Back inCrusader Kings 2, every holding mostly had the same improvement buildings. Then inCrusader Kings 3, players had to choose which improvements go in a limited set of slots. For the most part, that’s still true, but the Lance (1.9) Update has overhauled the system.
When players start a new game ofCrusader Kings 3, the number of improvement slots each holding has is very limited, but this number will go up as cultures discover new innovations. On top of that, the update has introduced new buildings that have never been in anyCrusader Kingsgame before. This guide will explain what players should expect from the new system.
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Holdings and Building Slots
When players start a new game from the 867 starting date, they’ll get a limited number of building slots. Regular holdings have one, county capitals have two, duchy capitals havea special slot for duchy buildings(which players can’t use in the Tribal Era), and here and there are special building slots for historical buildings, universities, and holy site temples. Players can now spot these special building slots by choosing the Economy map mode, which colorizes the income of every county and shows which special buildings are (or could be) present.
As time goes on and cultures get access to new Innovations, the number of building slots increases, and new buildings will become available. These innovations areLedgerfrom the Tribal Era,Bailiffsfrom the Early Medieval Era, andWindmillsandGuildsfrom the High Medieval Era. These extra slots apply to every holding of every type, including Tribal holdings.
To create a new building, players can choose any holding within the player ruler’s realm,from their capital to their lowliest baron. Click on one of the boxes in the lower-right corner of the menu that pops up to see a list of all the buildings that the holding can support. A few buildings are common across every holding, but some are restricted based on holding type, culture, and climate. If players can afford the construction cost, they can press the “Construct” button next to the building type they want.
Players can also upgrade existing holdings. However, these upgrades aren’t always available thanks to the local culture’s technology level and the main holding’s building level. For most holding types, the main building has one level for each technology era, but tribal holdings have two levels that are both immediately available. To upgrade a main building, players should click on the larger box above the building slots that says “Castle,” “Temple,” “City,” or “Tribal Hold.” As for the regular buildings, each building icon is yellow when upgrades are available and blue when they’re not.
Something else players can do is replace a holding building. To do so, click on a holding building and then on the circular arrows next to the “Upgrade” button. Doing so will bring up the list of possible buildings in the holding, but the game mentions that doing so doesn’t come with a Gold refund. Also, playerscan’t replace buildings in holdings owned by vassals, no matter what rank they are.
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Building Types and Benefits
In general, players shouldavoid building the warfare buildings listed belowin holdings they don’t own directly. Lieges never get the same benefits from a holding as the direct owner, but the stationing bonuses, in particular, are exclusively for the holding’s owner.
Militia Camps
None
Less Danger More Levies Higher Supply Limit More Control Growth Lower Man-at-Arms Maintenance
Regimental Grounds
Farmlands or Floodplains
Higher Supply Limit Less Danger More Levies Faster Levy Reinforcements Faster County Control Lower Man-at-Arms Maintenance Lower Army Maintenance
Outposts
Forest, Jungle, Taiga, or Wetlands
More Gold Enemy Raids Take Longer Less Danger Defender Advantage More Levies Slightly Larger Garrison Faster County Control
Walls and Towers
Castle Holding Farmlands, Floodplains, Plains, or Wetlands
Fort Level Larger Garrison Less Danger Defender Advantage More Gold Higher Supply Limit
Watchtowers
Castle Holding Desert, Drylands, Oasis, or Steppe
Fort Level Larger Garrison Less Danger Defender Advantage Enemy Raids Take Longer Higher Supply Limit
Heavy Infantry Damage Heavy Infantry Toughness Light Cavalry Damage Light Cavalry Toughness
Forest Forts
Castle Holding Forest, Jungle, or Taiga
Fort Level Larger Garrison Less Danger Defender Advantage Enemy Raids Take Longer More Gold More Levies
Hill Forts
Castle Holding Hills, Mountains, or Desert Mountains
Fort Level Larger Garrison Less Danger Defender Advantage More Levies Faster County Control
Spearmen Damage Spearmen Toughness Skirmisher Damage Skirmisher Toughness
Wind Furnace
Coastal Barony (rivers don’t count)County Culture has Wootz Steel InnovationBarony is in the India region
Any Man-at-Arms Damage Any Man-at-Arms Toughness
Camelry
Desert, Desert Mountains, Drylands, Floodplains, or Oasis County Culture has War Camels Innovation Barony is in Persia, Middle East, or North Africa
More GoldEnemy Raids Take LongerMore Levies Higher Supply Limit Greater Knight Effectiveness
All Light Cavalry Stats All Camel Cavalry Stats
Elephantry
Jungle County Culture has Elephantry Innovation Barony is in India or Southeast Asia
More Gold Faster Building Construction Cheaper Buildings Faster County Development Greater Knight Effectiveness
Hills, Mountains, Desert Mountains
More Gold More Levies
Any Man-at-Arms Screen Light Cavalry Damage Light Cavalry Toughness Heavy Cavalry Damage Heavy Cavalry Toughness Archer Cavalry Damage Archer Cavalry Toughness
Workshops
County Culture has Advanced Bowmaking Innovation
More Gold More Cultural Fascination Progress Lower Archer and Skirmisher Maintenance
Archer Damage Skirmisher Damage Siege Weapon Effectiveness Any Man-at-Arms Siege Progress
Several wartime buildings will also providediscounts on Grand Tournament contests, at least if players have the “Tours and Tournaments” expansion.
Megalith
Temple HoldingCounty and Owner Faith has Megalithic Constructions Tenet
Faster County Development More County Development More Piety for the Owner More Prestige for the Owner
Coastal Barony (rivers don’t count)
Cattle Pastures
Any Terrain except Forest, Taiga, or Wetlands
More Gold Higher Supply Limit Larger Garrison More Levies Faster Levy Reinforcements Faster County Development Popular Opinion Boost
Hunting Grounds
Forest, Jungle, Taiga, Drylands, Hills, Plains, Steppe, Wetlands
More Gold Enemy Raids Take Longer Defender Advantage More Levies Faster County Development Lower Man-at-Arms Maintenance
Farms and Fields
Farmlands, Drylands, Floodplains, Plains
More Gold Higher Supply Limit Faster Levy Reinforcements Faster County Development Cheaper Temple Buildings
Forestry
Forest, Jungle, Taiga
More Gold Faster Building Construction Higher Supply Limit Faster County Development Cheaper Temple Buildings Lower Army Maintenance
Desert Agriculture
Desert, Drylands, Oasis
More Gold Higher Supply Limit Faster County Development Cheaper Light Cavalry and Camel Cavalry
Orchards
Floodplains, Oasis
More Gold Higher Supply Limit More Levies Faster Levy Reinforcements Faster County Development More Prestige for Owner
Quarries
Mountains, Desert Mountains
More Gold Faster Building Construction Cheaper Building Construction Larger Garrison Faster County Development Lower Men-at-Arms Maintenance
Manor Houses
Farmlands
More GoldHigher Supply LimitMore Levies Faster County Development Faster County Control
Wetland Farms
Wetlands
More Gold Enemy Raids Take Longer Faster Building Construction Higher Supply Limit Cheaper Building Construction Faster County Development
Plains, Hills, Farmlands, or Coastal County Culture has Windmills Innovation
More Gold Higher Supply Limit Faster County Development
Watermills
Mountains, Wetlands, Forest, Jungle, Taiga, or Adjacent to a Major River County Culture has Windmills Innovation
More Gold Higher Supply Limit Faster Building Construction Faster County Development
Caravanserai
Desert, Desert Mountains, Drylands, Oasis, Steppe, Floodplains County Culture has Guilds Innovation
More Gold Enemy Raids Take Longer Defender Advantage Faster County Development Less Danger Lower Men-at-Arms Maintenance Cheaper Mercenaries
Several of these buildings also makefeasts and other peaceful activities cheaper.
Tribal holdings are unique from the others and have their own set of buildings to choose from. They only have one upgrade each, andthey cost Prestigealong with Gold to build. Unfortunately, all of them tend to vanish when rulers feudalize, so players who want to move on from the tribal phase should consider these buildings to be temporary.
War Camps
More Levies More Knights Better Knights
Heavy Infantry Damage Heavy Infantry Toughness Skirmisher Damage Skirmisher Toughness Archer Cavalry Damage Archer Cavalry Toughness
Overall, the different buildings are fairly well-balanced against each other. If a building has more benefits, then those benefits are smaller than a building with few benefits. Also, some benefits only appear when a building reaches higher upgrade levels. To see what a building can eventually provide, click on the “Preview” button in the construction menu.
One last thing to note is that construction restrictions only apply to the original builder. If an empire whose culture doesn’t have War Camelsconquers a county with a Camelry, the new ruler can upgrade the Camelry as much as their Innovations allow for.
Crusader Kings 3is available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
