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Personal tenets: Crusader Kings III artwork

Crusader Kings III 1.20.1.2 · By God Alone

Personal tenets

A ruler adopts tenets as their own. 97 tenets give the holder a personal effect; how many you can hold depends on your piety level.

In Crusader Kings III a ruler can hold 1 personal tenet (BASE_PERSONAL_TENETS_CAP) plus their piety level's slots — Sinner 0, Dutiful 1, Faithful 1, Devoted Servant 1, Paragon of Virtue 2, Religious Icon 2, Divine 2, Demigod 2, Godlike 3; 97 tenets give a personal effect. Patch 1.20.1.2, from game/common/religion/tenet_types, game/common/defines/00_defines.txt and game/common/modifiers/00_basic_modifiers.txt.

This section as JSON: /raw/personal-tenets.json

How many you can hold

Piety levelPersonal tenets
0 · Sinner0
1 · Dutiful1
2 · Faithful1
3 · Devoted Servant1
4 · Paragon of Virtue2
5 · Religious Icon2
6 · Divine2
7 · Demigod2
8 · Godlike3

More slots come from traits, perks and legacies: every source of Personal Tenets. Swapping or dropping one starts a 3-year cooldown (1095 days); filling a free slot does not.

What each gives as a personal tenet

  • Adaptability

    • Each successful phase of a cross-cultural Study Rite Scheme increases Cultural Acceptance
    • Study Rite Scheme Success Chance: +15%

  • Adoptionism

    • The Adopt Interaction is always available to you, without the usual requirements (although its target must still be eligible)
    • Legitimacy, Piety and Spiritual Fulfillment when adopting a Character
    Who may pick it
    • If has “game has started” (a variable the game's script sets): You may only select one Christology Tenet
    • Otherwise: You may only select one Christology Tenet

  • Adorcism

    • You can use the Curse an Enemy Decision against Rivals, Nemeses, and opponents in your Wars
    • You can use the Seek Aid for War Decision while at War

  • Alexandrian Catechism

    • Children educated with Learning Education Focus may come of age with Learning Lifestyle Experience, more often when well educated yourself
    • County Conversion Speed: +25%

  • Anachoresis

    • Gains the Wise Man Trait
    • Characters can Decide to Meditate in Seclusion, reducing Stress and possibly gaining theological insights
    • Increased Piety and Spiritual Fulfillment for taking the Meditate in Seclusion Decision away from your Capital
    • Unlocks the Garden Hermit Court Position

  • Ancestor Worship

  • Aniconism

    • Gain Spiritual Fulfillment for destroying Artifacts, and for sieges against a Faith without this Tenet

  • Apostolic Succession

    • Advancing a Cardinal raises their Papabile Score by a further 10
    • Having your Legitimacy preached by the Head of Faith in person grants additional Legitimacy
    • Deposing an Antipope grants Legitimacy and Spiritual Fulfillment
    Who may pick it

  • Armed Pilgrimages

    • Leasing Holdings to Holy Orders give extra Spiritual Fulfillment

  • Asceticism

    • Gain the Inappetetic Trait
    • Allows the Become Adventurer Decision

  • Astrology

    • Allows adherents to Divine the Stars and predict their future
    • The Divine the Stars Decision grants more Spiritual Fulfillment and lasts longer
    • Gains the Wise Man Trait

  • Auspicious Birthright

    • A Personal Tenet holder's firstborn has a 20% chance, and each later child a 5% chance, of birth with one of these Traits and of gaining Auspicious Birthright: Dwarf, Albino, Club-footed, Bleeder, Scaly, Giant, Hunchbacked, Spindly, Wheezing, Lisping, Stuttering, or Ugly

  • Be Fruitful and Multiply

    • Gain Spiritual Fulfillment and a temporary Health boost when your child is born
    • Newborns gain a Health bonus according to the closeness of their parents' relationship

  • Benevolent Governance

    • Gain Spiritual Fulfillment when you complete the Inspection Activity
    • Gain Spiritual Fulfillment for funding Contributions against a Natural Disaster, and lose it if recovery in your Realm completes without your funding
    • Gain Spiritual Fulfillment for banishing or releasing Prisoners unconditionally, and lose it for Executions

  • Carnal Exaltation

    • Lose Stress and gain Spiritual Fulfillment from successful Seduce Schemes
    • Can create Debauched artifacts using the Commission Artifact Decision

  • Celestial Hierarchy

    • Hiring high Aptitude Court Positions grants 3 Spiritual Fulfillment; dismissing or revoking any holder costs 3
    • Same-Faith Interaction acceptance changes by +10 per Level of Devotion above the target and -10 per level below

  • Charity

    • Ransoming another Character grants Piety and Spiritual Fulfillment scaled to the Gold paid
    • Sending a Gift to a Character in Debt grants Prestige and Piety

  • Christian Syncretism

    • Can use the Invite Syncretic Exiles Decision for Faiths of the syncretized Religion
    • Personally held matching Counties gain a Welcoming Syncretism Modifier
    • Can use Christian Artifacts
    • Study Rite Scheme Success Chance: +15%
    Who may pick it

    • None of these

      • Your faith: Their religion is Christianity
    • If played by the AI:

      • One of these

        • Any vassal › Their faith:
          • religion_tag = christianity_religion

        • or

          Any sub realm county › Their faith:
          • religion_tag = christianity_religion

        • or

          Any neighboring and across water realm owner › Their faith:
          • religion_tag = christianity_religion

  • Chthonic Redoubts

    • Entering mountain terrain while traveling grants Piety and Spiritual Fulfillment once per travel plan
    • You can host the Hike Activity without the Storyteller Perk; completing it in Mountains or Desert Mountains Terrain grants Piety and Spiritual Fulfillment

  • Communal Identity

    • Swaying a faction at an Ecumenical Council costs no Prestige
    • 25 Piety each time you successfully Sway someone of your own Rite
    • Learn Language Scheme Success Chance against targets of your own Rite: +20%
    • Learning the Language of someone of your own Rite grants Piety and Spiritual Fulfillment

  • Communal Possessions

    • Unlocks the Redistribute the Realm's Wealth Decision

  • Communion

    • Hosting a Feast grants +10 Opinion with each same-Faith guest

  • Cranial Trophies

    • It is possible to gain a Cranial Trophy Artifact when Executing another character, slaying them in a Duel, or killing them in Battle
    • When you gain a Cranial Trophy Artifact, you also gain Spiritual Fulfillment in proportion to the deceased's Prestige

  • Dharmic Pacifism

    • You cannot declare offensive Wars

  • Dharmic Syncretism

    • Can use the Invite Syncretic Exiles Decision for Faiths of the syncretized Religion
    • Personally held matching Counties gain a Welcoming Syncretism Modifier
    • Study Rite Scheme Success Chance: +15%
    Who may pick it

    • None of these

    • If played by the AI:

      • One of these

        • Any vassal › Their faith’s religion:
          • is_in_family = rf_eastern

        • or

          Any sub realm county › Their faith’s religion:
          • is_in_family = rf_eastern

        • or

          Any neighboring and across water realm owner › Their faith’s religion:
          • is_in_family = rf_eastern

  • Divine Liturgy

    • Grants Worthily Officiated Increase per point of Court Chaplain Learning (max 20)
    • Your Court Chaplain gains +2 Learning

  • Divine Marriage

    • Skills contribution from Spouse Councillor Tasks: +25%

  • Ecclesiarchy

    • Development Growth increase when building in Holy Sites
    • Your first Pilgrimage to each of your faith's Holy Sites grants Piety and Spiritual Fulfillment
    • Everyone travelling with you gains 1 Skill point on your first Pilgrimage to each of your faith's Holy Sites

  • Endura

    • You do not gain Stress when other characters die

  • Esotericism

    • Unlocks the Delve into Spiritual Mysteries Decision

  • Exaltation of Pain

    • This character suffers no Spiritual Fulfillment loss from Plagues
    • Gain the Flagellant Trait when selecting this Personal Tenet
    • Can Decide to indulge in flagellation, earning Piety at the cost of becoming Wounded
    • Gaining Wounded grants Spiritual Fulfillment based on severity
    • Unlocks the Bestow Pain Interaction, allowing you to wound Courtiers for Piety
    • Adherents take no Stress from being tortured, and gain Spiritual Fulfillment from the ordeal

  • Extinction of Dharma

    • Gain Spiritual Fulfillment by Executing followers of other Faiths within the same Religion
    • Enables the 'Claim the Mantle of Maitreya' Decision

  • Fedayeen

    • Gain Spiritual Fulfillment for killing Characters of another Faith
    • Allows the Become Adventurer Decision

  • Fervent Proselytism

    • Converting a Character grants 3 Spiritual Fulfillment, or 10 for converting a landed Ruler

  • Filial Piety

    • You can request a share of your adult children's Gold once every five years
    • Completing the Education of your child grants you and your child 250 Piety and 10 Spiritual Fulfillment

  • Gnosticism

    • Gaining Learning or Piety-related Traits grants the Religious Scholar and Wise Man Traits, or Trait Experience toward them if already held
    • High Religious Scholar Trait Experience periodically provides Spiritual Fulfillment and knowledge of Gnosticism-related Tenets like Astrology and Esotericism

  • Gruesome Festivals

    • You can use the Sacrifice Wealth Decision to sacrifice Gold for Development Growth and Spiritual Fulfillment
    • Significantly higher chance to capture characters during Sieges

  • Harmonious Society

    • Gain 3 Spiritual Fulfillment when a Sway Scheme targeting your Liege or Vassals succeeds
    • Gain Piety and Prestige for relations at 50 Opinion or more: Liege or Vassal, parent or adult child, spouse, adult sibling, and Friend

  • Hedonism

    • While Obese, gain the Sanctified Indulgence Modifier: +100% Piety income, +50% Spiritual Fulfillment gain, and +20 attraction Opinion
    • Gain significantly more weight from Feast Activities
    • While Obese, 25% chance of gaining the Gout Ridden Trait after each Feast Activity
    • Gains the Eager Reveler Trait

  • Hesychasm

    • Characters can Decide to Meditate in Seclusion, reducing Stress and possibly gaining theological insights
    • Increased Piety and Spiritual Fulfillment for taking the Meditate in Seclusion Decision at your Capital
    • Gain Piety and Spiritual Fulfillment upon shedding a level of Stress (at most once a year)

  • Holy Myron

    • Your newborn children gain the Chrismated Modifier for 16 years; a charge of the Holy Myron Artifact grants the Chrismated with the Holy Myron Modifier permanently
    • When falling Ill: Spiritual Fulfillment gain, Stress loss, and the Anointed with Holy Oil Modifier for 2 years

  • Household Gods

    Who may pick it

    • None of these

      • Your rite: Has the Monotheist Doctrine

  • Human Sacrifice

    • Executions grant additional Piety and Spiritual Fulfillment based on the sacrifice's Nobility and Rank
    • Significantly higher chance to capture characters during Sieges
    • Increased chance to Imprison unlanded characters

  • Inner Journey

    • Characters can Decide to Meditate in Seclusion, reducing Stress and possibly gaining theological insights
    • Piety and Spiritual Fulfillment for taking the Meditate in Seclusion Decision

  • Islamic Syncretism

    • Can use the Invite Syncretic Exiles Decision for Faiths of the syncretized Religion
    • Personally held matching Counties gain a Welcoming Syncretism Modifier
    • Can use Islamic Artifacts
    • Study Rite Scheme Success Chance: +15%
    Who may pick it

    • None of these

      • Your faith: Their religion is Islam
    • If played by the AI:

      • One of these

        • Any vassal › Their faith:
          • religion_tag = islam_religion

        • or

          Any sub realm county › Their faith:
          • religion_tag = islam_religion

        • or

          Any neighboring and across water realm owner › Their faith:
          • religion_tag = islam_religion

  • Jewish Syncretism

    • Can use the Invite Syncretic Exiles Decision for Faiths of the syncretized Religion
    • Personally held matching Counties gain a Welcoming Syncretism Modifier
    • Can use Jewish Artifacts
    • Study Rite Scheme Success Chance: +15%
    Who may pick it

    • None of these

      • Your faith: Their religion is Judaism
    • If played by the AI:

      • One of these

        • Any vassal › Their faith:
          • religion_tag = judaism_religion

        • or

          Any sub realm county › Their faith:
          • religion_tag = judaism_religion

        • or

          Any neighboring and across water realm owner › Their faith:
          • religion_tag = judaism_religion

  • Khachkars

    • 50 Piety and 5 Spiritual Fulfillment when building in a Church Holding or Temple Citadel Holding
    • Lose 20 Stress when a close Family member dies

  • Legalism

    • Your demands to revoke Titles, Imprison, or Retract Vassals are more likely to be accepted

  • Literalism

    • Winning a debate grants Learning Experience
    • While you have the Religious Scholar Trait, Convert Faith in County is faster and Characters more likely to convert
    • Gains the Religious Scholar Trait

  • Love Thy Neighbour

    • Sway Scheme Success Chance against Characters outside your Realm: +20%
    • Offer Vassalage acceptance: +15

  • Megalithic Constructions

    • Double experience rewards from visiting Points of Interest that are Buildings
    • Gain Spiritual Fulfillment when completing construction in Hills, Terraced Hills, Mountains, or Desert Mountains

  • Mendicant Preaching

    • Converting a Character grants additional Spiritual Fulfillment
    • Swaying Characters of another Faith is more likely to succeed
    • Guests of another Faith at your Activities may be converted to yours
    • Enables the Attempt to Convert Interaction with Rulers in your current Location
    • Enables the Proselytize to Locals Travel Option without the Zealous Proselytizer Perk
    • Allows the Become Adventurer Decision

  • Miaphysitism

    • 50 Piety each year while your Liege does not share your Faith
    Who may pick it
    • If has “game has started” (a variable the game's script sets): You may only select one Christology Tenet
    • Otherwise: You may only select one Christology Tenet

  • Mind Without Mind

    • Less likely to gain Elder Health Traits

  • Monophysitism

    • Against other Faiths of your Religion: Convert Faith in County +25% faster, Characters +20 more likely to accept conversion
    Who may pick it
    • If has “game has started” (a variable the game's script sets): You may only select one Christology Tenet
    • Otherwise: You may only select one Christology Tenet

  • Mortification of the Flesh

    • Spiritual Fulfillment gain and the Flagellant Trait when you take the Mortify Flesh Decision
    • Gain the Scarred Trait upon embracing this Personal Tenet
    • Gain Piety and lose Stress each time you suffer a wound
    • Can use the Mortify Flesh Decision

  • Mother of God

    • You gain Spiritual Fulfillment when a daughter is born
    • The Ask to Take Vows Character Interaction used on daughters grants Legitimacy
    • Women can be appointed to secular Council positions

  • Natural Primitivism

    • Unlocks the Embrace Natural Freedom Decision

  • Original Sin

    • When your child is born, gain 50 Piety; the newborn is baptised with 250 Piety

  • Pacifism

    • You cannot declare offensive Wars

  • Pastoral Isolation

    • Adherents are less likely to arrange marriages with those of a different Faith

  • Patron Gods

    • Can Decide to pick a personal avatar to venerate, and the cost of replacing personal avatar reduced
    Who may pick it

    • If

      • None of these

        • If

          a check the game hides

          Then

          • Your religion is Norse
        • Your religion is Hinduism
        • Your religion is Buddhism

      Then

      • Your rite: Has the Pluralist Doctrine

      • If

        • Your faith: Does not have the Pagan Doctrine

        Then

        • One of these

          • has_personal_tenet = tenet_unreformed_syncretism

          • or

            Your rite: The rite has Syncretic Folk Traditions

    • None of these

      • Your rite: Has the Monotheist Doctrine

  • Peace of God

    • Every 5 years at Peace grants 1 random Skill point
    • The Call to War Interaction costs 50% less Prestige for same-Faith Allies against a hostile Faith
    • Landed Rulers pay 100% more for the Purchase Truce Interaction, in Piety instead of Gold
    • tenet peace of god personal coreligionist war reluctance
    • tenet peace of god personal excommunicate aggressors

  • Polyamory

    • Lose Stress and gain Spiritual Fulfillment from successful Romance and Seduce Schemes
    • Gaining a Lover or Soulmate grants 3 Spiritual Fulfillment, 20 less Stress, and 5 years of Radiant with New Love, at most once a year

  • Preservation

    • Sponsoring Inspirations give Piety
    • Construct Buildings give Spiritual Fulfillment

  • Purgatory

    • Stress breaks may replace Sinful Traits with Virtues, more likely the deeper the break
    • Gain 50 Piety for each Sin borne by a close Family member who dies

  • Pursuit of Knowledge

    • Unlocks the Monument Expedition Activity
    • Religious Study Scheme Success Chance: +15%
    • Study Scheme Success Chance: +15%

  • Pursuit of Power

    • Winning wars grants Spiritual Fulfillment
    • Unlocks the Assume the Conqueror's Mantle Decision
    Who may pick it

  • Reincarnation

    • Unlocks the Divine Reincarnation Decision
    • At Level of Devotion 3 or above, gain Brave or shed Craven
    • Unlocks the Recall a Past Life Decision

  • Righteous Rebirth

    • Can use the Shed a Sin Decision to replace a Sinful Trait with a Virtuous Trait
    • Gain the Aggressive Attacker Commander Trait
    • Lose one Level of Fame

  • Ritual Cannibalism

    • Can eat Prisoners to lose Stress and gain Spiritual Fulfillment

  • Ritual Celebrations

    • Unlocks the Honor the Divine Intent for Feast Activities

  • Ritual Hospitality

    • Characters are far more likely to accept an invitation to your court
    • Recruiting guests to your court is free
    • Toasting the guest of honor at a Feast always offers the chance to befriend them

  • Sacrament of Confession

    • The Take Confession Decision has better outcomes
    • Religious Study Schemes relieve more Stress

  • Sacred Childbirth

    • This parent gains Spiritual Fulfillment when their child is born, but will lose it if the child does not survive
    • This parent loses Stress when their child is born

  • Sacred Destruction

    • Men-at-Arms Siege Weapon Effectiveness+10%
    • Allow Raid and unlock Destruction Raid Intent

  • Sacred Lies

    • Can use the Fabricate Hook Scheme
    • Gain Spiritual Fulfillment from successfully completing Intrigue Schemes

  • Sacred Mountains

    • Gains the Rough Terrain Expert Commander Trait
    • Gain access to the Hike Activity
    • Completing Hikes in Mountains or Desert Mountains grants Spiritual Fulfillment

  • Sacrificial Ceremonies

    • Adherents can Decide to end their life when old, incapable, or near death; doing so does not incur any of the normal penalties from suicide
    • Your heir gains a further 1000 Piety and Blessed Passing for 10 years if you die by the Consolamentum: Initiate Endura Decision

  • Sanctioned False Conversions

    • You are harder to Imprison and much more likely to escape Prison

  • Sanctity of Nature

    • Gain access to the Hike Activity
    • Traveling through each unique empty province grants a tiny amount of Spiritual Fulfillment

  • Scholasticism

    • Gains the Religious Scholar Trait, or Experience towards it if already held
    • Each Barony you Travel through may give a member of your Entourage a book Inspiration
    • Yearly chance of gaining Scholasticism without studying, improved by Learning, Level of Devotion, and languages known
    • Religious Study Scheme Success Chance: +10%

  • Simony

    • Gifts reduce Stress, grant a little Spiritual Fulfillment, and build twice as much Opinion
    • Can pay Gold for clerical Titles with the Buy Clerical Title Interaction
    • 25%–75% yearly chance, likelier when wealthy, of +3 Spiritual Fulfillment

  • Sinitic Syncretism

    • Can use the Invite Syncretic Exiles Decision for Faiths of the syncretized Religion
    • Personally held matching Counties gain a Welcoming Syncretism Modifier
    • Study Rite Scheme Success Chance: +15%
    Who may pick it

    • None of these

    • If played by the AI:

      • One of these

        • Any vassal › Their faith’s religion:
          • is_in_family = rf_sinitic

        • or

          Any sub realm county › Their faith’s religion:
          • is_in_family = rf_sinitic

        • or

          Any neighboring and across water realm owner › Their faith’s religion:
          • is_in_family = rf_sinitic

  • Soldiery of Christ

    • Gains the Faithful Blade Trait

  • Struggle and Submission

    • Allows the Become Adventurer Decision

  • Sun Worship

    • Your Hike Activities cost no Gold
    • Gain Piety and Spiritual Fulfillment when traveling through Desert, Desert Mountains, or Oasis

  • Syncretic Folk Traditions

    • Can use the Invite Syncretic Exiles Decision for Faiths of the syncretized Religion
    • Personally held matching Counties gain a Welcoming Syncretism Modifier
    • Study Rite Scheme Success Chance: +15%
    Who may pick it

  • Takamin

    • Gain the Hunter Trait if you do not already have it

  • Taxation of Nonbelievers

    • You can offer Gold as a tax rebate to improve a vassal's acceptance of conversion
    • Converting another character to your Faith or Rite grants Spiritual Fulfillment

  • To Work Is to Pray

    • Gains the Gardener Trait
    • Can use the Develop Capital Decision

  • Transubstantiation

    • Hosting a Feast grants +5 Opinion and +5 Piety per same-Faith guest
    • Feast Cost: -20%

  • Unrelenting Faith

    • Gains the Aspiring Blademaster Trait
    • Can serve as Commanders or Knights despite being Clergy (if Rite has no Pacifism Tenets)
    • Can use the Spar with Knight Interaction

  • Veneration of Saints

    • Can use the Select a Patron Saint Decision, unless your Rite forbids Veneration of Saints
    • Increases your chance of Canonization after death
    Who may pick it
    • Your faith: Their religion is Christianity

  • Vows of Poverty

    • You are locked into only picking the lowest-level Activity options, except for the minimum ceremony required for Anointment, but gain +150 Piety when successfully hosting any activity
    • Allows the Become Adventurer Decision

  • Warmongering

    • Can serve as Commanders or Knights despite being Clergy (if Rite has no Pacifism Tenets)

Decisions about tenets

Source: game/common/religion/tenet_types (personal_tenet_modifier, personal_tenet_parameters, can_pick_as_personal_tenet), common/defines/00_defines.txt (NReligion), common/modifiers/00_basic_modifiers.txt, Crusader Kings III 1.20.1.2.

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