KCD2 Skills Guide – Everything You Need to Know!
With Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 just weeks away, anticipation is at an all-time high. As creators and reviewers get early access, new details about the game’s refined systems and mechanics are surfacing. One area that has received significant attention is the skill system, which has been streamlined and enhanced from the original game.
In this deep dive, we’ll break down every skill in KCD2, explore what’s changed from the first game, and highlight how these mechanics will shape your experience. Whether you’re a veteran of the original or a newcomer, understanding these skills will be crucial to mastering Henry’s journey.
A Streamlined Approach to Skills
The first Kingdom Come: Deliverance featured a variety of skills, including Alchemy, Drinking, Herbalism, Horsemanship, Houndmaster, Hunting, Lockpicking, Maintenance, Pickpocketing, Reading, and Stealth. KCD2 has reorganized and condensed these into more streamlined categories, making progression more intuitive.
The new skill list includes:
- Alchemy
- Craftsmanship
- Drinking
- Horsemanship
- Houndmaster
- Scholarship
- Stealth
- Survival
- Thievery
Rather than separate skills like Lockpicking or Pickpocketing, these are now grouped under Thievery. Similarly, Herbalism and Hunting now fall under Survival. This reorganization not only makes leveling more efficient but also ensures that each skill has a meaningful impact on gameplay.
Alchemy – Now More Rewarding Than Ever
Alchemy returns as your go-to system for brewing potions, but it has been significantly refined. Potions now have three different quality levels: Weak, Normal, and Strong. The quality depends on the freshness of ingredients and how precisely you follow recipes.
A strong potion provides additional buffs, making them far more valuable. For example, the Savior Schnapps potion still serves as a save system, but a strong version will also grant temporary stat boosts. Similarly, health potions will be more potent at higher quality levels.
The alchemical process itself has also been smoothed out, with better time management tools and a more interactive brewing system. Instead of using bellows to heat mixtures, players can now raise and lower the kettle, providing more control over the process.
Craftsmanship – Finally, Blacksmithing is Here
One of the biggest additions to KCD2 is Craftsmanship, which includes Blacksmithing and Tailoring. Blacksmithing was originally planned for the first game but was cut due to development constraints. Now, it’s a fully realized feature, allowing players to forge their own weapons, armor, lockpicks, and horseshoes.
The blacksmithing system is highly interactive. Players will:
- Heat the metal in a forge.
- Rhythmically hammer it into shape, with Henry even whistling when hitting the right rhythm.
- Cool and refine the weapon or tool, ensuring proper durability.
Crafted weapons and armor will compete with some of the best gear found or purchased, making blacksmithing a valuable skill rather than a novelty.
Drinking – A Useful But Risky Skill
Drinking has been expanded, making it more than just a gimmick. The more alcohol Henry consumes, the more resistant he becomes to its effects. A higher drinking skill allows Henry to stay sober longer, which can be beneficial when consuming alcohol-based potions.
In the first game, drunkenness could be a major problem, especially in combat. Now, leveling Drinking can mitigate those effects, giving Henry better control over intoxication while still benefiting from alcohol-based boosts.
Horsemanship – Crucial for the Expansive Open World
With KCD2 featuring two massive maps, Horsemanship is now more important than ever. Leveling this skill will:
- Improve horse speed and stamina.
- Make escaping bandits and enemy forces easier.
- Increase Henry’s ability to control and maneuver his horse.
Considering how much travel is required, investing in Horsemanship early will be essential for survival.
Houndmaster – Your Canine Companion Returns
Originally introduced in KCD1’s DLC A Woman’s Lot, Henry’s dog, Mutt, is now an integral part of the game. Leveling Houndmaster will:
- Improve Mutt’s combat effectiveness.
- Enhance his ability to track enemies and find hidden treasures.
- Strengthen his loyalty and morale, making him a better companion overall.
Mutt can even assist in fights, making this skill incredibly useful for players who want a trusty sidekick.
Scholarship – Replacing Reading with Greater Depth
In the first game, Henry started as an illiterate peasant and had to learn to read. Since he now has basic literacy, KCD2 replaces Reading with Scholarship, a more in-depth intellectual skill.
Leveling Scholarship by reading books will:
- Unlock new dialogue options.
- Provide skill boosts in other areas.
- Potentially uncover hidden lore and knowledge that can impact quests.
While less action-focused, this skill could be essential for players who enjoy immersing themselves in the world’s history and making informed decisions.
Stealth – Essential for Thieves and Assassins
Stealth remains a vital skill, especially for players who prefer sneaky tactics. Higher Stealth will:
- Make Henry quieter and harder to detect.
- Improve ambush and assassination opportunities.
- Allow players to bypass certain combat encounters through silent movement.
A high Stealth level will also enhance pickpocketing success, making it a perfect companion skill to Thievery.
Survival – A Combination of Multiple Skills
The new Survival category combines Hunting, Herbalism, and Cooking, making it one of the most wide-ranging skills in the game.
- Herbs can now spoil, meaning proper preservation techniques are necessary for effective Alchemy.
- Food can be dried or cooked for longer shelf life, reducing waste and improving nourishment.
- Random encounters while fast traveling will be influenced by this skill, determining whether Henry attracts enemies or evades them.
Thievery – The Life of Crime
For players who prefer a more dishonorable path, Thievery includes Lockpicking, Pickpocketing, and general theft mechanics. However, the crime system has been revamped, making getting caught far more dangerous.
- Punishments are harsher, with execution as a possible consequence.
- More reactive AI means town guards and civilians are better at catching criminals.
- Lockpicking has been slightly simplified but remains challenging for unskilled players.
While risky, a high Thievery skill will make infiltrating secure locations and stealing high-value items much easier.
Final Thoughts: A More Refined and Impactful System
KCD2 has clearly taken the best elements of its predecessor and refined them. The reorganized skill system makes progression more intuitive, and new mechanics such as blacksmithing, potion quality tiers, and deeper survival mechanics enhance the overall experience.
While some skills like Stealth and Thievery will cater to a more criminal playstyle, others like Craftsmanship and Scholarship offer unique, immersive gameplay.
As Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 nears its February 4 release, players can look forward to a more engaging and refined RPG experience that stays true to its deeply immersive, systems-driven gameplay.
What skill are you most excited to level up in KCD2? Let us know in the comments!
