Ensuring one's dynasty reaches ever greater heights of glory is the name of the game in Crusader Kings 3. However, maintaining hundreds of years of survival isn't always easy, especially for small families. Luckily, players can unlock special Dynasty Legacies to help them in their journey.

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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 March 6, 2024 by Mark Hospodar: Now that players can get their hands on the Legends of the Dead DLC for Crusader Kings 3, fans have even more options when it comes to ensuring their dynasty's place in the annals of history. Of course, the DLC also comes with a host of new diseases, so surviving to secure that legacy is no easy feat.

Fortunately, players can still call upon a selection of useful Dynasty Legacies to gain an advantage over their rivals. Players may want to consider the following examples to aid their journey through the dangers of the medieval world.

1 Pillage – Legacy 1

The Bonus To Prestige & Fame From Winning Battles Is Essential For Tribal Rulers

• +1 Prowess
• +20% Naval Speed
• +100% Prestige and Fame from Battles

The Pillage Dynasty Legacy tree was introduced with the Northern Lords DLC. Tribal rulers, especially in the early game, will engage in a lot of raiding and pillaging to increase their power. Fame and Prestige play a more central role in how a Tribal realm is managed than a Feudal government. The first legacy in the Pillage tree is an excellent place to start.

Although the increase in Prowess and naval speed is useful, it's ultimately the third benefit that is the most beneficial. Ideally, players will want to win most of their battles anyway. Doing so will net them additional Fame and Prestige. The amount of Tribal vassal levies and taxes is directly tied to their overlord's Fame, so acquiring more Fame is always welcome. More Fame also allows players to invade higher-level realms through the Conquest casus belli. In addition, the hiring of Men-at-Arms is tied to Prestige instead of gold, so this Dynasty Legacy is also helpful in that regard.

2 Pillage – Legacy 3

Ransoming Prisoners Results In A Nice Source Of Prestige

• +20% Chance to gain Prisoners after a Siege or Raid
• +50% Gold from Ransoms
• Ransoms give Prestige equal to Gold

Keeping with the theme of Tribal rulers, the third Dynasty Legacy perk of the Pillage branch is also worth keeping in mind. Raiding and laying siege to enemy holdings often goes hand-in-hand with acquiring prisoners. The increased likelihood of nabbing a few prisoners while raiding/sieging, which is an activity that Tribal rulers will be doing quite a lot anyway, will snowball into other benefits.

When players inevitably ransom these prisoners, netting more gold out of the deal is a nice bonus. However, getting Prestige equal to the amount of gold received is arguably even better considering the importance that Prestige plays in a Tribal government. Small ransoms can add up over time, while ransoms of important characters can net players a nice chunk of Prestige and gold.

3 Legitimacy – Legacy 2

Increased Legitimacy Gain Can Get Rid Of Negative Modifiers More Quickly

• +10% Legitimacy Gain in first 10 years in power

The Legitimacy Dynasty Legacy tree was introduced with the Legends of the Dead DLC to complement the new Legitimacy mechanic. Legitimacy offers a clearer picture of how people perceive the player character's suitability to rule. Low Legitimacy comes with a host of negative modifiers while high Legitimacy offers several benefits.

Due to the wealth of unexpected occurrences that can result in Crusader Kings 3, players may not always be in control of a ruler with high Legitimacy. This perk comes in handy with its increased Legitimacy gain for the first ten years in power. This can help sweep away those negative modifiers more quickly, thereby stabilizing the realm faster before the situation gets worse.

4 Warfare – Legacy 1

Increased Knight Effectiveness Can Tip The Scales In Battle

• +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.

5 Warfare – Legacy 4

Increased Counter Efficiency Can Lead To More Enemy Casualties

• +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.

6 Law – Legacy 1

Saving Gold On Hunts & Feasts Can Add Up Quickly

• +5 Popular Opinion
• -30% Hunt and Feast Cost

In Crusader Kings 3, being a well-liked ruler throughout one's 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 a playthrough. By extension, the money that is saved can be used for other endeavors.

7 Law – Legacy 4

Keeping Powerful Vassals Happy Keeps The Realm Together

• +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.

8 Guile – Legacy 3

Useful For Guarding Against Loose Lips

• +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.

9 Guile – Legacy 5

The Best Dynasty Legacy For Tyrants

• 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.

10 Blood – Legacy 1

Passing On Good Congenital Traits Is Essential In The Long Term

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

Out of all the Dynasty Legacies, 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 can 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 popular, thereby minimizing the risk of internal trouble in the future.

11 Blood – Legacy 3

Avoiding Negative Congenital Traits Is Just As Important

• -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.

12 Blood – Legacy 4

Essential For A Healthy Bloodline

• 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.

13 Erudition – Legacy 5

Increased Councilor Effectiveness Can Benefit The Realm Immensely

• +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.

14 Glory – Legacy 1

A Great Early Legacy For Securing Beneficial Marriages

• +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.

15 Glory – Legacy 4

Clamping Down On Factions Makes The Realm More Stable

• +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.

16 Kin – Legacy 5

Gaining Skill Points Is Never Bad

• 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

Platform(s)

PS5 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , PC

Released

September 1, 2020

Developer(s)

Paradox Interactive

Genre(s)

RPG , Grand Strategy