You want a strongly established capital and as much as castles you can control. Unique buildings? They are the cherry on top! Welcome to the list of best special unique buildings in CK3.
Unique buildings not only give huge bonuses but also they add flavor to your game. That way you identify more with your characters. What’s more, you learn a bit about both history and world culture!
I don’t know about you, but I always try to control special buildings near my realm. I bet you’ll do the same from now on!
10 best CK3 unique buildings:
1. The House of Wisdom
Location: Baghdad
867: Abbasid – Prebuilt.
1066: Seljuk – Prebuilt.
Do I need to say how op is the +15% monthly lifestyle experience, +10% cultural fascination progress, and +2 learning per level of Fame bonuses are? House of Wisdom is the best building Crusader Kings 3. Besides, Great Mosque of Samarra is just right next to it.
Just don’t let Mongols get close…
2. Notre-Dame
Location: Isle de France – Paris
867: West Francia – Not built.
1066: France – Not built. Requires High Medieval Windmills innovation.
It will make you rich, develop Paris, increase piety and renown. You should construct it when you can.
Only downside of it is the requirement. In order to build Notre-Dame, you need to hit High Medieval era and unlock the Windmills innovation. It’s mid-late game. Most unique buildings can be constructed much earlier. Some pre-built even in 867.
3. Dome of the Rock
Location: Sheikhdom of Jerusalem
867: Abbasid – Not built.
1066: Fatimid – Not built.
Dome of the Rock gives nice amount of tax and development. Also has martial bonuses so that your crusader king can survive in the middle east.
It’s a valid building for both Muslims and Christians. As for the Jewish faith, it needs to be upgraded to The Third Temple.
4. Temple of Uppsala
Location: Uppland – Sigtuna
867: Uppland – Prebuilt.
1066: Sweden – Prebuilt.
It’s a building that makes a difference in both start dates. Levy size, tax, and development bonuses are not that great. But I’ll take men-at-arms and knight effectiveness bonuses every day. Levies literally useless in this game. Knights and men-at-arms do the real fighting.
It can be upgraded by unlocking Early Medieval era innovation Manoralism.
5. Cologne Cathedral & Palace of Aachen
Cologne Cathedral:
Location: Cologne
867: Lotharingia – Can be built for 1000 gold.
1066: Holy Roman Empire – Can be built for 1000 gold.
Palace of Aachen:
Location: Aachen
867: Lotharingia – Prebuilt.
1066: Holy Roman Empire – Prebuilt.
They are two separate buildings in bordering counties inside the HRE. Having two great unique buildings side by side in the middle of Europe is a blast.
6. Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
Location: Santiago
867: Asturias – Can be built for 1000 gold.
1066: Kingdom of Galicia – Can be built for 1000 gold.
Iberian region already has 7-8 special buildings. All prebuilt too. But Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is special! Because it’s the holy site of Catholicism and a good foundation for early game.
7. Gold Mines of Mali
Location: Bambuk – Yaresna
867: Ghana – Requires 500 gold to build.
1066: Ghana – Requires 500 gold to build.
Gold Mines of Mali gives insane amount of gold. It’s literally the best gold mine in the game. Can be upgraded too up to level 4.
It’s in Africa though.
8. Siderokausia
Locaton: Chalkidike – Polygyros
867: Byzantine Empire – Prebuilt.
1066: Byzantine Empire – Prebuilt.
Pre-build gold mine in all dates, inside Byzantine Empire. Here is a scenario for you. You can play as the Byzantine vassal controlling Siderokausia mines and use the gold to fund your ambition of becoming the next Byzantine Emperor! Let the game of thrones begin.
Can be upgraded up to level 4.
9. Walls of Benin
Location: Benin – Benin City
867: Ife – Not built.
1066: Benin – Not available before feudalization.
+0.30/month and +75% development growth bonuses are insane. Not to mention +50% levy size and +20% holding taxes. It’s the perfect special building to control in Africa. A great capital.
You need to adopt feudal ways first to build it. West African Pagan feudalization is much easier by the way.
10. Nalanda University
Location: Magadha – Pataliputra
867: Pala – Prebuilt.
1066: Pala – Prebuilt.
I like the special buildings with lifestyle experience bonus. But that’s not it, Nalanda University has many more benefits. Just look at the features, it’s amazing.
What’s more, you can send your children to university and get 4 start education level all the time. It’s prebuilt even in the earliest date.
It’s right next to Mahabodhi Temple which is another unique building with great bonuses.
Where is Theodosian Walls? Well, I consider it a cheat. A cheesy building with ridiculous bonuses. What’s worse, it’s coming with Hagia Sophia and they stack bonuses.
Thanks for reading! Let me know your favorite special buildings in CK3 by leaving a comment below. See you soon.