CK3 Console Commands

This is the complete, searchable list of Crusader Kings III console commands. Type to filter by command name or effect, narrow by category, and click any command to copy it straight to your clipboard. Cheat commands only work with debug mode enabled and are unavailable in ironman games — if you have not enabled the console yet, start with our guide on how to open the console.

How to use console commands

Console commands require debug mode, which is disabled by default. The fastest route on Steam is adding -debug_mode to the game's launch options, then opening the console in game with the ` (backtick) key on QWERTY keyboards — the exact key varies by layout, and Shift+2, Shift+3, or Shift+Alt+C are common alternatives. Type a command, press Enter, and press the up arrow to cycle through your command history. Two rules save the most frustration: achievements are disabled the moment debug mode is active, and most character-targeted commands accept an optional character ID — leave the ID off and the command applies to your own ruler. You can read character IDs by hovering over any character's portrait while debug mode is on. The full setup, including launcher and Game Pass variants, is covered step by step in the debug mode guide.

The commands you will actually use

A handful of commands do most of the work in practice. gold 1000 and prestige 1000 cover the two resources every plan runs short of, and piety 1000 does the same for religious plays. age 20 and add_trait reshape your character when a succession goes sideways, while kill quietly solves problems that schemes cannot. For map-wide experiments, instant_birth, fast_prisoner, and the event command let you reproduce almost any situation the game can generate. The Spawning artifacts category is its own world: each entry is an effect block that places a specific named artifact in your treasury — useful for testing court setups or recreating a historical inventory without grinding inspirations.

Effect commands and scripting syntax

Beyond simple one-word commands, the console accepts full effect script blocks — the same scripting language mods use. The Converting commands category shows the pattern: effect every_sub_realm_county = { set_county_culture = root.culture } converts every county in your realm to your culture in one line. Anything inside the braces follows CK3's scripting scopes, where root is your character and iterators like every_vassal_or_below walk the realm hierarchy. If a command in the table above starts with effect, paste it exactly as written — including the braces — and adjust only the values called out in its description.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the console not opening?

Nine times out of ten the game was launched without -debug_mode, or the session is an ironman game, which blocks the console entirely. Keyboard layout is the next suspect: the console key is the one under Escape on most layouts, but non-QWERTY keyboards often need Shift+2 or Shift+3 instead.

Do console commands disable achievements?

Yes. Debug mode itself disables achievements for that session, regardless of whether you type a single command. To earn achievements you need an ironman game with debug mode off.

Can I use commands in multiplayer?

Only the host can enable debug mode, and doing so affects the whole session. Treat commands in multiplayer as a group decision, not a private tool.