You’re sitting in the courtyard of Suchdol, the air is thick with the smell of horse manure and anxiety, and Zizka just dropped a bombshell. He needs you to pick three men for a suicide mission—I mean, a "raid"—to burn the Praguer trenches.
Choosing the right squad for the "Besieged" quest in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 feels like one of those life-or-death moments where one wrong click sends a favorite NPC to a shallow grave. Honestly, the game does a great job of making you sweat. You’ve got your Skalitz bros, some grizzled veterans, and a guy who looks like he’d rather be literally anywhere else.
So, kcd2 who to choose for the raid? Does it even matter, or is the game just messing with your head? Let’s get into the weeds of who actually pulls their weight and who is just fodder.
The Candidates: Who’s Actually Up for the Job?
When you start talking to the men in the courtyard and by the gate, you realize you have a pretty weird mix of talent. You aren't exactly leading a band of elite special forces here.
The Skalitz Loyalists: Janek and Jaroslav
These are your homeboys. They’ve been with Henry through the hell of the first game and the opening of the second. Janek is usually described as being fearless, while Jaroslav is the loyal-to-the-bone guard.
- The Vibe: High emotional stakes. If they die, you feel like you failed Skalitz all over again.
- Performance: They are solid, disciplined fighters. They don't have fancy tricks, but they stand their ground.
The Professionals: Samuel and Kubyenka
Samuel is essentially your half-brother (spoilers, I guess, but if you’re at the raid, you probably know the family drama by now). He volunteers because he’s trying to prove something. Kubyenka is arguably the most experienced killer in the lot.
- The Catch: Samuel wants to go, but he prefers having Kubyenka by his side.
- The Logic: Kubyenka is a beast, but he’s also smart. He’ll flat-out tell you he only wants to go if the rest of the team isn't made of wet cardboard. He wants veterans.
The Wildcards: Dobrosh the Hunter and Wolfram the Knacker
Then you have the "outsiders" in the infirmary. Dobrosh Pecker is an old huntsman who basically has a death wish. He’ll tell you he’d rather die in battle than rot in a bed. Then there's Wolfram the knacker—the poor guy has a stomach bug (or is faking it) and has zero combat experience.
- The Risk: Sending the knacker feels like a death sentence for him. Sending the huntsman feels like granting a mercy killing.
The Best Squad: My Personal Recommendation
If you want the "optimal" team that makes the most sense narratively and mechanically, you should go with Samuel, Kubyenka, and Janek (or Jaroslav).
Why? Because Kubyenka and Samuel have the best chemistry. Samuel is family, and keeping him close to the most experienced mercenary in the group just feels like the right "commander" move. If you pick Samuel and Kubyenka, they actually acknowledge the pairing.
Some players swear by picking the two Skalitz guys plus Kubyenka because they are "used to working in a group." This also works perfectly fine. The main thing is to avoid the "weak links" unless you’re doing a specific roleplay run where Henry is a bit of a jerk.
Does Your Choice Actually Determine Who Dies?
Here is the part that might frustrate you or relieve you: Your choice of men matters less than your skill with a bow.
I’ve seen people send the "perfect" veteran squad only to have Janek catch an arrow to the throat. I’ve also seen people send the sick knacker and the suicidal huntsman, and against all odds, everyone came home for dinner.
The raid success depends heavily on the Archery Phase.
- Once the raid starts, you’re up on the battlements with Hans Capon.
- Your job is to provide cover fire.
- If you are a terrible shot and let the Praguer guards swarm your guys, someone is going to die regardless of their stats.
Basically, if you can snipe the enemy shooters on the right and the pavisers on the left quickly, your chosen trio has a massive survival boost. If you're struggling, grab a Cuman bow or a high-tier crossbow before talking to Hans. Also, use Better Piercing arrows. Don't go cheap here.
The "Secret" to Keeping Everyone Alive
If you’re a completionist and the thought of losing a named NPC makes you want to reload a save from three hours ago, keep these things in mind:
- Kubyenka is a Tank: If you include him, he tends to hold the line better, giving you more time to aim your shots from the wall.
- Avoid the Knacker: While Wolfram can survive, he’s a liability. If you miss a couple of shots, he’s usually the first to go down because he doesn't have the armor or the "HP" of the others.
- The Huntsman’s Fate: Dobrosh often dies because he puts himself in high-risk positions. If you send him, you need to be an absolute deadeye with the bow to keep him breathing.
What Happens Afterward?
After the chaos, you’ll have to report to Zizka. If everyone survived, the mood is triumphant. If someone died, Henry will show some remorse, and you’ll see the consequences in the courtyard later.
Interestingly, your choices here ripple into the final "Judgment Day" sequence. The game tracks who lived and died under your command. When Henry’s parents (in his vision) judge his actions at the end of the game, they’ll mention if you were a leader who protected his men or a butcher who threw lives away.
Actionable Tips for the Raid
Stop overthinking the "perfect" stat build and focus on these practical steps:
- Gear Up First: Before you trigger the "Tell Capon the raid is ready" objective, check your ammo. You need at least 40-60 high-quality arrows or bolts.
- Drink a Nighthawk Potion: If the lighting is bad for you, this helps you spot the silhouettes of the enemy archers much faster.
- Target Priority: Ignore the guys your raiders are already winning against. Focus entirely on the enemy archers and the reinforcements coming from the flanks. They are the ones who kill your friends.
- The "Family" Choice: Narratively, taking Samuel is the "canon" feeling choice. Just make sure you cover him.
Ultimately, kcd2 who to choose for the raid comes down to whether you want to play it safe with veterans or take a gamble on the underdog. Just remember: once those torches are lit, your aim is the only thing that really stands between your boys and a coffin.
Next Step: Once you've picked your team, head to the blacksmith to turn in any scrap metal you've found—this ensures your marksmen on the walls have enough ammunition to actually support you during the fight.