Key Takeaways
- Cultures in
CK3
offer unique Traditions for various effects, altering gameplay. - Each Tradition comes with benefits and occasional drawbacks to consider.
- Players can mix and match Traditions to create diverse and strategic gameplay experiences.
There are many different cultures in Crusader Kings 3, depicting the breadth and variety of the Middle Ages in Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Each culture comprises several Traditions that grant various effects that are mostly positive, but sometimes with negative elements. These cultural Traditions define how members of a particular culture act in Crusader Kings 3 and, in the case of the player, open up new ways to play the game.
While all cultures start with established Traditions, these can be replaced or expanded on at the cost of Prestige. Naturally, all Traditions in CK3 have their uses and fit better with particular goals; however, some Traditions are simply stronger than the rest. This list will not rank Regional Traditions, as these are only available to cultures of specific heritages. Nor will it rank other Traditions that are gated in other ways that prevent them from being picked up in most playthroughs.
Updated on September 30, 2024, by Joe Grantham: There are many cultural Traditions available to players, and each DLC for Crusader Kings 3 usually introduces some new ones for players to unlock and utilize in unique ways. To unlock Traditions, certain obligatory requirements must be met, and sometimes players will find that their culture is locked out of some Traditions. Each Tradition will cost 2000 less Prestige if the culture has the Tradition’s preferred ethos, and it will cost 3000 less Prestige if certain optional requirements are met. At the end of the day, CK3’s best Traditions are not only strong but also create unique gameplay.
18 Chivalry
Lots Of Bonuses To Knights & Romance, While Being Great For Roleplay
- Obligatory Requirements: Culture originates from Western Europe.
- Optional Requirements: 6 Knights with at least 12 Prowess.
Chivalry is not only a strong Cultural Tradition, but one of the most fun for roleplay in CK3. By being able to spar, Knights will become stronger and if they are Acclaimed Knights, they will gain Glory even faster.
The other benefits of Chivalry are all about Romance Schemes, with them being stronger for Poets and those with the Gallant Trait. More importantly, succeeding in a Romance Scheme will reward Renown, which is one of the most sought-after resources. Additionally, rulers with this Cultural Tradition are able to hold Jousts when hosting tournaments.
17 Pastorialists
Lots Of Important Buffs Such as Prowess, Health, & Travel Speed
- Obligatory Requirements: 40% of Culture is present in counties with Plains or Steppe.
- Optional Requirements: 60% of Culture is present in counties with Plains or Steppe.
After the Roads to Power update, Pastorialists isn’t as strong as before but is nonetheless still one of the best CK3 Cultural Traditions. The buffs to Prowess, Disease Resistance, and Travel Speed are useful in practically all playthroughs, and should not be overlooked.
The bonuses to Cattle Pastures and Coops are also incredibly strong, but players will need to actively focus on these to get the most out of the Pastorialists Tradition. The only downside is that players must be in and around regions with Plains or Steppe to unlock this Tradition.
16 Monastic Communities
The Already Strong Temperate Trait Becomes More Common & Manage Succession With Children More Likely To Take Vows
- Obligatory Requirements: Faith has the Monasticism Tenet.
- Optional Requirements: Devoted Servant Level of Devotion.
Temperate is already one of the best Personality Traits in CK3, and it also happens to be a virtuous Trait for many Faiths, meaning characters will gain more Piety. The Monastic Communities Tradition not only makes Temperate more common but inherently stronger too.
The other main benefit of this Cultural Tradition is that characters, particularly children, are more likely to accept requests to take monastic vows. This is great for managing the succession in CK3 as players can ask an untalented child to take the vows, allowing their heir to take the lion’s share of the titles. In addition to all this, monastery buildings can be built earlier and provide more rewards.
Men-At-Arms & Knights Can Become OP, While Building Also Becomes Cheaper
- Optional Requirements: The culture is present in a county with a mine.
Metalworkers is a Cultural Tradition with high potential if players utilize it correctly. In essence, it provides additional bonuses for each level of the Crown Smithies and Royal Armories buildings, meaning if players are constructing these to bolster their warriors, the returns will be immense.
For example, the Royal Armories will boost knight effectiveness, grant extra Prowess, and even lower the cost of all buildings. The Crown Smithies will grant an increased supply limit, more Prowess, and a boost to the toughness of heavy infantry and spearmen. The only negative is that the entire army costs slightly more to maintain.
14 Agrarian
Perfect For Playing Tall With Farmlands & Floodplains
- Obligatory Requirements: The Culture must be present in a county with farmlands or floodplains.
- Optional Requirements: The Culture is present in at least 5 counties with farmlands or floodplains.
Playing tall in CK3 is the concept of focusing on a small realm and constructing lots of buildings to foster a strong economy, and gain high development, as well as stability. If players have farmlands or floodplains in their realm and are looking to play tall, the Agrarian Cultural Tradition is a no-brainer, as it was practically made for this play style.
The first thing of note is that constructing buildings in farmlands and floodplains becomes cheaper. Perhaps even better than this, however, is the bonus development growth within counties of these terrains, as a higher development will make them more profitable and increase the rate at which new technology is discovered. There are even some additional bonuses for those with Traits such as Diligent, Patient, and Athletic. The only downsides to this Tradition are a loss in Prowess and the increased cost of men-at-arms, but this shouldn’t matter much for those looking to avoid war.
13 Culture Blending
Form Hybrid Cultures More Easily & Learn More Languages
- Obligatory Requirements: The player must own the Royal Court DLC.
- Optional Requirements: At least 30% of the realm has a different culture.
When players are looking at the Traditions they want for their culture, they will soon see that not all are available to just take on. Some are locked behind specific regions or cultural heritages. However, if players are in close proximity to a culture that has the Traditions they want, there is a way to easily acquire them; form a Hybrid Culture. When a Hybrid Culture is formed, the player can choose between the Traditions of the two cultures, mixing and matching as they please.
To make this process even easier, players could first take the Culture Blending Tradition, which massively lowers the Prestige cost. Outside of forming Hybrid Cultures, the increase in cultural acceptance makes ruling large realms of various cultures even easier. By taking advantage of the bonuses to learn different languages, players will also have an easier time with diplomacy.
12 Family Business
Appointing Family Members To Positions Provides Bonuses
- Obligatory Requirements: The player’s character must have at least 10 close family members.
- Optional Requirements: At least 80 opinion with 50% of close family members.
In general, family members in CK3 are more likely to have a positive opinion of each other, which means related vassals are happy vassals. With the Family Business cultural Tradition, players will then be further rewarded for appointing these closely related vassals or even non-vassals to their Council. This is because Councilor Tasks will be 10% more effective, allowing players to bring in more taxes or restore control in counties faster.
On top of this, close family members appointed to court positions will perform better, bringing in a wide array of bonuses. This makes it a particularly great Tradition for players who own the Royal Court DLC which unlocks more court positions.
11 Castle Keepers
Castles Get Defensive Bonuses And Provide Prestige & Renown
- Obligatory Requirements: Has a Feudal or Clan government.
- Optional Requirements: Has the Battlements Innovation.
Castle Keepers is easily one of the best cultural Traditions in CK3, especially for new players, as it ties into one of the simpler ways to play the game. First of all, castles will receive bonuses to the Defender Advantage when battles are fought within their vicinity, making rebellions or foreign invasions much easier to put down. Foreign invasions, in particular, will be easier to desist, as with the Castle Keepers Traditions, players’ vassals will be more likely to improve their castles.
Players will also receive Prestige and Renown from castles, both of which are highly valuable resources, with Prestige being used for countless actions such as declaring wars and Renown unlocking the best dynasty Legacies in CK3.
10 Noble Adoption
Enable Adoption, Allowing Players To Choose The Best Heirs
- Obligatory Requirements: Adoption must be permitted in the game rules.
Noble Adoption is one of the newest cultural Traditions in CK3 and while it might not appear strong at first, if players take advantage of adoption, they can reach new heights. This is because instead of having to accept weak heirs with bad stats, they can adopt children with the best congenital traits that make them giant geniuses, for example.
These prodigies who were adopted without spending Prestige or Renown can then be given the best education, which will be even more effective thanks to Noble Adoption. With overpowered characters in line for the throne, players will have an easy time achieving their goals down the line.
9 Hereditary Hierarchy
Improves The Bonus For Long Reigns & Vassals Pay More Taxes
- Obligatory Requirements: Have a Feudal government.
- Optional Requirements: Be a King with at least 10 vassals.
Long reigns in Crusader Kings 3 are desired by most players as they allow time for growth and consolidation. The Hereditary Hierarchy Tradition makes long reigns even better, first of all, thanks to the opinion boost from vassals, but also because of the reduced cost of building castles.
While players must have a feudal government to get Hereditary Hierarchy, the +10% boost to feudal vassal tax contribution is huge and will help rake in plenty of extra gold throughout a playthrough.
8 Parochialism
Cities Are Better & Cheaper To Build
- Obligatory Requirements: The culture does not have a Latin heritage.
- Optional Requirements: 90% of counties of the same culture in the player’s realm must have a city holding.
Parochialism is a cultural Tradition with lots of small benefits that all add up, especially over a long playthrough. In general, Parochialism is all about helping cities grow and helping rulers reap more rewards from their cities. First of all, cities and their buildings are cheaper to construct and this not only goes for the player, but all characters of the culture in question, meaning AI vassals will also build for cheaper prices.
City holdings will then give more taxes and levies while developing at a faster rate. The fact that Parochial vassals are also more common and provide more tax and levies means players can expect plenty more of both. The only downsides to Parochialism are a small loss of control and the opinions of Parochial and Minor Landholder vassals.
7 Loyal Subjects
Vassals Will Be More Loyal & Happy With Their Liege
- Optional Requirements: There must be at least 3 Counts of this culture who have a liege with a different culture.
Keeping vassals and the populace happy is key to realm stability in Crusader Kings 3 and the Loyal Subjects Tradition helps out massively with avoiding problems from within such as rebellions.
Loyal Subjects does this in many small ways, which all add up, and unlike other Cultural Traditions, it has no downsides. As vassals are more likely to have the Loyal trait and speak the language of their liege on top of the flat +10 increase to opinion, players won’t have to handle factions in CK3 as frequently.
6 Malleable Invaders
Adapting To The Local Culture Is Easier When Invading
- Obligatory Requirements: The players must own the Royal Court DLC, and the culture must be present in the Steppe region.
- Optional Requirements: The culture has a Mongolic or Turkic heritage.
One of the most fun playthroughs in Crusader Kings 3 involves playing as an adventurer such as Jarl Haesteinn and invading faraway lands. Players can then create a unique hybrid culture, combining cultural practices that would rarely have interacted at this time.
The Malleable Invaders Tradition is naturally perfect for players with this goal in mind, as it vastly reduces the requirements and cost of forming a hybrid culture. It also makes converting faith easier or alternatively lessens the penalties of having a different faith to the populace, making for a more stable reign.
5 Religious Patronage
Gain Renown & Piety From Building Temples
- Obligatory Requirements: At least 20% of the culture’s holdings are temples.
- Optional Requirements: There are at least 5 Zealous Counts of this culture.
Piety can be an extremely useful resource to accrue in Crusader Kings 3, although the benefits of it very much depend on which faith the player’s character belongs to. The Religious Patronage Tradition can significantly help with gaining Piety, both from building Temple Holdings and from those that are already in use.
As a bonus, players will also gain the much rarer resource of Renown from either constructing or upgrading Temples, which can then be used to unlock the best Dynasty Legacies in CK3.
4 Industrious
Building Is Faster & Helps Development Growth
- Optional Requirements: There are at least 5 Counts of this culture with the Diligent Trait.
Playing tall is a popular strategy in Crusader Kings 3 where players focus on the lands they have and instead of trying to expand their borders through war or more diplomatic means, focusing instead on building up their holdings and economy.
The Industrious Tradition is perfect for this playstyle or any player who wants to build and progress through the ages, as buildings can be constructed faster, and when they are complete, they provide development growth. However, as this Tradition inflicts more stress gain, players will need to be proficient at managing their stress levels in CK3. Unfortunately, buildings are also more expensive to construct after a balance update.
3 By The Sword
Holy Wars Are Easier To Start
- Obligatory Requirements: The ruler’s faith does not have the Pacifism Tenet.
- Optional Requirements: There are at least 5 Zealous Counts of this culture.
Waging holy wars is an easy way to conquer land in regions where many faiths exist as players won’t need to gain claims to these titles. However, to keep things from getting out of hand, characters can normally only wage one kingdom-level holy war in their lifetime, and higher levels of devotion are required for bigger targets.
This can be bypassed with the By The Sword Tradition, which makes declaring holy wars much easier, though at the cost of monthly Piety and a few other things.
2 Legalistic
Necessary For Ruling Large Realms
- Obligatory Requirements: The ruler’s Faith has a Head of Faith.
- Optional Requirements: The Bailiffs and Communal Government Innovations have been unlocked.
When players have already amassed a large realm and are looking to consolidate their new power, they will need to level up their rule in CK3, and unlocking the Legalistic Tradition is one of the easiest ways to do this. As it increases the vassal limit and reduces the cost of new laws for bigger realms, it is perfect for ruling over vast swathes of land.
Cheaper title creation costs also help with setting up a more stable realm made up of plenty of duchies or even kingdoms if the player rules an Empire. However, this is not the Tradition for players looking to rule through dread in CK3, as tyranny is an injustice and has even more negatives.
1 Strength In Numbers
Increases The Size Of Armies At The Cost Of Heavy Units
- Optional Requirements: The ruler has at least 500 Archers and 500 Skirmishers.
Battles both in the real Middle Ages and in CK3 aren’t necessarily won by the side with more men, but the buffs provided by the Strength In Numbers Tradition are so great that they simply cannot be overlooked. The biggest of these is the significant increase in levy size, which will swell the numbers of any army.
The other aspects of this Tradition have changed with the Roads to Power update, and players will now get a sizeable buff to the Supply Limit which helps keep large armies from starving to death. With certain military buildings, players can now increase their Regiment Limit for Men-at-Arms. Having bigger and better armies is one of the easiest ways to win more wars in Crusader Kings 3.