Crusader Kings 3 cheats, debug mode, and console commands
Command your armies and your console
How do I use cheats in Crusader Kings 3? Crusader Kings 3 can be customised at will in debug mode, using cheats and console commands. This is done in different ways depending on where you bought CK3 from. Here's everything you need to know about debug mode in CK3 for PC, and all the console commands and cheats.
Crusader Kings 3 cheats: how to use debug mode and console commands
In order to use cheats and console commands, you'll first need to open Crusader Kings 3 in debug mode. Debug mode will disable your ability to earn achievements in the game, so make sure you don't have it enabled unless you're planning to actually use it.
- How to open debug mode with Steam
- How to open debug mode with the raw game file
- How to open debug mode with the Xbox Game Pass version
- How to input console commands
- All cheats and console commands
How to open debug mode with Steam
To open Crusader Kings 3 in debug mode for the Steam version:
- Right click on Crusader Kings 3
- Select 'Properties'
- Click the 'General' tab
- Click 'Set Launch Options'
- Add '-debug_mode' to the launch options
- Launch the game
If you want your achievement system activated again, you'll need to remove this text from the launch options menu in the same way you added it in. This will deactivate debug mode when you relaunch the game.
How to open debug mode with the raw game file
To open Crusader Kings 3 in debug mode without Steam:
- Go to your CK3 installation folder
- Create a shortcut to CK3 (right click and select 'create shortcut')
- Right click the shortcut and click 'Properties'
- Type '-debug_mode' at the end of the 'Target' field and press 'Apply'
- Open the game using that shortcut to launch in debug mode
How to open debug mode with the Xbox Game Pass version
If you're playing on the free Xbox Game Pass PC version (also available on the Windows Store), debug mode is a bit of a pain. Here's how to do it though:
- Search Windows for 'Command Prompt' and open the application
- Paste the following into the window and press Enter: 'start shell:AppsFolder\ParadoxInteractive.ProjectTitus_zfnrdv2de78ny!App -debug_mode'
- This will open the game as normal, so click the 'play' button
How to input console commands
Sick of raising armies and levies the hard way? Want to cheat death or murder your child and heir? Remember, you can't get achievements in debug mode, but if you're just messing around, cheats and console commands can be an absolute blessing.
Console commands can be input when the game is in debug mode and the console window is open. To open the console window, press Shift+Alt+C. Alternative buttons to press if the above doesn't work include the following:
- ' (apostrophe)
- Shift+2
- Shift+3
- ~
- 2
- ^
- §
All cheats and console commands
Below is a list of all known console commands, courtesy of the Crusader Kings 3 wiki. If no character ID is put at the end of relevant commands, the effect defaults to the player character. Character IDs can be found by hovering over the relevant character, whilst county IDs can be seen in pink text when hovering over the county. You can find trait IDs in the game files here: game\common\traits\00_traits.txt.
Title IDs work as follows:
- b_[barony name] - selected barony
- c_[country name] - selected county
- d_[duchy name] - selected duchy
- k_[kingdom name] - selected kingdom
- e_[empire name] - selected empire
To find specific IDs of each parameter, type in the command and press Tab. For example, to select a secret, type 'add_secret' and press tab, and it'll show you all the potential secret commands to choose from.
| Command | Effect | Example |
|---|---|---|
| age | Adds (number) of age to the character ID specified. Remember - you're adding age, not setting an age number. | age 20 26201 (adds 20 age to character with the ID 26201) |
| add_claim | Adds pressed claim on a title specified by the title ID. | add_claim d_normandy |
| add_doctrine | Adds specific doctrine to a selected faith - if no faith selected then defaults to player's faith. | add_doctrine doctrine_monogamy |
| add_dread | Adds selected amount of dread to selected character. | add_dread 100 26201 (adds 100 dread to character with the ID 26201) |
| add_maa | Adds selected regiment of men-at-arms to the selected character. | add_maa onager 26201 |
| add_perk | Adds selected perk to selected character ID. | add_perk strategist_perk |
| add_piety | Adds selected amount of piety to the chosen character. Defaults to 1000 if no amount is given, negative values remove piety. | add_piety 2000 26201 |
| add_prestige | Adds selected amount of prestige to the chosen character. Defaults to 1000 if no amount is given, negative values remove prestige. | add_prestige 2000 26201 |
| add_realm_law | Passes specified law into the realm of the chosen character. | add_realm_law crown_authority_4 |
| add_realm_law_skip_effects | Passes specified law into the realm of the chosen character without running effects. | add_realm_law_skip_effects crown_authority_3 |
| add_relation | Adds specified relation between the two characters specified. | add_relation friend 26201 16569 |
| add_secret | Adds specified secret to the player character. | add_secret secret_cannibal |
| add_stress | Adds specified amount of stress to the selected character. | add_stress 69 26201 |
| add_title_law (only available for developers) | Adds specified succession law to the chosen title. | add_title_law e_britannia feudal_elective_succession_law |
| add_trait | Adds specified trait to chosen character. Trait IDs usually match their names. | add_trait infertile |
| add_lifestyle_xp_all | Adds specified amount of all lifestyle experience (default 1000). | add_lifestyle_xp_all 420 |
| add_diplomacy_lifestyle_xp | Adds specified amount of diplomacy lifestyle experience (default 1000). | add_diplomacy_lifestyle_xp 420 |
| add_martial_lifestyle_xp | Adds specified amount of martial lifestyle experience (default 1000). | add_martial_lifestyle_xp 420 |
| add_stewardship_lifestyle_xp | Adds specified amount of stewardship lifestyle experience (default 1000). | add_stewardship_lifestyle_xp 420 |
| add_intrigue_lifestyle_xp | Adds specified amount of intrigue lifestyle experience (default 1000). | add_intrigue_lifestyle_xp 420 |
| add_learning_lifestyle_xp | Adds specified amount of learning lifestyle experience (default 1000). | add_learning_lifestyle_xp 420 |
| bypass_requirements | Ignores the requirements for player decisions, interactions, schemes, laws and title creation. | bypass_requirements |
| change_culture | Changes the culture of selected county to the chosen culture. | change_culture 1557 irish |
| change_development_level | Adds selected amount of development to the chosen county. | change_development_level 100 1557 |
| change_fervor | Adds selected amount of fervor to the specified faith. | change_fervor 100 protestant |
| change_diplomacy | Adds selected amount of diplomacy skill to the chosen character ID. | change_diplomacy 20 |
| change_martial | Adds selected amount of martial skill to the chosen character ID. | change_martial 20 |
| change_stewardship | Adds selected amount of stewardship skill to the chosen character ID. | change_stewardship 20 |
| change_intrigue | Adds selected amount of intrigue skill to the chosen character ID. | change_intrigue 20 |
| change_learning | Adds selected amount of learning skill to the chosen character ID. | change_learning 20 |
| change_prowess | Adds selected amount of prowess skill to the chosen character ID. | change_prowess 20 |
| clear_character_modifiers | Removes all character modifiers from the chosen character ID. | clear_character_modifiers 26201 |
| clear_title_laws | Removes title succession laws from chosen title ID. | clear_title_laws e_britannia |
| clear_traits | Removes all traits from selected character ID. | clear_traits 26201 |
| discover_all_eras | Discovers all cultural innovations for selected character ID's culture. | discover_all_eras 26201 |
| discover_era | Discovers all innovations for a selected era - defaults to the current era and pressing tab reveals all era IDs. | discover_era culture_era_high_medieval |
| discover_fascination | Immediately discovers the current fascination of the selected character ID's culture. | discover_fascination 26201 |
| discover_innovation | Immediately discovers selected innovation for the selected character ID's culture. Press tab to see all innovation IDs. | discover_innovation innovation_longboats 26201 |
| dynasty_prestige | Adds specified amount of renown to the dynasty ID selected (defaults to 1000). | dynasty_prestige 69000 |
| effect start_cat_story_cycle_effect | Gain a pet cat. | effect start_cat_story_cycle_effect |
| effect start_dog_story_cycle_effect | Gain a pet dog. | effect start_dog_story_cycle_effect |
| end_schemes | Removes all schemes targeting the player character. | end_schemes |
| event | Triggers specific event ID. Press tab to see all. | event pet_animal.1111 |
| fow | Toggles the fog of war. | fow |
| gain_all_dynasty_perks | Gives the specified character ID all dynasty legacies. | gain_all_dynasty_perks 26201 |
| gain_all_perks | Gives all lifestyle perks to specified character ID. | gain_all_perks 26201 |
| give_title | Gives specified title to the chosen character. | give_title e_britannia |
| gold | Ads specified amount of gold to the player character (defaults to 1000, negative values remove gold). | gold 420 |
| guaranteed_scheme_success | Schemes are always successful. | guaranteed_scheme_success |
| guaranteed_scheme_secrecy_success | Schemes are always secret. | guaranteed_scheme_secrecy_success |
| instabuild | Finishes holdings and buildings within a day in the player character's domain. Re-enter to disable. | instabuild |
| instant_birth | Pregnancies last for one day. Re-enter to disable. | instant_birth |
| join_era | Enters specified era for the character ID's culture. | join_era culture_era_late_medieval |
| kill | Kills specified character ID. | kill 26201 |
| know_schemes | Discovers all schemes targeted at the player character. | know_schemes |
| merge_culture | Changes the culture of all counties from the first specified culture to the second. | merge_culture anglo_saxon irish |
| pregnancy | Makes female character ID pregnant (second character ID is the father). If no father is specified, then it remains unknown. | pregnancy 26201 15661 |
| remove_doctrine | Removes specified doctrine from the chosen faith. Press tab for all doctrine IDs. | remove_doctrine tenet_tax_nonbelievers |
| remove_nick | Gets rid of the selected character ID's current nickname. | remove_nick 26201 |
| remove_relation | Removes relation between the two character IDs specified. | remove_relation friend 26201 15661 |
| remove_trait | Removes specified trait from chosen character. | remove_trait hunter_3 |
| set_culture | Changes culture to specified culture for chosen character ID. Press tab for all culture IDs. | set_culture irish 26201 |
| set_dread | Sets dread to specified amount for chosen character ID. | set_dread 100 26201 |
| set_faith | Changes faith to specified faith for chosen character ID. Press tab for all faith IDs. | set_faith slavic_pagan 26201 |
| set_focus | Changes focus to specified focus for chosen character ID. | set_focus martial_authority_focus 26201 |
| set_nick | Gives specified nickname to chosen character ID. | set_nick nick_the_strong |
| set_sexuality | Changes sexuality of selected character ID. | set_sexuality bisexual 26201 |
| set_stress | Sets stress level to chosen number for selected character ID. | set_stress 0 26201 |
| set_diplomacy | Sets diplomacy skill to chosen number for the selected character ID. | set_diplomacy 69 26201 |
| set_martial | Sets martial skill to chosen number for the selected character ID. | set_martial 69 26201 |
| set_stewardship | Sets stewardship skill to chosen number for the selected character ID. | set_stewardship 69 26201 |
| set_intrigue | Sets intrigue skill to chosen number for the selected character ID. | set_intrigue 69 26201 |
| set_learning | Sets learning skill to chosen number for the selected character ID. | set_learning 69 26201 |
| set_prowess | Sets prowess skill to chosen number for the selected character ID. | set_prowess 69 26201 |
| yesmen | AI characters accept all proposals. Re-enter to disable. | yesmen |
| yesmen_instant | AI characters accept all proposals instantly. Re-enter to disable. | yesmen_instant |
That’s all the Crusader Kings 3 console commands! For more ways to customise your game, see our guide to Crusader Kings 3 Ruler Designer and Barbershop features to create your own characters from scratch, or simply tweak their appearance in-game. Or check out our CK3 review to find out whether it's the game for you, as well as Sin'’'s diary on ruling a small tribal nation in vanilla Crusader Kings 3.