The opening hours of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II can feel wonderfully overwhelming. You begin with little money, basic equipment, questionable fighting skills, and a remarkable talent for getting into trouble. It is all part of the experience.
Unlike most RPGs, KCD2 refuses to treat you like the chosen hero from the moment you wake up. Henry has to earn every improvement, every piece of armour, and every victory. The early game rewards patience, preparation, and a bit of creative problem solving.
If you’re wondering what deserves your attention first, this guide covers the priorities that make the biggest difference without spoiling the adventure.
Focus on Survival Before Heroics
The temptation is to chase the main quest immediately, but KCD2 rewards players who spend time building a foundation.
Before trying to become the greatest swordsman in Bohemia, make sure you can:
- Feed yourself consistently
- Earn a reliable income
- Sleep safely
- Carry essential supplies
- Win smaller fights
Think like a medieval traveller rather than a fantasy hero. Life gets much easier.
Loot Everything You Are Allowed To
Money is scarce during the opening hours.
Every abandoned sack, unlocked chest, basket of herbs, and forgotten tool can become valuable. Selling spare equipment is one of the fastest ways to build your first savings.
Look out for:
- Herbs
- Hunting knives
- Cheap clothing
- Food that has not spoiled
- Repair kits
- Spare weapons
Just remember that taking property in front of witnesses is a quick route to meeting the local guards. Medieval justice remains surprisingly enthusiastic.
Learn the Combat System Early
One mistake many new players make is assuming combat improves naturally.
It does, but only if you actually practise.
Spend time:
- Sparring whenever possible
- Learning perfect blocks
- Mastering timing instead of button mashing
- Experimenting with different weapons
- Understanding stamina management
Winning fights in KCD2 is often less about aggression and more about patience.
The first time you successfully counter an enemy who looked impossible five minutes earlier is genuinely satisfying.
Buy or Find Better Armour
Your starting equipment will not save you for long.
Good armour dramatically improves survivability, even if your sword skills are still developing.
Prioritise:
| Armour Piece | Priority |
|---|---|
| Helmet | Very High |
| Gambeson | High |
| Mail shirt | High |
| Gloves | Medium |
| Leg armour | Medium |
A proper helmet alone can turn a fatal head strike into something you can actually walk away from.
Build Your Reputation
NPCs remember how you behave.
Good reputation leads to:
- Better prices
- Easier conversations
- Helpful information
- Fewer confrontations with guards
Avoid unnecessary crime early unless you’re deliberately creating a thief build.
Being known as “that suspicious bloke who keeps disappearing behind locked doors” has consequences.
Learn to Read the Map Properly
KCD2 rewards exploration.
Many valuable discoveries never appear as obvious quest markers.
Spend time exploring:
- Forest paths
- Hunting camps
- Abandoned buildings
- Small villages
- Shrines
- River crossings
Some of the best equipment and memorable encounters happen completely by accident.
Those unexpected discoveries are part of what makes the world feel believable.
Collect Herbs Whenever You Travel
It sounds boring.
It absolutely is not.
Herbs provide:
- Easy money
- Crafting ingredients
- Alchemy supplies
- Skill progression
Because gathering happens while travelling anyway, it quickly becomes passive income.
By the time you actually need alchemy, you’ll already have a healthy collection of ingredients.
Learn Basic Alchemy
Alchemy is far more useful than many players expect.
Useful early potions include:
- Healing remedies
- Stamina recovery
- Buff potions
- Poison for weapons
Making your own supplies saves a surprising amount of money over a long playthrough.
Besides, there is something strangely satisfying about carefully following medieval recipes without accidentally setting everything on fire.
Upgrade Your Horse as Soon as Possible
Your horse becomes one of your most valuable companions.
Better horses offer:
- More stamina
- Higher speed
- Larger carrying capacity
- Better handling
Do not overlook saddlebags either.
Extra inventory space means fewer painful decisions about whether that expensive helmet is worth dropping three cabbages.
Carry Repair Kits
Equipment condition matters.
Repairing gear regularly:
- Improves effectiveness
- Saves money
- Maintains weapon damage
- Prevents expensive repairs later
Always keep a few repair kits available if you can afford them.
Your sword deserves better than looking like it has spent a week chopping trees.
Sleep Properly
Fatigue affects performance more than many players realise.
Sleeping regularly improves:
- Combat effectiveness
- Speech
- General performance
- Survival
Ignoring exhaustion usually ends with Henry making increasingly poor life choices.
Which, admittedly, is fairly realistic.
Hunt Carefully
Hunting provides:
- Food
- Valuable hides
- Income
- Practice with ranged weapons
However, hunting illegally in protected areas can land you in serious trouble.
Make sure you understand local laws before deciding every deer belongs in your backpack.
Develop One Combat Style First
Rather than spreading skill points across everything, specialise early.
Choose one primary weapon:
- Longsword
- Sword and shield
- Axe
- Mace
- Polearm where available
Specialisation allows you to become dangerous much faster.
You can always branch into other weapons later.
Save Your Money
It is tempting to buy every shiny piece of equipment.
Try not to.
Early savings are better spent on:
- Quality armour
- Better horse equipment
- Skill training
- Essential repairs
Expensive clothing can wait.
Looking fashionable is less impressive when bandits knock you unconscious five minutes later.
Speak to Everyone
Many players rush from objective to objective.
Take your time instead.
Villagers often provide:
- Side quests
- Local rumours
- Trading opportunities
- Hidden rewards
- Interesting stories
KCD2 feels richest when you slow down and simply exist within its world.
Keep Food Fresh
Spoiled food can become dangerous.
Carry:
- Fresh bread
- Dried foods
- Smoked meat
- Preserved ingredients
Managing supplies becomes much easier once you develop good habits.
Your stomach will thank you.
Practise Lockpicking and Pickpocketing Carefully
If you plan on becoming a rogue, start practising early.
Both skills become significantly easier as your character improves.
Just choose your victims wisely.
Being caught attempting to empty someone’s pockets is an awkward conversation starter.
Explore Before Fast Travelling Everywhere
Fast travel saves time.
Walking teaches you the world.
Travelling manually often leads to:
- Random encounters
- Treasure
- Ambushes
- Hunting opportunities
- Hidden quests
- Beautiful scenery
Some of the game’s most memorable moments happen between destinations rather than at them.
Early Game Priority Checklist
If you only remember a handful of things, make them these:
- Learn perfect blocks
- Upgrade your armour
- Earn reliable income
- Gather herbs regularly
- Practise combat often
- Improve your reputation
- Buy horse upgrades
- Carry repair kits
- Sleep regularly
- Explore beyond the roads
Takeaway
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II rewards players who embrace its slower pace. Success rarely comes from rushing into battles or buying the biggest sword you can find. It comes from preparation, curiosity, and gradually becoming more capable through experience.
The first dozen hours are some of the most rewarding because every improvement feels earned. That rusty blade eventually becomes a trusted weapon. The nervous traveller develops into a confident knight. The villages that once felt intimidating gradually become familiar places full of opportunities.
Take your time. Wander off the road occasionally. Talk to strangers. Pick flowers you never expected to care about. Before long you’ll realise the early struggle wasn’t getting in the way of the adventure. It was the adventure.
