Europa Universalis V – A Guide to Use Console Commands (Cheats)
A short and practical guide for enabling the debug console and using cheats in Europa Universalis V. Includes instructions for both Steam and non-Steam versions, plus a list of essential commands.
🧭 Overview
Console commands in Europa Universalis V allow you to alter gameplay, test mechanics, or fix bugs quickly. You can modify everything from gold, manpower, and stability to annexing nations or completing instant wars.
Below are detailed instructions on how to enable and use the console, followed by a curated list of useful commands.
⚙️ How to Activate Console Commands / Cheats in EU5
Steam Version
- Open your Steam Library.
- Right-click Europa Universalis V → Properties.
- Under Launch Options, paste the following line:
-debug_mode - Launch the game.
- Once in-game, press the **
(backtick)** key (usually underEsc`) to open the console.
💡 Tip: You can also use Shift + 2 or Alt + 2 + 1 depending on your keyboard layout.
Non-Steam Version
- Navigate to your installation folder, for example:
C:\GOG Galaxy\Europa Universalis V\binaries - Right-click eu5.exe and Create Shortcut.
- Right-click the shortcut → Properties.
- In the Target field, add this to the end of the line:
-debug_modeExample:"C:\GOG Galaxy\Europa Universalis V\binaries\eu5.exe" -debug_mode - Start the game using this shortcut.
💬 Useful Cheat Codes
There are over 400 console commands in total. Below are some of the most common and helpful ones to get started:
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
cash | Adds 5,000 gold to your treasury. |
manpower | Refills your available manpower. |
sailors | Refills your sailors. |
stability | Sets your stability to +3. |
prestige | Gives you maximum prestige. |
war_exhaustion | Resets your war exhaustion to zero. |
armytradition | Sets Army Tradition to 100%. |
navytradition | Sets Naval Tradition to 100%. |
annex [TAG] | Instantly annexes the specified nation (example: annex FRA). |
🧩 Full List:
For the complete set of commands, visit the extended guide here:
🔗 raiderking.com/europa-universalis-5-all-console-commands-cheats-list
⚠️ Notes
- Cheats are disabled in Ironman Mode and won’t grant achievements.
- Be cautious when using
annexorcashcommands as they can cause instability or balance issues in late game. - To close the console, press the ` key again.
💭 Comments
💬 “This was super useful! Didn’t realize debug_mode works the same as EU4.”
💬 “You saved me hours of testing AI mechanics, thanks!”
By Maximon