What’s an RPG withoutbuffs, perks, and skills? Well, the answer is, not a very good RPG, and Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is simply unwilling to fall into that category.
I daresay it wouldn’t have done so anyway due to the deep systems, amazing visuals, and vast world to explore, but it also has perks that players can invest in, as they earn perk points from improving core stats.
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In the early game, these perk points are easier to come by as you improve your skills, but only certain perks will be available to you as you’ll be skill-gated out of the more substantial and beneficial perks.
That being said, there are still some very valuable perks to be had early in the game. So, to help you pick the perks that are a cut above the rest in the beginning hours, here are the best beginner perks to pick in KCD2.
As the availability of certain perks will depend on the playstyle and skills improved by the player, you may not have access to all the perks listed. But all perks will be realistically attainable for beginner players if they want to try and unlock them.
10Flower Power
Come Out Smelling Of Roses
Perk Category
Requirements
Minimum Level - 8
Through the game’s opening quests, as you help Hans recover when in Bozhena’s home, you’ll get a tutorial on how the alchemy system works.
This will subtly teach the player that potions are super important in this game, and having herbs on hand to create useful concoctions is vital if you don’t want to die of something pathetic like food poisoning. So, naturally, most players are going to have multiple of every type of flower and herb.
If this sounds like you, then Flower Power is an awesome perk.to take, as simply having over 30x flowers or herbs in your inventory will grant the player a +2 boost to charisma, which will make winning friends and influencing people much easier.
This perk only kicks in if the herbs you have aren’t spoiled. So, it can be good to couple this perk with the Art of Preservation alchemy perk.
Run Like The Wind, Pebbles
Horsemanship
Anyone who has played the first KCD and made the thrilling run from Skalitz to Rattay will know, horses aren’t the fastest in this game. So, if you’re given the opportunity to make them run like the wind, you should really take that option.
Head Start is an ability that allows you to start your journey on horseback at breakneck speed with a 10-second speed boost. It might not sound like much, but it’s a more useful perk than you might think.
You see, this allows players to flee from battles you simply won’t win with ease. As this burst of speed facilitates a quick getaway. KCD2 is a slow burn, but this can help make traveling from A to B a little bit faster.
8Charming Companion
Man’s Best Friend
Houndmaster
Minimum Level - 10
As you work your way through KCD2, you’ll time and time again have to make tough choices, and these tough choices will either endear people to you, or ruffle their feathers.
Naturally, the goal here is to make people like you as much as possible, because, as in life itself, if people like you, you will probably have an easier time of it.
It’s not always clear what the best dialogue option is to make people like you and gain a reputation, but when you do get it right, you should try and reap the maximum rewards, and Charming Companion helps with that.
This perk gives you a +3 boost to charisma so long as you are traveling alongside your dog Mutt, allowing you to become the most beloved guy in town quicker than you might otherwise.
You still need to pick the right words to say, but when you do, the rewards are all the sweeter.
7Driven By Vengeance
Kill To Power Up
Main Level
KCD2 has some of the most challenging RPG combat around, and this is even more true in the early hours as you learn the ropes and gather basic resources and gear.
So, any little help when it comes to fighting bandits is very much appreciated, and Driven By Vengeance is a huge boon, especially when fighting against groups.
This perk essentially incentivizes Henry to become a blood-hungry warrior because every time you take down an enemy, you’ll gain a 10% damage buff and a boost to stamina recovery, making the fight against the next bandit in waiting a heck of a lot easier.
This will grant you the agency to play with slightly more caution. But don’t go too mad; after all, this is still Kingdom Come Deliverance and one false move could get you impaled.
6Next To Godliness
They Call It A Student Shower
You might have gathered from the various NPCs telling you that you smell like a dung pile as you walk through town. But if you didn’t, in KCD2, if you don’t manage your hygiene, people will not respond well to you being up close and personal.
However, a bathhouse is a rare treat for most, so cleaning up in a trough is usually the quickest and easiest way to stay clean.
However, with the Next to Godliness perk, you’re able to make these impromptu baths as good for you as they are for those who have to stand around and smell you.
With this perk, you’ll gain 10 HP points every time you use a trough. Plus, when you go to bed clean, you’ll recuperate 25% faster than you would normally. There is still no substitute for the bathhouse, but this can be a real game changer for smellier sorts.
5Jack of All Trades
A Bit of This, A Bit of That
If you’re skilled enough with a blade or your fists, violence can be the main language you speak.
However, as the game is rather punishing and tries to prevent players from steamrolling through content, that won’t always be an option. You may need to use the gift of the gab every now and again, and having points in each speech-related check can be vital.
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Most speech perks tend to focus on one area, whether that be status or intimidation. But the Jack of All Trades perk gives you a +2 to every speech-related skill you have, granting players a more well-rounded set of conversational skills that could just stop a brawl from breaking out and your jaw getting broken.
4Hellhound
A Demonic Mutt
While Henry will need to go and find his dog Mutt before he can make use of Houndmaster perks, it’s certainly something worth doing. As having your canine companion by your side can even the odds in tricky fights. However, having some of the Houndmaster perks can all but turn the tide in your favor.
One essential beginner perk in this category is the Hellhound perk. This is a skill that not only makes any intimidation check in conversation more likely to come off, but also makes you a more intimidating force in combat.
What this means is that when Mutt is alongside you in battle, it will be more likely that enemies will surrender or flee. Which can make encounters easier and shorter, meaning less chance of catching a stray blade.
3Against All Odds
A One-Man Army
One of the hardest things to deal with in KCD2 is when you’re fighting against more than one enemy. In a one-on-one fight, it’s a fair test of skill and weapon mastery.
But, when there are multiple enemies, you’ll need to watch out for arrows from a distance and position yourself carefully to keep an eye on all parties present.
This will always be a pain, I’m afraid, but with the Against All Odds perk, it’s a bit less of a bugbear.
This perk will grant you a +2 buff to Strength, Agility, and Warfare skills, making you a more formidable force and effectively evening the playing field a little. But buffs or no buffs, watch out for those archers in the bushes!
2Pack Mule
Take Everything With You
When you start out with next to nothing in Trozkowitz, carry weight isn’t much of a concern, as you’ll have little but a sword and the clothes on your back.
However, as you gain a set of armor, a variety of weapons, and a bunch of miscellaneous items, you’ll soon come to know that everything starts to add up, and playing when over-encumbered is no fun at all.
This is where Pack Mule comes in, as this perk only requires 8 strength, and will allow players to add 12 pounds of carry weight to their inventory just like that.
This will make it easier to bring back more items to trade, and will also ensure you never have to leave an amazing piece of loot behind.
1Nimble Stance
Parry & Riposte
When in fights, when playing KCD2, you’ll spend just as much time swinging your blade as you will cowering behind a shield or deftly blocking an attack.
This is because this game forces you to bide your time, strike mindfully, and wait for your moment to riposte. However, blocking takes up stamina just as swinging for your foe does. And if you run out of stamina, you’re a sitting duck asking for a blade in your skull.
So, this is why you should consider taking the Nimble Stance perk, as this skill lowers the stamina cost of blocks by a whopping 40%.
This is a tangible change that allows you to spring from defense to attack more frequently and, in turn, take down anyone who would dare oppose the mighty Henry of Skalitz.
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