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Age of Empires II Cheats

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition uses classic typed word-cheats: during a single-player game you open the chat box and type a phrase, then press Enter to activate it. Codes are not case-sensitive and must use the exact spelling and spacing shown. Resource cheats grant 10,000 of a resource in the Definitive Edition (the classic 1999 game gave 1,000), and unit-spawn cheats drop a unit at your Town Center. Cheats work only in single-player (or multiplayer where the host enabled "Allow Cheats"), and using any cheat disables achievements and the scenario medal for that session.

Cheats
31
Platforms
All platforms
Type
Built-in cheat codes
Last reviewed
November 1, 2026

Before you use cheats: Single-player only by default; in multiplayer the host must enable "Allow Cheats" in lobby settings or the codes do nothing. Using any cheat code disables achievements/Gamerscore for that session and forfeits the medal earned in a single-player scenario, on both PC and Xbox. "natural wonders" is irreversible: you gain control of all map wildlife but permanently lose control of your own civilization for the rest of the match. "photon man" is an event-limited unit cheat that was only unlocked during the Anniversary Event and later limited events, so it may not be available on your account. "torpedo" must be followed by an opponent's player number from the diplomacy screen (e.g. torpedo10 targets player 10). Cheats are an intended built-in feature with no save-corruption or ban risk in single-player.

How to enter cheats

PC

During a single-player game (or a multiplayer lobby with "Allow Cheats" enabled), press Enter to open the chat box. Type the cheat exactly as shown (codes are not case-sensitive but spelling and spacing must match) and press Enter again to activate. Unit-spawn cheats require a standing Town Center; the unit appears there. Toggle cheats (marco, polo, aegis, noui) are turned off by typing the same code again.

Xbox

Cheats use the same typed phrases. Hold the Left Trigger (LT) and press the View button to open the Quick Taunts menu, then press LT again to reach the Cheats entry menu and enter the code. As on PC, cheats are single-player only (or a lobby with cheats allowed), and using one disables achievements for that session.

All Age of Empires II cheats

31 cheats

Resource Cheats (5)

  • Adds 10,000 Food

    Definitive Edition grants 10,000; the original 1999 game gave 1,000.

    All platforms
    cheese steak jimmy's

  • Adds 10,000 Wood

    DE grants 10,000 (classic gave 1,000).

    All platforms
    lumberjack

  • Adds 10,000 Gold

    DE grants 10,000 (classic gave 1,000).

    All platforms
    robin hood

  • Adds 10,000 Stone

    DE grants 10,000 (classic gave 1,000).

    All platforms
    rock on

  • Adds 100,000 of all four resources (Food, Wood, Gold, Stone) at once

    Definitive Edition addition. The developer-named codes ninjaconnor and rowshep give the same 100,000 of each resource.

    All platforms
    ninjalui

Build, Tech & Population Cheats (2)

  • Instant build, research, and unit training (toggle) - buildings, technologies and units complete immediately

    Toggle: type aegis again to turn it back off.

    All platforms
    aegis

  • Lets you research the same technology up to 256 times, stacking its effect

    Definitive Edition addition; useful for stacking upgrade bonuses.

    All platforms
    going above and beyond

Map, Vision & Interface Cheats (4)

  • Reveals the entire map (toggle)

    Type marco again to hide the map. Pairs with polo.

    All platforms
    marco

  • Removes the fog of war (toggle)

    Type polo again to restore fog. Pairs with marco.

    All platforms
    polo

  • Hides/disables the in-game user interface (toggle)

    Definitive Edition addition. Type noui again to bring the UI back.

    All platforms
    noui

  • Take control of the map's wildlife/Gaia units (gain line of sight and control of all animals and birds)

    IRREVERSIBLE: you permanently lose control of your own civilization's units for the rest of the match.

    All platforms
    natural wonders

Win & Lose Cheats (5)

  • Instantly win the current game

    All platforms
    i r winner

  • Instantly lose / resign the current game

    All platforms
    resign

  • Kills your own player (you are defeated)

    All platforms
    wimpywimpywimpy

  • Kills/defeats all opponents at once

    All platforms
    black death

  • Kills a single specific opponent by their player number from the diplomacy screen

    Append the target's player number with no space, e.g. torpedo10 defeats player 10; valid numbers depend on players in the match.

    All platforms
    torpedo<number>

Special Unit & Vehicle Spawns (8)

  • Spawns a Cobra Car ("Saboteur on wheels" / AC Cobra) - a fast machine-gun vehicle

    Requires a Town Center; unit spawns there.

    All platforms
    how do you turn this on

  • Spawns Furious the Monkey Boy - a powerful fast melee unit

    Requires a Town Center.

    All platforms
    furious the monkey boy

  • Spawns Alfred the Alpaca - a strong unit

    Requires a Town Center.

    All platforms
    alpaca simulator

  • Spawns Sharkatzor (a cat riding a jetpack shark)

    Requires a Town Center. Definitive Edition addition.

    All platforms
    catzor

  • Spawns a Saboteur - a powerful explosive suicide unit

    Requires a Town Center.

    All platforms
    to smithereens

  • Spawns a Penguin unit

    Requires a Town Center. Definitive Edition addition.

    All platforms
    i don't exist

  • Spawns a VMDL unit - a fast but useless mannequin-like unit (counts toward population)

    Requires a Town Center.

    All platforms
    i love the monkey head

  • Spawns the Photon Man - a futuristic spacesuit trooper with a laser gun

    Event-limited: only unlocked during the Anniversary Event and later limited events, so it may be unavailable on your account. Requires a Town Center.

    All platforms
    photon man

Transformation & Fun Cheats (5)

  • Replaces all birds with Stormy Dog units

    Cosmetic/fun effect.

    All platforms
    woof woof

  • Converts all your villagers into Monks

    Definitive Edition addition.

    All platforms
    flemish reformation

  • Replaces all your infantry with Elite Teutonic Knights

    Definitive Edition addition.

    All platforms
    put on your capes

  • Turns all your Camel units into Flaming Camels

    Definitive Edition addition. Spelled "cameleon".

    All platforms
    cameleon

  • Replaces Mangudai with Genghis Khan (in the Genghis Khan campaign)

    Definitive Edition addition; tied to the Genghis Khan campaign units.

    All platforms
    yes we khan

Taunt / Audio Controls (2)

  • Silences/mutes opponent taunts

    Chat-box command.

    All platforms
    !mute

  • Re-enables opponent taunts

    Reverses !mute.

    All platforms
    !nomute

This covers the standard and Definitive Edition word-cheats corroborated across multiple trusted sources. A few additional codes appear in only a single guide and could not be cross-confirmed, so they are omitted to avoid inaccuracy: "my cpu can handle it" (claimed +1,000 population cap), "sharing is caring" (claimed team resource sharing), and "tech tech one two free" (claimed free technologies). Note also that "e=mc2 trooper" and "big momma" are cheats from the original Age of Empires (1997/AoE1: DE), NOT Age of Empires II, and were excluded. AoE2 has no item-ID/spawn-ID table; all cheats are fixed word phrases.

FAQ

How do you enter cheats in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition?

Make sure cheats are allowed when setting up the match, then press Enter during the game to open the chat box, type the cheat code, and press Enter again. Codes are not case sensitive.

Do Age of Empires 2 cheats work on Xbox?

Yes. The Definitive Edition is on PC and Xbox, and cheat codes work on both. On Xbox you open the in-game chat box to type the code, using a connected keyboard or the on-screen keyboard.

Do cheats disable achievements in Age of Empires 2?

Yes. Using cheat codes in a single-player scenario disables the scenario medal and any campaign-related achievements for that playthrough, so use them in casual or practice games if you still want progress.

Do Age of Empires 2 cheats work in multiplayer?

No. Cheat codes are single-player only and are disabled in ranked and online multiplayer matches. They only function in single-player games where cheats were enabled before the match started.

Is there a money or resource cheat in Age of Empires 2?

Yes. There are separate codes that instantly grant a set amount of each resource (gold, food, wood, and stone). Cheat resource units appear at your Town Center, so you need one standing for them to work.

Why are my Age of Empires 2 cheat codes not working?

The most common reasons are that cheats were not enabled when the match was set up, that you are in a multiplayer game, or that you typed the code into the wrong text field. Open the chat box, retype the code exactly, and confirm a Town Center is present for unit cheats.

Checked against

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