Paradox Development Studio has released Update 1.18.0.2 for Crusader Kings III, serving as a hotfix to address urgent issues following the launch of the All Under Heaven expansion. This update resolves multiple crash scenarios, refines several Celestial and Hegemonic mechanics, and introduces improved gameplay stability across a wide range of systems. In particular, the patch corrects errors affecting Chinese and Japanese government behaviors, improves the reliability of court movements and war outcomes, and ensures that Celestial rulers and tributary systems operate as intended.
In addition to bug fixes, this update brings balance refinements to the Celestial, Meritocratic, and Khanate governments, stabilizing their maintenance costs and reducing the economic strain on China during dynastic transitions. A new decision—Command Family to Take Exams—adds depth to dynasty management, allowing heads of houses to send relatives to Imperial examinations automatically. With improved AI logic, optimized map assets, and refined historical databases, this hotfix ensures smoother performance and better representation of East Asian history across the new campaign mechanics.
Full Patch Notes
Bug Fixes
- Fixed multiple crash scenarios, including:
- Crashes caused by invalid participant groups.
- Crashes when adaptive framerate was active and the game paused by an event.
- Crashes triggered during mission loading or upon hotjoining active sessions.
- Fixed Buy Claim interaction not consuming Piety for hegemony-tier titles.
- Buy Claim now properly restricted—Governments with Merit or Japanese systems can no longer access it when using Sanctioned Loopholes.
- Governors in Merit realms now properly relocate courtiers when gaining or losing titles. Lost courtiers will return within a year.
- Independent Celestial rulers can now host local exams, even during the Division Era.
- Corrected missing title transfer effects after Seize Hegemonic Duchy wars.
- The Hegemon can now reject unwanted tributary missions to prevent automatic allegiance from undesired states.
- Standardized conditions between Acknowledge Hegemon and Tribute Mission decisions.
- Fixed logic so that Seal of Investiture can only be issued by the Huangdi.
- Corrected ruler and consort titles:
- Male/Female Hegemons are Huángdì.
- Female consorts are Húanghòu.
- Male consorts are Húangfū.
- New Japanese House Bloc members cannot leave their Bloc for 10 years after joining.
- Fixed duplicated holy site bonuses for the Mu faith.
- Removed inappropriate dynastic names for Chinese realms near Guannei (Qi) and Huainan (Shu).
- Fixed dynastic naming persistence bugs when realms merged or split in China.
- Corrected trigger errors for Zhanmadao Infantry recruitment.
- Allowed Oath buildings to be constructed in Temple Citadels.
- Seize Mandate of Heaven casus belli now mirrors Claim Mandate of Heaven effects, properly converting realms to Celestial governance.
- Emperor of China can now use Consolidation CB on designated Kingdoms regardless of Cycle Era.
- Adjusted Claim Mandate behavior—Conquest Era now only triggers for non-Celestial or foreign dynasties.
- Reclaim Mandate now automatically vassalizes compatible realms within the Dynastic Cycle region.
- Corrected barony building limit (max 6 instead of 5).
- Custom title names now properly display after renaming.
- Celestial rulers can now fund disaster relief without a minister.
- Reduced frame stuttering in heavy-vegetation regions such as Angkor.
- Optimized jungle tree assets for smoother map performance.
- Duke-tier Celestial rulers can now adjust County obligations.
- Save file warnings no longer appear between compatible builds (e.g., 1.18.0.1 → 1.18.0.2).
Game Content
- Added new decision: Command Family to Take Exams.
- Available to House Heads, allowing unlanded family members to independently attend Local, Metropolitan, and Palace exams.
- Generates automatic travel events with notifications upon success.
Game Balance
- Removed redundant MAA Maintenance and Recruitment penalties from Celestial government (previously applied twice).
- Reduced economic penalties to prevent bankruptcy during revolts in China.
- Grand Marshal’s MAA costs reduced to strengthen their military independence.
- Adjusted Celestial men-at-arms caps—now managed via Army Command Structure laws.
- Tiefutu Cavalry: increased toughness, slightly reduced attack.
- Reduced cost of Zhanmadao Infantry.
- Meritocratic and Meritocratic Khanate governments now share the same Vassal Limit bonuses as Celestial (+20).
- Added Merit and Exam success modifiers to Celestial vassals after Claim Mandate of Heaven, reducing early dynasty instability.
- Grand Campaign War now grants contested titles directly to the Hegemon instead of creating tributaries.
- Examination system now ensures enough martial-educated candidates pass to sustain military officer pools.
Databases and Historical Corrections
- Adjusted historical data for multiple Chinese characters:
- Corrected stats, traits, and family ties.
- Restructured k_kuizhou title holders—Governor now holds de jure capital.
- Zhu Xi and family converted to Daoxue faith (per community feedback).
- Corrected Yan Shu’s gender representation.
- Wang Chuyi faith changed to Quanzhen.
- Updated k_kuizhou de jure capital to c_kuizhou.
- Renamed Mu Mount Seorak holy site to Mount Geumgang.
Crusader Kings III remains one of the most intricate and character-driven grand strategy games available, combining medieval intrigue, dynastic politics, and emergent storytelling across centuries. The All Under Heaven expansion extends its reach into East Asia, introducing Celestial governance, the Chinese dynastic cycle, and intricate bureaucratic systems like the Imperial Examinations. Originally released on September 1, 2020, for PC, the game later launched on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in March 2022.
Have you noticed these changes? Share your thoughts in the comments!
