Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 – Brushes with Death DLC Review: A Masterpiece in the Making?

It has been a substantial amount of time since many of us last rode through the muddy trails and sprawling medieval cities of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. After pouring over a hundred hours into the massive main storyline—perhaps leaving Henry in the Trosky region, hoarding loot, or contemplating his next move as a seasoned warrior—finding a compelling reason to saddle up again isn't always easy. For those who missed the newly added barber feature or simply didn't have the time to commit to a punishing Hardcore Mode playthrough, the medieval world of Bohemia might have felt like a closed book.

However, the arrival of Brushes with Death, the highly anticipated first of three major DLCs for Warhorse Studios' epic RPG, provides the perfect excuse to call for your trusty steed, Erdel, and jump back into the 15th century. This expansion promises a compelling side story, a fascinating new character, and a highly requested cosmetic feature—all packaged at an extremely reasonable price point. But does it hold its own alongside the towering achievements of the base game? Let’s dive in.

A Bizarre Beginning: Meeting Master Voyta

Starting the Brushes with Death DLC is a seamless experience. The questline becomes available relatively early in the base game’s narrative—specifically after you enter Trosky Castle and complete the pivotal "For Whom the Bell Tolls" main quest. A distinct purple DLC marker will guide you to an area just southeast of the castle.

Whether you choose to play this expansion alongside the main story or treat it as a standalone post-campaign adventure, it fits perfectly. For an endgame Henry who has chosen the path of a wandering adventurer rather than settling down, this DLC feels like a natural continuation of his journey.

This expansion does not focus on the grand political conspiracies of King Wenceslas and Sigismund, nor does it continue the core arcs of Henry's closest companions. Instead, it centers entirely around a brand-new, enigmatic character. The DLC opens with a striking, darkly comedic scene: you find a man tied to a tree, left for dead. However, he isn't begging for his life in the conventional sense. Instead, he is having an animated conversation with a painted human skull. He claims this macabre object is his "muse," capable of seeing the world in ways that mortal eyes cannot.

After rescuing him, he introduces himself as Magister Voitecus ex Aridis—or Master Voyta, for short. Voyta quickly reveals himself to be an eccentric, unpredictable artist with a shadowy past. His lifetime ambition is to create one flawless, exceptional painting that will outlive him, securing his legacy as one of the greatest artists in history. Thus begins a compelling six to nine-hour journey across both the Trosky and Kuttenberg maps, as you help Voyta track down inspiration, gather bizarre materials, and navigate his intricate web of schemes.

Storytelling: Heartfelt, Quirky, and Macabre

Voyta’s storyline is undeniably odd at first. Death plays a central, recurring theme in his dialogue and quests, reflecting his obsession with legacy and mortality. Yet, the more time you spend with the eccentric painter, the more the narrative grows surprisingly heartfelt. You slowly begin to piece together his past life, his motivations, and the emotional baggage that led him to wander the Bohemian countryside with a skull.

The overall storytelling and tempo feel perfectly calibrated. The questline is mostly linear, leading to at least two distinct possible endings based on Henry's choices and dialogue interactions. True to the signature style of Kingdom Come: Deliverance, there is a generous dose of humor and witty banter to lighten the otherwise grim realities of medieval life. One specific quest involving an elaborate, theatrical deception easily ranks as one of the most entertaining and hilarious shorter quests in the entire game. Warhorse Studios continues to prove that they excel at writing grounded, character-driven content that balances historical realism with engaging human drama.

Gameplay: Classic KCD Mechanics with a Narrative Twist

If you are expecting Brushes with Death to introduce radically new combat mechanics or entirely overhaul the game’s systems, you might need to adjust your expectations. Gameplay-wise, this DLC is pure, classic KCD. It doesn’t attempt to perform gameplay somersaults; instead, it leans into the systems that already make the base game a masterpiece.

The quest design is largely a collection of glorified fetch quests, but they are executed with a brilliant narrative twist. You will be asked to find obscure spots on the map, clear out heavily armored bandit camps, brew specific concoctions at the alchemy bench, and use your thievery skills to procure rare items for Voyta's masterpiece. The point is that the DLC doesn't need fancy gameplay bloat to be good; it relies on solid, well-written scenarios layered on top of an already fantastic RPG foundation.

Furthermore, it is worth noting that the DLC launched alongside the massive Patch 1.3. While the patch is free for all players, its additions—such as the highly requested horse racing and mounted archery activities located at the Nomad's Camp—complement the DLC perfectly. Transitioning from a tense, dialogue-heavy mission with Voyta to blowing off steam in a horse race adds a wonderful rhythm to your play sessions.

The Art of War: Shield Painting and Customization

What Brushes with Death specifically brings to Henry’s mechanical toolkit is the brand-new Shield Painting feature. In the 15th century, heraldry and shield designs were vital components of a warrior's identity on the battlefield. Through your interactions with Master Voyta, Henry finally gets the chance to participate in this tradition.

When interacting with Voyta (who initially sets up his workshop near the scribe's office in Trosky Castle before eventually moving to the fountain in Kuttenberg), you are presented with an option to customize your shield. The depth of this system is surprisingly robust. You can choose from over 100 unique designs, patterns, symbols, and color combinations. As you progress through the DLC quests and uncover more of Voyta's story, brand-new cosmetic options are unlocked.

While this feature is purely cosmetic, it adds a massive layer of role-playing immersion. Whether your Henry is a noble, silver-tongued aristocrat requiring a pristine, regal crest, or a brutal, blood-soaked mercenary looking to strike fear into his enemies, the customization options are vast. Even players who typically prefer longswords or maces without a shield might find themselves equipping one just to show off their personalized heraldry.

New Gear and Loot

Bundled alongside the shield painting are several new pieces of unique equipment. As you aid Voyta, you can acquire some delightfully absurd armor pieces, such as the Lord of Hell's Helmet and the Lord of Hell's Garb—perfect for terrifying superstitious peasants or intimidating bandits in the dead of night. You can also obtain the Miser's Cuirass and a uniquely designed Rondel Dagger. While these items are small bonuses rather than transformative game-changers, they are highly appreciated additions to Henry's ever-growing armory.

Is It Worth Buying? The Final Verdict

Priced at a highly accessible $5.99 / €5.99, Brushes with Death is a phenomenal value proposition. It delivers a deeply engaging questline, six to nine hours of high-quality content, and a robust new cosmetic feature that enhances the base game's role-playing potential. It is not a super-expansive, map-altering DLC, but it fundamentally respects your time and your wallet.

Built upon the already amazing side quests of the base game, this expansion shows Warhorse Studios operating comfortably in their prime playing field. It sets a very strong precedent for the future DLCs—Legacy of the Forge and Mysteria Ecclesiae—slated for release later in the year.

If you have already wrapped up your Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 adventure, Brushes with Death is the perfect excuse to reinstall the game and return to Bohemia. And if you are currently mid-playthrough, it is even better. The questline weaves so naturally into the main story that it serves as a wonderful, quirky change of pace from the heavy political drama of Kuttenberg. Master Voyta is waiting, and his masterpiece won't paint itself.