Warhorse Studios released Kingdom Come: Deliverance on 13 February 2018, set in Bohemia in 1403 with no magic, no dragons and a map built from real places. You play Henry, a blacksmith's son from Skalitz, after Cuman raiders in Sigismund's pay burn the town and kill his parents. All 17 skills level only through use, and saving outside a bed normally costs a bottle of Saviour Schnapps.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swordsman | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Archer | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Stealth Thief | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Diplomat | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Alchemist | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Kingdom Come: Deliverance tier list.
A-Tier: Swordsman
Swordsman is a top-performing option in Kingdom Come: Deliverance.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Longsword | Two handed, the fastest route to Master Strike dominance and the weapon most trainers assume you are using. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Skills level only through use | Seven combat skills cover Sword, Mace, Axe, Bow, Unarmed, Defence and Warfare, while ten non combat skills cover Alchemy, Herbalism, Hunting, Horsemanship, Lockpicking, Maintenance, Pickpocketing, Reading, Stealth and Drinking. |
How to Play Swordsman
Swordsman focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Longsword does the damage and Skills level only through use keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Archer
Archer is a strong option in Kingdom Come: Deliverance.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Shortsword | One handed, which frees a shield for the early game when Henry blocks badly and takes damage he cannot afford. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Combat rose and Master Strikes | Attacks are aimed at directions on a combat rose, and blocking at the exact instant an opponent begins a swing triggers a Master Strike that counterattacks automatically. |
How to Play Archer
Archer focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pair Shortsword with Combat rose and Master Strikes and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Stealth Thief
Stealth Thief is a strong option in Kingdom Come: Deliverance.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Mace | Blunt damage that gets through plate where a sword edge simply does not. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Saviour Schnapps save system | Sleeping in a bed you own saves, and quitting saves, but a mid quest save requires drinking Saviour Schnapps. |
How to Play Stealth Thief
Stealth Thief focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Saviour Schnapps save system covers the gap Mace leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Diplomat
Diplomat is a specialized option in Kingdom Come: Deliverance.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Axe | Sits between sword and mace, cheap to acquire and effective against unarmoured bandits. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Hands on alchemy brewing | Potions are made physically at an alchemy bench: read the recipe from the book, grind or chop the herbs, boil for a counted number of hourglass turns and pour into the phial. |
How to Play Diplomat
Diplomat focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: This one leans on Hands on alchemy brewing rather than raw numbers, and Axe is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Alchemist
Alchemist is a specialized option in Kingdom Come: Deliverance.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Bow | Has no crosshair by design, so hitting anything requires learning the arc by feel. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Reputation, speech and charisma | Dialogue options are gated behind Speech and Charisma, and both are affected by whether Henry is washed, well dressed and wearing appropriate clothes for the audience. |
How to Play Alchemist
Alchemist focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Bow and Reputation, speech and charisma pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Archer: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Swordsman once you understand core mechanics and have access to Longsword
- Keep a Stealth Thief setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Alchemist for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Go to Captain Bernard at the Rattay arena before the main quest pushes you into real fights. He is the only character who teaches Master Strikes, combos and feints, and Master Strikes alone change the difficulty of the whole game.
- Fight in doorways, on stairs or with your back to a wall. Multiple opponents in open ground will surround Henry, and the combat system genuinely does not let you beat three armoured men at once early on.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Kingdom Come: Deliverance Guides
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance Kingdom Come: Deliverance Overview
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance Tier List
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance Walkthrough
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance Beginner's Guide
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance Tips & Tricks
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance Weapons Guide
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance Combat Guide
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance Boss Guide
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance Maps & Locations
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance Crafting Guide
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance Classes & Characters
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