Kingdom Come Wiki - Complete Guide

Game Overview

Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a groundbreaking role-playing game developed by Warhorse Studios and published by Deep Silver. Released initially in February 2018 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, the game later received a robust Enhanced Edition for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2024. Unlike traditional RPGs that lean into high fantasy, magic, and mythical beasts, Kingdom Come: Deliverance is firmly rooted in historical reality. It is set in the Holy Roman Empire during the early 15th century, specifically in the Kingdom of Bohemia (modern-day Czech Republic).

The project was famously crowdfunded via Kickstarter in 2014, where it raised over £1 million, driven by a passionate pitch from Warhorse Studios founder Daniel Vávra. The development team’s core philosophy was to create an immersive, authentic medieval sandbox where the player is not a chosen one, but an ordinary person caught in extraordinary circumstances. The game utilizes a proprietary CryEngine-based engine to deliver highly detailed environments, realistic lighting, and a world that feels lived-in rather than artificially constructed for a video game power fantasy.

Core Systems

What sets Kingdom Come: Deliverance apart from its contemporaries is its refusal to hold the player’s hand. Every system in the game is designed to simulate reality, resulting in a steep but highly rewarding learning curve.

Combat System

The combat is a masterclass in tactical depth, relying on a highly complex directional sword-fighting system. There are five basic attack directions: slash from the left, slash from the right, stab, and overhead slash. To defend, the player must match the direction of the incoming attack. Simply holding the block button is ineffective against stronger enemies; instead, players must actively "read" their opponent's weapon position and counter accordingly.

Furthermore, the game features a concept called "master strikes"—perfectly timed directional parries that automatically counter-attack and can instantly end a fight if executed against a weaker foe. Combat also integrates physics-based momentum; swinging a heavy longsword drains stamina rapidly, and the speed of your strikes depends on whether you are moving forward or backward. Beyond swords, players can utilize axes, maces, bows, and crossbows, each with distinct handling characteristics.

Progression and Skills

There are no character classes or experience points for killing enemies. Instead, progression is entirely skill-based. The more you do something, the better you become at it. Reading books increases your Intelligence and unlocks new crafting recipes; picking locks improves your Lockpicking skill; and engaging in sword fights gradually levels up your Swordsmanship. Each major skill tree (Strength, Agility, Vitality, Speech, and Intelligence) unlocks powerful passive perks at levels 5, 10, 15, and 20, allowing players to highly specialize their Henry—from a silver-tongued diplomat to a heavily armored juggernaut.

Economy and Survival

The economy is strictly localized and simulated. A village suffering from a bandit raid will have nothing to trade, and prices fluctuate based on the local prosperity. Haggling is a mandatory skill, governed by your Speech stat and the merchant's disposition toward you. If you try to sell a blood-stained, stolen sword to a straight-laced town guard, he will arrest you.

Survival mechanics add another layer of immersion. Henry must eat to maintain his stamina regeneration, sleep to save the game and restore energy, and bathe to maintain his charisma. Wearing dirty, bloody, or torn clothing lowers people's opinion of you, making quests harder to complete. Armor degrades with use and must be repaired by blacksmiths or using repair kits, forcing players to constantly manage their inventory and finances.

Crime and Punishment

Committing crimes—such as stealing, trespassing, or assaulting NPCs—does not instantly spawn a magical guard force. Instead, a crime must be reported by a witness who runs to the nearest town crier or guard. If you can knock out or kill the witness before they reach the authorities, you can get away scot-free. However, if you are caught, you must either pay a fine, go to jail (where you lose stats and must serve time by breaking rocks), or fight your way out, which exponentially increases your bounty and makes the entire region hostile to you.

Characters / Classes / Factions

Because the game lacks traditional classes, player identity is shaped by background stats, faction allegiances, and the companion system.

Henry of Skalitz

You play as Henry, the son of a blacksmith. Henry’s initial stats reflect his upbringing: he starts with high Strength and decent Unarmed combat, but low Speech and Stealth. As the game progresses, the player shapes Henry’s identity. Will he become a noble knight loyal to the crown, a cunning rogue working in the shadows, or a mercenary who fights for the highest bidder? The choice is entirely dependent on player action.

The Kingdom of Bohemia (Royalists)

The ruling faction, led by King Wenceslas IV and his half-brother, Sir Radzig Kobyla. Joining this faction means following the laws of the land, wearing royal colors, and fighting against the usurpers. Progressing in this faction grants Henry access to the best plate armor in the game and noble backing.

The Lords of League (Sigismund's Forces)

Led by King Sigismund of Hungary, this faction invaded Bohemia and is responsible for the destruction of Henry’s hometown. Aligning with them involves shadowy work, going against Henry’s foster father Sir Radzig, and engaging in espionage. This path offers a vastly different narrative experience and unique rewards.

The Monastic Order

Players can join the Monastery in Uzhitz, taking monastic vows. This essentially serves as a "stealth/ninja" class. Monks are forbidden from wearing armor or carrying weapons, but they gain access to the monastery’s secrets, unique robes with high charisma, and clandestine assassination missions, heavily utilizing stealth, alchemy, and poison.

Companions

Henry is not alone in his journey. He can recruit specific NPCs as permanent companions who will fight alongside him in the open world. Key companions include Sir Robard, a grizzled veteran archer; Sir Hanush’s scribe, Johann; and the mercenary Kunesh. Keeping companions alive requires managing their equipment and healing them with potions or bandages when they fall in battle.

World Building

The world of Kingdom Come: Deliverance is arguably its greatest achievement. Warhorse Studios scanned the real-world landscapes of rural Czech Republic to recreate the topology, forests, and rivers of 15th-century Bohemia.

Lore and Historical Context

The game begins in 1403, a turbulent time in Central European history. King Charles IV, the revered father of the nation, has recently died, leaving his inept son Wenceslas IV on the throne. Wenceslas’s half-brother, King Sigismund of Hungary, known as the "Red Fox," kidnaps Wenceslas and invades Bohemia to seize power. The game is deeply entrenched in this political turmoil, exploring the feudal system, the power of the Catholic Church, and the harsh realities of peasant life. Historical figures like Sir Radzig Kobyla, Jan Zizka, and Father Godwin are woven seamlessly into the narrative.

Key Locations

• Skalitz: A prosperous silver mining town and Henry’s childhood home. Its fiery destruction in the game's prologue sets the entire plot in motion.
• Talmberg: A imposing castle perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Sazava river. It serves as Henry’s first refuge and is ruled by Lord Divish, a man trapped in a loveless marriage and suffering from gout.
• Rattay: The bustling regional capital and the game's primary hub. Rattay features a massive castle complex, a bustling market square, a working synagogue, and is ruled by the shrewd, pragmatic Sir Hanush.
• Uzhitz: A smaller, deeply religious village dominated by a massive monastery. It is the center of the game’s monastic questline and alchemy progression.
• Pirkstein: A formidable fortress located in the northern reaches of the map, heavily involved in the late-game military campaigns against Sigismund’s forces.

Authenticity

The dedication to authenticity extends to the architecture, clothing, and even the language. Characters speak with a mix of authentic period-appropriate phrasing and modern accessibility (avoiding the overly Shakespearean tropes of other medieval media). Buildings are constructed using accurate medieval techniques, and the sound design features real-world recordings of horse hooves, clashing steel, and medieval instruments. There is no magic, no dragons, and no supernatural evil—just the very real, very dangerous nature of medieval humanity.

Strategy & Tips

Surviving the first ten hours of Kingdom Come: Deliverance is notoriously difficult. To help you transition from a blacksmith's son to a formidable knight, here are expert strategies for success.

Early Game Survival

In the beginning, you cannot win a fair fight against armored opponents. Do not engage bandits in the open world until you have leveled your Swordsmanship to at least level 5. Instead, rely on stealth, bows, or avoid combat entirely by using horseback to outrun enemies. Focus entirely on the main questline until you reach Talmberg and subsequently Rattay, where you will receive formal combat training from Captain Bernard. This training is mandatory to understand the game's nuanced directional combat.

Alchemy Mastery

Alchemy is the most overpowered system in the game. Early on, save your money and buy the Saviour Schnapps recipe from the herbalist near Uzhitz. Being able to save your game anywhere is incredibly valuable. Furthermore, potions provide massive buffs. The Buck's Blood potion regenerates stamina (allowing you to chain attacks endlessly), Marigold Concoction slowly heals you over time, and Padfoot makes you nearly invisible to NPCs. To brew potions perfectly every time without wasting herbs, follow this exact sequence: Add the herb base, hold the button to boil for exactly two rotations (until the liquid evaporates completely), add the second ingredient, boil for one rotation, add the third ingredient, and pour into the bottle. This 2-1-0 boil method guarantees a perfect brew.

Armor and Layering

Do not just look at the raw "Defense" number when equipping armor. Armor is divided into three layers: Tabard/Clothing (Charisma/Noise), Chainmail (Slashing/Piercing defense), and Plate (Blunt defense). To survive late-game battles, you need all three layers. Blunt damage is the most dangerous enemy type in the game, as it bypasses slashing armor and causes heavy stamina drain and concussions. Prioritize helmets with high visor protection to prevent master strikes from blinding you, and always wear a gambeson under your chainmail to maximize protection.

Money Making and Maintenance

Earning Groschen (the game's currency) can be a grind if you don't know the tricks. Early on, hunt hares using a bow and sell the meat to butchers and pelts to fur traders. Once you unlock the ability to steal and pickpocket (via the Thief questline in Rattay), you can make massive amounts of money by targeting traveling merchants or sleeping nobles. Invest your early wealth into a high-quality horse with a large inventory capacity—this allows you to loot every piece of armor from defeated enemies and sell it to millers or fences for pure profit. Always carry repair kits and repair your gear after every skirmish; fighting with degraded weapons deals significantly less damage and degrades faster.

Speech and Stealth

Do not neglect non-combat skills. A high Speech skill allows you to haggle for better prices, persuade guards to look the other way, and smooth-talk your way out of quests that would otherwise end in bloodshed. Read books whenever you are resting or waiting for a shop to open. Additionally, leveling Stealth opens up a world of possibilities. Crouching in the dark wearing dark clothing makes you virtually undetectable. You can poison enemy food supplies, sneak into heavily guarded camps to steal prized horses, and complete entire questlines without drawing your sword.

Resources

To truly master the intricate systems of Bohemia, players should take advantage of the wealth of knowledge created by the passionate community that has supported the game since its inception.

Official Sources

• Warhorse Studios Official Website: The best place for official patch notes, developer diaries, and announcements regarding the upcoming sequel, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance Wiki (Fandom): A comprehensive, community-driven database containing exact stats for every sword, piece of armor, and potion recipe in the game. It is invaluable for comparing gear and planning character builds.

Community Tools

• Map Genie: An interactive map of the game world that allows you to toggle points of interest, including alchemy herbs, hidden treasure maps, bandit camps, and lockpicking practice doors. Essential for 100% completionists.
• KCD Calculator: A web-based tool created by fans that allows you to input your current stat levels and see exactly which perks you can unlock, helping you plan your progression route without accidentally wasting perk points.

Video Guides and Mods

• YouTube Creators: Channels like Roleplayer's Realm and Ruadhán offer incredibly detailed video essays and guides on the historical accuracy of the game, deep-dive combat tutorials, and lore explanations.
• Nexus Mods: If playing on PC, the Nexus Mods community for Kingdom Come: Deliverance is essential. While the vanilla game is intentionally punishing, quality-of-life mods like "Full Item Stats" (which shows exact numerical values for armor and weapons), "Unlimited Saved Games" (removes the Saviour Schnapps requirement for saving), and "Free Camera" for taking screenshots are highly recommended for a second playthrough.
• Subreddit (r/kingdomcome): One of the most helpful gaming communities on Reddit. If you are stuck on a specific quest or cannot figure out how to win a sword fight, searching this subreddit will almost always yield a detailed, spoiler-tagged solution from veteran players.