The Royal Court DLC and the free update do not really change the core mechanics of warfare. So the guide below still applies to the newest version.

HOWEVER, I can not help but point out that in revamping the culture system, they added two traditions which are absurdly powerful considering the strategies in this guide.




Both of these Traditions decrease the requirement for white peace acceptance. While you needed 30 before, you would only need 10/20 now (depending if you have 1 or both). This is insane. If you don't understand why, read the guide.

In a war you can't win? Use the immense power of siege men at arms to go full blitzkrieg mode and get to 30% war score (or less with the traditions above) before the enemy spanks you. Offer a White Peace and watch as the AI is forced to end a war they were seconds from winning. EASY.

We all know that the AI always makes 100% logical decisions. Although this can often be frustrating (those brain dead allies), you are occasionally allowed the opportunity to laugh manically at the AI's stupidity. This is one of them.

When fighting a war, we already know about "Surrender" and "Enforce demands," but the ignored step-child sandwiched between is less talked about. Yes, I'm referring to "White Peace".



White Peace? But that's the same as losing you say. Well yes, but only for offensive wars. Defensive wars are a different story. White peace is like winning, but only with 30% war score. The catch? You'll miss out on some bonus money/prestige. Nice, but I care more about my survival.

The plan is simple. Rush to 30% war score before the enemy spanks you and press that clutch button seconds before your armies are disintegrated. EASY. But how you ask?


Well well well...

When I see my life flashing before my eyes, questioning my life decisions, it's usually because my vassals are throwing a tantrum. It doesn't help that I'm also screaming at the sudden disappearance of half my levies. Treason I say, TREASON! Anyway, the good news is that each vassals' army starts off separate from each other.



This is when I raise two separate armies. The main force will try to weaken (or optimally stack wipe) every smaller force it sees. If you're only outnumbered 2:1 or less, this is sometimes enough to even the odds and allow you to come out on top. At the very least, this will give you some small satisfaction and a little precious war score.

The second force will be as small as possible while still being able to siege (Examine the surrounding garrisons and and account for attrition) This little rat will siege the enemy and is what will actually get you to 30% war score. Use your main force to distract the enemy for as long as possible, but avoid any heroic suicide. Defeats lower war score.

Siege Weapons seem to be the most underrated men at arms. Seriously. Not only do they cost almost zero unraised maintenance and allow you to finish your sieges faster, but they can be used for many a cheeky strategy (like this one).



Let me make this clear, this strategy is virtually impossible without siege weapons. You simply can't get war score fast enough. I like to have at least 2 full regiments of the most modern siege MAA at all times. I can not stress this enough, More siege weapons = Higher chance of success.

Little Tip: When I have three or more regiments and men to spare, I like to have multiple siege armies working at the same time. It's more efficient.

Okay, I put some factions in their place, but now the Byzantines want a piece of me. What now?

Glad you asked. The process is basically the same, just remember that the enemy will be more consolidated. In this case, you'll want to send your main force in between the main enemy and their allies. Don't let them join forces, EASY.



Another thing, try not to let the enemy sneak up on your siege army. If they get wiped, you're kind of toast.



But speaking of sieging... I would recommend trying to siege the enemy capital if possible. If you manage to capture the enemy leader/heir, GG. Do note that you won't always capture important people. Not guaranteed, but worth a shot.

See this guide for more on sacking the enemy capital:
https://cs2bus.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2235874887

Is fighting one unwinnable war not enough? What about five?



It might come as a surprise that the more defensive wars you have at once, the more dead inside you become... But seriously, the AI just loves to pile on multiple wars at the same time. Faced with a situation this bad, you only really have two options.

Die honorably as you desperately make a last stand against the hordes of enemies. Or...

Decide which pound of flesh is the least important. Some wars are more important than others. Generally, Peasant Rabble is the least important, followed by Liberty wars. More serious are Independence factions and claimants. Both brutal but I find claimants worse.



When it comes to foreign invasion, the importance of the war depends on how much land is being conquered. If surrendering means only losing one unimportant county, surrender. But if surrendering means losing a kingdom... yikes.

Organize your wars in terms of importance, and make judgments accordingly. Take on only as much as you can handle. It won't be pretty.

Has all else failed? Has the AI slapped you down, battle after battle? Are you losing hope and asking yourself, Is this the end? Yes, yes it is.

But if in spite of that, you still want to try one last thing before hurling your PC out the window, then who am I to judge.

Say hello to kiting, a very unreliable strategy that will likely leave you with nothing but wasted time.

The plan is simple. Have one army go around in circles baiting the enemy to chasing it down instead of sieging. Your other army desperately sieges enemy territory, hoping that it can finish before being sent to oblivion. Sounds reasonable right?

First things first, kiting like this requires an intense amount of micromanagement. To pull this off you'll need to keep the enemy from deciding to engage your siege army, while also keeping the baiting army from being trapped.



Kiting is a delicate dance that only takes one moment to crumble down around you. There is little margin for error and messing up will send you back to the drawing board. I have honestly only kited successfully once. Try this at your own peril.

It is because of this strategy that my memory is filled with tense encounters and tales of winning against all odds. Even in wars where such drastic measures aren't necessary, I have found this to be a good way of saving a lot of money I would have spent on mercenaries. A good way to add some excitement to a playthrough, I enjoy winning unwinnable wars.

But if you're lame, and don't want to deal with wars where you are desperately outnumbered, then I have good news for you. The answer is simple.

I know that many of us (myself included) complain about trash ally AI, but honestly, its usually alright. If you set yourself up with several (and I mean at least three) powerful allies and actually help them with that war they've had for the past 9 years, you should have help available when you need it. Its that simple.

But I always keep some mercenary reserves in case I need them. Better safe than sorry.