If you’ve been grinding Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 and think archery competitions are the best way to level up in KCD 2, I’m here to prove you wrong. Many players swear by them, but the numbers just don’t add up. Today, I’ll break down why free shooting targets outside of competitions is faster, more efficient, and the absolute best way to level your Marksmanship, Strength, Agility, and even your main level in KCD 2. Let’s get into it.
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The Big Problem with Archery Competitions in KCD 2
1. Competitions Are Slower Than Free Shooting
- Competitions involve extra steps: talking to the NPC, waiting for AI opponents, and enduring unnecessary delays.
- Free shooting at targets lets you fire, retrieve arrows, and repeat without interruptions.
- Benchmark Test:
- 10 Arrows (Free Shooting): 1 minute 17 seconds
- 10 Arrows (Archery Competition – Easy Mode): 1 minute 7 seconds
- Looks faster, right? Hold on—there’s more to it.
2. Competitions Have Too Many Variables
- You must win to quickly restart another competition. Lose, and you wait even longer.
- The archery master NPC has cooldowns, forcing extra delays before you can enter again.
- AI opponents take time to finish shooting, slowing you down even if you shoot quickly.
- The competition is only available at certain times of the day—no such restriction for free shooting.
The EXP Breakdown – Why Free Shooting Wins
EXP Per Arrow Comparison: Archery vs Free Shooting
| Method | EXP per Arrow | Total EXP (10 Arrows) |
|---|---|---|
| Free Shooting (No Potion) | 17 EXP | 170 EXP |
| Free Shooting (Fox Potion) | 25 EXP | 250 EXP |
| Archery Competition (Win) | 6.13 EXP | 61 EXP |
| Competition Bonus EXP | +44 EXP (Win) | ~116 EXP per round |
EXP Per Hour Comparison: Archery vs Free Shooting
| Method | EXP Per Hour (Estimated) |
| Archery Competition (Easy) | ~6,232 EXP/hr |
| Free Shooting (Fox Potion) | ~11,688 EXP/hr |
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Key Takeaways: Free Shooting is Better for Leveling than Archery
- Even winning an archery competition barely gives half the EXP of free shooting.
- Free shooting with a Fox Potion more than doubles your EXP gain.
- Competitions add unnecessary downtime and waiting.
- Thus, Free Shooting is better for Leveling in KCD 2 than Archery.
Best Way to Level Archery in KCD 2 – Free Shooting!
Step-by-Step Free Shooting Method for Fast Leveling in KCD 2
- Find the best distance – Stand far enough from the target to maximize EXP per arrow (sweet spot: 24-26 EXP per shot).
- Shoot, retrieve, repeat – No need to wait for AI or NPCs.
- Use Henry’s Fox Potion – Boosts EXP gain by 50%, making leveling even faster.
- Ignore archery competitions – They’re just a waste of time.
Final Verdict: Archery Competitions Are a Waste of Time
If you’re serious about leveling archery fast, stop doing competitions and start free shooting at targets. The EXP gains are significantly higher, the process is faster, and there’s no waiting on AI or NPCs.
Still think archery competitions are better? Try both methods for an hour and see the difference for yourself. Spoiler alert: You’ll never waste time on competitions again.
Now go out there and level up properly in KCD 2!
