Decisions in Crusader Kings 3 are single-use actions that often have stringent requirements. Once taken, they can bring in new courtiers, give your character additional Prestige or Piety, or even reshape the political landscape of the medieval world for centuries to come.
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PostsFrom important, game-changing edicts to simple, personal choices, the best Decisions make for important goals that you can set your strategy around. Entire campaigns can revolve around unlocking the most powerful ones and reaping the benefits. We've listed the best of them all below - how many have you achieved?
Updated on October 10, 2024 by Matt Arnold: With the release of Roads To Power, there are more Decisions to be made, both great and small, in Crusader Kings 3! We've added some of our favorites that stand out in the most recent version of the game.
12 Visit Holding
An Adventurer's Gotta Eat
The Roads To Power DLC lets players, at long last, abandon the trappings of the court and take on the role of a landless adventurer in the harsh world of Crusader Kings. It's a dangerous life on the road, and many of the things you've grown accustomed to, like regular income and self-reinforcing regiments, aren't available. That's why you'll need to pay regular visits to the local Holding.
You can only visit the Holding of your Camp's current location, and only when you're physically there (i.e., not traveling), but doing so gives you opportunities to recruit companions, increase your stats, and refill supplies. It's best to take this Decision whenever it's available, either after moving your Camp or returning from a job.
11 Pet Cat / Pet Dog
It's The Little Things That Matter
Occasionally, your character will get themselves a furry companion. Having a cat or a dog can lead to minor events around your court as your pet helps you out or causes unintended mischief.
While your character has a pet, you can use the Pet Cat or Pet Dog Decision to immediately remove a small amount of Stress. Keeping your Stress in check is vital, so it's good to have a free outlet.
10 Petition Liege
Ask, And Ye Shall (Usually) Receive
Generally, it's better to be a liege than a vassal in Crusader Kings 3. Even the most loyal vassal is at risk of having their lands revoked or their taxes raised, and short of a very risky war there isn't usually much they can do about it. The silver lining is that you have your liege's protection, and you can occasionally ask them to help out.
Taking the Petition Liege Decision requires you to travel to their court, which can be quite a hike in larger empires like Byzantium or the HRE, but the opportunity to ask for extra funds, troops, or other support - and be reasonably sure that the request will be granted, no less - is well worth the trip.
9 Strengthen Bloodline
Genetic Engineering Before The Discovery Of DNA
Hereditary Traits can be the keystone (or downfall) of a dynasty. Positive Traits like Comely or Intelligent, or negative ones like Wheezing or Ugly, can be passed down to a character's descendants. If you're lucky enough to play a character with several positive Traits and no negative ones, you can permanently give your Dynasty a health boost and a higher chance of keeping those good genes in future generations.
Getting this tradition means you'll likely have to pass on politically favorable marriages in favor of marrying characters for their traits... maybe even a Lowborn match! The end goal is to play a character with one Trait from each of the three groups listed below while also leading the Dynasty:
- Beautiful, Comely, Handsome, or Pretty.
- Amazonian, Hale, Herculean, or Robust
- Genius, Intelligent, or Quick
Once you have a character with all three groups represented, they can choose to Strengthen the Bloodline.
8 Found Witch Coven
Something Wicked This Way Comes
While turning to the forbidden arts isn't as powerful as it was in CK2, turning your House into a sorcerous coven is both loads of fun and carries long-term benefits... so long as the Church never finds out. Actually becoming a witch or a warlock is a roll of the dice; characters with a Learning Lifestyle have a chance of stumbling on arcane knowledge, and if an NPC family member becomes a witch they may try to convert you.
Witchcraft is best for Intrigue-heavy dynasties, since it provides a bonus to Scheme Power. Try having your Spymaster look for secrets in your court. If you find out that one of your courtiers is a practitioner, have them train your heir; it's possible that they'll induct the youngster. Once sixty percent of your House have embraced witchcraft, you can permanently form a Coven.
7 Reclaim Britannia
The Once And Future King
Alternate timelines are a staple of Paradox games, but Reclaim Britannia lets you straddle the line between myth and history. It doesn't have any particularly impressive in-game effects, but the idea of restoring Arthur's kingdom in the face of Viking and Norman invasions is a compelling one.
You'll need to play a Welsh or Irish character and rule over all of Britannia before you can take this decision. You'll receive a special nickname for completing the feat; Tuatha Dé Danann if you're Irish, and Pendragon if you're Welsh.
6 Avenge The Battle Of Tours
Come For The Achievement, Stay For The Power
The Battle of Tours (732 CE) is already long past even in the earliest start for Crusader Kings 3. Charles Martel's victory stopped the Umayyad invasion of what would become France. If you're playing as the Umayyads or their descendants in CK3, you have a chance to finish what Abd al-Rahman started.
A Muslim character that controls all of Iberia and southern France, and has their capital in one of those regions, can take the Decision to Avenge the Battle of Tours. You'll get a healthy sum of Prestige and Piety, and weaken Catholicism by reducing its Fervor - you'll need that, since you're likely to have a Crusade coming your way!
This is easiest if you start in 867 as the Umayyad ruler and win the Iberian Struggle through cultural dominance before setting your sights on France.
5 Found The Capital Of The Rus
Vodka Was Invented In 1405 - Save The Date!
If you have the Northern Lords DLC, take a break from conquering England and head east to start a campaign as Rurik the Troublemaker. The mighty Viking has a powerful realm and weak neighbors, letting you create a large Tribal Kingdom with relative ease.
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PostsAn ideal early goal for a Rurik campaign is to take and hold Kyiv. Doing so before 1100 lets you establish Kyiv as the capital of your nascent culture for a small investment of Gold and Prestige. Kyiv will get some great bonuses for the next several decades, allowing you to continue developing it and fund your growth into a proper empire!
4 Become The Saoshyant
Time For A Rematch With Greece
The Saoshyant, the "One Who Brings Benefit," is the legendary savior in Zoroastrianism. In the real world, they have yet to appear, but in the alternate histories of Crusader Kings 3 you can reunite the Persian Empire and ensure the survival of the ancient faith, claiming the title for your character.
You don't need the Legacy of Persia DLC to become the fabled Saoshyant, but it will give you more flavor and opportunities thanks to the Iranian Intermezzo.
Obviously, you'll need to remain Zoroastrian first and foremost, which can be tricky with the Caliphate next door. Once you've united all of the Persian Empire under your banner, you can take the decision to become the Saoshyant. All your descendants will get a bonus Trait for being related to the re-unifier of Persia!
3 Become Chakravarti
A New Power Is Rising
India is an enormous section of the map that characters in Europe rarely interact with. Campaigns starting on the subcontinent offer plenty of warfare, politics, and intrigue with more religious malleability thanks to the blending of faiths found there.
India contains multiple de jure Empires, and a ruler that can unite all three has the potential to become the Chakravarti. You'll need to play a Piety-focused character, since only those who have reached the highest level of Devotion are eligible to take this decision. Once you do, though, you'll gain two full levels of Fame and merge the three empires into a single title - the Empire Of India.
