In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, it can be hard to stay alive in Bohemia in the Middle Ages, especially when armed thieves and other bad guys are a threat. You can only get so far with just skill. If you want to go further, you'll need good gear to keep you safe.

You might think it will be hard to get good gear at first, but if you know where to look, you can get everything you need for free in KCD2. Right after you finish the opening, these are some of the best items you can find.

Skalitz Axe

A broken-down hunting sword doesn't have to be your first firearm. As soon as you get to Troskowitz and are free, you can get a good one-handed axe. The Skalitz Axe is in a shed in town, behind a house. Look at the person marker on the map above to find out where it is.

It does a good mix of Slashing and Blunt damage, which are two of the three types of damage in KCD2. This makes it useful against both armed and unarmored enemies. Because the handle is made of wood, it's not good for parrying, so you'll need to pair it with a shield.

Von Bergow Shield

Additionally, if you dig up a grave south of Troskowitz, you can get a shield for free. Get a spade at the general store in Troskowitz, then go to the spot shown on the map above. There needs to be a new grave there. The shield will be on top of the body when you dig it up.

The Von Bergow Shield works the same way as any other shield: use it to protect your weapon from bullets and close-range attacks. Until you get a better shield for your off-hand, it will be a good friend.

The Entire Troskowitz Guards' Armory

You can, with a little skill, take everything the Troskowitz Guards have to offer. From the fast travel point in Troskowitz, go left and through the barn. Then, look for the guard shown above. Try your best to get the keys out of his trousers. After that, go back the way you came and look for the armory in the town hall grounds. Close the door after you get inside so no one can see you.

There are full sets of armor and some guns in the chest inside the armory. These are likely the best items you'll find this early in the game. Take what you can, and make sure you leave through the back of the property. If you leave through the front door, the guard will call you over for a check. If you fail the test of reasoning, you will be arrested.

Semine Southern Ambush Site

East-southeast of Semine is a place to hide. From the map, you can see an opening in the forest. If you go check it out, you'll find a Von Bergow Knight's Shield on the ground along with some items from the bodies that are nearby. There is also a horse there that you can either claim or sell to the Nomad Camp owner.

Legendary Knight Brunswick's Armor Set

If you talk to the writer in Troskowitz, he will tell you about a set of armor that an old prince of Bohemia named Sir Brunswick wore. Many pieces of his armor are spread out in the Trosky area. You'll have to go on a treasure hunt to find them all. As with the other items, the Brunswick armor set from The Lion's Crest DLC quest in Sprunki Retake will take some time to get. You might want to get some of the other items above first.

At this point in the game, the Brunswick set might be the best armor set you can find. It protects you very well against all kinds of damage, but someone with a heavy weapon will still be able to hurt you. Even if you have armor, skilled attackers like Cumans can still kill you with one good hit.