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Brushes with Death is a story expansion for Kingdom Come: Deliverance II built around a mysterious painter, a quest chain that travels through Trosky and Kuttenberg, and shield customization. Those are the features established by the official listings and PLAION support guidance; they do not establish the story’s length, pacing, or quality. This guide covers what the expansion offers and how to access it, without presenting store copy as a hands-on review.
What is Brushes with Death about?
Henry helps an enigmatic artist uncover his past and complete an important painting. The official descriptions place the quest series across both of the game’s maps, Trosky and Kuttenberg, and say it involves finding, persuading, and sometimes eliminating characters. The artist’s painted human skull is part of the mystery described in the listings. Xbox Store listing PlayStation Store listing
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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The Art of Kingdom Come Deliverance II | $69.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 PS5 | $31.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Kingdom Come Deliverance II Gold Edition (Xbox Series X) | $79.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2: The Complete Guide & Walkthrough | $17.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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That premise indicates a character-led quest expansion, but the official material does not specify how long the quest chain takes, how its revelations land, or how much meaningful choice its encounters provide. Those are questions that require direct play to answer.
What does the DLC add?
Shield painting
Shield customization is the expansion’s prominent added feature. PLAION says players can choose patterns, colours, categories, and symbols, with additional symbols unlocked as the game progresses. The Xbox listing advertises “over 100 unique designs and colour combinations”; that is the store’s stated feature count, not an independently measured count of in-game options. PLAION support: Brushes with Death Xbox Store listing
#1 Best Overall
A quest across two maps
The advertised story moves between Trosky and Kuttenberg. The listings describe a mix of searching, persuasion, and possible combat, but do not explain the frequency of those approaches or how much they change the outcome.
How do you start Brushes with Death?
- Complete “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” PLAION identifies this base-game quest as the prerequisite for starting the DLC.
- Visit the DLC quest marker. After the prerequisite, go to the marker to begin the expansion’s introduction.
- Meet the artist and finish the introductory quest. The shield-painting dialogue option becomes available after this introduction.
PLAION says the map marks shield painting with a brush icon. Its support guide provides the start and customization instructions: Brushes with Death support guide.
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.
How do you paint your shield?
After meeting the artist and completing the introduction quest, speak with him and choose the shield-customization dialogue option. From there, select among the available patterns, colours, categories, and symbols. Some symbols unlock as you progress through the game, according to PLAION’s support page. The feature is marked on the map with a brush icon. PLAION support guide
Does your edition include the DLC?
Brushes with Death requires Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. Whether you need to buy it separately depends on your edition and platform:
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"
| Access route | What the official guidance says |
|---|---|
| Gold Edition | PLAION says the DLC is included. |
| Standard Edition | PLAION says you can buy the Expansion Pass, which includes all three planned expansions, or purchase Brushes with Death on its own from your platform store. |
| Platform listing | The Xbox listing says the base game is required. Check the edition and bundle contents shown for your platform before buying. |
Store bundles and prices can change, so confirm the current listing for your region and platform before purchase. Official guidance: PLAION support and Xbox Store.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which platforms list Brushes with Death?
The US Xbox Store listing names Xbox Series X|S and PC, while the US PlayStation Store listing names PS5. Both list May 15, 2025 as the release date. These are US storefront listings, not a complete compatibility check for every country or store. Xbox Store listing PlayStation Store listing
Is Brushes with Death worth buying?
The official information makes the expansion’s appeal clear: a painter-centered quest sequence across Trosky and Kuttenberg, plus a shield-painting feature. It does not establish the amount or quality of story content, quest pacing, how expressive customization feels in practice, or value at your local price. Without a direct playthrough, there is not enough evidence to give a responsible quality or value verdict.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →For a purchase decision, first check whether your edition already includes the DLC. If it does not, weigh the advertised premise and customization against the current price in your platform store; the feature count alone cannot show whether the quest or painting system will suit you.
What do storefront ratings tell you?
The US PlayStation Store showed 4.57 out of 5 from 336 ratings when accessed in 2026. That is a changeable storefront snapshot, not a critic consensus or a measure of story length, quest design, or value. PlayStation Store listing
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.
