Master Stealth in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

AntMag.NET

Alright, let's talk about becoming a shadow in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. Stealth is your best friend when you want to avoid trouble, get the drop on enemies, or just move around unnoticed. Think of it as your ability to become invisible, but instead of magic, it's all about how well you can blend in, move quietly, and avoid drawing attention.

The higher your Stealth skill, the less likely NPCs are to spot you. This is super useful for all sorts of situations: ducking out of sight when you run into bandits on the road, slipping through city streets after dark without the guards noticing, picking someone's pocket without them realizing, or even getting the drop on wild game for a clean hunt. But it's not just about your Stealth score; your gear plays a huge role too. Everything you wear affects how conspicuous you are, how much noise you make, and how visible you are. Plus, things like line of sight, how well-lit an area is, how fast you're moving, and even how much Henry stinks can all tip the scales on whether you get spotted.

Leveling Stealth

To get better at being sneaky, you've got to practice sneaky actions without getting caught. It's not enough to just creep around NPCs; there needs to be some risk involved. Try picking a lock or pickpocketing someone while staying hidden. If you pull it off without a hitch, you'll snag a bit of Stealth EXP. Sneak attacks also give you Stealth EXP, but honestly, the absolute fastest way to level up Stealth is by sneaking around undetected in situations where getting caught would actually matter. Think sneaking past hostile bandits, creeping through restricted areas, or stalking game. These are the scenarios where your sneaking efforts really pay off in EXP.

Out of all those options, the quickest way to rack up Stealth EXP – and *only* Stealth EXP – is by sneaking up on wild animals like hares, deer, or boar. If you manage to sneak up on a single animal, you might get around 20 EXP before it notices and bolts. But here's the real trick: if you can circle around a group of several animals, staying out of their line of sight and sneaking around undetected for a good while, you could earn hundreds of Stealth EXP. Not only is this a super-fast way to gain EXP, but the downside is minimal. You probably won't actually get close enough to attack them, but when you do spook them, they'll just run off. That's hardly a major consequence, especially since they'll eventually return to their original spots. Of course, spooking them does mean you'll have to wait, so this method can be a bit feast-or-famine. You'll have big gains while you're stalking, followed by minutes of waiting for those skittish critters to settle down.

If you want to get even more out of your hunting trips, you can try to actually hunt them. Sneak as much as you safely can before you spook the animals, then take them down with a ranged weapon, send Mutt after them, and then give chase to butcher your prize. This approach is fantastic because it levels up Stealth, Survival, Marksmanship, and Houndmaster all at once!

Sticking closer to the theme of stealth, you can also just sneak around town at night and practice picking locks. It doesn't matter if it's doors or chests; doing so without getting caught will level up both Thievery and Stealth. Just try to avoid actually stealing anything. If you swipe something, there's a good chance someone will eventually notice it's missing. And if you were seen sneaking around (even if you weren't caught doing anything illegal at the time), the guards might put two and two together and decide you're the culprit. So, pick locks, don't steal, level up Stealth and Thievery, and you'll avoid losing reputation, hefty fines, and potential jail time or lashings that come with actual theft.

Best Stealth Perks

As you'd expect, Stealth perks offer a bunch of bonuses related to being sneaky. They can make Henry quieter in both cities and the wilderness, unlock special stealth takedowns, give enemies debuffs when you attack them while they're unaware, boost Henry's damage when he lands a sneak attack with a ranged weapon, give him stat bonuses when he's a wanted criminal, and even let him ignore distant NPCs while picking locks or pockets. Basically, if you're looking to turn Henry into a slippery rogue, a cold-blooded assassin, or just want to give him some extra punch when he uses his crossbow for a cheap shot, there are perks here for you. Here are some of the best Stealth perks in the game:

Rodent / Weasel Boy

Perks that make you sneakier are definitely high on our list for the Stealth tree. We've got two great options here: you can pick “Rodent” to become sneakier indoors, or “Weasel Boy” to become sneakier outdoors. Both are fantastic, but you can only choose one. Sneaking outdoors makes it easier to infiltrate enemy camps and pick off stragglers, while sneaking indoors lets you get into buildings and swipe important items. Being able to close doors more quietly is also a surprisingly big deal, as open doors can draw suspicion, and doors opening and closing on their own are even more suspicious! Both perks have their merits, so ultimately, you'll need to decide if you want Henry to be a slightly better city footpad or a more effective wilderness ranger.

Escape Artist

Nobody's perfect, right? You're bound to get caught sneaking around sometimes. In many cases, whoever spots you won't get a clear look, and they'll start searching to confirm their suspicions. These perks help NPCs end their search sooner, making it easier for you to remain undiscovered and get back to your sneaky business.