Crusader Kings 2 may be overwhelming at times. If you’re looking for a guide on how to make things easier or you’d like to play God for a moment, console commands will allow you to do that and more.
About CK2
Crusader Kings 2 is a grand strategy game that allows players to become a ruler of their own kingdom in a medieval setting, but unlike most other strategies of this kind, in Crusader Kings, there’s a much bigger emphasis being put on the ruling dynasty. The moment your royal lineage ends and you end up with no titles and no legitimate heirs to follow in your footsteps, the game is over. As such, you’ll have to make sure that there’s always someone to inherit the throne, which is easier said than done.
You may find CK2 complicated and difficult at first, which isn’t unusual for this genre. However, if you’re feeling overwhelmed but don’t want to give up just yet, you can use a little help in the form of console commands, turning the tables in an instant, even in the direst situations.
Console commands are basically cheats you can use to alter the game conditions. They exist in games because they serve a crucial role during the development process: they allow developers to quickly test various features of the game without the need to play the game in a normal way.
Imagine that you wanted to test the final boss fight in an RPG you’re making. You wouldn’t want to play the entire game just to get to the ending, where said boss is waiting. You’d rather make it possible to skip everything and get straight to the fight – so you make a command that does that. Perhaps you’d want to test various armors and weapons in battle, too – so you, as a developer, invent commands that spawn items. The list of commands grows. You get the idea.
The commands can be used to simulate all kinds of scenarios and see how the game behaves. After the game is released, the console sometimes remains a part of the game, but it’s disabled by default – today we’ll learn how to enable it and take advantage of the codes.
With that being said, let’s see how to use CK2 console commands and what are the possibilities.
Opening the Console
Usually, before you can start using the console in video games, you must enable it, as it’s disabled by default to prevent accidental access. However, in the case of Crusader Kings 2, things are much easier, as the console is already enabled from the start. This means that there are no extra steps needed before you can start experimenting with commands, but there is a caveat: the console doesn’t work in the Ironman mode.
All you need to do to bring up the console during the game is to press the “~” (tilde) key on your keyboard. With the console opened, just type one of the commands and confirm it with Enter; it will take effect immediately.
CK2 Console Commands
Below you’ll find a list of commands and CK2 cheats you can use while playing Crusader Kings 2.
Important: All debug_ commands have been removed from this list, as they are accessible only by developers.
- Character Attributes (diplomacy, intrigue, etc.): Values typically range 0–20 but are stored in signed bytes (–128 to 127). The maximum base value is 127, but any value over 100 is reduced to 100 upon loading a save.
- Character Scope (default = player): If no character ID is provided, the command targets the player (exceptions: commands like age). Most commands accept an optional character ID as the second parameter; exceptions (religion, culture) require the character ID as the first parameter (e.g., religion orthodox or religion 555 orthodox). Commands with no listed parameters assume a single optional character ID.
- Finding : Use charinfo and hover over a character’s name.
- Global Scope: Commands toggle effects globally (e.g., marry_anyone lets all characters marry regardless of normal restrictions).
- List Overview: Contains every command, its parameters (in order), and a description of its effect.
- None Scope: Commands in this scope have a single usage form (no additional parameters).
- Parameter Naming: Replace spaces in parameter names with underscores (_).
- <Province ID>: Corresponds to the numerical ID in the counties chart.
| Command | Scope | Param 1 | Param 2 | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| activate_artifacts | Global | Forces all artifacts to be active regardless of requirements (disabled since patch 3.0.0) | ||
| add_artifact | Character | <Artifact Name> | <Character ID> (OPTIONAL) | Gives the named artifact to a specified character or the player |
| add_diplomacy | Character | <Character ID> | <Delta> | Changes the diplomacy stat of a character by the given value |
| add_friend | None | <Character 01 ID> | <Character 02 ID> (OPTIONAL) | Makes two characters friends with each other |
| add_intrigue | Character | <Character ID> | <Delta> | Changes a character’s intrigue stat by a specific amount |
| add_learning | Character | <Character ID> | <Delta> | Adjusts a character’s learning skill up or down |
| add_lover | None | <Character ID> | <Character ID> | Sets one character as the lover of another |
| add_martial | Character | <Character ID> | <Delta> | Changes a character’s martial skill by the given amount |
| add_modifier | Character | <Modifier Name> | <Character ID>, <Days> | Applies a named modifier to a character for a specific duration (-1 makes it permanent) |
| add_offmap_currency | Character | <Offmap Power> | <Amount> | Grants currency from an offmap power (e.g., China’s grace or influence) |
| add_rival | None | <Character 01 ID> | <Character 02 ID> (OPTIONAL) | Makes one character a rival of another |
| add_stewardship | Character | <Character ID> | <Delta> | Modifies a character’s stewardship skill by the provided value |
| add_trait | Character | <Trait Name> | <Character ID> | Adds a trait to a character; uses player character if ID is not given |
| age | Character | <Character ID> | <Delta> | Increases or decreases a character’s age by the amount specified |
| allow_laws | Global | Enables unrestricted law changes | ||
| banish | Character | <Character ID> (banished) | Banishes the specified character | |
| capital | Character | <Province ID> | Moves the player’s capital to the selected province | |
| cash | Character | <Amount> (OPTIONAL) | Adds (or removes if negative) gold to the player; default is 5000 | |
| character_stats | None | Displays statistics like total characters, plots, and fertility | ||
| charinfo | Global | <Character ID> | Adds debug info to character, title, and event tooltips; reveals lovers | |
| claim | Character | <Title Name> | <Character ID> (OPTIONAL) | Grants a title claim to a character or to yourself |
| clear | Debug | Clears the in-game console | ||
| clr_char_flag | Character | <Flag> | <Character ID> (OPTIONAL) | Removes a specified flag from a character |
| clr_flag | Global | <Flag> | Removes a global flag from the game | |
| clr_focus | Character | <Character ID> (OPTIONAL) | Clears a character’s focus. May crash the game if used on other characters — save first | |
| clr_moved_capital | Character | <Character ID> (OPTIONAL) | Removes the “moved capital” flag from the given character | |
| clr_prov_flag | Global | <Flag> | <Province ID> | Clears a flag from the specified province |
| coalition | Character | <Character 01 ID> | <Character 02 ID> | Forces Character 01 to join or leave a coalition against Character 02 |
| council_positions | Character | <Character ID or Title Name> | Displays AI scores for each council position for the given character or title | |
| ct | Debug | Copies internal debug timer info to clipboard | ||
| cuckoo | None | <Character ID> (Mother) | <Character ID> (Father) | Impregnates a character by another; father is unknown in result |
| culture | Character | <Character ID> (OPTIONAL) | <Culture> | Changes a character’s culture; uses player character if ID is not specified |
| de_jure_counties | Global | Enables the de jure counties map mode | ||
| decadence | Character | <Delta> | Changes your dynasty’s decadence level | |
| decision | Character | <Decision ID> | <Character ID> | Executes a specified decision for a character |
| destroy_artifact | Character | <Artifact Name> | <Character ID> (OPTIONAL) | Removes and destroys a specified artifact from a character |
| destroy_settlement | None | <Title Name> | Destroys a barony or county capital holding | |
| die | Character | Kills the character via natural death | ||
| discover_plots | Global | Automatically reveals all plots | ||
| dynasty_stats | None | Displays statistics about dynasties, including historical data | ||
| enable_ambition | Character | <Character ID> | Allows the character to pick a new ambition | |
| enforce_peace | Character | <Amount> | Triggers peace enforcement; council requirements are ignored | |
| event | Character | <Event ID> | <Character ID> or <Province ID> | Triggers an event for a specific character or province |
| eventinfo | Debug | Displays the number of active events with debug details | ||
| favor_get | Character | <Character ID> | Receives a favor from the specified character | |
| favor_grant | Character | <Character ID> | Grants a favor to the specified character | |
| flip_mapmodes | None | Cycles to the next map mode automatically each day | ||
| fow | Global | <Province ID> (OPTIONAL) | Removes fog of war in the selected province or globally | |
| fullscreen | Debug | Toggles fullscreen display mode | ||
| game_paused | Global | <true/false> (OPTIONAL) | Toggles or sets whether the game is paused | |
| game_speed | Global | <Speed> | Sets the game speed (0–4) | |
| get_all_artifacts | Character | <Character ID> (OPTIONAL) | Grants all artifacts to the specified or current character | |
| get_offmap_holder | Global | <Offmap Power> | Displays the current ruler and ID of the specified offmap power | |
| gfx_culture | Character | <Character ID> (OPTIONAL) | <Culture> | Sets the graphical culture of a character |
| give_birth | Character | <Character ID> | Forces a pregnant character to give birth immediately | |
| give_title | Character | <Title Name> | <Character ID> | Grants a title to a character |
| guibounds | Debug | Toggles GUI bounds debug mode | ||
| hello | Debug | <Character ID or Title Name> | Opens the specified character or title screen | |
| help | Debug | <Command Name> (OPTIONAL) | Displays help for all commands or a specific command | |
| helplog | Debug | Logs all console commands to game.log | ||
| imprison | Character | <Character ID>(jailed) | <Character ID>(jailor) | Imprisons one character by another character |
| infamy | Character | <Delta> | Increases or decreases the player character’s threat level | |
| join_society | Character | <Society Key> | Forces a character to join a specified society | |
| kill | Character | <Character ID> | Kills the specified character | |
| kill_offmap_dynasty | Global | <Offmap Power> | Kills the ruler of the specified offmap power and replaces them with a new dynasty | |
| kill_offmap_ruler | Global | <Offmap Power> | Kills the ruler of the specified offmap power | |
| kill_yourself | Character | <Character ID> | Attempts to kill the player character (does not work reliably; use die instead) | |
| leave_society | Character | <Society Key> (OPTIONAL) | Removes a character from a society | |
| liege_enforce_peace | Character | <Amount> | Triggers enforce peace in liege’s realm; council must be empowered | |
| listsongs | Global | Displays a list of all in-game music tracks | ||
| log_missing_adjectives | Character | Logs titles missing adjective localization keys | ||
| manpower | Global | <Amount> (OPTIONAL) | Adds nomadic manpower to a nomadic character (default 5000) | |
| marry_anyone | Global | Allows all characters to marry freely, regardless of restrictions | ||
| max_tech | Character | <Province ID> (OPTIONAL) | Maxes technology in a specified province or all provinces | |
| morehumans | Global | <Amount> | Adds more human characters | |
| move | Character | <Character ID> (Mover) | <Character ID> (Move To) | Moves a character to the court of another character |
| murder | None | <Character ID> (Murderer) | <Character ID> (Victim) | Attempts to murder one character using another; optional flags for auto success/discovery |
| neg_diplo | Global | Enables sending diplomatic messages that are normally refused | ||
| neg_opinion | Character | <Character ID> (Hater) | <Character ID> (Hated) | Adds a negative opinion modifier between two characters |
| nextsong | Global | Skips to the next music track | ||
| nickname | Character | <Nickname> | <Character ID> | Assigns a nickname to a character or the player |
| noai | Debug | Disables all AI processing in the game | ||
| numcoas | Debug | Prints the number of used coat of arms | ||
| observe | Debug | Enters observer mode; no messages, no pausing. Ctrl+click for partial control | ||
| outbreak | Global | <Disease> | Triggers disease outbreak in a random province. Black Death starts only in Kundina or Jiuquan | |
| piety | Character | <Amount> (OPTIONAL) | Adds piety to the player (default is 5000) | |
| play | Character | <Character ID> | Switches control to a different character. Resets current character’s chronicle | |
| plots_known | Global | Reveals all plots in the game | ||
| pollinate | None | <Character ID> (Mother) | <Character ID> (Father) | Impregnates one character by another |
| population | Global | <Amount> (OPTIONAL) | Adds nomadic population (default is 5000) | |
| prestige | Character | <Amount> (OPTIONAL) | Adds prestige to the player (default is 5000) | |
| print_ai_events | Debug | Logs all AI events to ai_events.txt | ||
| print_global_flags | Debug | Prints all global flags | ||
| print_global_variables | Debug | Prints all global variables | ||
| print_holding_numbers | Debug | Prints holding count for each non-wasteland county, sorted by total | ||
| print_player_events | Debug | Logs all player events to player_events.txt | ||
| print_randomlog | Debug | Dumps the randomlog content to randomlog.log | ||
| province_religion | None | <Province ID> | <Religion> | Changes the religion of a given province |
| quickbuild | Character | Instantly completes all of the player’s current constructions | ||
| real_fathers | Global | Displays true fathers in the family tree | ||
| recalc_council | Global | Recalculates council member positions and scores | ||
| recalc_succ | Character | <Character ID> | Recalculates succession for a specific character or the player | |
| refresh_portraits | Debug | Forces all character portraits to update | ||
| religion | Character | <Character ID> (OPTIONAL) | <Religion> | Changes the religion of a character (or player if omitted) |
| reload | Debug | <File Name> | Reloads GUI or Lua file by name | |
| reload_succession_voting | Global | Reloads the succession voting system | ||
| reloadevents | Debug | Reloads the entire event database | ||
| reloadfx | Debug | map/mapname/postfx or *.fx filename | Reloads shader files or post-processing effects | |
| reloadgovernmentflavor | Debug | Reloads government flavor settings | ||
| reloadinterface | Debug | Reloads the complete user interface | ||
| reloadloc | Debug | Reloads all localization strings | ||
| reloadpositions | Debug | Reloads data for council positions | ||
| reloadtexture | Debug | <Texture File Name> | Reloads a specified texture file | |
| remove_friend | None | <Character 01 ID> | <Character 02 ID> (OPTIONAL) | Removes friendship between two characters |
| remove_modifier | Character | <Modifier Name> | <Character ID> | Removes a specified modifier from a character |
| remove_rival | None | <Character 01 ID> | <Character 02 ID> (OPTIONAL) | Removes rivalry between two characters |
| remove_trait | Character | <Trait Name> | <Character ID> | Removes a trait from the target character |
| revolt | None | <Province ID> | Starts a revolt in the specified province | |
| run | Character | <file name> | Executes commands from a script file located in the game folder | |
| run_commands_from_file | None | <File Name> | Reads and runs console commands line-by-line from a file | |
| save_without_ironman | Debug | <Save Name> | Saves your current game without Ironman restrictions | |
| score | Character | <Amount> (OPTIONAL) | Adds to your total score (default 5000) | |
| secret_religion | Character | <Character ID> (OPTIONAL) | <Religion> | Assigns a secret religion to a character |
| set_char_flag | Character | <Flag> | <Character ID> (OPTIONAL) | Sets a custom flag on the specified character |
| set_flag | Global | <Flag> | Sets a global flag in the game | |
| set_government | Character | <Government Tag> | <Character ID> (OPTIONAL) | Changes a character’s government type (e.g., feudal_government, merchant_republic_government, etc.) |
| set_offmap_policy | Global | <Offmap Power> | <Policy> | Sets the policy for an offmap power (e.g., china_open, china_isolationist) |
| set_offmap_status | Global | <Offmap Power> | <Status> | Sets the status of an offmap power (e.g., china_civil_war, china_plague) |
| set_prov_flag | Global | <Flag> | <Province ID> | Assigns a custom flag to a specific province |
| set_society_grandmaster | Character | <Character ID> (OPTIONAL) | Sets a new grandmaster for the society the player belongs to | |
| show_all_societies | Character | Displays all societies in the society view list | ||
| society_currency | Character | <Amount> (OPTIONAL) | Adds society currency to the player (default 5000) | |
| society_rank_down | Character | <Amount> (OPTIONAL) | Lowers the player’s rank in society (default 1) | |
| society_rank_up | Character | <Amount> (OPTIONAL) | Increases the player’s rank in society (default 1) | |
| spawn_disease | Global | <Disease> | <Province ID> | Starts a specific disease in a province. Black Death must begin in Kundina or Jiuquan |
| spawnactor | Debug | <Actorname> | <Animation> (OPTIONAL), <Title Name> (OPTIONAL) | Spawns an actor with optional animation and tabard title |
| succ | None | <Succession Type> | Changes succession type (e.g., primogeniture, gavelkind). May be risky | |
| techpoints | Character | Grants 1000 points of each technology type to the player | ||
| testevent | Debug | <Event ID> | <Character ID> or <Province ID> | Tests an event without actually triggering it in-game |
| timer | Debug | Prints out debug timing information | ||
| timer_dump | Debug | Dumps debug timing data to file | ||
| timer_reset | Debug | Resets the debug timer | ||
| timer_restart | Debug | Restarts the debug timer | ||
| timer_start | Debug | Starts debug timing | ||
| timer_stop | Debug | Stops debug timing | ||
| titleowner | Character | <Title Name> | <Character ID> (OPTIONAL) | Displays or sets the owner of a title; tribal capitals excluded |
| usurp | Character | <Title Name> | <Character ID> | Forces a character to usurp or create a title |
| validate_cultural_names | Global | Validates cultural naming conventions for titles | ||
| validate_government | Character | <Character ID> (OPTIONAL) | Validates the government type of a character | |
| validate_laws | Character | <Character ID> | Validates laws of the character’s primary holding | |
| validate_lieges | Character | <Title Name> | Checks and validates the liege assignment of a title | |
| version | Debug | Displays the current game version | ||
| window | Debug | <open/close> | <window name> | Opens or closes the specified game window |
| wipe_achievements | Debug | Permanently deletes all CK2 Steam achievements. Irreversible! |
Conclusion
Crusader Kings 2 is an addictive strategy game that gives players a lot of freedom in how they can rule their nation and handle the issues related to securing the throne by future generations of the royal dynasty. If the vanilla game feels too difficult and you’re in need of some tips and tricks to overcome some particularly demanding challenges, you can always resort to console commands that can completely alter the game.