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Player characters who occupy the position of Dynasty Head get to decide which perks to unlock. Currently, there are twelve Dynasty Legacy tracks comprised of five levels each. All of them are useful to some extent, although a few stand out among the rest as being exceedingly beneficial no matter one’s playstyle or long-term goals.

Updated January 14, 2023 by Mark Hospodar: Crusader Kings 3 is still going strong as the game continually experiences new updates and expansions. One thing that has still remained crucial are the role Dynasty Legacies play in the management of the realm.

Although every Dynasty Legacy has its use, some are clearly better than others. This list has been expanded to include a few more legacies that players should certainly consider snagging on their next medieval adventure.

13 Warfare – Legacy 1

+2 Prowess +15% Knight Effectiveness

At the beginning of a new game, players will likely rely on military expansion to get the ball rolling. The heart of any military in Crusader Kings 3 lies in Knights and Men-at-Arms. As such, choosing the first Dynasty Legacy from the Warfare branch isn’t a bad idea.

In a war between two relatively small realms, the boost to Knight Effectiveness can turn the tide of a close battle. The bonus to Prowess also makes the player character more effective in single combat, which is important if one intends to use them to lead armies. More martial-oriented dynasties will have to unlock this Legacy anyway to get the better perks.

12 Warfare – Legacy 4

+15% Men-at-Arms Counter Efficiency +5 Advantage

The fourth Dynasty Legacy in the Warfare branch also pays dividends, particularly if players are diligent about expanding their Men-at-Arms pool at every opportunity. Furthermore, players should consider maintaining a diverse range of Men-at-Arms regiments, which makes this perk even more effective.

Every unit type in Crusader Kings 3 has a strength and a weakness. For example, cavalry doesn’t do well when pitted against spearmen. Men-at-Arms regiments that have increased Counter Efficiency become even more effective on the battlefield when confronting their opposite number. The bonus to Advantage is great for increasing the amount of damage inflicted on the enemy.

11 Law – Legacy 1

+5 Popular Opinion -30% Hunt and Feast Cost

In Crusader Kings 3, being a well-liked ruler throughout one’s own realm is ideal for ensuring prosperity. In addition, having ample stocks of gold in the bank is crucial for staving off emergencies or investing in new construction projects. The first Dynasty Legacy for the Law branch, though not massive, is a nice way to get the ball rolling on both accounts.

It provides a small boost to popular opinion, which is nice for keeping a county’s populace in check. The legacy also reduces the cost of Hunts and Feasts by a respectable amount, which is crucial since players will likely enact those decisions quite a bit throughout the course of a playthrough. By extension, the money that is saved can be used for other endeavors.

10 Law – Legacy 4

+5 Powerful Vassal Opinion +10% Powerful Vassal Councilor Contribution

Expanding one’s realm can be easy, but maintaining it is often the tricky part. Fans will eventually have to contend with powerful vassals that can seriously destabilize the realm if the player character is a weak ruler. Perks and bonuses that improve opinion modifiers can help dissuade AI characters from doing things they shouldn’t be doing.

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The fourth Dynasty Legacy of the Law tree helps when it comes to keeping powerful vassals happy. The +5 boost to opinion isn’t major on its own, but when combined with other modifiers/bonuses, can make a substantial difference. By extension, having one’s powerful vassals contribute more when they’re councilors also makes the realm collectively more efficient.

9 Guile – Legacy 3

+10% Monthly Intrigue Experience +15% Scheme Secrecy

Narrowing down the best Dynasty Legacies in the Guile branch can be difficult considering all of them can be incredibly powerful over the long term. For players who like to prioritize Intrigue, these Legacies will be of particular interest. The third Dynasty Legacy can be quite useful for players who love scheming.

The bonus to Monthly Intrigue Experience is perfect for players who have already chosen Intrigue as their Lifestyle Focus. This makes grabbing all the perks in that particular tree a much faster endeavor. Arguably even more important is the bonus to Scheme Secrecy. Even the best plans can be derailed if someone lets slip the secret. Having a little extra insurance in this department means a lot.

8 Guile – Legacy 5

77% chance to prevent one Murder of each Dynasty member +100% Interaction Acceptance if Intimidated or Terrified

Players who decide to commit themselves to the Guile tree won’t be disappointed once they reach the fifth level. The bonuses offered at this stage can be lifesaving…literally! In addition, fans who prefer to keep their realms stable through intimidation and terror will definitely want to consider grabbing this Dynasty Legacy.

Getting the chance to prevent the murder of one of your Dynasty members is a nice touch, particularly if they’re someone important in the family tree. Furthermore, getting people to accept interactions as long as they’re Intimidated or Terrified can lead to some pretty creative solutions to various problems.

7 Blood – Legacy 1

+30% Chance to inherit positive traits +30% Chance of new good congenital traits

Out of all the Dynasty Legacies on this list, the ones that belong to the Blood tree are perhaps the most important. Minimizing the risk of inheriting bad congenital traits while maximizing the possibility of inheriting good ones can’t be understated. Rulers with a great selection of congenital traits who are able to pass them on to their children can ultimately result in fewer weak monarchs down the road.

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As such, the first Dynasty Legacy in this branch is highly recommended no matter a fan’s playstyle. Player characters already blessed with beneficial congenital traits will want to pass them on to their heirs. The chance of inheriting brand-new traits is also a great boon. Positive congenital traits make rulers more effective and/or popular, thereby minimizing the risk of internal trouble in the future.

6 Blood – Legacy 3

-30% Chance to inherit negative traits -30% Chance of new bad congenital traits

It’s difficult to overestimate the importance of positive congenital traits in Crusader Kings 3. By the same token, negative congenital traits should be avoided like the Black Death. Marriage candidates with good, inheritable traits should always be prized. Nevertheless, despite the player’s best efforts, negative traits will still slip through the cracks from time to time.

The Blood legacies can help players immensely in cultivating positive traits while minimizing the likelihood of inheriting negative ones. The benefits of the third legacy are easy to see. Not only does it reduce the chances of inheriting negative congenital traits, but it also reduces the chance of new ones forming altogether.

5 Blood – Legacy 4

Select a Trait to become more common to Dynasty children (Comely, Quick, Hale, Fecund, Albino, Giant, Dwarf, Scaly) The Trait has a 5% chance of appearing at birth Double chance if the player character is the parent

Minimizing the random nature of trait inheritance is a major plus in Crusader Kings 3. Players who want a better shot regarding a particular congenital trait getting passed down to their children will certainly want to snag the fourth Dynasty Legacy of the Blood tree.

Obviously, the traits Comely, Quick, Hale, and Fecund are the most useful. Although nothing is ever a guarantee, having a better chance of inheriting one of these selected traits is great for fostering a healthy and capable bloodline.

4 Erudition – Legacy 5

+10% Effectiveness of Councilor Tasks

The Erudition tree deals primarily with relations regarding the clergy, Piety, and Learning. Fans may not find too many of these Dynasty Legacies useful unless they’re actively seeking a Learning-centric playthrough. However, the fifth and final level of the tree isn’t too shabby.

Players should always strive to put the most capable individuals in positions of power vis-à-vis the Council. Councilors are always performing some type of job that players specify. The bonus granted by this Dynasty Legacy, coupled with already competent councilors, can result in very efficient realm management.

3 Glory – Legacy 1

+30 Marriage Acceptance

As mentioned previously, ensuring that children inherit the best traits is one of the primary keys to success in Crusader Kings 3. Nevertheless, it takes two to tango! Finding a good match in terms of marriage is vitally important in the game. Although marriage can certainly be made to further political goals, a potential spouse’s traits can’t be ignored either.

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The first Dynasty Legacy in the Glory tree can pay dividends, particularly in the early stages of the game when players may be controlling a lowly count/countess. Sometimes, the margin between an acceptance and a rejection regarding marriage is very thin. Having a bonus like this can tip the scales in the player’s favor. Best of all, players can nab it relatively early.

2 Glory – Legacy 4

+10 Vassal Limit -20% Short Reign Duration -20 Claimant Faction Acceptance for own Vassals -20 Liberty Faction Acceptance for own Vassals +5 Court Grandeur Bonus

As realms get larger it becomes more of a hassle to manage them. Players may get to a point where they exceed the vassal limit, resulting in taxation and levy inefficiencies. Factions also start to become a problem as vassals inevitably start to gain more power for themselves. In particular, succession events are tricky for the player as that is when factions tend to seriously consider pushing their demands.

The fourth Dynasty Legacy of the Glory branch brings a host of benefits. It increases the vassal limit, which is great for realms that experience rapid expansion. Best of all, it discourages vassals from joining Claimant Factions and Liberty Factions along with reducing the penalty for the Short Reign modifier.

1 Kin – Legacy 5

At age 30 and every 5 years after, gain +1 Random skill point No Prowess Loss from Age Dynasty members visibly age at a slower rate

The Kin tree revolves around one’s own family. These perks can be useful not only for growing a family but also for ensuring more harmonious relations between members once the Dynasty grows large enough. Arguably the best Dynasty Legacy in the tree is the fifth one.

The excellent benefit of the first bullet is self-explanatory. Assuming that a character manages to live a full life, the extra skill points can shore up areas that are lacking or accentuate already strong ones. No Prowess decay ensures characters stay potent on the battlefield. Lastly, aging gracefully is a nice touch aesthetically.

Crusader Kings 3 is currently available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

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