Here is a list of all the known Crusader Kings 3 traits and the effects they have on your character. They are broken up by trait type.
Crusader Kings 3 Traits
Childhood Traits
Characters between the age of 3 and 15 in Crusader Kings 3 have one childhood trait. These traits give you a bonus to two skills and, if an education focus is on one of those two skills, will make them more formidable when they come of age. They also make children struggle in another education skill.
Bossy: +1 Martial, Stewardship — Struggles with Diplomacy Charming: +1 Diplomacy, Intrigue — Struggles with Stewardship Curious: +1 Diplomacy, Learning — Struggles with Martial Pensive: +1 Stewardship, Learning — Struggles with Intrigue Rowdy: +1 Martial, Intrigue — Struggles with Learning
Commander Traits
Commander Traits will give a benefit to an entire army if their leader has the given trait.
Aggressive Attacker: +25% enemy casualties Cautious Leader: +4 minimum battle roll, -2 maximum battle roll Desert Warrior: +5 advantage in desert, desert mountains, drylands, and oasis, no desert supply limit penalty Flexible Leader: -50% enemy defensive advantage Forder: Crosses water without advantage penalties Forest Fighter: +5 advantage in forest and taiga Holy Warrior: +10% faith hostility advantage Jungle Stalker: +6 advantage in jungle, -50% jungle attrition, no jungle supply limit penalty Logistician: +100% supply duration Military Engineer -30% siege phase time Open Terrain Expert: +4 advantage in farmlands, plains, and steppe Organizer: +25% movement speed, -20% retreat losses Reaver: +100% raid speed, -75% hostile county attrition Reckless: +6 maximum battle roll, -4 minimum battle roll Rough Terrain Expert: +4 advantage in hills, mountains, and wetlands Unyielding Defender: -25% friendly casualties
Congenital Traits
Congenital traits can appear at birth and can be passed down to future generations. Inbreeding can increase the chances of seeing many of these traits.
A few of these traits are leveled, meaning they come in multiple strengths and can give multiple levels of positive or negative boosts.
Albino: +15 natural dread, +10 same trait opinion, -10 general opinion Bleeder: -10 vassal opinion, severe health penalty Club-footed: +10 same trait opinion, -10 attraction opinion, -2 prowess Dwarf: +20 same trait opinion, -20 attraction opinion, -4 prowess Fecund: +50% fertility, +5 years life expectancy Giant: +6 prowess, +5 vassal opinion, +1 tribal ruler opinion, +20 same trait opinion, -5 attraction opinion, minor health penalty Hunchbacked: +10 same trait opinion, -30 attraction opinion, -10 vassal opinion, -2 prowess Lisping: +10 same trait opinion, -5 attraction opinion, -2 diplomacy Lunatic: +10% hostile scheme resistance, +10 same trait opinion, -10 attraction opinion, -10 vassal opinion, minor health penalty Melancholic: -1 diplomacy, martial, stewardship and intrigue, -10% fertility, moderate health penalty Possessed: +10% monthly learning lifestyle experience, +15 same trait opinion, -10 attraction opinion, moderate health penalty Pure-blooded: +10% fertility, -50% inbreeding chance, small health boost Scaly: +10 natural dread, +10 same trait opinion, -10 vassal opinion, -30 attraction opinion, -20% fertility Spindly: -1 prowess, -10 attraction opinion, minor health penalty Sterile/Barren: -50% fertility Stuttering: +10 same trait opinion, -2 diplomacy Wheezing: -10 vassal opinion, tiny health penalty
Leveled Congenital Traits
These are all different levels of the same trait, which grant bonuses or penalties based on how severe they are. A few of these traits have variations depending on your gender
Coping Mechanisms
You receive a coping mechanism trait if you suffer a mental break from stress and want a stress reduction. All these traits grant a +20% Stress Loss and have other effects. Most are negative, but there are a few positive coping mechanisms in Crusader Kings 3.
Athletic: +1 prowess, small health boost Comfort Eater: -1 stewardship Confider: +1 diplomacy Contrite: -2 intrigue Drunkard: +10 same trait opinion, -2 stewardship, -2 prowess, tiny health penalty Flagellant: -2 prowess, moderate health penalty Hashishiyah: +10 same trait opinion, -2 stewardship, -2 learning Improvident: +1 diplomacy, -15% monthly income Inappetetic: -1 diplomacy, -3 prowess Irritable: +2 prowess, +10% dread gain, -2 diplomacy, -1 martial, -5 attraction opinion Journaller: +1 learning Profligate: +0. 5 monthly piety, -10% monthly income Rakish: +5 same trait opinion, +1 intrigue, -1 diplomacy, -5 attraction opinion Reclusive: -2 diplomacy, -1 stewardship
Criminal Traits
Criminal traits all have to do with how they are viewed by your faith. They can be accepted, shunned, or even get you arrested/executed. You get criminal traits due to the choices you make and how certain events play out.
Adulterer: +10 same trait opinion Cannibal: +2 prowess, +15% stress loss, +20 natural dread, +35 same trait opinion Excommunicated: -50% monthly piety Fornicator: +10 same trait opinion Deviant: +25% stress loss, +35 same trait opinion Dynastic Kinslayer: -5 dynasty opinion Familial Kinslayer: -5 dynasty opinion, -5 close family opinion Kinslayer: -5 dynasty opinion, -10 close family opinion Incestuous: +20 same trait opinion Sodomite: +10 same trait opinion Witch: +1 intrigue, +1 learning, +20 same trait opinion, -1 diplomacy
Dynasty Traits
Dynasty traits can be given or taken away by members of the same dynasty. They often have to do with interesting elements of birth or disputes over lineage.
Bastard: +5 same trait opinion, -15 dynasty opinion, -1 diplomacy, can’t inherit titles Bastard Founder: (Gained a title as a Bastard) -1 diplomacy, can’t inherit titles Born in the Purple: (One parent owned Barony of Constantinople, Byzantine Empire or Roman Empire title) +0. 5 monthly prestige, +5 vassal opinion Child of Concubine/Consort: -1 diplomacy Denounced: -1 diplomacy, -1 monthly prestige, members of dynasty can rightfully imprison this character Disinherited: -5 dynasty opinion, can’t inherit titles Disputed Heritage: -1 diplomacy, -10 house opinion Legitimized Bastard: -10 dynasty opinion, -1 diplomacy Reincarnation: (4% chance at birth if faith has Reincarnation tenet) +1 monthly piety, +5 same faith opinion Twin: (2% chance at birth) +15 twin sibling opinion Wild Oat: -1 diplomacy
Descendant Traits
These are dynasty traits that are passed down once they are founded.
Saoshyant: +1 diplomacy, +2 learning, +2 prowess, +5 same faith opinion Saoshyant Descendant: +1 learning, +5 same faith opinion Sayyid: +5 same faith opinion (same trait is passed down) Paragon: +20 temple vassal opinion Consecrated Blood: +10 temple vassal opinion The Savior: +10 same faith opinion Divine Blood: +5 same faith opinion
Education Traits
Each character in Crusader Kings 3 gets an education trait when they reach adulthood based on how successful their education was. They are each leveled.
Diplomacy — Naive Appeaser, Adequate Bargainer, Charismatic Negotiator, Grey Eminence +2/+4/+6/+8 diplomacy, +10%/+20%/+30%/+40% monthly skill lifestyle experience Martial — Misguided Warrior, Tough Soldier, Skilled Tactician, Brilliant Strategist +2/+4/+6/+8 martial, +10%/+20%/+30%/+40% monthly skill lifestyle experience Stewardship — Indulgent Wastrel, Thrifty Clerk, Fortune Builder, Midas Touched +2/+4/+6/+8 stewardship, +10%/+20%/+30%/+40% monthly skill lifestyle experience Intrigue — Amateurish Plotter, Flamboyant Trickster, Intricate Webweaver, Elusive Shadow +2/+4/+6/+8 intrigue, +10%/+20%/+30%/+40% monthly skill lifestyle experience Learning — Conscientious Scribe, Insightful Thinker, Astute Intellectual, Mastermind Philosopher +2/+4/+6/+8 learning, +10%/+20%/+30%/+40% monthly skill lifestyle experience Prowess — Bumbling Squire, Confident Knight, Formidable Banneret, Famous Champion +1/+2/+3/+4 prowess
Health Traits
Health traits are gained through events and battles.
Blind: -6 martial, -2 stewardship, -2 intrigue, -10 prowess, -10 dread, -10 attraction opinion, small health penalty Brutally Mangled: (curable) -4 martial, -4 intrigue, -8 prowess, -20 dread, -75% fertility, 100% dread loss, -20 attraction opinion, large health penalty Impotent: -50% fertility Inbred: -5 diplomacy, martial, stewardship, intrigue, and learning, -2 prowess, -30% fertility, -30 attraction opinion, small health penalty Incapable: -6 diplomacy, martial, stewardship, intrigue and learning, -12 prowess, -25 dread, -100% fertility, 100% dread loss, medium health penalty Infirm: -3 diplomacy, martial, stewardship, intrigue and learning, -6 prowess, -15 dread, -30% fertility, 100% dread loss, small health penalty Maimed: -2 diplomacy, martial, stewardship, intrigue and learning, -4 prowess, -15 dread, -50% fertility, 100% dread loss, -10 attraction opinion, medium health penalty Severely Injured: (curable) -2 martial, -2 intrigue, -4 prowess, -15 dread, -25% fertility, 100% dread loss, -10 attraction opinion , medium health penalty Sickly: (curable) -20 dread, 100% dread loss, medium health penalty Wounded: (curable) -1 martial, -1 intrigue, -2 prowess, -10 dread, 100% dread loss, small health penalty
Diseases
Dieseases are health traits that can be passed from character to character. If a Crusader Kings 3 character is cured of a disease, they become immune to it in the future.
Bubonic Plague: (curable) -2 diplomacy, stewardship and learning, -3 martial and intrigue, -10 prowess, -30 dread, -50% fertility, 100% dread loss, -20 attraction opinion, severe health penalty Cancer: (curable) -15 dread, -20% fertility, 100% dread loss, medium health penalty Consumption: (curable) -2 diplomacy, -1 stewardship, -2 intrigue, -2 prowess, -10 dread, 100% dread loss, -10 attraction opinion, medium health penalty Great Pox: (curable) -1 diplomacy, martial, stewardship, intrigue, and learning, -20 dread, -20% fertility, 100% dread loss, -10 attraction opinion, small health penalty Gout Ridden: (curable) -2 diplomacy, -1 martial, -2 prowess, -5 dread, -15 attraction opinion, small health penalty Ill: (curable) -4 prowess, -10 dread, -20% fertility, 100% dread loss, small health penalty Leper: -8 prowess, -20 dread, -95% fertility, 100% dread loss, -35 attraction opinion, medium health penalty Lover’s Pox: -5 dread, -20 attraction opinion Pneumonia: (curable) -2 diplomacy, martial, stewardship, intrigue and learning, -8 prowess, -10 dread, -50% fertility, 100% dread loss, medium health penalty Smallpox: (curable) -2 diplomacy, -1 dtewardship, -2 learning, -10 prowess, -15 dread, -25% fertility, 100% dread loss, -10 attraction opinion, large health penalty Typhus: (curable) -1 diplomacy, -2 stewardship, -1 intrigue, -2 learning, -4 prowess, -15 dread, -20% fertility, 100% dread loss, -10 attraction opinion, large health penalty
Lifestyle Traits
You unlock Lifestyle traits through the final perk of each lifestyle tree or by lifestyle decision events.
Administrator: +1 diplomacy, +3 stewardship, +5 vassal opinion Architect: +2 stewardship, -15% building and holding construction time, -10% building and holding gold cost August: +2 diplomacy, +1 martial, +1 monthly prestige Avaricious: +2 stewardship, +15% holding taxes Celibate: +1 monthly piety, +10 clergy opinion, -10 opposite trait opinion, cannot have children Diplomat: +3 diplomacy, +20 independent ruler opinion, +25% personal scheme power Gallant: +2 martial, +4 prowess, +20% monthly prestige, +20 attraction opinion Overseer: +2 martial, +2 stewardship, +50% monthly control growth Patriarch/Matriarch: +10 house opinion, +15 close family opinion, +20% fertility, +20% stress loss Schemer: +5 intrigue, +25% hostile scheme power Scholar: +5 learning, +15 monthly development growth, +10 hostile and personal scheme success chance Seducer/Seductress: +3 intrigue, +20% fertility, +40 attraction opinion Strategist: +1 diplomacy, +3 martial, +25% enemy casualties, cross water without military advantage loss Theologian: +3 learning, +20% monthly piety Torturer: +4 prowess, +50% dread gain, +25% hostile scheme resistance, +10% levy size Whole of Body: +25% fertility, -25% stress gain, medium health boost
Leveled Lifestyle Traits
These can be increased through further events.
Aspiring Blademaster, Blademaster, Legendary Blademaster +3/+6/+12 prowess, small/medium/large disease resistance boost Novice Hunter, Hunter, Master Hunter +2/+4/+6 prowess, +10%/+15%/+20% stress loss Wise Woman/Wise Man, Mystic, Miracle Worker +1/+2/+4 learning Eager Reveler, Famous Reveler, Legendary Reveler +2/+3/+4 diplomacy, +1/+2/+3 intrigue, +10/+15/+20 same trait opinion Novice Physician, Physician, Renowned Physician +1/+2/+4 learning, small/medium/large disease resistance boost
Personality Traits
Personality traits affect your stress and most characters have three of them. Most are also tied to an opposite trait that will change how they feel about characters who possess that trait.
Ambitious: +1 diplomacy, martial, stewardship, intrigue, and learning, +1 prowess, +25% stress gain, -15 opinion of liege, -15 same trait opinion Arbitrary: +3 intrigue, +15 natural dread, -50% stress gain, -2 stewardship, -1 learning, -5 vassal opinion Arrogant: +1 monthly prestige, -5 opinion of vassals, -5 opinion of liege, -15 opposite trait (Humble) opinion Brave: +2 martial, +3 prowess, +5 vassal opinion, +10 attraction opinion, +10 same trait opinion, -10 opposite trait (Craven) opinion, +100% likelihood of capture or death in battle Callous: +2 intrigue, -20% tyranny gain, +25% dread gain, +25% dread decay, -2 diplomacy, -5 attraction opinion, -5 close family opinion Calm: +1 diplomacy, +1 intrigue, +10% stress loss, +10% scheme discovery, +50% dread decay, +10 same trait opinion, -10 opposite trait (Wrathful) opinion Chaste: +2 learning, -25% fertility, +10 same trait opinion, -10 opposite trait (Lustful) opinion Compassionate: +2 diplomacy, +5 attraction opinion, -15 opposite trait (Callous & Sadistic) opinion, -2 intrigue, -15 natural dread, +100% dread decay Content: +2 learning, +10% stress loss, +10 opinion of vassals, +20 opinion of liege, +20 same trait opinion, -1 intrigue Craven: -50% likelihood of capture or death in battle, +20 same trait opinion, -2 martial, -3 prowess, -5 vassal opinion, -10 attraction opinion Cynical: +2 intigue, +2 learning, -20% faith conversion cost, +10 same trait opinion, -10 opposite trait (Zealous) opinion, -20% monthly piety Deceitful: +4 intrigue, -2 diplomacy, -10 opposite trait (Honest) opinion Diligent: +1 diplomacy, martial, stewardship, intrigue and learning, +20% stress gain, +10 same trait opinion, -10 opposite trait (Lazy) opinion Fickle: +1 diplomacy, +20% hostile scheme resistance, -2 stewardship Forgiving: +2 diplomacy, +1 learning, -2 intrigue, +15 prisoner opinion, +10 same trait opinion, -10 opposite trait (Vengeful) opinion Generous: +3 diplomacy, -10% monthly income, -15 opposite trait (Greedy) opinion Gluttonous: +10% stress loss, -2 stewardship, -5 attraction opinion, +10 same trait opinion, -10 opposite trait (Temperate) opinion Greedy: +15% monthly income, -2 diplomacy Gregarious: +2 diplomacy, +5 attraction opinion, +15% personal scheme power, +10 same trait opinion Honest: +2 diplomacy, -4 intrigue, +10 same trait opinion, -10 opposite trait (Deceitful) opinion Humble: +0. 5 monthly piety, +10 opinion of liege, +10 opinion of vassals, +10 clergy opinion, -15 opposite trait (Arrogant) opinion Impatient: +20% monthly prestige, +15% hostile scheme power, -2 learning, -5 vassal opinion, -5 liege opinion, -15 opposite trait (Patient) opinion Just: +2 stewardship, +1 learning, -3 intrigue, +5 vassal opinion, +10 same trait opinion, -10 opposite trait (Arbitrary) opinion Lazy: +15% stress loss, -1 diplomacy, martial, stewardship, intrigue, and learning Lustful: +2 intrigue, +25% fertility, +10% seduction scheme power, +10 same trait opinion, -10 opposite trait (Chaste) opinion, -50% asexuality chance Paranoid: +3 intrigue, +25% dread gain, +10% scheme discovery chance, -25 enemy personal scheme success chance, -1 diplomacy, +100% stress gain, -10 vassal opinion Patient: +2 learning, +10 hostile scheme resistance, +5 vassal opinion, +5 liege opinion, -15 opposite trait (Impatient) opinion Sadistic: +2 intrigue, +4 prowess, +35 natural dread, -10 general opinion, can use hostile schemes against their own children Shy: +2 learning, +15% hostile scheme resistance, +15 same trait opinion, -2 diplomacy, -5 attraction opinion, -15% personal scheme power Stubborn: +3 stewardship, -5 liege opinion, -5 vassal opinion, small disease resistance boost Temperate: +2 stewardship, +10 same trait opinion, -10 opposite trait (Gluttonous) opinion, small health boost Trusting: +2 diplomacy, -2 intrigue, +15 opinion of liege, +15 opinion of vassals, +15 enemy hostile scheme success chance Vengeful: +2 intrigue, +2 prowess, +15% dread gain, +15% hostile scheme success against rivals, -2 diplomacy Wrathful: +2 martial, +20 natural dread, -1 diplomacy, -1 intrigue Zealous: +2 martial, +20% monthly piety, +15 same trait opinion, -10 opposite trait (Cynical) opinion, -35 different faith opinion, +20% faith conversion cost
Physical Traits
Physical traits are obtained through a variety of events.
Disfigured: -4 diplomacy, -20% fertility, -20 attraction opinion, +100% likelihood of capture or death in battle Dull: -2 diplomacy, martial, stewardship, intrigue, and learning Eunuch: -20 attraction opinion, cannot have children, cannot inherit titles, cannot marry One-eyed: +1 learning, +10 dread, -2 prowess, -5 attraction opinion, +100% likelihood of capture or death in battle One-legged: +1 learning, -10 dread, -4 prowess, -10 attraction opinion, +100% likelihood of capture or death in battle Scarred: +0. 1 monthly prestige, +5 attraction opinion Shrewd: +2 diplomacy, martial, stewardship, intrigue, and learning Strong: +4 prowess, medium health boost Weak: -4 prowess, -10 attraction opinion, -10 vassal opinion, medium health penalty
Other Traits
These traits can be obtained through various events throughout Crusader Kings 3. Some have many names, depending on factors like culture, religion, etc.
Adventurer: +1 martial, +1 prowess, +10 same trait opinion, -1 diplomacy Augustus: +0. 5 monthly prestige, +10 vassal opinion Berserker: +2 martial, +5 prowess, +10 same trait opinion, -2 diplomacy Chakravarti: +2 diplomacy, +1 martial, +2 learning, +20 same faith opinion Crusader: +2 martial, +1 prowess, +15 clergy opinion, +15 same faith opinion Devoted (multiple names): +0. 3 monthly piety, +5 same faith opinion, cannot inherit titles, cannot marry Greatest of Khans: +2 diplomacy, +2 martial, -1 stewardship, +2 prowess, +50 natural dread, -25% dread decay, +10 same culture opinion, +25% hostile scheme resistance, -20 enemy hostile scheme success chance, +20 vassal limit Heresiarch: +2 martial, +2 learning, +2 prowess, +5 advantage against co-religionists, +10 same faith opinion Holy Monarch: +3 martial, +2 prowess, +5 faith hostility advantage, -20% retreat losses, -15% friendly casualties, +50% monthly control, +35 popular opinion, +15 same faith opinion, +10 same trait opinion, Ignore negative culture opinion Mujahid: +2 martial, +1 prowess, +15 clergy opinion, +15 same faith opinion Murderer: -15 general opinion Order Member: +1 martial, +4 prowess, +15 same trait opinion, cannot inherit titles, cannot marry Peasant Leader: +10 popular opinion, +25 same trait opinion, -10 general opinion Pilgrim: +10% monthly piety, +5 same faith opinion Pregnant: -2 prowess Raider/Viking: +2 martial, +3 prowess, +0. 3 monthly prestige, +5 same trait opinion Saint: +2 monthly piety Varangian: +1 diplomacy, +2 martial, +2 prowess, +10 same trait opinion Warrior of the Faith (multiple names): +2 martial, +1 prowess, +15 clergy opinion, +15 same faith opinion
And that’s that! Every known trait in Crusader Kings 3. For more guides on the game, including how to declare war or how to change cultures, check out our tips and strategies page!
