One of the biggest misconceptions that new players to Kingdom Come Deliverance fall prey to is that Herbalism is a skill beneficial to only alchemists. It’s quite the contrary, and this skill is actually one of the most beneficial and useful that you can pick up in the early game.
Skills like Drinking, Hunting, Lockpicking, and Stealth may come across as way more appealing and unique to the game, but when it comes to efficiency, you really can’t pass up what Herbalism can do for you. Don’t know much about this skill? Let me tell you all about it.
What is the Herbalism Skill in Kingdom Come Deliverance?
Herbalism is a skill you refine when picking up flowers, roots, and all sorts of other plants that you can find all throughout Kingdom Come: Deliverance. As you level up this skill, you begin to pick up herbs in an area of effect around yourself, which allows you to collect them faster and more easily. This area gradually grows in size the higher you level Herbalism.
Herbalism is probably one of the first skills you’ll dabble with in Kingdom Come Deliverance, but it’s not immediately apparent just how useful it is.
Why should I level the Herbalism skill in Kingdom Come Deliverance?
There are a lot of reasons why putting time into Herbalism is going to be worth it, and many of these reasons aren’t what most would expect.
- You can make a ton of money. Harvested herbs can be sold, and you can haggle for this to be pretty profitable.
- It’s extremely easy to do. Flowers and roots are everywhere, especially in the town you start off at in Kingdom Come Deliverance. Just pick them up!
- It increases your Strength. Finding skills that allow you to “double-dip,” or level and improve two things at once, is extremely valuable. Starting at level 10, you’ll begin earning experience towards the Strength stat each time you squat to collect a herb. If you’re a bit of a pacifist, this is a great way to decrease your stamina usage and sprint for longer. Strength also determines how much you can carry in your inventory, so it’s one of the most important stats in the game for hoarders.
- It can increase your Vitality. If you’ve spent time running, your Vitality is probably a few levels high by now. If you pick poisonous plants, you unlock a hidden resistance perk that passively earns you +2 Vitality permanently.
- It can increase your Speech. If you’re selling large quantities of herbs, you’re going to be constantly haggling with merchants, and this is going to passively increase your Speech.
- It can increase your Charisma. Collect 30 flowers and you get a permanent +2 Charisma, allowing you to impress and charm people more easily.
There aren’t really any other skills that allow you to level so many stats at once. Herbalism is an all-around skill that can make you stronger, richer, and faster.
How can I level the Herbalism skill in Kingdom Come Deliverance?
The town you start out in is actually one of the best places in the entire game to grind Herbalism. Run around and pick up absolutely everything, selling when you get encumbered (usually around 15-20 herbs). I recommend selling to the shopkeeper that sells Schnapps, as she’s the easiest to haggle with at first. In no time, you should be able to afford a dagger, repair tools, food, and some other essentials.
The first stat you’re going to be able to boost is Charisma, once you get 30 flowers, and then you’ll be able to put more than enough points into Strength past level 10. If you’re planning to play Kingdom Come Deliverance for the long haul, put in the early work of grinding Herbalism and you won’t regret it. It’s definitely the most important skill in the early part of this game!
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I know the other skills can be tempting, and surely Kingdom Come Deliverance (and playing games in general) is about having fun, but if you’re a grinder and you love maximizing on efficiency, then you’re going to want to get into Herbalism as soon as you can. It’s a real hidden gem if you’re a new player, and putting time into it early is going to put you ahead in the game.
Be sure to check out some of our other Kingdom Come Deliverance guides:
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance Beginner Tips and Tricks Guide
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance Console Commands Guide
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance Rocketeer Guide
- Kingdom Come Deliverance: Restless Spirit Quest Guide
