Migration SharePoint 2013 to SharePoint 2016 - go for vanilla or directly to KB

Question

Migration from SharePoint 2013 to SharePoint 2016 is going to be planned.

Which approach is recommended?

1. Migration to SharePoint 2016 vanilla/RTM version, then installing SP1 and then recent KB after migrating
2. Migration to SharePoint 2016 SP1, then installing recent KB after migrating
3. Migration to SharePoint 2016 SP1 with recent KB

Microsoft best practice just explains migration to the vanilla/RTM Version of SharePoint 2016. No word about updates/Service Pack/KBs.

Maybe someone has done migration and has some experience. I would prefer path 3.

Answer 1

Short Answer: Go for Option 3.

Even if there is no direct recommendation on TechNet, Microsoft always recommends the use of the most current CU for productive deployments. I have migrated dozends of times since SharePoint 2010 and this always worked fine.

Another thing is the practical perspective: Migrating from SP2013 to SP2016 itself is enough work to do. You do not want the extra-hassle by having to install ServicePacks and Cumulative Updates during your upgrade-process.