Given how beginner-friendly Crusader Kings 3 is, most people might take it a step too far and select any random character on the map to play as. This is a horrible strategy, and players should try getting familiar with the mechanics of this game first with easier rulers before moving on to more complex kingdoms and dynasties.

Updated on June 3, 2022 by Ritwik Mitra: Crusader Kings 3 is an incredible grand strategy game that will immerse players for hours on end. The game is full to the brim with a bunch of emergent storylines that are a blast to uncover every single time. As a beginner, the mechanics of Crusader Kings 3 can feel rather overwhelming, but the fact is that a few playthroughs with beginner-friendly characters are all it takes to craft a brilliant storyline.

15 Negus Yemrehana Krestos Of Abyssinia

At the start, Yehrehana Krestos has a pretty small territory and seems slightly uninteresting to play. However, over time, players will soon realize that this character has a ton of potential to grow.

This is mainly due to the fact that Abyssinia actually has a ton of cover from the invasions in the North. This, coupled with a lack of worthy adversaries around, makes this ruler a great way to learn how to expand and consolidate kingdoms.

14 Sultan Yahya 2 Ibn Yahya Of The Idrisid Sultanate

Players who want to comfortably learn the basics of diplomacy should try playing as Sultan Yahya II ibn Yahya of the Idrisid Sultanate. His relatively high diplomatic stat and a lack of any warring nations mean that players will enjoy a pretty comfortable reign indeed.

Forming allies is a pretty major part of Crusader Kings 3, and Sultan Yahya II ibn Yahya helps players learn that in spades. It’s easy to see why he’s such a favored start for many in the game, especially in the early going.

13 Earl Murchad Mac Diarmait Of Dublin

Pretty much any area in Ireland serves as a perfect start for a Crusader Kings 3 player. After all, there’s a reason why so many people call this nation a tutorial area, with the game itself proclaiming the same!

Uniting Ireland is not the easiest task around, but it makes for a pretty compelling goal regardless. As long as players manage their wars and heirs properly, this Kingdom will soon be theirs!

12 King Sancho 2 ‘The Strong’ Of Castille

Money makes the world go round, and this applies in Crusader Kings 3 as well. So, players who want to enjoy a loaded playthrough should check out King Sancho II ‘The Strong’ of Castille.

This character might have a sibling rivalry, but most people won’t care because of how enjoyable this ruler is to play as. The fact that he’s pretty young makes his rule a long and enjoyable one too!

11 Thakur Vijayabahu Of Rohana

At a glance, Thakur Vijayabahu might seem like a rather tough character to play since he’s shown to be at war. However, it’s when players start the game that they realize that their military power far outweighs their opponents.

Not only does this lead to an easy victory, but players can also easily form the Kingdom of Lanka shortly after. This action-packed start means that players will have a great time in the game from the get-go.

10 Matilda Di Canossa, Duchess Of Tuscany

Controlling Matilda di Canossa makes for a great time in Crusader Kings 3. It’s easy to see why so many players find her to be a great start in the series.

Players should make sure to marry families matrilineally so that they don’t lose any territory. As long as these marriages play out in the player’s favor, they will be more than capable of controlling a powerful realm in the game.

9 Maharaja Bhoja Of The Pratihara Kingdom

The South Asian realms in Crusader Kings 3 are a great place to start the game. For starters, most kingdoms in this area have great resources and technological advancements.

The Pratihara Kingdom is an especially great place to start due to its massive size and military power. Bossing around nations and forming powerful alliances will be a really engaging prospect indeed.

8 Murchad Mac Donnchad Briain, Petty King (Duke) Of Munster

It was only a matter of time before a ruler from Ireland would make their way on this list. After all, there’s a reason why Crusader Kings 3 pretty much places one of these rulers as the protagonist for the game’s tutorial.

Given how isolated Ireland is from the rest of the game, it’s easy to stay wrapped up in local conflicts without worrying about the rest of the continent. Players who succeed in becoming the King of Ireland will have a way easier time with the rest of the game.

7 Alfonso, King Of Leon

Controlling Spain is easily one of the best and most satisfying playthroughs in the game. The rulers present in this kingdom coupled with a rich history make for a great time in the game.

With Alfonso’s high Intrigue stat, he can murder his way to the throne with ease. Of course, players should try not to go too far with this ruler’s skills and reign in their expectations whenever required.

6 Duke Vratislav Of Bohemia

The realms under the control of the Holy Roman Empire are easily some of the best areas to control in the game. These locations are generally well-protected and allow players to expand at their heart’s content.

Bohemia is an especially good place to start, with Duke Vratislav having a ton of advantages by his side to take care of most conflicts with ease. Players will easily learn the ropes with this character!

5 King Svend Of Denmark

Denmark is another great place to start in Crusader Kings 3 for players who don’t want to brute force their way through the entire game. Rather, a more tactical and diplomatic approach is required to succeed as the ruler of this country.

As a result, Denmark becomes a great way to learn about the more nuanced mechanics of Crusader Kings 3. Players who want to challenge themselves with a hard playthrough of the game should try controlling the King of Denmark first!

4 Basileus Basileios Of The Byzantine Empire

While this empire starts off with a small war against Sicily, it can be handled quite easily. Once this unnecessary conflict is taken care of, players will be able to make the most of the advantages given by this empire.

Feudal law and unified culture mean that the Byzantine Empire has a leg up over the rest of the realms in Crusader Kings 3. With some great ruling, this empire can turn into something truly impressive over the course of the game’s run.

3 King Malcolm Of Scotland

Scotland is a realm that is unperturbed by the conflicts of its neighbors. As a result, players can enjoy a rather peaceful time as they come to grips with the mechanics of the game.

Couple this with some unconquered lands to capitalize upon, and players will have a great time expanding Scotland’s territory. It’s a safe, if somewhat uneventful way, to play Crusader Kings 3.

2 King Rostislav Of Great Moravia

While Great Moravia is a great region to control as a beginner, players should reserve this area for their second playthrough after coming to grips with the basic mechanics of the game. This is because controlling King Rostislav introduces players to some of the more complex mechanics of this title.

With Holy Wars and diplomacy playing a key role in this area, controlling Great Moravia can prove to be a slow burn. However, the payoff is more than worth it, especially if players accomplish some of the harder goals with this realm.

1 Duke Bernat Of Toulouse

Players looking for a smaller-scale realm to try their hands out on can definitely check out the realm of Toulouse. It might seem rather small and humble, but Toulouse is actually advanced enough to give players a head start over other realms.

The beauty of Crusader Kings 3 is that even smaller realms are a ton of fun to control. This applies to Toulouse as well, allowing players to experience some rather memorable moments while controlling this realm in the game.

Crusader Kings 3 was released on September 1st, 2020, and is available for PC.

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