Deck line (for the subtitle field): Verified against the current game version.
Crusader Kings 3 console commands let you add gold, change traits, win schemes, convert cultures and faiths, and spawn historical artifacts, but only in non-Ironman games with debug mode enabled. This guide explains how to turn on the debug console and lists the main cheat commands, scripted effects, and artifact codes, verified against the CK3 Wiki for PC version 1.19.
Crusader Kings 3 console commands are entered through a debug console that Paradox keeps switched off by default. Once you enable debug mode and open the console, you can hand yourself gold and prestige, edit traits and skills, force scheme outcomes, convert whole realms, and spawn historical artifacts. The catch is that the console only works in non-Ironman saves, so a game using cheats will not be an Ironman game. Everything below is verified against the CK3 Wiki for PC version 1.19.
How to Enable Debug Mode in Crusader Kings 3
Debug mode has to be switched on before launch. There are several official ways to do it, depending on where you own the game.
- Paradox launcher: open Game Settings, scroll to “Open game in Debug Mode”, then click Launch.
- Steam: right-click the game, open Properties, add
-debug_modeto the Launch Options, then start the game. - Windows standalone: add
-debug_modeto the CK3 shortcut target, or launch from a batch file withstart ck3.exe -debug_mode. - GOG / GOG Galaxy: enable custom launch arguments and use
-debug_mode(ordebug_mode) as described on the wiki. - Xbox Game Pass / Windows Store: run
start shell:AppsFolder\ParadoxInteractive.ProjectTitus_zfnrdv2de78ny!App -debug_modeeach time, or put it in a batch file.
Debug mode also exposes more than the console: the Portrait Editor, GUI Editor and Tweak Menu, instant debug interactions such as opinion changes and imprisonment, Ctrl+click to take control of a character, Alt+click to kill one, and on-hover values such as character ID, fertility, health, stress and weight.
How to Open the Console
With debug mode active and a non-Ironman game loaded, open the console with one of these keys, which vary by keyboard layout: Shift+2, Alt+2+1, Shift+3, the section sign, tilde, caret, degree, superscript-two, or the backtick. On QWERTY keyboards the key is the backtick (`). If none work, try Shift+Alt+C.
Two discovery tricks help once the console is open: pressing Tab shows available commands, and pressing Tab again after typing a command reveals valid parameters such as traits, perks, titles, doctrines, cultures and innovations. The charinfo command, or simply hovering a character in debug mode, shows the character IDs that many commands need.
The Most Useful CK3 Cheat Commands
| Command | Effect | Example |
|---|---|---|
| gold | Adds gold (default 1000; negative removes). | gold 500 |
| add_prestige | Adds prestige (default 1000). | add_prestige 16000 |
| add_piety | Adds piety (default 1000). | add_piety 9000 |
| dynasty_prestige | Adds or removes renown (default 1000). | dynasty_prestige 100000 |
| add_trait | Adds a trait to a character. | add_trait witch |
| remove_trait | Removes a trait (Tab reveals IDs). | remove_trait witch |
| add_perk | Adds a lifestyle perk (Tab reveals IDs). | add_perk thoughtful_perk |
| gain_all_perks | Gives all lifestyle perks. | gain_all_perks |
| kill | Kills a character, or the player if omitted. | kill 1234 |
| yesmen | Makes AI accept all proposals (toggle). | yesmen |
| instabuild | Finishes construction and reinforces men-at-arms (toggle). | instabuild |
| bypass_requirements | Ignores requirements for most actions. | bypass_requirements |
Full CK3 Console Command List
Resources and currencies
| Command | Effect | Parameters |
|---|---|---|
| gold | Adds or removes gold; default 1000. | [amount] |
| add_prestige | Adds or removes prestige; default 1000. | [amount] |
| add_piety | Adds or removes piety; default 1000. | [amount] |
| add_piety_no_experience | Adds piety without raising devotion level. | [amount] |
| dynasty_prestige | Adds or removes renown; default 1000. | [amount] [dynasty id] |
| add_influence | Adds or removes influence; default 1000. | [amount] |
| add_merit | Adds or removes merit; default 1000. | [amount] |
| barter_goods | Adds or removes barter goods; default 500. | [amount] |
| change_treasury | Adds or removes treasury. | [amount] |
| change_provisions | Adds or removes provisions. | [amount] |
| add_house_unity_value | Adds or subtracts house unity. | [amount] |
| change_house_unity_stage | Sets house unity to a named level. | [level name] |
| effect change_current_court_grandeur = | Adds or removes court grandeur. | [amount] |
Character skills
| Command | Effect | Parameters |
|---|---|---|
| change_diplomacy / set_diplomacy | Adds to, or sets, diplomacy. | [amount] [character id] |
| change_martial / set_martial | Adds to, or sets, martial. | [amount] [character id] |
| change_stewardship / set_stewardship | Adds to, or sets, stewardship. | [amount] [character id] |
| change_intrigue / set_intrigue | Adds to, or sets, intrigue. | [amount] [character id] |
| change_learning / set_learning | Adds to, or sets, learning. | [amount] [character id] |
| change_prowess / set_prowess | Adds to, or sets, prowess. | [amount] [character id] |
Traits, perks and lifestyle
| Command | Effect | Parameters |
|---|---|---|
| add_trait / remove_trait | Adds or removes a trait (Tab reveals IDs). | [trait id] [character id] |
| clear_traits | Removes all traits from a character. | [character id] |
| add_perk | Adds a lifestyle perk (Tab reveals IDs). | [perk id] [character id] |
| gain_all_perks | Gives all lifestyle perks. | [character id] |
| gain_all_dynasty_perks | Buys all dynasty legacies. | [character id] |
| add_lifestyle_xp_all | Adds XP to all lifestyles; default 1000. | [amount] [character id] |
| add_lifestyle_xp [lifestyle] | Adds XP to one lifestyle (diplomacy/martial/stewardship/intrigue/learning/wanderer). | [amount] [character id] |
| set_focus | Sets a lifestyle focus. | [focus id] [character id] |
Stress, dread, secrets and relations
| Command | Effect | Parameters |
|---|---|---|
| add_stress / set_stress | Adds to, or sets, stress. | [amount] [character id] |
| add_dread / set_dread | Adds to, or sets, dread. | [amount] [character id] |
| add_secret | Adds a secret (Tab reveals IDs). | [secret id] [character id] |
| add_relation / remove_relation | Adds or removes a relation. | [relation id] [character id] |
| set_nick / remove_nick | Sets or removes a nickname. | [nickname id] [character id] |
| set_sexuality | Sets sexual orientation. | [sexuality id] [character id] |
| clear_character_modifiers | Removes all character modifiers. | [character id] |
Schemes
| Command | Effect |
|---|---|
| complete_schemes | Completes all schemes started by a character. |
| end_schemes | Abandons all schemes targeting the player. |
| know_schemes | Reveals all schemes targeting the player. |
| guaranteed_scheme_success | Makes schemes always succeed (toggle). |
| guaranteed_scheme_secrecy_success | Makes schemes always stay secret (toggle). |
Titles, claims, laws and government
| Command | Effect | Parameters |
|---|---|---|
| add_claim | Adds a pressed claim on a title. | [title id] [character id] |
| give_title | Gives a title to a character. | [title id] [character id] |
| add_realm_law | Passes a realm law (Tab reveals IDs). | [law id] [character id] |
| add_realm_law_skip_effects | Adds a realm law, skipping the effects path. | [law id] [character id] |
| add_title_law | Adds a succession law to a title. | [title id] [law id] |
| clear_title_laws | Removes all succession laws from a title. | [title id] |
| effect change_government = | Changes government (requires the relevant DLC). | [government id] |
Culture and faith
| Command | Effect | Parameters |
|---|---|---|
| change_culture | Changes a county’s culture. | [county id] [culture id] |
| set_culture | Changes a character’s culture (Tab reveals IDs). | [culture id] [character id] |
| merge_culture | Merges one culture’s counties into another. | [culture id] [culture id] |
| set_faith | Changes a character’s faith (not heads of faith). | [faith id] [character id] |
| add_doctrine / remove_doctrine | Adds or removes a faith doctrine. | [doctrine id] [faith id] |
| change_fervor | Adds or removes fervor; default 10. | [amount] [faith id] |
Realm, development and innovations
| Command | Effect | Parameters |
|---|---|---|
| change_development_level | Adds or removes development in a county or barony. | [amount] [county/barony id] |
| discover_innovation | Discovers one innovation (Tab reveals IDs). | [innovation id] [character id] |
| discover_era | Discovers an era and its innovations. | [era id] |
| discover_all_eras | Discovers all innovations for a culture. | [character id] |
| discover_fascination | Discovers the current fascination. | [character id] |
| join_era | Enters an era for a culture. | [era id] |
Toggles and speed-ups
| Command | Effect |
|---|---|
| instabuild | Finishes construction and reinforces men-at-arms (toggle). |
| instasiege | Completes sieges at day end (toggle). |
| instant_birth | Pregnancies last one day (toggle). |
| instant_responses | Characters answer immediately (toggle). |
| instant_culture_reformation | Tradition changes are instant (toggle). |
| yesmen / yesmen_instant | AI accepts all proposals, instantly with the second (toggle). |
| fow | Toggles fog of war. |
| bypass_requirements | Ignores requirements for most actions. |
Characters, AI and miscellaneous
| Command | Effect | Parameters |
|---|---|---|
| age | Changes age; negative lowers it. | [amount] [character id] |
| kill | Kills a character, or the player if omitted. | [character id] |
| pregnancy | Makes a female character pregnant. | [character id] [character id] |
| ai.disable / ai.enable | Disables or enables AI for one character or all. | [character id] |
| charinfo | Shows character IDs in-game. | None |
| abort_travel_plan | Cancels the current activity/travel. | [character id] |
| skip_activity_phase | Moves to the next activity phase. | [character id] |
| add_maa | Adds a men-at-arms regiment (Tab reveals IDs). | [regiment id] [character id] |
| start_diarchy / end_diarchy | Starts or ends power sharing. | [character id] |
| start_struggle | Starts a struggle (Tab reveals IDs). | [struggle id] |
| progress_struggle_phase | Adds catalyst points toward the next phase. | [struggle id] [phase id] [amount] |
| set_date | Sets the date (year.month.day). | [date] |
| add_pending_court_event | Adds a pending royal court event. | None |
| event | Triggers an event. | [event id] [character id] |
Using the effect Command (Scripted Effects)
Many advanced cheats are not single commands but scripted effects run through the effect command. As of version 1.18.0 the old wrapper syntax effect = { add_prestige = 100 } is no longer supported. Effects are now written directly, for example effect add_prestige = 100, though curly braces can still be used inside the effect itself.
To run an effect on a character other than the player, target it explicitly with effect character:<character_id> = { effect_name = parameters }, or pin a character and use effect random_pinned_character = { effects }. This is what makes effect the gateway to far more than the standard cheat table exposes.
Useful Scripted Effect Examples
| Script | Effect |
|---|---|
| effect spawn_army = { men_at_arms = { type = huscarl men = 500 } location = capital_province } | Spawns special soldiers. |
| effect add_trait_xp = { trait = lifestyle_blademaster value = 100 } | Adds single-path leveled-trait XP. |
| effect add_trait_xp = { trait = lifestyle_hunter track = venator value = 100 } | Adds multi-path leveled-trait XP. |
| effect root = { set_father = character:7627 } | Sets a parent (historical IDs only). |
| effect root = { set_house = character:7627.house } | Sets the character’s house (historical IDs only). |
| effect title:k_egypt = { set_de_jure_liege_title = title:e_byzantium } | Makes one title de jure part of another. |
| effect every_vassal_or_below = { add_trait = intellect_good_3 } | Adds a trait to every subject. |
| effect root.culture = { add_culture_tradition = tradition_horse_lords } | Adds a tradition to the player’s culture. |
Mass Conversion Commands
| Command | Result |
|---|---|
| effect every_held_title = { set_county_culture = root.culture } | Converts every domain county to your culture. |
| effect every_sub_realm_county = { set_county_culture = root.culture } | Converts every realm county to your culture. |
| effect every_sub_realm_county = { set_county_faith = root.faith } | Converts every realm county to your faith. |
| effect every_vassal_or_below = { set_culture = root.culture } | Converts every vassal and sub-vassal to your culture. |
| effect every_vassal_or_below = { set_character_faith = root.faith } | Converts every vassal and sub-vassal to your faith. |
| effect every_courtier_or_guest = { set_culture = root.culture } | Converts every courtier and guest to your culture. |
| effect every_vassal_or_below = { change_government = feudal_government } | Converts every vassal and sub-vassal to feudal government. |
| effect every_held_title = { set_de_jure_liege_title = root.primary_title } | Assimilates every held title into the primary title. |
Shattered World Commands
| Command | Result |
|---|---|
| effect every_ruler = { every_held_title = { limit = { tier >= tier_empire } holder = { destroy_title = prev } } } | Shatters the world to the kingdom level. |
| effect every_ruler = { every_held_title = { limit = { tier >= tier_kingdom } holder = { destroy_title = prev } } } | Shatters the world to the duchy level. |
| effect every_ruler = { every_held_title = { limit = { tier >= tier_duchy } holder = { destroy_title = prev } } } | Shatters the world to the county level. |
Spawning Artifacts
Most artifacts are built by complex scripts and cannot be spawned from the console, but historical artifacts can. The syntax is effect create_artifact_<name>_effect = { OWNER = this }, and the game will crash without the { OWNER = this } scope. A selection of popular examples:
effect create_artifact_excalibur_effect = { OWNER = this } # Excalibur
effect create_artifact_durendal_effect = { OWNER = this } # Durendal
effect create_artifact_joyeuse_effect = { OWNER = this } # Joyeuse
effect create_artifact_curtana_effect = { OWNER = this } # Curtana
effect create_artifact_legbiter_effect = { OWNER = this } # Legbiter
effect create_colada_effect = { OWNER = this } # Colada
effect create_artifact_wall_cid_sword_effect = { OWNER = this } # Tizona
effect create_artifact_ascalon_effect = { OWNER = this } # Ascalon
effect create_artifact_reichskrone_effect = { OWNER = this } # Reichskrone
effect create_artifact_papal_tiara_effect = { OWNER = this } # Papal Tiara
effect create_artifact_peacock_throne_effect = { OWNER = this } # Peacock Throne
effect create_artifact_sculpture_ark_of_covenant_effect = { OWNER = this } # Ark of the Covenant
effect create_artifact_throne_charlemagne_effect = { OWNER = this } # Throne of Charlemagne
effect create_artifact_heirloom_seal_effect = { OWNER = this } # Heirloom Seal
effect create_artifact_mantle_of_the_prophet_effect = { OWNER = this } # Mantle of the ProphetThis is a selection. The CK3 Wiki lists the full set of more than one hundred historical artifacts.
Testing and Developer Commands
| Command | Effect |
|---|---|
| clear | Clears console history. |
| help | Prints a command description, or lists commands if empty. |
| dump_bookmark_portraits | Creates bookmark portraits in the CK3 documents folder. |
| faction_spawn | Spawns a faction type if valid counties or courtiers exist. |
| generate_cadet_coa | Generates a new coat of arms for the player’s house. |
| guaranteed_scheme_failure | Makes schemes never succeed. |
| guaranteed_scheme_secrecy_failure | Makes schemes never stay secret. |
| instamove | Armies move one barony per day, AI included. |
| map_editor | Opens the map editor. |
| nomen | Makes AI refuse all proposals (toggle). |
The Effects List
Beyond the cheat page, CK3 has a much larger scripted-effects layer. The game can generate a local effects.log with the script_docs console command, written to Documents/Paradox Interactive/Crusader Kings III/logs/. The CK3 Wiki also keeps a transcribed Effects list covering characters, houses, factions, wars, activities, armies, artifacts and titles, plus iterator patterns such as every_*, ordered_* and random_*. That transcribed list is useful for scope, but the wiki notes it is partially outdated, with some effects deprecated and some newer ones missing, so treat it as a modding-style supplement rather than a guaranteed reference.
A Note Before You Start
Console commands work only in non-Ironman games with debug mode enabled, so a campaign that uses them will not be an Ironman save. Many cheats are toggles that you turn off by entering them again, and a few, including artifact spawning without the correct scope, can crash the game, so save first. All commands here are verified against the CK3 Wiki for PC version 1.19; later patches may add, rename or remove entries.
