The handgonne firearms that appear in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 prove hard to use because they are bulky and provide limited effectiveness to players. The Kingdom Come developers made this decision on purpose because it reflects the weapon usage patterns of 15th-century Bohemia. Warhorse Studios' PR Manager Tobias Stolz-Zwilling stated the team wanted authenticity in weapon design because these weapons would later become "meme weapons" because of their uselessness.
Every reload cycle and every missed shot from the handgonne in the game replicates the historical authenticity of this weapon type. Game designer Ondřej Bittner clarified that the historical period used these guns in mass deployment because they proved less effective when fighting solo. The team decided to display authentic representations of early firearms despite their unfitting use when used in a one-on-one situation.
The players have reported that the Handgonnes in Kingdom Come are very difficult to use as they have very slow reload speed and are highly inaccurate. However, when aimed correctly the weapon delivers very high damage, particularly against opponents wearing heavy armor. The developers prioritized historical accuracy through this design decision at the cost of gameplay convenience in the process.
FAQs
What factors make guns in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 perform so inadequately?
The developers designed the weapons to demonstrate both historical inaccuracy and the reloading restrictions of firearms from the 15th century.
Can handgonnes be improved in the game?
The developers restrict handgonne weapons from improving because they want to preserve genuine historical limitations.
Are there other ranged weapons available?
Crossbows and bows remain available in the game and they deliver enhanced accuracy together with enhanced reload speeds.
Do I have to use handgonnes in combat?
The game provides optional handgonnes but players can select alternative weapons depending on their preferred playing style.