18 Things Beginners Should Do First In Crusader Kings 3 (2025)

Paradox Interactive has always been at the helm of creating spectacular grand strategy games that end up being a blast to play through. However, if there's one negative that players can point out about this studio's games, it's the fact that these titles are extremely convoluted at first glance and can be quite a pain to get into for new gamers. This complaint was addressed by Paradox in their latest game, Crusader Kings 3.

No other game by the studio has been as beginner-friendly as Crusader Kings 3. New players to this series can easily start with this title to slowly understand the basics of the series before getting into its more complex aspects. As beginners, it's recommended to utilize the following tips to grasp the game's mechanics and take the first step into the amazing gameplay loop of Crusader Kings 3.

Updated November 12, 2024 by Emily McElroy: Crusader Kings 3 has been conquering land - and our hearts - for over four years now, and it has only gotten bigger and better with time. Starting out in the world of lords and lies still remains a bit difficult, what with all the new things added as well as the old basics. But never fear - here are the best things to do when starting out in Crusader Kings 3.

New Queen, Who Dis?

Marriage is one of the core mechanics of Crusader Kings 3 - it's what leads to alliances, and heirs, and all sorts of things that make a kingdom function. It also can lead to love, but who marries for love in this day and age?

Finding a good spouse starts well before the proposal. It's important to check things like stats and traits before popping the question, as well as seeing who the potential spouse is related to. Some people prefer to marry for traits, while others prefer to marry for alliances. In the early game, it's best to just pick somebody and start spawning those heirs, but it helps if that somebody is the comly daughter of somebody useful.

17 Keep An Eye On Your Neighbors

Get Off My Lawn, France

See Also

Crusader Kings 3 Khans Of The Steppe: Nomad Guide

Even if you aren't planning on invading them, it pays to keep an eye on what your neighbors are up to. Nothing is so demoralizing as getting things just so, and then scrolling over to see that France has totally blobbed out and is now bearing down on your borders.

Keeping an eye on what nearby countries are doing is useful, as it helps keep them from coming after you, and may even provide you with a golden opportunity. If your neighbor suddenly becomes very weak due to infighting, now might be the time to snag that beachfront property you've been eying in Aquitaine. And if your neighbor is doing well due to alliances or a particularly adept monarch, you might be able to, uh, handle them before they come after you. Prevention is worth a pound of cure.

16 Invest In Your Court

Pimp My Castle

The Royal Court DLC might be a bit of a mixed bag, but there's no denying that this expansion does have its fair share of advantages. Witnessing a physical court is pretty neat, and the events — while repetitious — do add a bit of flavor to the game.

The best way to make use of this DLC's offerings is to invest in the Royal Court's furnishings to enjoy all the bonuses that come with it. It might seem like a waste of money, but if you're patient and improve your Court Splendor, you will gain amazing benefits over time.

15 Raise A Few Men-At-Arms

Men-At-Arms In Moments

Just having a large armed force won't guarantee victory in a battle. Crusader Kings 3's wars can be pretty frustrating at times, especially if you have to deal with continuous losses, a barrage of losses, and poor ally AI.

Thankfully, most of the problems with wars can be reduced by just investing in your men-at-arms. Make sure to not overdo it, since it takes quite a bit of funding to maintain these decked-out armies, especially when forces are active.

14 Figure Out Ways To Reduce Stress

Take A Chill Pill, My Liege

Stress is a great mechanic in Crusader Kings 3 that makes roleplaying more of a blast. Now, characters with personality traits will gain stress if they act out of character, which can cause serious problems further down the line if it isn't managed.

Characters who accumulate stress levels develop vices at the first stage, before having a great chance of dying as they continue to get stressed out. An uptick in stress can come at any time, so you should be wary and keep it as low as possible whenever you get the chance - go on hunts and host feasts often!

13 Playing Through The Tutorial Is A Must

What Is A 'France', Anyway?

Most games nowadays tend to feature rather annoying tutorials that mention the most obvious information possible. So, most players can't be faulted for jumping into games right away without a second thought.

However, Crusader Kings 3 is an exception to this rule. The game is almost impossible to get into without tutorials, and you will be left dumbfounded at every turn without a proper guide.

No, Seriously, They're Useful Here

One major reason why Crusader Kings 3 is such an accessible title is mainly due to the importance of tooltips in this game. Pretty much every complex part of the game is made easier with the inclusion of tooltips that lay out crucial information pertaining to the mechanic, the historical term, or anything else along the same lines.

You should never skip these tooltips, especially if confused. The fact that there are extensive settings to control the duration and locking of these tooltips is a testament to just how pivotal they are to understanding the nuances of Crusader Kings 3.

11 Keep An Eye Out For Important In-Game Notifications

What Is The Game Yelling About Now?

Another thing that Crusader Kings 3 employs to make the game less confusing is the use of in-game reminders along with the in-your-face events. With this mechanic, no important information or urgent tasks should be ignored.

While these in-game notifications can feel rather oppressive to follow at times, new players should definitely keep an eye out on them. Following the points mentioned here, they can be critical to ensure your success.

10 Secure An Heir

He Has My Vassal's Eyes

Game over in Crusader Kings 3 happens when you die with no heir to follow you. You get a nice big Game Over screen that gives you lovely details about your dynasty, sure, but it's far better to avoid that fate.

Make sure that your player character is married at all times to ensure you have the ability to produce rightful heirs. You can also legitimize bastards or swap to a government type that can nominate heirs from amongst family members - just make sure you have an heir!

9 Raise Your Heir Personally

Come On Junior, Let's Crush This Revolt

Raising kids can be hard, even in video games. It's tempting to hand off your Crusader Kings 3 children to others, and in some cases it is optimal. Characters can only have two wards at a time, and it's a good idea to have your children raised by influential vassals or those with good education traits.

But when it comes to heirs, raising them yourself is best. This allows you to have control over what traits they develop. Some traits are much worse than others, and keeping your kid from becoming a Craven could mean having your child keep the throne when you're gone. Giving your child the best start is the best gift to them - and you.