Elder Scrolls Castles hits you with a dilemma right away: Which ruling trait should you choose for your ruler? Don’t worry, the rulers aren’t permanent. As you go through leaders and selectively breed heirs and nobles, you need to know the best ruling traits in the game.
Table of contents
How do ruling traits work in Elder Scrolls Castles?
The best ruling traits in Elder Scrolls Castles
Enduring
Considerate
Mighty
Envious
Jester
All ruling traits in Elder Scrolls Castles
How do ruling traits work in Elder Scrolls Castles?
Just in case you’re unaware, the traits in Elder Scrolls Castles work differently between rulers and subjects, and you can’t see how a trait will change before the person becomes a ruler, making it a gamble if you don’t know what each trait does.
The traits between ruler and subject are similar enough for you to make educated guesses, although some are pretty vague and hard to discern.
You may want to bookmark or save this page for easy access until you remember them all.
The best ruling traits in Elder Scrolls Castles
Instead of knowing how every trait translates from a subject trait to a ruling trait in Elder Scrolls Castles, you may simply want to know the best.
Note that these are generally what I see as the best traits for a ruler to have. However, some castles and players may prefer specific traits for a certain angle that they’re aiming for. If you simply want a strong general ruler, then you can’t go wrong with the following five traits.
Enduring
The Enduring trait allows rulers to live for longer. This allows you to access bonuses and decorations exclusive to rulers with a longer reign. Also, it menas any good traits you have with the ruler are in effect for longer.
Considerate
The Considerate trait increases productivity in the Kitchen and Loom. Food already depletes rather quickly and the more subjects you have the quicker it goes. Keeping on top of your food levels is important, especially if your Orders demand some.
Mighty
The Mighty trait increases productivity in the Oil Press and Smithy. As your castle demands more and more Oil, a bonus in Oil production will mean you’re never behind. At least hungry subjects can work, whereas an Oil deficit makes every station stop working.
Envious
Envious increases the material gains you get from rulings, however, your subjects can’t be happier than the ruler. The thing is, if you have a happy ruler, you’re going to have happy people, meaning this trait will only boost your ruling gains.
Jester
The Jester trait provides extra happiness from positive rulings. Always having a net positive of happiness even during rulings that upset others will mean that mixed ruling outcomes will now still increase the average happiness.
You can get a noble with these five traits by breeding nobles together with these traits to try and make a baby harboring all five. It’s a lot of effort but will be worth it.
All ruling traits in Elder Scrolls Castles
If you want to know exactly what you’re dealing with if you have a complex ruler or heirs, then you’ll need to know what every single trait does in Elder Scrolls Castles. Here’s a complete list.
Ruling Traits
Trait Effects
Considerate
Increases productivity at the Kitchen and Loom.
Enduring
The ruler lives for longer than average.
Headstrong
Increases productivity at the Furnace and Workshop.
Mighty
Increases productivity at the Oil Press and Smithy.
Leader
A chance for a station to auto-complete after a ruling.
Jester
Increases happiness from positive rulings.
Sophisticated
Subjects are generally happier, but productivity decreases slightly.
Tribal
Boosts the Tribal trait for subjects,
Perceptive
Increases productivity at the Mill and Sewing Table.
Charming
Rulings provide more happiness, but productivity is slightly reduced.
Envious
Increases material gains in rulings, but citizens can’t be happier than the ruler.
Pyromaniac
Increases Fire ability damage in combat but increases Oil consumption.
Heartless
Increases Frost ability damage in combat but subjects are can’t be happy.
Haunted
Increases the number of hauntings.
Volatile
Increases Shock ability damage in combat but rulings provide less happiness from positive rulings.
Emotional
Rulings provide more happiness or unhappiness on “emotional” and personal matters.
Melodramatic
Negative rulings provide even less happiness.
Bossy
Subjects are more productive, but are generally less happy.
Devious
Subjects can’t be happy but the ruler is harder to assassinate.
Reckless
Rulings provide more happiness or unhappiness.
Now that you know all about the ruling traits for Elder Scrolls Castles, you can selectively breed your nobles until you have a ruler that’s a perfect fit for your castle. If you’re still in the early stages, make sure you know the best Gold farming strategy.
