What Is the Best Succession Law in Crusader Kings 2?

Written by
Crusader Kings II was developed by Paradox Development Studio and published by Paradox Interactive. Crusader Kings II, Crusader Kings 2, or CK2, features different succession laws. The most common available succession laws in CK2 are Gavelkind, Elective Gavelkind, Seniority, Primogeniture and Ultimogeniture. Each succession law characterizes a different succession process, with different results. It is important to consider all of these factors when deciding the best succession law, and these factors will be further explained in the article.

Considering that Crusader Kings 2 is a strategy sandbox video game, in the sense that each playthrough is unique, there is not one succession law that is going to be the best option and strategy for all playthroughs. Instead, each succession law can be the most useful one in specific circumstances, and these circumstances will be explained. After reading this article, the player will be able to better identify the situations and circumstances in which certain succession laws are more strategic. Players may wonder which are the best succession laws in Crusader Kings 2 in various situations.

In general, the best succession laws in Crusader Kings 2 for most situations are either Gavelkind succession law or Primogeniture succession law, as these succession laws allow the player to pass most, or even all, of the land and demesne to the inheriting game character. As it was presented in this article, each succession law presents positives and downsides, and a succession law that does not present immediate increased difficulty, may present increased challenges later on, such as was exemplified in the case of the gavelkind sucession law. For this reason, instead of trying to decide which succession law is best for the whole video game, I suggest analysing the factors and circumstances of each moment in order to decide which succession law is the most beneficial for the main character and the heir in each moment of the playthrough.

Gavelkind Succession Law

Galvekind is the succession law in which the land titles are divided among the children. The oldest child inherits the most important title, and the other children inherit remaining titles. While this succession law is quite common in many of the realms of Crusader Kings 2, the downside of this succession law is that it increases further disputes after the succession, since the other children, which often are claimants, will have increased power to try and claim the primary title.

Positives:
  • In many realms, it's the standard succession law, so it doesn't require any change
  • Siblings are not greatly displeased with this succession law
Downsides:
  • Claimants have increased power after succession
  • The main character's heir, which is going to be the new main character, does not inherit as many titles and thus loses power through this succession

Elective Gavelkind Succession Law

In CK2, certain realms allow an elective succession law, in which case the new ruler is chosen through voting. While this succession law is interesting in the sense that the main's character family will not be as displeased, in some cases it may not be a strategic choice as there is no guarantee that the main character's heir will be elected the successor, in which case the primary title could be lost during the succession process. For this reason, in most cases I do not consider elective succession to be beneficial, while it could be beneficial in the cases in which the main character's heir is well-liked by their peers.

Positives:
  • Siblings not as displeased with this succession law as they would be with gavelkind succession
Downsides:
  • Claimants have increased power after succession
  • There is no guarantee that the main character's heir will inherit the primary title

Seniority Succession Law

Perhaps one of the rarest succession laws in many realms of Crusader Kings 2, seniority is the succession law in which the oldest member of the family inherits all of the main character's titles. This succession law is unique in the sense that it isn't one of the main character's children that will inherit the titles, but the oldest member of the main character's family. This succession law greatly displeases the main character's children.

Positives:
  • The new ruler will accunulate all inherited titles, centralizing the power
  • Approved by most of the family members excluding the main character's children
Downsides:
  • Siblings are greatly displeased with this succession law as they have less chance of inheriting the titles

Primogeniture Succession Law

Perhaps the most well-known succession law in CK2, primogeniture is the succession law in which the oldest child of the main character inherits all of the titles. Of course, this law displeases the siblings of the main character's oldest child, but considering that this child inherits all of the titles, the siblings will not be left with a lot of power to dispute and claim the succession, unlike the gavelkind succession law in which the siblings would inherit land, thus giving them more power for disputing claims.

Positives:
  • The new ruller will accumulate all inherited titles, centralizing the power
  • The siblings of the main character's oldest character will not have as much power as they would in gavelkind succession law
Negatives:
  • Disapproved by the siblings of the main character's oldest child

Ultimogeniture Succession Law

Ultimogeniture is a succession law much less common than primogeniture. In primogeniture succession law, it is the oldest child of the main character that inherits all titles. In ultimogeniture, it is the youngest child of the main character that inherits all titles. This succession law could make sense for example if the oldest child of the main character does not have the desired traits of a ruler, or is somewhat compromised strategically (such as being in a matrilineal marriage). In this sense, the main character is able to pass all of the titles to one of their children, although the titles will be passed to the youngest one, not the oldest one. One of the dangers of this succession law is that any child that is born will be the new heir, and this gives the main character fewer control of who is going to be the heir of their titles.

Positives:
  • It is useful for not giving the titles to the oldest child for specific reasons (such as cases in which the oldest child would not make a good ruler or in which the oldest child is compromised)
Negatives:
  • Less control of who is going to be the heir (any child born is going to be the new heir)

How to View the Succession Line of a Title in Crusader Kings 2

In CK2, it is possible to view the succession line of each title. It is quite important to keep the succession line in mind, as this is useful to understand which characters will be the most upset with certain succession law changes, and also which characters will be the most likely to start plots. In order to view the succession line, all the players has to do is click in the crest of a certain title, and then a list of characters will appear in a horizontal line. This is the succession line. This is the order of succession for that specific title in that moment of the playthrough of Crusader Kings II.

I Can't Change Succession Laws in Crusader Kings 2

There are some requisites in order for the ruler to be able to change succession laws of a title in Crusader Kings 2. While there are multiple requisites, the requisites that most often present a barrier to the player wanting to change a succession law are that the realm must be at peace and that the ruler mas have ruled for at least 10 years. Some other factors include vassals not fighting each other, and that no vassal has a negative opinion of the ruler, among other factors. When in doubt, hover your mouse over the " ? " button and these necessary conditions will be shown.

When Is the Best Moment to Change Succession Laws in Crusader Kings 2?

Changing succession laws in the realm in CK2 is always going to displease certain characters. It is also necessary for the realm to be at peace in order for the ruler to be able to change succession laws. Thus, the ruler is required to end all wars before changing succession laws.

While there are certainly many different ways to play Crusader Kings II, my advice is that one of the best moments to change succession laws is when the ruler has some available gold (if necessary to bribe characters and move forward with plots) and when the realm does not have other immediate threats, as in this aspect the main character will be able to focus on the succession and avoiding and ending plots that may appear depending on the chosen succession law.

The Difficulty of Each Succession Law in Crusader Kings 2

As each succession law in CK2 presents different positives and negatives, it is natural that some players will view them as presenting a different difficulty to the gameplay. In my perspectives, as each succession law has unique characteristics, these different succession laws can be used to the main character's advantage depending on the circumstances. Moreover, certain succession laws that do not present immediate difficulties, may present increased difficulties at later moment. For example, in the gavelkind succession law, while the main character's children will be happy to be given titles as well, these children will also become claimants and dispute the oldest child's primary title later on. This is one example of a succession law that may not present increased difficulties in the begining, but may become a challenge in later moments.

Specific Cases and Circumstances in Which Certain Succession Laws Could Be Best

Main character's heir is in a matrilineal marriage

Regarding the main character's dynasty and succession, this situation could be difficult because in a matrilineal marriage, the children will be of the mother's dynasty, thus ending the lineage of the main character. In Crusader Kings II, the end of a dynasty means the end of the game. In this case, an ultimogeniture succession law could be considered as this would change the main character's heir to the youngest child, instead of the oldest child (which, in this case, is in a matrilineal marriage). In ultimogeniture succession, the youngest child inherits all of the titles.

Main character's heir has undesirable traits for a ruler (example: has the Lunatic trait)

Such as in the case in which the main character's heir is in a matrilineal marriage, if the main character's heir has undesirable traits in a ruler, such as the Lunatic trait, it could be difficult to continue the playthrough with that character. For this reason, in this case, an ultimogeniture succession law could also be considered, as this would change the main character's heir to the youngest child instead of the oldest child.

The oldest member of the dynasty has powerful titles

If the oldest member of the dynasty has powerful titles in CK2, then the seniority succession law could be considered in the sense that it would be a way to accumulate titles in the same game character.

Main character's dynasty is small

In CK2, the end of a dynasty means the end of the game. For this reason, it is important that the main character's dynasty includes many different members. In general, while giving land to other dynasty members could be strategically dangerous in the sense that some of these members could be claimants with increased power, on the other hand landed characters are more likely to continue the dynasty in the game. In other words, giving land to other dynasty members can be strategical in the long-term to expanding the main character's dynasty in the playthrough. In this sense, the gavelkind succession law could make sense, especially for small dynasties. At the same time, it will likely increase the challenges and difficulties for the main character's heir, who may have to fight claimants. One way to give land to dynasty members without increasing the difficulty is by giving lower land titles, such as cities and keeps, instead of giving counties and duchies. Another way is by giving distant land.
The Video Game Literate is the writer and owner of the website The Video Game Literate. The Video Game Literate has a passion for video games and has been writing guides and informational content related to video games for years. The writer has been playing video games for decades, and created a website to answer people's questions and change their perceptions about games, through analysis, information and research. Some of The Video Game Literate's favorite video game genres include RPG, strategy, open world, horror, fighting and racing. You can find more details about The Video Game Literate on the "About" page of the website.