CK3: Abusing the Perk Reset

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction
2. Avoiding Stress
3. Perks You Should Pick Twice
4. Perks With Kept Modifiers
5. Perks You Only Need Once

This article was written under Crusader Kings 3 Game Version: Peacock (1.11.5)

Please note that much of the information in this article is based on anecdotal evidence and a lot of trial and error. I have not had the opportunity to delve into the actual source code, but I am happy to make any corrections if more accurate information is discovered. If you have any comments, you can either post here or e-mail me at: byzantinekitty@gmail.com

1. INTRODUCTION

In Crusader Kings 3, you choose a Lifestyle focus (that can be changed every 5 years) and earn perks as you accumulate lifestyle experience. You passively gain lifestyle experience in your selected focus, but you can also obtain lifestyle experience through random events and by visiting points of interest while traveling. Additional perks can be earned by hosting or attending Grand Rites and very rarely through random events or by attending Grand Weddings.

Once in each ruler's life, they can reset their perks. For each of the 5 categories (Diplomacy, Martial, Stewardship, Intrigue, and Learning), any already selected perks are removed and the character is refunded the total number of perks for each category. They can then spend those perks again (on the same or different perks). Doing this generates 100 stress, which is normally enough to trigger a mental breakdown.

This guide explains how to abuse or min/max the perk reset for maximum gain. There is one perk where you immediately benefit when you choose it so if you select it twice you get the benefit twice. There are several perks which provide modifiers which you do not lose if you lose the perk upon resetting. And there are many perks where you can frontload or backload your strategy so that you really only need to choose the perk once (either before or after the reset).

2. AVOIDING STRESS

While resetting perks normally generates 100 stress, this can be reduced (or increased) by stress modifiers. Stress modifiers stack and it is possible to stack enough modifiers to get -100% stress gain so that you get 0 stress when you reset your perks.

I have written a separate article about how you can stack stress modifiers so that you do not receive any stress at all:

https://peakd.com/ck3/@byzantinekitty/ck3-living-a-zero-stress-life

3. PERKS YOU SHOULD PICK TWICE

There is one special perk, Groomed to Rule, where it is actually beneficial to pick it a second time after resetting your perks because you get twice the benefit.

Groomed to Rule gives each of your children +1 to +3 skill points. It is useful to note that adult children can also benefit from this, and not just children below the age of 16.

When you select this perk, each of your adult children and any children with a childhood trait and a focus will immediately get +1 to +3 points in their primary attribute. If a child has a childhood trait but no focus, then one of the two associated attributes will get the bonus. A child who is below the age of 3 does not yet have a childhood trait. Once they become old enough to receive a childhood trait, they will receive their random skill bonus.

Because Groomed to Rule affects other characters, it permanently increases their base value for their attribute (as opposed to providing a modifier). As a result, if you select Groomed to Rule, your children will all get a skill point increase. If you then reset your perks, the game does NOT subtract any skill points from your kids. But if you then select Groomed to Rule again, then your kids will receive another +1 to +3. Since you will likely be playing one of your kids as your heir, this is a way to invest in your next character by getting extra skill points for their primary attribute.

4. PERKS WITH KEPT MODIFIERS

Some perks provide a fixed bonus to an attribute. You can see these bonuses if you hover over the attribute. Examples include Stalwart Leader, Learn on the Job, and Scholarly Circles. If you lose these perks due to resetting, then the bonus is lost and goes away.

However, some perks provide a modifier when you trigger a condition. Examples include Embassies (triggered by having alliances), Confidants and Friendly Counsel (triggered by having friends), Sound Foundations (triggered by having living children), and Dark Insights (50% chance to trigger when torturing prisoners).

The interesting thing is that when you lose the perk, you don't lose the modifiers. I know that's the case with Embassies, Confidants, and Dark Insights. Haven't had the chance to confirm with Friendly Counsel or Sound Foundations but I suspect it should be the same. As a result, if you select these perks the first time around and then reset your perks, you can choose different perks and still maintain the bonuses you get since you keep the modifiers.

5. PERKS YOU ONLY NEED ONCE

There are also several perks that you can either frontload or backload. The main benefit of the perk comes from an event (or series of events) that you could try to time so that you only need it initially and then when you reset your perks you can skip it the second time around. Or you could time it so that don't get the perk initially but you generate a backlog that gets resolved when you reset your perks and pick it the second time around.

• Thoughtful: If you lose the perk it doesn't change the opinion bonus you already got. Think about sending a bunch of gifts before you reset your perks and then not choosing this again.

• Ducal Conquest: Either create a bunch of titles before you reset your perks and then skip this. Or delay creating titles and choose this perk only after you reset your perks.

• Defensive Negotiation: Losing this perk will not affect the alliance you previously negotiated. So if you initially have this perk, feel free to propose an alliance and then skip this perk after you reset.

• Accomplished Forger: This perk is great for artifact collecting but you don't really need it all the time. Claims on religious artifacts cost Piety while claims on non-religious artifacts cost Prestige. You can either frontload things by buying a bunch of artifact claims for the artifacts you want the most and then skip this perk after the reset. Or you can backload things by stockpiling Prestige and Piety and choose this perk after the reset.

• True Ruler: Vassalizations can be harder to time because they are also dependent on the international political situation, but you can try to time most of your realm expansion early on and then skip this perk after the reset. Or you can try delaying your expansion and then choose this perk after the reset.

If you want to read about how powerful an Offer Vassalage strategy can be, then please read my article:

https://peakd.com/ck3/@byzantinekitty/ck3-peacefully-conquering-2-kingdoms-through-vassalage

• Restraint: If you unlock the Restraint perk, take the decision to Embrace Celibacy, and then reset your perks and lose the Restraint perk, you still keep the Celibacy trait. Do note that if you lose the Restraint perk, you will also lose access to the Abandon Celibacy decision. This could be a viable strategy if you have partition succession and do not want to have any more kids because that could otherwise fracture your realm upon succession.

• Pedagogy: If you lose the perk then you lose the +25% learn language bonus and your wards will no longer get new bonuses or become your friends. However it does not retroactively remove skill bonuses or friendships that were previously made. The skill bonuses are increases to the base skill of the ward (much like Groomed to Rule). So if your primary focus is on your kids and heir, then consider getting Pedagogy when they are still children and then once they are all adults you can reset your perks and skip Pedagogy. Though it could still be beneficial if you have grandchildren....

• Sanctioned Loopholes: Like with Accomplished Forger, you can try to buy all the claims you want early with Piety and then reset your perks. Or you can stockpile Piety and buy a bunch of claims after you reset your perks and choose Sanctioned Loopholes.

• Prophet: Although the piety/knight bonus is constant, you will likely be creating or reforming a faith only once. As a result, the most important benefit of this perk is only needed the one time you are creating/reforming a faith so you only need this perk then and you can consider different options after resetting your perks.