Decisions inCrusader Kings 3are single-use actions that often have stringent requirements. Once taken, they can bring in new courtiers, give your character additional Prestige or Piety, or even reshape the political landscape of the medieval world for centuries to come.
From important, game-changing edicts to simple, personal choices, the best Decisions make for important goals that you can set your strategy around. Entire campaigns can revolve around unlocking the most powerful ones and reaping the benefits. We’ve listed the best of them all below - how many have you achieved?
Updated on July 01, 2025 by Matt Arnold:With the release of Roads To Power, there are more Decisions to be made, both great and small, in Crusader Kings 3! We’ve added some of our favorites that stand out in the most recent version of the game.
12Visit Holding
An Adventurer’s Gotta Eat
The Roads To Power DLC lets players, at long last, abandon the trappings of the court and take on the role of a landless adventurer in the harsh world of Crusader Kings. It’s a dangerous life on the road, and many of the things you’ve grown accustomed to, like regular income and self-reinforcing regiments, aren’t available. That’s why you’ll need topay regular visits to the local Holding.
You can only visit the Holding of your Camp’s current location, and only when you’re physically there (i.e., not traveling), but doing so gives you opportunities to recruit companions, increase your stats, and refill supplies. It’s best to take this Decision whenever it’s available, either after moving your Camp or returning from a job.
11Pet Cat / Pet Dog
It’s The Little Things That Matter
Occasionally, your character will get themselves a furry companion. Having a cat or a dog can lead to minor events around your court as your pet helps you out or causes unintended mischief.
While your character has a pet, you can use thePet CatorPet DogDecision toimmediately remove a small amount of Stress.Keeping your Stress in check is vital, so it’s good to have a free outlet.
10Petition Liege
Ask, And Ye Shall (Usually) Receive
Generally, it’s better to be a liege than a vassal in Crusader Kings 3. Even the most loyal vassal is at risk of having their lands revoked or their taxes raised, and short of a very risky war there isn’t usually much they can do about it. The silver lining is that you have your liege’s protection, and you can occasionally ask them to help out.
Taking thePetition LiegeDecision requires you to travel to their court, which can be quite a hike in larger empires like Byzantium or the HRE, but the opportunity toask for extra funds, troops, or other support- and be reasonably sure that the request will be granted, no less - is well worth the trip.
9Strengthen Bloodline
Genetic Engineering Before The Discovery Of DNA
Hereditary Traits can be the keystone (or downfall) of a dynasty. Positive Traits likeComelyorIntelligent, or negative ones likeWheezingorUgly, can be passed down to a character’s descendants. If you’re lucky enough to play a character with several positive Traits and no negative ones, you canpermanently give your Dynasty a health boostand a higher chance of keeping those good genes in future generations.
Getting this tradition means you’ll likely have topass on politically favorable marriagesin favor of marrying characters for their traits… maybe even a Lowborn match! The end goal is to play a character withone Trait from each of the three groups listed belowwhile also leading the Dynasty:
Once you have a character with all three groups represented, they can choose to Strengthen the Bloodline.
8Found Witch Coven
Something Wicked This Way Comes
While turning to the forbidden arts isn’t as powerful as it was in CK2, turning your House into a sorcerous coven is both loads of fun and carries long-term benefits… so long as the Church never finds out. Actually becoming a witch or a warlock is a roll of the dice; characters with aLearning Lifestylehave a chance of stumbling on arcane knowledge, and if an NPC family member becomes a witch they may try to convert you.
Witchcraft is best forIntrigue-heavy dynasties, since it provides a bonus to Scheme Power. Try having your Spymasterlook for secrets in your court.If you find out that one of your courtiers is a practitioner,have them train your heir; it’s possible that they’ll induct the youngster. Oncesixty percent of your Househave embraced witchcraft, you can permanently form a Coven.
7Reclaim Britannia
The Once And Future King
Alternate timelines are a staple ofParadoxgames, but Reclaim Britannia lets you straddle the line between myth and history. It doesn’t have any particularly impressive in-game effects, but the idea ofrestoring Arthur’s kingdomin the face of Viking and Norman invasions is a compelling one.
You’ll need to play aWelsh or Irish characterand rule over all of Britannia before you’re able to take this decision. You’ll receive a special nickname for completing the feat;Tuatha Dé Danannif you’re Irish, andPendragonif you’re Welsh.
6Avenge The Battle Of Tours
Come For The Achievement, Stay For The Power
The Battle of Tours (732 CE) is already long past even in the earliest start for Crusader Kings 3. Charles Martel’s victory stopped the Umayyad invasion of what would become France. If you’re playing as the Umayyads or their descendants in CK3, you have a chance to finish what Abd al-Rahman started.
A Muslim character that controlsall of Iberia and southern France, and has their capital in one of those regions, can take the Decision toAvenge the Battle of Tours.You’ll get a healthy sum of Prestige and Piety, and weaken Catholicism by reducing its Fervor - you’ll need that, since you’re likely to have a Crusade coming your way!
This is easiest if youstart in 867 as the Umayyad rulerandwin the Iberian Struggle through cultural dominancebefore setting your sights on France.
5Found The Capital Of The Rus
Vodka Was Invented In 1405 - Save The Date!
If you have theNorthern LordsDLC, take a break from conquering England and head east to start a campaign asRurik the Troublemaker.The mighty Viking has a powerful realm and weak neighbors, letting you create a large Tribal Kingdom with relative ease.
An ideal early goal for a Rurik campaign is totake and hold Kyiv.Doing so before 1100 lets you establish Kyiv as the capital of your nascent culture for a small investment of Gold and Prestige. Kyiv will get some great bonuses for the next several decades, allowing you to continue developing it and fund your growth into a proper empire!
4Become The Saoshyant
Time For A Rematch With Greece
The Saoshyant, the “One Who Brings Benefit,” is the legendary savior in Zoroastrianism. In the real world, they have yet to appear, but in the alternate histories of Crusader Kings 3 you can reunite the Persian Empire and ensure the survival of the ancient faith, claiming the title for your character.
You don’t need theLegacy of PersiaDLC to become the fabled Saoshyant, but it will give you more flavor and opportunities thanks to the Iranian Intermezzo.
Obviously, you’ll need toremain Zoroastrianfirst and foremost, which can be tricky with the Caliphate next door. Once you’veunited all of the Persian Empire under your banner, you may take the decision to become the Saoshyant. All your descendants will get a bonus Trait for being related to the re-unifier of Persia!
3Become Chakravarti
A New Power Is Rising
India is an enormous section of the map that characters in Europe rarely interact with. Campaigns starting on the subcontinent offer plenty of warfare, politics, and intrigue with more religious malleability thanks to the blending of faiths found there.
India containsmultiple de jure Empires, and a ruler that can unite all three has the potential to become the Chakravarti. You’ll need to play aPiety-focused character, since only those who have reached the highest level of Devotion are eligible to take this decision. Once you do, though, you’ll gaintwo full levels of Fameand merge the three empires into a single title - the Empire Of India.
