Of the many mechanics inCrusader Kings 3, Attributes are the core of a character. They govern the greatest aspects of both a player character and NPC’s proficiency in the different playstyles available in this complex game. These stats are used in calculating the success (or failure) of taking certain actions inCrusader Kings 3.
The physical, mental, and emotional factors that can influence Attributes (or vice versa) are numerous and varied, though can be classified and organized to help players make sense of all the game’s cogs and gears.
Updated on July 13, 2025, by Reyadh Rahaman:One immense important factor regarding the player character’s mental health is Stress, which can be accumulated and lost in many different ways. Stress influences a ton of other variables in the game, such as a character’s fertility, traits, as well as their overall health. Players should be wary not to allow Stress to pile up for too long, as high enough levels of it can trigger an event that will outright kill the player’s current character in a usually unpleasant and untimely fashion. There are thankfully many ways to relieve Stress in CK3, which players should explore to keep their mental health under control.
Skills
There are6 main SkillsinCK3and each determines one’s ability to succeed when taking various types of actions.It is better to focus on increasing 1 Skill at a time in order to achieve greater and more significant feats.There are numerous other benefits that can be gained by increasing specific Skills, which will help the player in a variety of ways.
Prowess
Dread
Dreadis how afraid everyone is of a ruler, and the higher this stat is, the easier one can diplomatically bully others into submission without having to go to war or begin assassinating people. Dread can be gained or lost through acts of intimidation and terror, as an effect of various Attributes, and naturally through many traits. It will also slowly decrease over time, so players seeking to permanently cast a shadow of fear over the world should keep lots of prisoners handy.
Intimidation & Terror
If one’s Dread is high enough, other characters will become Intimidated or Terrified of them, both of which affect how they will react to certain actions taken or proposed by the player.
Bonuses To Actions Gained If Character Is Intimidated
Bonuses To Actions Gained If Character Is Terrified
Dread will get affected by a plethora of different modifiers from a ton of different sources.
Natural Dread
Focuses, perks, and traits of many kinds will affect one’s passive increase and decrease in Dread.
Health
As opposed to many games,CK3’s Health stat is less of a measure of life and more of a measure for how close one is to death.Male characters are bornwith a Health stat somewhere between 4.5 and 4.9, while female characters start with between 5 and 5.4. When characters reach 25 years old, they have a small 7.5% chance to lose -0.125 health every year, which increases by 2.2% every following year. There are different ranks of Health, which the game tells the player in sometimes cryptic yet accurate descriptions and titles.
Health Penalties & Boosts
There are different categories of penalties and boosts that one can gain to their overall Health, each with different values. Here’s what they all mean:
Boosts
Death
When a character’s health drops to nothing, they will die. If they had a title, it will pass onto their heir and the player will take control of them after a grim death screen. There are plenty of ways to die inCK3and each from varying causes.
Stress
The Stress mechanic inCK3operates using a meter ranging from 0 to 400, with mental break events occurring every 100 points at which Stress increases.
Crusader Kings 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Your legacy awaits. Choose your noble house and lead your dynasty to greatness in a Middle Ages epic that spans generations. War is but one of many tools to establish your reign, as real strategy requires expert diplomatic skill, mastery of your realm, and truecunning.Crusader Kings IIIcontinues the popular series made by Paradox Development Studio, featuring the widely acclaimed marriage of immersive grand strategy and deep, dramatic medieval roleplaying.Take command of your house and expand your dynasty through a meticulously researched Middle Ages. Begin in 867 or 1066 and claim lands, titles, and vassals to secure a realm worthy of your royal blood. Your death is only a footnote as your lineage continues with new playable heirs, either planned… or not.Discover a sprawling simulated world teeming with peasants and knights, courtiers, spies, knaves and jesters, and secret love affairs. An extensive cast of historical characters can be romanced, betrayed, executed, or subtly influenced.Explore a vast medieval map stretching from the snowswept Nordic lands to the Horn of Africa, and the British Isles in the west to the exotic riches of Burma in the east. Claim, conquer, and rule thousands of unique counties, duchies, kingdoms, and empires.
