Subsequent sword strikes will deal more damage than previous ones | None |
Heavy Weapons
Those who like to bonk will want to grab Onslaught right away, giving you much more stamina to work with while performing combo attacks. Heavy weapon perks are split into axe and club buffs, so take whichever is applicable to you between Concussing Blow and Green Knight, as both greatly increase the effectiveness of their respective weapons.
| Perk | Level | Effect | Exclusive with |
| Shieldbreaker | 6 | Heavy weapon attacks will be harder for opponents to block | None |
| Sundering Blow | 6 | When you hit an enemy, their armor counts as 10 less | None |
| Blunt Force Trauma | 8 | Fully charged attacks will deal 10% more damage | None |
| Brute Force | 8 | Deal 5% more damage with Heavy weapons | None |
| Aim to maim! | 10 | Axes cause opponents to bleed out faster | None |
| Bonebreaker | 10 | Hitting your opponent with a blunt weapon causes their stamina to regenerate 15% slower | None |
| Menacing Presence | 12 | Enemies are likely to flee or surrender when in full armor and with a heavy weapon | None |
| Onslaught | 14 | Performing a combo will cost only half the stamina | None |
| Sundering Blow II | 14 | When you hit an enemy, their armor counts as 20 less | None |
| Concussing Blow | 16 | Combos with blunt weapons stop the opponent from dodging or performing master strikes for 20 seconds | None |
| Green Knight | 16 | Combos with axes grant a 20% damage buff to subsequent attacks | None |
| Brute Force | 18 | Deal 5% more damage with heavy weapons | None |
| Hack and Slash | 18 | Uninterrupted heavy weapon attacks deal greater damage than the last | None |
Polearms
These long weapons are incredibly useful while going up against multiple opponents. As such, you should take Iron Harvest to keep your stamina up when performing combos. To make combos even more potent, take Tormenting Strike to debuff your opponent’s stamina.
| Perk | Level | Effect | Exclusive with |
| Keeping a Distance | 6 | Blocking costs less stamina | None |
| Hardwood | 6 | Polearms degrade 25% slower | None |
| Long Reach | 8 | Attacks cost 10% less stamina | None |
| Militia Training | 8 | Strength and Agility required to use Polearms is decreased | None |
| Impaler | 10 | 10% more piercing damage | None |
| Iron Harvest | 10 | Regain stamina after performing a combo | None |
| First Strike | 12 | Your first attack with a Polearm is 35% stronger | None |
| Infantryman | 12 | Charged attacks are faster and stronger | None |
| Long Reach II | 14 | Attacks with Polearms will cost an additional 10% less stamina | None |
| Tormenting Strike | 14 | Combos will cause an opponent’s stamina to regenerate slower | None |
| Artery Slasher | 16 | Opponents bleed out faster | None |
| Impaler II | 16 | Piercing attacks do an additional 10% more damage | None |
| Iron Rain | 18 | Uninterrupted Polearm attacks do more damage than the last attack | None |
Unarmed
You’ll find yourself fist-fighting more often than you’d think; as a result, taking the right Unarmed perks when you can is imperative. Start Me Up is great for the various fight clubs you’ll find around Bohemia, giving you an immediate edge, while Sandman will greatly help when stealth-killing or knocking out foes in other situations.
| Perk | Level | Effect | Exclusive with |
| Belligerent Brawler | 6 | The first strike of combat will make unarmed attacks cost 20% less stamina and 10% stronger for 30 seconds | None |
| The Harder They Fall | 6 | +5 bonus Unarmed when fighting unarmed against an armed opponent | None |
| Kurzkampf | 8 | Attacks made during a clinch deal 10% more damage | None |
| No Pain No Gain | 8 | Gain 15% more experience in Strength, Agility, and Vitality fighting unarmed | None |
| Bring ‘em On! | 10 | If you defeat an opponent unarmed, your Unarmed skill increases by 3 and your stamina increases 25% faster | None |
| Start Me Up! | 10 | After executing a combo or master strike unarmed, you regain some stamina | None |
| String Like a Bee | 10 | The first 30 seconds of unarmed combat your attacks are 30% stronger | None |
| Battering Ram | 12 | If you successfully perform a combo, your opponent’s stamina recovers 50% slower | None |
| Sandman | 12 | It’s generally easier to stealth kill or knock out people | None |
| Evening the Odds | 14 | Unarmed attacks are 10% stronger | None |
| Rigenmeister | 14 | You can perform a chokehold from a clinch to knock out an opponent while both are unarmed | None |
| Jawbreaker | 16 | Subsequent unarmed attacks will deal more damage | None |
| Kurzkampf II | 16 | Attacks made during a clinch deal an additional 15% more damage | None |
Marksmanship
Hal Shot First and Hal Shot First II are not only Star Wars puns, but also the best Marksmanship perks as you likely won’t get more than one ranged attack off in most fights. To go along with it, you’ll want Crippling Shot and Crippling Shot II to make sure your opponent is debuffed by the time they engage you in melee combat.
| Perk | Level | Effect | Exclusive with |
| Crippling Shot | 6 | If you hit an enemy with a ranged shot, their stamina and combat ability reduces | None |
| Steady Aim | 6 | Not moving for 2 more seconds while aiming lessens stamina drain and increases damage | None |
| Salvo | 8 | Gain a short buff after each shot that allows you to reload and aim faster | None |
| Hal shot first | 10 | Your first shot does 15% damage | None |
| Sagittarius | 10 | Stamina depletion is decreased when riding a horse | None |
| Forbidden Weapon | 12 | Crossbow bolts cause bleeding to happen faster | None |
| Skirmisher | 12 | Shooting a bow on foot causes stamina to recover 20% faster and sprinting costs 50% less | None |
| Thundering Blast | 12 | Your first gun shot during combat inflicts combat debuffs on opponents | None |
| Crippling Shot II | 14 | Your opponent’s stamina increases significantly slower when hit with an arrow | None |
| One Shot at Glory | 14 | If you kill an enemy with a ranged weapon, your next shot does 50% more damage | None |
| Hal Shot First II | 16 | Your first shot deals an additional 15% more damage | None |
| Steady Aim II | 16 | If you don’t move while aiming, your shot will be 30% stronger | None |
| Eagle Eye | 18 | Time slows around you for 3 seconds while aiming | None |
And there you have it – all KCD2 perks and the best ones to pick. Once they carry you all the way through the dozens of KCD2 quests, you might want to check out the best medieval games on PC if you’re craving more knights in shining armor.
