Kingdom Come: Deliverance – Early Game Perk Guide

Building a strong character in Kingdom Come: Deliverance requires careful consideration of perk choices, as not all perks are immediately useful. Some have trade-offs that can impact your playstyle, while others provide undeniable advantages. In this guide, we’ll break down the best perks to invest in early on and which ones to avoid, helping you shape your character efficiently.

Understanding Perk Distribution

Each skill tree grants perk points at different intervals:

Strength: 1 perk point every 2 levels.
Agility: 1 perk point every 4 levels.
Vitality: 1 perk point every 3 levels.
Speech: 1 perk point every 4 levels.

Since some skills grant perks less frequently, you must plan ahead and save points for the most beneficial options.

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Strength Perks – Prioritizing Combat Efficiency

Strength is a crucial stat for melee combat. Here are the best early perks to choose:

Stronghold – Reduces stamina loss from blocking by 30%. This is invaluable for sustained fights.
Mule – Increases carry weight by 15 pounds. A must-have for looting and exploration.
Tight Grip – Stamina regeneration is not slowed down in combat. Essential for prolonged battles.

Perks to Avoid Early On:

Grave Digger – Reduces stamina cost for carrying bodies. Unnecessary at early levels.
Bull – Bumping into enemies drains their stamina, but it’s more effective with heavy armor, which isn’t common early on.

Agility Perks – Weighing Your Options

Agility-based perks unlock at a much slower rate, so choose carefully:

Dodger – Improves sidestep dodging in combat. Learned through the main quest, making it a free perk.
Featherweight – Reduces fall damage by 30%. Useful but situational.

Since agility perks are rare, saving your perk points for later is a good strategy.

Vitality Perks – The Long-Term Plan

Vitality determines stamina and movement, and its perks can drastically alter your playstyle:

Thick Blood – Slows bleeding. More useful in mid to late-game when serious injuries are frequent.
Berserk (Unlocks later) – When health is low, stamina regenerates 4x faster. A game-changer for survival.
Blood Rush (Unlocks later) – After killing an enemy, attack damage is increased by 50% for a short period.

Perks to Avoid:

Marathon Man/Sprinter – Both affect stamina drain while sprinting. Keeping a balanced stamina drain is usually preferable.

Speech Perks – Choosing Between Highborn and Lowborn

Speech determines how well you persuade NPCs in dialogues. Since perks unlock slowly, prioritization is key:

Highborn – Increases Speech by +3 when talking to nobles and wealthy characters.
Lowborn – Increases Speech by +3 when talking to commoners and guards.

Choose based on your character’s roleplay:

Merchants and noble interactions? Highborn.
Selling stolen goods and talking your way out of trouble? Lowborn.

Avoid:

Final Offer – Gives you one last haggle attempt before a trader ends negotiations. Since you can simply restart the trade, this perk is unnecessary.

Main Level Perks – General Utility

Your main level grants a perk every other level, with many offering both benefits and drawbacks:

First Aid I & II – Increases bandage effectiveness and unlocks healing dialogue options in quests.
Night Rider – Stamina regenerates 20% faster at night but slower during the day.
Insomniac – Reduces sleep depletion rate. Always useful.
Burglar – Provides a +1 boost to Strength, Agility, Vitality, and Speech inside towns.
Savage – Same as Burglar, but for the wilderness.

Perks to Avoid:

Manly Odor – Boosts charisma when talking to women but lowers stealth by 30%. Bad for sneaky playstyles.
Renegade Brand – Reduces jail penalties, only useful if you frequently get caught.

Defense Perks – Maximizing Survivability

Defense perks impact your ability to sustain damage and control fights.

Firm Grip – Blocks with shields cause enemies to lose 50% more stamina. Great for prolonged fights.
Weapon Cruncher – Damages enemy weapons by 15% per clinch. Not ideal if you loot enemy weapons for sale.

Sword Perks – Learning Combos Wisely

Sword perks are entirely combo-based, meaning they require practice to use effectively.

Experiment with combos before investing points.
Choose based on your preferred weapon type (short swords, long swords, etc.).

Hunting Perks – Unlocking New Loot

Hunting provides valuable resources, but early on, you’re limited in what you can harvest.

Tanner – Allows harvesting animal hides. Profitable and useful for crafting.
Antlers & Tusks – Enables harvesting of deer antlers and boar tusks.

Saving for Tanner is recommended, as it increases profits significantly.

Final Thoughts – Planning Your Build Wisely

Building your character in Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a process that requires patience and strategic thinking. Prioritize perks that enhance survivability, stamina management, and combat efficiency. Avoid situational or weak perks that provide little value early on. As you progress, you can refine your build based on your preferred playstyle—whether it be a sneaky rogue, valiant knight, or charismatic diplomat.

Stay tuned for more build guides and optimization strategies!