[Top 10] Crusader Kings 3 Best Starting Characters

Updated:

24 Feb 2024

10. Haesteinn of Montaigu

If you’re looking for a fearsome raider to terrorize the known seas with, Haesteinn of Montaigu awaits. Starting in a single county realm on the western French coast, Haesteinn is a character prime for moving onto greater things elsewhere. With the Northern Lords flavor pack, you can take this character around the world. This ruler is great to play as a nomadic conqueror, as he starts with a considerably large army of around 3-4k levies and Norse culture. He will also start with a high martial level and loads of prestige to declare wars. Haesteinn is a sort of time bomb, however, as he will spontaneously die/disappear sometime into your run. However, if you can secure a proper heir and realm, Hesteinn has the potential to establish a great kingdom in lands unknown. Coupling his army with the Norse cultural ability of Varangian Adventure, you can essentially move your realm along any coastline you can reach. Would you like to create a Viking kingdom in Egypt? Or perhaps reach as far as the coasts of India? The choice is yours as you can virtually travel anywhere in the world using a series of Varangian adventure wars.

What Makes Haesteinn so good?

His large starting army, around 3-4k levies, will allow you to conquer almost any small chiefdom along your journey.
Starting a war without prestige simply isn't practical, but fortunately, this ruler starts with a bountiful 2600 prestige (enough for a kingdom-level invasion.)
A young heir is already born to raise into a great raider just like his father.

Choose Haesteinn if you…

You are looking for a chill run with easy opportunities for conquest, as many quarreling realms exist along the vast coastlines.
Interesting in alt-history roleplay, given you can establish a Norse kingdom almost anywhere you can manage to conquer.
Enjoy taking up your longships to raid for resources, instead of saving them up from your income.

9. Basileus Basileios of the Byzantine Empire

Starting in 867, Basileus Basileios rules the vast Byzantine Empire. While this character starts at war, it will be quite easily won. This will allow you to focus on more challenging enemies nearby almost immediately into your playthrough. Starting with this character has the potential for an impressive run as the advantages of Basileus Basileios are many. The Byzantine Empire starts with feudalism and unified Greek culture, giving you an edge over your decentralized neighbors. In addition to this, The income of the Byzantine Empire is among the highest starting economies. After starting with a war in North Africa against an insignificant sultanate, some clever strategies can lead to a quick resolution. After resolving that conflict, a vast land of potential conquest lay before you. As you stand on the bridge between Europe, Asia, and Africa, the choice is yours to carve your name as a great conqueror.

What Makes Basileus Basileios good?

Basileus Basileios starts with a large starting army, usually numbering around 4-5k.
Thanks to the feudal system present in Byzantium, your income and levies will be significantly higher than some neighboring tribal nations.
You will start with a young heir secured, allowing you to educate him into a capable successor.

Choose Basileus Basileios if..

You want a run full of mildly challenging conquest, as your neighbors will be weaker in levies and size.
You want to build an empire with boundless riches, as your holdings will be some of the most developed in Europe.
You want a challenging endgame opponent in the Middle East, as you will eventually encounter, and likely clash with, the powerful Abbasids.

8. Petty King Murchad Mac Donnchad of Munster

Isolated on the emerald isle of Ireland, Murchad Mac Donnchad is an amazing unification challenge for ck3 newcomers. Being the most powerful petty kingdom in a fractured Ireland, the responsibility is yours to unite the Irish and turn them into a formidable nation. With Murchad Mac Donnchad, you start in an amazing place to unite the south of Ireland before heading onto the north. You will spawn with one of the larger armies in Ireland and an heir secured. Invasions from outside of Ireland should happen rarely, if at all, so you will be free to strategically isolate and conquer your neighbors. Ireland around this starting date is desolate of development, riches, and unity. But with some shrewd leading and clever conquest, you can establish a legacy as a founder of kingdoms. Once you conquer your homeland of Ireland, venture beyond the sea to Britain to unite even more fractured kingdoms.

What makes Murchad Mac Donnchad good?

Advantageous starting position, you will be in a good spot to slowly eat up your neighbors.
Large starting levies, your levies will be enough to conquer any of your neighbors from the get-go.
A secured heir to make sure your kingdom lives on.

Choose Murchad Mac Donnchad if…

You want a pure beginner experience with minimal challenge from start to end.
You enjoy roleplaying as a unifier.
You want a kingdom with a strong foundation prone to few rebellions.

7. Duke Vratislav of Bohemia

Another great starting character with which to learn the reigns of leading a kingdom, Duke Vratislav is in an advantageous position to easily become a king and even an emperor. You will be a vassal to the Holy Roman Empire, allowing you to grow your realm under the protection of your liege. With Duke Vratislav, you will start with a good martial education and a considerably sized army, just perfect to conquer your fellow vassals. Your capital holding, Prague, is among the best in the game with an increased development modifier and multiple holdings directly bordering it, allowing for efficient development spread. Expand your realm enough to challenge your liege, the Holy Roman Emperor, or democratically elect yourself to the throne. Build tall or expand out. With this character, there is great potential for varied gameplay.

What makes Duke Vratislav good?

High martial education, sometimes an entire skill branch can be already unlocked.
Considerably sized army, enough to easily overpower most of your neighbors.
High-value capital holding, increased development modifier to allow yourself to grow economically.

Choose Duke Vratislav if…

You are looking to practice different ways of ruling, whether you prefer war or peace.
You want to build tall and expand out simultaneously.
Enjoy a light challenge, nothing that will have you pulling your hair out.

6. Jarl Dyre “The Stranger” of Konugardr

This Norse ruler in Slavic lands, similar to Duke Vratislav, is built for both conquest and development. However, the challenge here is more dire. There will be no liege to protect you from your power-hungry neighbors. Jarl Dyre starts with two obvious advantages, his congenital genius trait and his capital holding of Kyiv, which is amongst the best holdings in the game. With Kyiv having an increased development modifier from farmlands and Jarl Dyre’s genius trait, you can build Kyiv into a city for the ages. Using his Norse culture’s bellicose tenets, you can strategically knock down your neighbors for a fun challenge. Your best route here will be to conquer the Slavic lands of Russia and eventually convert to their ways, or maybe even create a hybrid society. Securing Russia will be necessary to prepare for future invasions from nomadic steppe tribes and western crusaders. You must also take heed of your succession, for the consequences will be harsh should it be neglected.

What makes Jarl Dyre good?

Genius level trait, with luck and the right spouse, you can pass this trait down your lineage.
High-value holdings are the best in that region of the map.
Norse culture allows for lightning-quick conquests at strategic moments.

Choose Jarl Dyre if…

You want a moderate challenge with potentially harsh consequences.
To carve a hybrid kingdom in a distant land.
To build a highly developed society in the desolate east.

5. King Sancho II “The Strong” of Castille

Are you looking to expand your realm through means of intrigue? Then King Sancho II might be the right ruler for you. Unite the Spanish Catholic kingdoms and turn the tide against the invading Muslims of Iberia. In this run, you have the chance to create a great Spanish empire. This character starts out ruling one of the three main Spanish catholic kingdoms. With the other two being run by your heirless brothers, you can create a formidable realm with a string of well-planned murders. King Sancho also has ambitious, brave, and vengeful traits, making him a prime conqueror. After the pretty easy task of murdering your brothers, you can now turn your attention to conquering Iberia from the fragmented Andalusian Muslims. This endeavor will yield high rewards as uniting Iberia will grant many riches and some of the highest-developed holdings in the game. Should you choose vengeance as an option, you can also push into the Muslim-held lands of North Africa.

What makes King Sancho II good?

Personality traits are beneficial to a martial lifestyle.
Heir to 2 neighboring kingdoms.
Infinite casus belli against Muslim realms in Iberia.

Choose King Sancho II if…

You want to navigate a large-scale religious conflict with its own unique gameplay mechanics.
You desire a wealthy empire built on a strong economy.
You need to learn the religious mechanics of Crusader Kings 3.

4. Jarl Bjorn “Ironside” of Uppland

Would you like to continue the legacy of the infamous Viking king, Ragnar Lothbrok? Then his son Bjorn ironside will serve you well. Starting in 867 as a pagan Norse duchy, you will be allied to your powerful brothers essentially giving you a chokehold over Scandinavia. Use these alliances to further Norse conquest in England or focus on uniting your own homeland of Scandinavia. Bjorn Ironside will spawn with a strong diplomacy education and alliance with at least 3 brothers. These brothers will allow you to establish a foothold almost anywhere your diplomatic range can reach. You will also have a large starting army, capable of conquering all of Sweden. The difficulty of this run will be pretty straightforward, as Norse culture characters are built for conquest. Pair this with your already formidable realm and this run should be a cakewalk of Viking invasions.

What Makes Bjorn Ironside good?

Large starting levies.
Good diplomacy education with a random skill tree already fully researched.
Multiple alliances with equal strength realms ruled by your brothers.

Choose Bjorn Ironside if…

You want to conquer without many obstacles in your way.
You enjoy spreading the influence of your dynasty beyond Scandinavia.
You want to live up to the reputation of Ragnar Lothbrok, father to Bjorn Ironside.

3. King Rostislav of Great Moravia

Situated on the border with endless Slavic pagans, this Catholic Slavic kingdom is ready to spread the faith in the lands of their brothers. King Rostislav heads the historic kingdom of Great Moravia, one of the first feudal Slavic states. This run will allow for some pretty satisfying expansionism. Starting out as the only feudal kingdom among the west and east Slavs, you will be at a significant advantage to conquer them. Pair this with your catholic religion, you will be able to liberally utilize religious casus belli against the neighboring pagans. This will allow you to expand your realm eastward almost unchecked. You might experience the occasional raid or Varangian invasion but overall you are predisposed to a fun warring existence. King Rostislav will likely pass away shortly after you begin so sorting out your heir should be the highest priority.

What Makes King Rostislav good?

Catholic religion and feudal government.
Large realm of united culture.
Neighboring realms are significantly weaker.

Play as King Rostislav if…

You want to play as an early crusader in the East.
Take great chunks of land in short amounts of time.
Want to play opportunistically, waiting for the perfect time to strike.

2. Chieftain Haraldr “Tanglehair” of Vestfold

Starting out in barren Norway, Haraldr Tanglehair is a character with a promising future that will have you emotionally invested. As Haraldr Tanglehair, you have made a promise to never cut your hair until Norway is united under your banner. It is up to you to forge your future. If you are able to overcome the challenge of united Norway as a county-level realm, you will have the option to cut your hair or wear it as a trophy of your achievement. The conquest does not stop here, however, as you will now be strong enough to flood your armies over the border into Sweden, or across the sea into Denmark and England. With this character, the conquest almost feels endless but can amazingly be achieved in one lifetime. Go from a measly two counties to ruling the great North Sea empire. Haraldr Fairhair is an engaging character full of challenges that will leave you proud of your leadership capabilities.

What makes Haraldr Fairhair so good?

Decently sized levies, enough to slowly and patiently eat up your neighbors.
Youthful start, you will have plenty of time to sort out an heir.
First king of Norway, you will be in a unique position from Denmark and Sweden as Norway has never before been united.

Choose Haraldr Fairhair if…

You want a challenge built only for the strong.
You want to practice strategic timing and warfare.
You want to invest a lot of lore into your playthrough.

1. Duke William II “The Bastard” of Normandy

Finally arriving at our final character, the best saved for last. Duke William II is every CK3 player’s graduation run-through, a true testament to their refined ability of leadership. Before you lie a life of conquest, glory, and the legacy of the English. When starting as Duke William II, you will be immediately at war with England for the throne. You are not alone in your desires, however, as you will be competing with the Norwegian invasion of England simultaneously. Maneuver around the multitude of unfriendly armies to succeed in your conquest of England. Succeed in your endeavors and you will be presented with the opportunity to form the modern English culture. This will establish England as a leading figure in the European theatre. Your job will be to secure England and reshape it with your Norman hands.