Europa Universalis V console commands guide: all cheats and codes 2026

Europa Universalis V’s console commands are the secret weapon to test builds, escape a stuck campaign, or just have fun rewriting history. This guide covers everything you need to enable and use debug mode in EU5 in 2026 — post-patches 1.1 Rossbach and 1.2 Urban Rights.

TL;DR:

• Enable debug mode: add -debug_mode to Steam launch options
• Open console: ` (backtick) key or ² on AZERTY keyboard
• 30+ essential commands listed below, from basics (cash, manpower) to advanced (event, tag)
• Warning: disables achievements + doesn’t work in Ironman or multiplayer
• Tips: Tab for autocomplete, ↑/↓ for history

Table of contents

• Enable debug mode: step by step
• Open the console per keyboard layout
• The 15 most useful commands
• Advanced commands: events, armies, diplomacy
• Commands for modders and developers
• Pro tips: history, autocomplete, scripts
• Common errors and solutions

Enable debug mode: step by step

Steam version (most common):

1. Open Steam → Library
2. Right-click Europa Universalis V → Properties
3. General tab → Launch options section
4. Paste: -debug_mode
5. Close the window — no need to Save, it’s automatic
6. Launch the game as usual

GOG version:

1. Navigate to the install folder (default C:\GOG Games\Europa Universalis V\binaries\)
2. Create a shortcut to eu5.exe on your desktop
3. Right-click the shortcut → Properties
4. In the Target field, add -debug_mode at the end (after the quotes)
5. Launch the game via this shortcut only

Verification: if debug mode is active, you’ll see “DEBUG MODE” at the top of the main menu screen.

Open the console per keyboard layout

The binding depends on your keyboard layout, and Paradox changed conventions between EU4 and EU5. Test in this order:

If none work, try Shift+2, Shift+3, then remap in the game’s keyboard options.

The 15 most useful commands

These commands cover 95% of solo-play uses:

Resources:

• cash [number] — Adds gold (default: 10000 if no number)
• manpower [number] — Adds military manpower
• sailors [number] — Adds sailors
• prestige [number] — Adds prestige (accepts negative values)
• stability [number] — Modifies stability (-3 to +3)

Tech and institutions:

• research_all — Unlocks all active technologies
• embrace_all — Embraces all current institutions

Territory:

• add_core [province_id] — Adds a core on a province
• conquer [province_id] — Immediately conquers a province
• occupy_country [COUNTRY_TAG] — Militarily occupies an entire country

Control:

• tag [COUNTRY_TAG] — Switch the country you control (e.g. tag FRA for France)
• ai [COUNTRY_TAG] — Toggle AI on/off for a given country
• yesman — Auto-accept all your diplomatic proposals

Debug:

• removefogofwar — Reveals the full map
• fow — Manual toggle of fog of war

Example: cash 100000 gives you 100,000 ducats. tag OTT puts you in the Ottoman Empire.

Advanced commands: events, armies, diplomacy

Trigger a specific event:

• event [event_id] — Triggers an event (see event_id on EU5 wiki)
• event 1001 FRA — Triggers event 1001 on France

War and diplomacy:

• declarewar [TAG] — Instantly declares war on a country
• annex [TAG] — Immediately annexes a target country (not at war required)
• integrate [TAG] — Integrates a vassal immediately

Revolts and stability:

• revolt [rebel_type] — Triggers a revolt of a given type
• religion [religion] — Changes your state religion (e.g. religion protestant)
• culture [culture] — Changes your dominant culture

Armies and fleets:

• add_army [province_id] [amount] — Creates an army in a province
• add_navy [province_id] [amount] — Creates a fleet in a province
• instantmove — Instant unit teleport
• instantwar — Wars resolve in 1 turn

Commands for modders and developers

If you’re modding or testing:

• reload events — Reloads all events without quitting the game
• reload localisation — Reloads translation files
• reload interface — Reloads the UI
• debug_nogui — Hides the UI for screenshots
• debug_info — Shows debug info on the map

Very useful for mod creators — avoids relaunching the game for every test.

Pro tips: history, autocomplete, scripts

Autocomplete: press Tab after typing 2-3 characters of a command to cycle options.

History: use ↑/↓ to browse previously entered commands. Useful when you repeat cash 10000 often.

Scripts via file:

1. Create a file autoexec.cfg in Documents/Paradox Interactive/Europa Universalis V/
2. Add one command per line (e.g. cash 50000 then research_all)
3. Launch the game with -debug_mode — commands execute automatically on load

Copy-paste from the Wiki: the official EU5 Wiki maintains the exhaustive list with all IDs (provinces, events, religions, cultures).

Common errors and solutions

“Console won’t open”:

• Check -debug_mode is in Steam options (with the dash)
• Try multiple keys (`, ², ~, Shift+2)
• Fully close Steam and relaunch

“Achievement impossible”:

• Debug mode disables achievements for the session. That’s normal.
• For achievements, play without debug_mode in Ironman.

“Unknown command”:

• Check case (some commands are case-sensitive)
• Use Tab for autocomplete
• Consult the official EU5 Wiki

“Unknown country tag”:

• EU5 tags are 3 uppercase letters (FRA, OTT, GBR, JPN)
• See the full list on the wiki

To go deeper, see our EU5 6-month review, our Urban Rights patch 1.2 analysis, and our Fate of the Phoenix DLC preview.

Have fun — and remember: an EU5 too easy loses its charm. Use commands in moderation.