Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 – Ars Dimicatoria Walkthrough

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is an immersive open-world medieval RPG that weaves a rich, twisting narrative. Players will navigate the chaos of war, rivalries, and alliances, with the protagonist, Henry, caught in the heart of it all.

Ars Dimicatoria is an extensive side quest in KCD2 available in the bustling city of Kuttenberg. From breaking into a rival swordfighting hall to participating in a high-stakes tournament, Ars Dimicatoria offers rewards and challenges that many players will find appealing. This guide outlines the steps needed to complete it.

How to Begin Ars Dimicatoria in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

To begin Ars Dimicatoria, head to Kuttenberg city and check the map for the quest marker. Near the armory on the northern side of the city, players will find Menhard von Frankfurt, dressed in a red tunic and green hood. He’s shouting in the streets, challenging anyone who dares to duel him.

If you engage him in a brief conversation, Menhard will eventually ask Henry if he is willing to fight him in a duel. If you accept, Menhard will stipulate that the fight must use blunt swords, and both combatants must remove their armor.

Duel Menhard von Frankfurt

Before the fight begins, Henry must remove all of his armor as per Menhard’s challenge. Menhard will propose a 200 Groschen wager on the duel. Once that’s settled, the fight will commence.

Menhard is a formidable opponent, so rely on combos and Master Strikes to break through his defenses. Once a winner is determined, the duel will be abruptly interrupted by the Kuttenberg Brotherhood and a city official. The city council, despite Menhard having permission from the king, will decide that he isn’t allowed to fight in the city. They’ll impose a fine and banish Menhard. However, at this point, Henry can choose to intervene.

If Henry remains silent, Menhard and his group will be banished, and the quest will end prematurely.

Henry will have three dialogue options they can use to help Menhard:

• HARD: Menhard is a friend of King Sigismund (Lie) – Coercion
• HARD: Menhard is a friend of our King Wenceslas – Persuasion
• HARD: Menhard is of Noble Birth (Lie) – Scholarship

The best option is to Persuade the councilor by saying Menhard is a friend of King Wenceslas. Successfully passing this check will ensure that Menhard isn’t banished, though Henry will still need to pay the fine. Alternatively, Henry can use the Persuasion option to argue that “Menhard didn’t break the law.”

After passing this check, Menhard will ask to meet Henry at the Inn.

Talk to Menhard at the Inn

The quest marker will appear on the map, and Menhard will be waiting at the Inn. Talk to him, and he will tell Henry that he has been trying to duel against the Kuttenberger Brotherhood to defend King Wenceslas’s honor. The brotherhood has refused every time, so he wants to goad them into fighting.

Menhard will ask Henry to break into the Kuttenber Brotherhood’s swordfighting hall and steal their guild sword. Then, he will display the sword at Town Hall. Henry must do this without being seen or killing anyone, so going at night is best.

Steal the Kuttenberg Brotherhood’s Sword

The next step in Ars Dimicatoria is a stealth mission. Henry must head to the Kuttenberg Brotherhood’s Swordfighting Hall, which is marked on the map. Located in the southwestern part of the city, it can be identified by red and yellow flags hanging from the windows.

Break Into the Swordfighting Hall

At night (between 12 AM and 4 AM), the area will be quiet, offering the best chance to sneak in undetected. To improve stealth, players should wear dark clothing, unequip weapons, and consider using a Quickfinger potion to boost lockpicking skills.

The first door is directly to the right of the swordfighting hall. Since it will be late, there shouldn’t be a lot of foot traffic, but don’t linger in the area. The lock on the door is bolted with a hard lock. After lockpicking it, make sure to shut the door behind Henry.

The next door will be directly to the left on the side of the swordfighting hall, and is also locked with a hard lock. Once inside, stay crouched and alert, but there shouldn’t be anyone walking around late at night. The guild sword is upstairs in the guild hall, so take the staircase up one flight. Then, go through the door on the right wall to the guildhall.

The guild sword is on the room’s back wall. It is in the center of a display of four other swords between two flags, as shown in the image below:

Grab the sword, and then sneak out of the swordfighting hall so they can display the sword at Town Hall.

Make sure no one sees you, or there will be consequences later on in the side quest.

Display the Sword at the Town Hall

The Town Hall is across the city towards the middle of Kuttenberg. Players can use the Kuttenberg Town Hall fast travel point to get there faster. Place the sword on the outer wall, making sure you aren’t seen. There may be a guard there, so be careful and move quickly. After successfully displaying the sword, return to Menhard and inform him that the task is complete.

The next morning, the Kuttenberg Brotherhood will discover the sword, and another confrontation will unfold. Menhard’s plan will work, and the Kuttenbergers will challenge them to a tournament to decide who will lead the swordfighting hall in Kuttenberg.

Become a Member of the Swordfighting Brotherhood

To participate in the tournament, Henry must defend Menhard and offer his help.

If anyone saw Henry stealing the sword during the stealth mission, the Kuttenbergers will get the advantage of wearing armor during the tournament.

Henry must first prove his worth by either having already won the duel against Menhard or by dueling Arne, a fellow member of the Frankfurt Brotherhood, to earn his place.

After initiation is complete, Henry will be inducted into the group, and the tournament will start.

Compete Against the Kuttenbergers

Players should ensure their health, energy, and nourishment are good to prepare for the tournament. Then, talk to Menhard about going to the tournament. The format is simple: each round consists of two out of three duels, with the first group to win the most rounds taking control of the swordfighting hall.

Menhard will go first. Players will have time for any last-minute preparations before their fight. Once Menhard is finished, Henry will go next. After Henry’s duel, Menhard will go again, and then Arne. Henry will be the one who fights in the final duel to win the tournament.

When Frankfurt’s brotherhood wins the tournament, Menhard will tell Henry to give him a few days to get the swordfighting hall set up. The quest will update after three days, and then Henry can claim his reward. Players will get the following for completing Ars Dimicatoria:

• Master Menhard’s longsword
• A key to the swordfighting hall
• A bed at the swordfighting hall
• Access to swordfighting lessons from Menhard and Arne
• Weekly tournaments where Henry can earn rewards and glory