Crusader Kings 3is the kind of game where a bad start can ruin an entire campaign before it really gets off the ground. It’s important to pick a character who can survive the early game and allow a capable heir to take over when they die. Having a Culture with a good group of Traditions goes a long way toward achieving that essential goal.

We’ve combed through the starting scenarios to find the playable Cultures that offer the strongest start. With the ways of your ancestors guiding you, you’ll be able to carve out your place in the cutthroat world of Crusader Kings!

Duke Vratislave in the character selection screen of crusader kings 3.

These selections were made based on the number and overall strength of each Culture’s traits at the start of the game; how they evolve during play is up to you!

Updated on March 30th, 2025 by Hilton Webster:Your Culture plays a major role in how the world reacts to you and what you can actually do in Crusader Kings 3, and so we’ve added a few more cultures to this list to highlight some of the unique ways they let you play around in Medieval Europe.

Duchess Matilda in the character selection screen of crusader kings 3.

15Czech

While the formal formation of Czechia wouldn’t happen for quite a long time, the origins of the culture were present in historical Bohemia, and come packed with Cultural Traditions that excel in letting you play tall with a fairly centralised culture.

The Czech culture comes with theMountaineer Ruralism, Industrious, Castle Keepers, and Life Is Just A JokeCultural Traditions and the Bureaucratic ethos by default. These help with Development Growth in the native Czech region immensely. If you keep your realm small but play tall, you can have obscenely high development much faster than any of your neighbours while rolling in gold.

A custom han character in the character creator in crusader kings 3.

14Italian

Sometimes, you may want to stay relatively small in the grand scheme of things, but to do so requires having quite a bit of money to build your defenses in fear of neighbouring invasions. And what better way to hoard money than through the Italian Republics?

The Italian culture comes with theFormation Fighting Experts, Refined Poetry, and Refined Poetrytradition and the Spiritual ethos by default. This gives you the means to defend your borders, but will have the gold flowing in endlessly provided you keep your republican vassals pleased.

the culture map centered on bengal in crusader kings 3 867 start

13Han

The Han culture is a unique one in the game in that it exists in only small patches, but with only a single ruler of the culture in the 867 start, Guiyi of Zhengyu. You can always try you hand as him, though it is immensely difficult to survive. Making your own custom character in the region will at least give you a fighting chance.

Despite its small presence, the Han culture itself is quite powerful. It comes with the Court Eunuchs, Family Business, Mystical Ancestors, Philosopher Culture, and Water Rituals traditions and the Ceremonious ethos by default. It is packed even at the earliest start date, andmakes it very easy to create a harmonious family. If you may get through the early growing pains, it is easy to establish a loyal family and generate strong traits build a lasting legacy.

the culture map of eastern africa in 1066 in crusader kings 3, with nubian centered

12Bengali

Bengal is known as the rice bowl of India thanks to its fertile land, and playing a Bengali character in CK3 lets you take full advantage of that fact. TheAgrarianTrait mixed with the abundance of Farmlands in the region makes a powerful base for your economy.

Philosopher Culture,Religious Patronage, and theSpiritualEthos all combine to make Bengali charactersexceptional at generating Piety.This is important for players with aspirations of empire;uniting India as the Chakravartirequires you to reach the highest level of Devotion, to say nothing of actually conquering the massive subcontinent.

A map of ireland in Crusader Kings 3 with Oriel highlighted.

11Nubian

Nubia’s traditions date all the way back to the time of ancient Egypt, and continue to serve them in the Middle Ages. TheirSpiritual Ethos, combined with theXenophilicandAstute DiplomatsTraditions, make it easier for them to expand to the east and south while keeping their large neighbor to the north in check.

In times of peace, Nubian characters can expand their economic buildings in the Farmlands provinces along the Nile; during war, their uniqueNile Archers, upgraded by Hunting Grounds and bolstered by larger garrisons and levies, make excellent defenders.

the culture map of the red sea area in crusader kings 3’s 867 start

Nubian Knights and Commanders aren’t as effective due to theAgrarianTradition, so focus on strengthening your levies and men-at-arms regiments to make up the difference.

10Irish

The Emerald Isle is a great place to learn the ropes of Crusader Kings, and any of the starting characters have the potential to unify Ireland and become the High King. Irish characters get the benefit of thePastorialistsTradition, which makes Cattle Pasturesone of the most efficient buildings in the game.

Once you’ve become King or Queen of Ireland,Maritime Mercantilismhas the potential to bring in lots of extra Gold, especially if you make a vassal republic along the coast. Polygamy ensures that you’ll never be without an heir, and theCeremoniousEthos allows you to get much more Prestige than you otherwise would from your small, rich realm.

the 1066 culture map of the steppes in crusader kings 3

9Bedouin

While most of the power players in the Middle East are of the Mashriqi Culture, Bedouin characters are the undisputed masters of desert terrain. WIth combat bonuses in deserts and drylands and some impressive movement speed buffs, a Bedouin ruler could easily supplant a weak liege and give the Crusaders something to fear if they dare to invade.

The Stoic Ethos reduces your fatal casualties in combat. Use this alongside the heavy attrition in deserts to wear down enemy armies.

the starting culture map of iran in 867 for crusader kings 3

Tribal Unityhelps keep your realm together by trusting your family with important tasks, whileAvid Falconerslets you frequently go on hunts for Prestige while simultaneously getting on your vassals' good sides.

8Cuman

Rule the steppes and make the kingdoms of the west tremble! A Cuman campaign is perfect for players who want to expand aggressively. TheHorse LordsTradition lets you raise fearsome armies of Horse Archers, whileSwords For HireandWarrior Culturemean you’ll never be without capable commanders and knights.

The first 150 years or so of a Cuman campaign should be spent building up to be able to withstand the arrival of a certain other Khan around 1200. If you’re able to halt Temujin’s horde, you can take anything else the game throws at you.

greek culture in 1178 in crusader kings 3.

7Persian

While most Persian characters start the game subjugated or threatened by the Abbasids or their descendants, one who can carve out a realm of their own has the potential to create aRoyal Courtthat’s the envy of the world.Enlightened MagnatesandGarden Architectsunlock and improve useful court positions,CeremoniousEthos maximizes your Prestige and Court Grandeur.

Irrigation ExpertsandBeacon of Learningenhance your economy and research speed, respectively, whileFutuwaagives you excellent heavy infantry for your men-at-arms and improves your knights.

6Greek

It’s safe to say that of all the Cultures in Crusader Kings 3, none to date have gotten a glow-up like Greek did in Roads To Power. The heirs of Byzantium have four - four! - unique Cultural Traditions that not only enhance their abilities as the game’sonly starting Administrative Empire, but give them one of CK3’s most enjoyable gameplay experiences.

Playing a Greek character also gives you the benefit of being under the protection of the game’smost powerful, stable empire… usually. While Byzantium is just as vulnerable to outside invasions or internal strife as anyone else in the game, it takes a true catastrophe for the Eastern Roman Empire to collapse completely.