How to Pick a Ruler in The Elder Scrolls Castles

Choosing a ruler can be hard in The Elder Scrolls: Castles. This character is responsible for a lot of what happens in the castle and their stats are much more influential than the ones of their subjects. Choosing a ruler can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s how to pick a Ruler in The Elder Scrolls: Castles.

Picking a Ruler in The Elder Scrolls: Castles

In The Elder Scrolls: Castles, you’ll be asked to pick a new ruler whenever one dies. You’ll be able to pick from a number of subjects, but they’ll be exclusively nobles. If you want to make a commoner into a regnant, you’ll have to marry them to a noble first. You don’t have to pick the first in line to the throne, and choosing one that is more qualified is worth any downside.

The most important things you should look for in a future king or queen are good traits. To reliably staff your castle with characters with good traits, follow our population guide.

Good Traits for Rules in The Elder Scrolls: Castles

Here are some good traits for rulers to have in The Elder Scrolls: Castles. You’ll find a complete list of traits in our Traits Tier List.

• Enduring
• Headstrong
• Mighty
• Considerate

Any of those traits on a ruler will be useful, as their non-combat effects apply to every subject in the castle. For example, Headstrong would normally make a subject more efficient while working at the Furnace and Workshop and more capable at using a shield. When a ruler has Headstrong, they instead make every subject slightly better at the Furnace and Workshop.

Ideally, you want a monarch who has the Headstrong, Mighty, and Considerate traits. Such a ruler would make almost every subject more efficient during work, which is ultimately their job. This is hard to obtain, especially early on, and you won’t always have the chance of picking this character even if they are on your roster.

The last detail to consider is age. The longer a ruler lives, the better, as long-lasting reigns will trigger better bonuses from the game. The best way to create a long-lasting kingdom is to pick a young ruler (including literal babies!). A ruler with the Enduring trait will also live longer on average.

That concludes our guide on how to pick a ruler in The Elder Scrolls: Castles. For more information about the game, visit our TES: Castles guide hub.