Summary
For the uninitiated, certain grand strategy games can feel daunting to wrap one’s head around.Crusader Kings 3is one of the top dogs of the genre, as players are tasked with leading their medieval dynasty to fame and glory. Surviving the first few opening years, however, isn’t always as straightforward as it seems.
Fortunately, understanding the base mechanics behind the game won’t take newcomers very long. Following these simplebeginner tips forCrusader Kings 3, which also often apply to grand strategy games in general, will make the player’s first run through the Middle Ages a breeze. With a little practice, sprawling games of this nature won’t feel nearly as intimidating.
Updated July 09, 2025, by Joe Grantham:As Crusader Kings 3 is expanded on with new and exciting DLC packs, which are accompanied by free updates, the game gets more and more popular, drawing in new players with varying experience levels.
As new mechanics and features are added, though, the game also continues to get more and more complicated, which may leave some beginner CK3 players feeling overwhelmed. Thesebeginner tips for Crusader Kings 3should help players get to grips with the basics and find success with their medieval rulers.
1Complete The Tutorial
CK3 Is Complicated, But The Tutorial Is Beautifully Designed
While some games can be learned on the fly, a grand strategy game as complex asCrusader Kings 3requires more. Thankfully,the in-game tutorial is fantastic, as it sees players take on the role of Petty King Murchad of Munster and takes them on a step-by-step journey to uniting Ireland, although still with a degree of freedom.
The tutorial teaches players how the UI works, even highlighting which buttons to click to carry out actions such as proposing a marriage or raising an army. A similar system exists for times when players run into new features that are either more niche and not present in every playthrough, or ones that are introduced in DLC or free updates. These mini-tutorials can be identified by a question mark inside a purple diamond, and players should always try to make use of them.
2Make The Game Easier By Altering The Game Rules
While Learning, Turn The Difficulty & Plagues Down & Alter Other Rules
One of the bestCK3tips for beginners is to alter the Game Rules to make the learning process easier. Game Rules can only be altered before starting a new playthrough and will only affect that campaign. Without making certain elements easier, beginners will be facing the same challenges and harsh realities of medieval life that experienced players have had many years to learn.
For example, there are ways tostop plagues from spreading inCK3, but even with the best preparation, a player’s character and their family can be wiped out, which is frustrating when learning the basics. The main rule to lower is Difficulty, but others to look out for include Random Harm, Plagues, Minor Diseases, and Conquerors. Players can instead increase the Realm Stability if they plan on playing as a kingdom or empire, as this will make their vassals less likely to rebel.
3Pause The Game To Take Actions
Characters Can Die, & Events Can Change If The Game Is Left Running
One of the things beginner players should get used to inCK3is hitting the pause button as often as possible. As a simulation game, when the game is running, anything can happen, and all manner of developments might ruin even the best-laid-out plans. For example, players might be trying to arrange a marriage for their ruler, but if the game is not paused, a perfect spouse could be taken before a proposal can be sent.
Therefore, whenever players need to take action or make a decision, they should pause the game or at least opt for the slowest speed setting. There’s also just a lot for new players to take in, and to avoid being overwhelmed by events and notifications popping up, players will find it less stressful on pause with as much time as they need.
4Respond To The UI Notifications At The Top
These Tell Players What Needs To Be Done
When players start playingCrusader Kings 3, it can be difficult to know where to start or what to do at any moment. While players canfollow these steps when starting aCK3playthrough, at other times they will need to learn to respond to the UI. At the top of the screen, players will often see an array of colored diamonds. The red ones are urgent and can include not being married, a councilor’s spot not being filled, and so on. Clicking on them will take players to the relevant menu.
Green notifications are always positive and are often active rewards such as being able to acquire a new Perk or Dynasty Legacy. At other times, they can let players know they are eligible to begin something such as having enough gold and meeting the other requirements to host a hunt. Purple notifications, on the other hand, can be helpful mini-tutorials if they have a question mark. Otherwise, they are decisions that can be taken but don’t have to be. Lastly, the Current Situation button, made up of many colors, opens up a drop-down menu of many problems and opportunities, and players should frequently address these.
5Play Tall At First
Fostering A Small But Powerful Realm Is Easier Than Managing An Empire
Although conquering vast swathes of land is hard, the subsequent management of a large empire is arguably even more taxing. For example, players will have more vassals to contend with, and their resources must be divvied up. This is one of the reasons why it is suggested that beginners “play tall,” a strategy that focuses on building up the existing castles, cities, and temples of a small realm, rather than expanding outwards.
Despite having small borders, players will end up with a great economy anda full army of advanced men-at-arms. They should also be able to unlock a considerable number of innovations, progressing their culture through the ages. From this position, players can go on to win more land. By this point, they will have gotten to grips with the basics.
6Sway The Right People
It’s Important That Certain Characters Have A Positive Opinion
The Sway Personal Scheme is one of the most important actions in the game, as players can choose an individual and, over a few in-game years, improve relations with them. The opinions that other characters have of the player’s ruler matter dearly, but beginnerCK3players might not know who to sway first.
One of the most important characters to sway is the Realm Priest, as if they have a positive opinion of their ruler, they will provide tax and levies, with a higher opinion providing more of both. The Spymaster is also important to sway, as they are in a position of power and could use their spy network and high Intrigue skill to betray a ruler they don’t like.Disgruntled vassalsshould also be prioritized when it comes to using the Sway scheme, especially if they represent a threat.
7Learn To Manage Your Council
Effective Council Members Make The Realm Run Smoother
One of the bestCK3tips and one of the easiest to implement, is tolearn the basics of managing the council. Four positions in the council can be changed, these being the Chancellor, Steward, Martial, and Spymaster, but players also can choose the actions of their Realm Priest even if they cannot appoint them.
There are two factors to consider when appointing members of the council, and depending on the situation, the priority can change. The first is the character’s aptitude; for example, a Steward with a high Stewardship skill will help secure more taxes, and players may even appoint lowborn prodigies for this reason. However, the second factor is that powerful vassals expect a seat on the council, and often, players must consider these first, particularly if opinions are running low. Additionally, for those playing as vassals, it is a good idea to get appointed to their liege’s council, as the position provides unique bonuses.
8Learn To Manage Stress
The Build Up Of Stress Can Result In Dire Consequences & Even Death
Stress is an incredibly important mechanic and learninghow to manage stress inCK3is vital for new players. Certain actions that players take or unfortunate circumstances, such as the death of a loved one, will incur stress for a ruler, and over time, this bottled-up stress can cause mental breakdowns.
There are three levels of mental breakdown that get progressively worse, with coping mechanisms being acquired first, followed by much more adverse effects such as death. To avoid this, players should attempt to make decisions that align with theircharacter’s personality traits, as they will gain less stress or even lose some for doing what comes naturally. To actively lower stress, players can hunt and take the recreation intent for any activity.
9Give Your Heirs The Best Education
A Good Education Means Lifestyle Perks & Traits Will Be Unlocked Faster
Education is extremely important inCrusader Kings 3as the higher tier education traits allow characters to progress faster through their chosen lifestyle and, for example, unlockthe best learning perksfaster. Therefore, players will want to assign guardians for their heirs who have a high stat in the chosen field of education. Ideally, this would be the player’s character if they are a suitable guardian, as then the player would not only have more control over their heir’s education but also their personality traits.
The Royal Courts DLC also allows players to appoint Court Tutors, one ofthe best Court Positions, to enhance education outcomes. Additionally, players with the Wards & Wardens DLC can also have their ruler attend university to either counteract the results of a bad education or to further it and perhaps unlock the new fifth-tier education level that can only be achieved this way. However, it does cost a lot of gold to attend university.
10Make Use Of Activities
Improve Opinions, Gain Prestige, & Lose Stress
Activities are a familiar mechanic ingames developed by Paradox Interactive. There are many activities available inCrusader Kings 3, especially for those who own the Tours & Tournaments DLC. For example, don’t be afraid to call a hunt now and then to gaina nice chunk of Prestige. Hold feasts to potentially improve relations with vassals (and maybe even learn a secret or two), and set off on specific Grand Tours for gold, dread, or fame.
It’s worth noting that most activities have a chance of turning out bad. Nevertheless, the benefits can still outweigh the risks if the player is low on Prestige to declare war or their vassals begin to grumble. Hunts and feasts or other activities are also great ways to reduce Stress if a character is near their breaking point. Certain characters such as those with the Gregarious Trait will often lose even more Stress. Lastly, Activities are fun and full of flavor beyond being useful.
