Become a Master Swordsman in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s Ars Dimicatoria Quest

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is an engaging open-world medieval role-playing game that spins a complex, intricate storyline. Players will journey through the tumultuous events of war, feuds, and political maneuvers, with the main character, Henry, right in the thick of it.

In the lively city of Kuttenberg within KCD2, you’ll discover an extensive side mission called Ars Dimicatoria. From sneaking into a rival fencing school to engaging in a thrilling tournament, this mission provides exciting rewards and challenges that many players will find captivating. This guide walks you through the necessary steps to finish it.

How to Begin Ars Dimicatoria in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

To start Ars Dimicatoria, make your way to Kuttenberg City first. Once there, consult the map for the quest symbol. In the north part of the city, close to the armory, you’ll encounter Menhard von Frankfurt, easily identifiable by his red tunic and green hood. He can be found stirring up trouble in the streets, openly challenging passersby to a duel.

Should you converse with Menhard for a while, he’ll ultimately propose a duel against Henry, provided you agree. In such a case, Menhard sets the rules that the contest will involve blunted swords, and neither participant will wear armor during the fight.

Duel Menhard von Frankfurt

Prior to the duel starting, Henry is required to discard all his armor following Menhard’s terms. Menhard will suggest a 200 Groschen bet for the contest. After the stakes have been agreed upon, the battle will take place.

In this situation, Menhard is a tough adversary, so it’s best to use combos and Master Strikes to overcome his defenses. Once a victor is declared in the duel, the Kuttenberg Brotherhood along with a city official will suddenly interrupt the fight. The city council, even though King has given Menhard permission, decides he can’t fight within the city limits. They’ll impose a fine and expel Menhard from the city. However, at this critical juncture, Henry has the option to intervene.

Should Henry choose not to speak up, Menhard and their alliance could face exile, potentially cutting the journey short before it’s fully completed.

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

It’s advisable to convince the councilor by pointing out that Menhard is a friend of King Wenceslas. If this check passes, it will prevent Menhard from being exiled, but Henry will still have to pay the fine. On the other hand, Henry can also choose the Persuasion option to argue that “Menhard did not violate the law.

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

Talk to Menhard at the Inn

As a gamer, I’d put it like this: “A marker will pop up on my map, leading me to the Inn where Menhard is hanging out. I’ll chat him up, and he’ll spill the beans about his quest to challenge the Kuttenberger Brotherhood in a duel, all in the name of defending King Wenceslas’s honor. Seems like they’ve been dodging him every time, so he’s planning on baiting them into a fight.

Hardy plans to task Henry with infiltrating the Kuttenber Brothers’ fencing chamber, where he’ll snatch their guild’s blade. Later on, he intends for Henry to exhibit that sword in the Town Hall. It’s crucial that this operation remains covert and no lives are lost, making a nighttime heist the most suitable choice.

Steal the Kuttenberg Brotherhood’s Sword

In the following stage of Ars Dimicatoria, Henry will undertake a covert operation. He needs to make his way to the Kuttenberg Brotherhood’s Swordfighting Hall, clearly marked on the map. This location is situated in the southwestern sector of the city and can be easily spotted due to red and yellow flags hanging from its windows.

Break Into the Swordfighting Hall

During the wee hours of the night (specifically from 12 AM to 4 AM), the locale will be serene, providing an ideal opportunity for a clandestine entry without being spotted. For increased stealth, players are advised to don muted attire, avoid carrying weapons, and contemplate using a Quickfinger elixir to enhance their lock-picking abilities.

As a fan, here I am, guiding you through this adventure! The first door you’ll encounter is right next to the swordfighting hall. Since it’s getting late, there won’t be much crowd around, but do avoid lingering in the vicinity for too long. The lock on this door is quite sturdy, so you might need to pick it carefully. Once you manage to unlock it, remember to close the door quietly behind Henry.

The entrance to the next room will be located to your left, positioned beside the swordfighting hall. This room is locked with a sturdy lock. Once you’ve gained entry, maintain a low profile and stay vigilant, as there likely won’t be anyone moving around during late night hours. The guild’s sword can be found up in the guild hall, so make your way up using the staircase; after that, proceed through the door on the right-hand side of the wall to reach the guildhall.

The entrance to the next room is on the left beside the fighting hall and it’s locked. Inside, stay low and alert, but you probably won’t find anyone there at night. The sword from the guild is upstairs in the guild hall, so take the staircase up one level. Once you reach that level, go through the door on the right-hand side of the wall to get to the guildhall.

The sword from the guild is positioned on the wall behind the room, right smack in the middle of an arrangement of four other swords, flanked by two flags, just as depicted in the image below.

Take the sword and stealthily exit the sword-fighting room, allowing them to showcase it at Town Hall later on.

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 in Kuttenberg is located near the city center. Players can quickly teleport to the Kuttenberg Town Hall fast travel spot for a speedier journey. Securely place the sword on the town wall without being spotted, as there might be a guard present. Proceed cautiously and swiftly, given the potential danger. Once you’ve successfully shown the sword, report back to Menhard that the mission has been accomplished.

Come dawn, the Kuttenberg Fellowship will stumble upon the sword, triggering another round of conflict. Menhard’s scheme will bear fruit, leading the Kuttenbergers to propose a tournament among them and their adversaries, with the winner taking charge of the fencing school in Kuttenberg.

Become a Member of the Swordfighting Brotherhood

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

If Henry was caught stealing the sword during the covert operation, it would give the Kuttenbergs an edge in the upcoming tournament by allowing them to wear armor.

To secure his position, Henry needs to demonstrate his abilities first. This can be achieved either by having successfully fought and defeated Menhard in a previous duel or by engaging in a duel with Arne, another respected member of the Frankfurt Brotherhood.

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

Compete Against the Kuttenbergers

Players need to prioritize their health, stamina, and nutrition in preparation for the upcoming tournament. After that, discuss with Menhard about attending the tournament. The structure is straightforward: each round involves two out of three bouts, and the team winning the majority of rounds will claim dominance over the sword-fighting arena.

First up is Menhard, allowing players a chance for last-minute adjustments before their battle. Following Menhard’s bout, it’ll be Henry’s turn. After Henry’s fight, Menhard will step back into the ring, followed by Arne. In the ultimate showdown of the tournament, it will be Henry who competes.

Once Frankfurt’s guild emerges victorious in the tournament, Menhard will ask Henry to allow a few days for the preparation of the swordfighting arena. The mission will progress after this period of three days, at which point Henry can collect his reward. Upon finishing Ars Dimicatoria, players will receive the following as their reward:

  • 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

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2025-03-09 14:43