Recommended Free Tools
In Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, skills generally improve through the actions that use them: fight with a weapon to develop its related abilities, talk and haggle to build Speech, or brew to advance Alchemy. There is no universally best order for all nine skills. Choose the ones that support your weapon, travel style, and approach to quests, and let ordinary play advance the rest.
How skill leveling works in KCD2
Most progression is learn-by-doing: the activity you perform determines which skill gains experience. Books and trainers can also provide fixed skill experience, which makes them useful when a skill lags behind the things you normally do. Gaining experience does not automatically mean you have selected a perk; check the player menu for available perk points.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
The Art of Kingdom Come Deliverance II | $69.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 PS5 | $31.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Kingdom Come Deliverance II Gold Edition (Xbox Series X) | $79.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2: The Complete Guide & Walkthrough | $17.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Build around one melee or ranged weapon you actually plan to use. Train other skills when they support a quest, unlock an activity, or offer a perk you want—not because every skill must be maxed before you can continue the story. The routes below are practical choices across common playstyles, not an official or universal ranking.
Which skills are worth leveling?
Alchemy
Brew potions you will use; successful brewing is a practical way to gain Alchemy experience while producing useful supplies. KCD2.org reports that Henry’s-quality Fox grants 50% more skill experience for two in-game days and requires Alchemy level 16 plus Secret of Secrets. Those requirements are guide-reported, so check the current in-game recipe and unlock conditions before planning around the potion. If you do meet them, line up several experience-producing activities before drinking it so the limited duration is useful. KCD2.org’s Fox potion guide
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
Strength
Build Strength through melee practice and carrying heavy objects, as guide-reported routes. Use the weapon you intend to fight with and let valuable loot contribute to carrying practice; hauling unnecessary weight solely to grind is an inconvenient trade for a skill you may develop naturally.
Agility
Agile weapon use, dodging, and ranged activity are reported routes for Agility. Players who favor bows or stealth can often advance it through their preferred approach rather than setting aside separate practice time.
Vitality
Sprinting and active combat are among the guide-reported ways to develop Vitality. If you are already carrying loot, walking while over-encumbered is another option described by guides, but it slows travel. It is a niche tactic, not a requirement.
Rank #2
- Live life through the eyes and actions of Henry, a young man on a quest to avenge his murdered parents. His story – illustrated with over five hours of stunning cinematics – takes him from aspiring warrior to rebel, crossing paths with a charismatic cast of characters and an unforgettable set of adventures, as he goes up against the King of Hungary, Sigismund the Red Fox and his fearsome allies.
- Your actions shape Henry’s destiny and how the world will react to him. Customize freely his appearance, skills and equipment while taking a moral stance on the events around you. Travel round the land engaging in unique activities, such as blacksmithing and archery, to truly immerse yourself in this vibrant region of Europe that will remember your actions, forever.
- This stunningly authentic rendition of 15th Century Bohemia allows you to experience this fascinating setting like never before. Get lost in a sprawling city, engage with peasants and talk with nobles while exploring a vast and rich countryside with taverns, bath houses, castles and more.
- Feel the clash of steel and visceral combat as you engage in thrilling real-time battles. There’s a range of authentic weapons and combat styles to suit every player. On foot, horse or by stealth, you can specialise in elegant sword mastery, brutal blunt weapons or deadly ranged attacks.
Speech
Talk to people, attempt dialogue checks that fit your character, and haggle during ordinary purchases. Quest conversations can offer practice without detours. Haggling is especially easy to work into a routine because it happens while buying things you may need anyway.
Craftsmanship
Forge, sharpen, and repair equipment to develop Craftsmanship. Prioritize equipment you will use and upkeep you need; repeatedly producing items you do not want turns a useful activity into needless work.
Scholarship
Read books and discover information as you explore. If Scholarship is falling behind your usual activities, books and trainers can provide fixed skill experience without requiring you to change your combat or travel style.
Rank #3
- Experience the events with the eyes of Heinrich, a young man who moves to avenge the murder of his parents
- The authentic rendition of the 15th-century bohemiah gives you the opportunity to experience this fascinating environment like never before
- Customize Heinrich's appearance, skills and equipment to your liking
- The Gold Edition includes the game, the "Expansion Pass" DLC, bonus quest "Lion Crests" DLC and the DLC "Equipment of the Brave Hunter"
Thievery
Pickpocketing and lockpicking are routes for a thief-oriented character. Use opportunities that suit a stealth build; crime is not mandatory progression for lawful or non-stealth play.
Horsemanship
Ride during ordinary travel to develop Horsemanship. Choosing manual riding instead of fast travel can make travel itself part of progression, but costs more time. Use this route when you want the riding practice or prefer the journey, not as a universal rule.
A low-grind routine that covers several skills
Rather than repeating one activity just to fill a bar, combine useful practice with errands and exploration:
- Choose one weapon. Fight with the melee or ranged weapon that fits your build so practice benefits a skill you intend to use.
- Travel in a way that suits the trip. Ride manually or sprint for some journeys when you want travel-related practice; use faster travel when saving time matters more.
- Gather herbs along the way. Use them for Alchemy when you need potions, rather than gathering without a purpose.
- Keep equipment in working order. Forge, sharpen, or repair items you actually use to build Craftsmanship through useful upkeep.
- Use conversations and reading as they arise. Try relevant dialogue checks, haggle during purchases, and read available books to support Speech and Scholarship.
- Check for a lagging skill or useful threshold. Books or paid training can help when ordinary play has not developed a skill you need.
- Review the player menu. Spend available perk points deliberately; skill experience and perk selection are separate steps.
How to choose what to level first
There is no source-supported universal order. Decide based on what will make a difference in your next stretch of play:
- Build fit: Prioritize the weapon and related skills that match how you fight. A bow-focused or stealth approach has different needs from a melee build.
- Immediate usefulness: Consider whether a skill helps with a quest, perk, or activity you want to pursue now.
- Natural progress: If ordinary play already raises a skill, you may not need to spend extra time training it.
- Practice cost: Account for the time or inconvenience of focused practice. Slow over-encumbered walking or avoiding fast travel may not be worth it for your character.
Practical routes for progression are guide-reported, not independently tested here, and patch-sensitive details can change. Guides reviewed for this topic range from February 2025 to a Gamer Guides page updated September 17, 2026; check current in-game descriptions and requirements when a specific unlock matters.
Is over-encumbered walking worth doing?
Method.gg reports that walking while over-encumbered can advance Main Level, Strength, and Vitality. Treat it as an optional way to make an already heavy trip count, not a recommended standalone grind: movement is slow, travel becomes less convenient, and the leveling advice does not establish that this method is necessary for story progress. Method.gg’s leveling guide
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
