Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is one of the most ambitious RPGs on Game Pass in February 2026, and it doesn’t hold your hand. Set in 15th-century Bohemia with no magic, no leveling shortcuts, and a combat system that will beat you senseless if you button mash, KCD2 rewards patience and preparation. Here are 12 beginner tips that will save you hours of frustration.
1. Get Your Horse and Dog Back Immediately
After the opening sequence, one of your first priorities should be recovering Peebles (your horse) and Mutt (your dog) from the first game. Both are still in KCD2 and should be among your first objectives. The horse makes travel dramatically faster, and Mutt helps in combat and tracking.
2. Find a Bed and Chest Early
After speaking with Bara early in the game, visit either the blacksmith in Tachov or the miller at the Lower Semine Mill. Both will give you:
– An owned bed (for saving your game and resting)
– A chest (for storing loot safely)
– Quest steps that lead to decent starting gear
In KCD2, you can only save by sleeping in an owned bed or drinking Saviour Schnapps. Having a bed early means you can save frequently without wasting money on Schnapps.
3. Specialize in One Weapon Type
KCD2’s combat system rewards specialization. Trying to level Swords, Maces, and Axes simultaneously will leave you mediocre at everything and good at nothing. Pick one weapon type early and stick with it.
Recommendations:
– Longswords — Versatile, good reach, the “standard” choice for new players
– Maces — Destroy armored opponents. Excellent mid-to-late game choice
– Short swords + shield — Defensive option, easier to learn blocking and riposting
Level your chosen weapon by practicing with trainers and fighting enemies. Your weapon skill directly affects how fast you swing, how much damage you deal, and which combos you can execute.
4. Master the Perfect Block (Green Shield)
Combat in KCD2 is timing-based, not spam-based. The most important mechanic to learn is the Perfect Block — a last-second block that triggers a riposte opportunity.
When an enemy attacks, a green shield icon flashes. Block at that exact moment for a Perfect Block. This:
– Drains less stamina than holding block
– Opens the enemy for a riposte (free counterattack)
– Staggers the attacker briefly
Practice this against low-level bandits and during training sessions. Once you master Perfect Blocks, combat difficulty drops dramatically.
5. Check Food Freshness Before Eating
Food spoils in KCD2. Before eating anything from your inventory, check its freshness. Consuming spoiled food causes food poisoning, which drains your stats and makes combat harder.
Tips for food management:
– Prioritize dried food (bread, dried meat) — it takes much longer to spoil
– Loot food from enemies but eat it quickly
– Cook raw meat at campfires for better nutrition and longer freshness
– Don’t hoard food — eat it while it’s fresh or sell it
6. Stay Clean — Hygiene Affects Dialogue
Your appearance directly impacts NPC interactions. Being covered in blood, dirt, or wearing damaged clothes reduces your Charisma stat, which affects:
– Persuasion dialogue options
– Shop prices (merchants charge more to filthy customers)
– How guards and nobles treat you
Visit bathhouses regularly, repair your armor at blacksmiths, and wash at water troughs after combat. Before any important dialogue or quest turn-in, make sure Henry looks presentable.
7. Learn Alchemy Early — Free Healing Forever
Purchase the Marigold Decoction recipe from the Apothecary in Troskowitz for 150 Groschen. This is the best early investment in the game because:
– Marigold ingredients are cheap and grow everywhere
– The decoction heals you for free once crafted
– Crafting alchemy items raises your Alchemy skill, which unlocks better recipes
Once you have a steady supply of healing potions, combat becomes much more forgiving. No more spending all your money on Schnapps and bandages.
8. Loot Everything (But Sell Wisely)
The two best ways to earn money early are looting and alchemy. After every bandit encounter:
– Loot all armor, weapons, and Groschen from bodies
– Check pouches and pockets (not just inventory)
– Sell weapons and armor to the appropriate merchants (blacksmiths pay more for weapons, tailors for clothing)
Warning: Stolen items are marked. Selling stolen goods to regular merchants can get you caught. Sell stolen items to the Miller or fence characters instead.
9. Don’t Ignore Training Sessions
Visit weapon trainers and practice against training dummies whenever you pass through a town. Training:
– Raises your weapon skill without risking death
– Teaches combos you can’t learn from regular combat
– Lets you practice Perfect Blocks in a safe environment
The training sessions are free and one of the most efficient ways to improve Henry’s combat ability. Spend 15 minutes in-game time at a trainer every time you visit a major town.
10. Sleep and Eat Regularly
KCD2 simulates Henry’s physical needs. If you don’t sleep, Henry gets progressively worse at everything — combat slows down, dialogue options disappear, and skills degrade. If you don’t eat, he loses strength and stamina.
Daily routine:
– Sleep 6-8 hours per day (also saves your game)
– Eat at least one full meal per day
– Drink Saviour Schnapps only when you need a save away from a bed
Plan your adventures around rest stops. Don’t start a long dungeon or quest at night when Henry is exhausted.
11. Use the Wait Function Strategically
You can wait/fast-forward time at benches and beds. Use this to:
– Wait until morning before entering a town (shops are closed at night)
– Wait until night for stealth missions (fewer NPCs patrolling)
– Skip rain (combat and travel in rain is miserable)
– Wait for shops to restock their inventory
12. Save Often (And Learn the Save System)
KCD2’s save system is intentionally restrictive to create tension, but you can work within it:
– Owned beds: Free saves every time you sleep
– Saviour Schnapps: Consumable item that lets you save anywhere. Costs money or can be brewed with Alchemy.
– Autosaves: The game autosaves at quest milestones, but don’t rely on these
Brew your own Saviour Schnapps once your Alchemy skill is high enough — it’s cheaper than buying them. Save before every major quest, combat encounter, and dialogue with important NPCs.
Bonus: It Gets Easier
KCD2 front-loads its difficulty. The first 5-10 hours are intentionally brutal because Henry starts as an unskilled nobody. As you level skills, find better gear, and master combat timing, the game opens up dramatically. Don’t quit in the early hours — push through, train at every opportunity, and the medieval power fantasy clicks into place.
If you need more games to play alongside KCD2, check out our best co-op games list for multiplayer alternatives.
Final Thoughts
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a slow-burn RPG that rewards patience above all else. Specialize your weapon early, master the Perfect Block, keep Henry clean and fed, and invest in Alchemy for free healing. The game is punishing at first but incredibly rewarding once the systems click. Treat it like a medieval life simulator, not an action game, and you’ll have one of the best RPG experiences of 2026.
