Dragon Age 2 cheats, hints and tips & how to enable the Dragon Age 2 cheat console for the PC
87
Dragon Age 2 cheats
Dragon Age 2 is a decent game, but some of the battles are very hard. Therefore you may need some Dragon Age 2 Cheats; you can use them by enabling the Dragon Age 2 cheats console.
Before I tell you how to enable the Dragon Age 2 cheat console, here's a brief review of Dragon Age 2.
Dragon Age 2 is the sequel to the highly successful Dragon Age game. It features excellent graphics, very good sound and a very deep and immersive plot. It has improved the mechanics over the previous game, but still presents the player with some decent challenges and the use of decent strategy becomes important.
Bioware have yet again set the standard by which all other fantasy role playing games will be judged and only the release of Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is likely to provide any real challenge this year.
Realizing that some players will have difficulty with the game, Bioware have left access to a cheat console that can be used to assist the player throughout the game. Personally I'd only use it to get through difficult parts of the game! The Dragon Age 2 Cheats console is very easy to implement, please see the simple instructions below - feel free to ask any questions in the comments section.
- What is Dragon Age 2 like?
After all the hype and expectation Dragon Age 2 was released, and despite the general plaudits, my initial thoughts were simply meh. Im a huge fantasy role playing game (RPG) fan on the PC and Dragon...
How to enable the Dragon Age 2 cheat console
 | Amazon Price: $10.99 List Price: $24.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $18.35 List Price: $19.99 |
Dragon Age 2 Hints and Tips
Talk to members of your party
As with Dragon Age Origins, it’s important to continually talk to your party members. This usually means visiting them at their residence, but you can also gain hints and tips as you chat to them throughout the game.
Combat Tips for Dragon Age 2
- Strategy is very important in Dragon Age 2. Some quests require different styles of party. Where you require stealth you’ll probably want to focus on characters with high Sneak stats.
- Many battles will require a combination that includes at least one ranger and one mages; quite often you can use these characters to pick of the opposition mages and rangers.
- Concentrate firepower – I find that if I have two characters concentrating on one enemy at a time I tend to do a lot better. I try and get to the enemies mage as soon as possible, although where there is a very tough opponent I’ll split my firepower.
- Pause often – the pause button is one of the most useful tools and often gives you chance to check out the battle and amend resources as needed.
- Know your allies – use of the tactics element of the game is needed for easier battles – knowing exactly what your computer controlled allies are going to do is important, and allows you to control the battle even though you can’t control all characters at the same time.
- Ambush – try and lead tough enemies into ambushes – you can achieve this by advanced use of tactics and by ‘holding’ some characters , while others lead the enemies to the ambush.
General Tips
- Don’t rush through the main quest – take time to finish the smaller quests as you’re going to need those extra levels as you progress to the main challenges of the game.
- Try and workout your character’s leveling strategy before you start. Messing around and not focusing on leveling often leads to a weaker character.
How do I enable the Dragon Age 2 Cheat Console?
To be able to use the Dragon Age 2 cheats you must enable the Dragon Age 2 Cheat Console (actually it's a developers console but is generally used to cheat!)
The Dragon Age console cheat below works on Windows 7 and should work on Windows Vista. They work on the digitally dowloaded version but may not work on the steam version. Any updates to the game may negate the cheats. Please note that you should always backup save files before attempting to use cheat codes.
If you have previously cheated on the original Dragon Age game then you'll be happy to hear that the method is basically the same.
Amend DragonAge2.exe shortcut
(Do not amend the icon that may automatically be added to the desktop)
Make a shortcut to the file DragonAge2.exe
- Browse to the folder “C:\Program Files (x86)\Dragon Age2\bin_ship” (on older versions of windows this may be in the Program File folder). (See Screen Shot 1)
- Right click on the file DragonAge2.exe and select 'send to desktop'
- Locate the shortcut on the desktop, right click and add -enabledeveloperconsole to the end of the target. IMPORTANT - the minus sign must be included otherwise this will not work! (See Screen Shot 2)
- The target should be either:
“C:\Program Files (x86)\Dragon Age\bin_ship\DragonAge2.exe” -enabledeveloperconsole
Or
“C:\Program Files\Dragon Age\bin_ship\DragonAge2.exe” -enabledeveloperconsole
The Dragon Age 2 cheat console is now enabled!
Note: for steam version the DragonAge2.exe is in a different folder:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\dragon age ii\bin_ship\DragonAge2.exe
Use above method on this file.
Use console while playing
- Load your most recent save game
- Save it as a different save game - thus you still have your 'un-cheated' game if you want to go back
- Press the ~ key - note do not use shift. You will not that the screen effectively freezes - there is a hidden cheat console. Start typing the cheat codes below - be very accurate and press ENTER after.
A couple of points:
- I do not know if this works on a non-US keyboard. Let me know if it doesn't and I'll add details on how to amend the key bindings so you can set your own cheat key!
- So far I've only found a couple of cheat codes - I'll add more as I find them.
Editing the kebindings.ini
On some machines the default ~ key will not open the console. You can change the keybinding to the console and use a different key to access the Dragon Age 2 cheat console:
- Using Windows Explorer find the folder: C:\Users\xxxxxx\Documents\bioware\daII\settings where xxxxxx is your username on the computer (you can also simply go to the Documents folder)
- Make a copy of the keybindings.ini file.
- Edit the keybindings.inin file and look for the line: OpenConsole_0=Keyboard::Button_Grave
- Change this line to: OpenConsole_0=Keyboard::Button_F12
- (You can use any hot key you want - use one that is not already used by the game)
- Save the file.
Use this key instead of the ~ key in the above instructions
Important Note: some of the cheat codes below (example the XP one) cannot be used during combat).
Known Cheat Codes
Code
| Effect
|
|---|---|
runscript addxp X
| Change the X to a number and all characters receive this amount of XP
|
runscript pc_immortal
| Infiinite Health - select a character and use this code - this character only has infinite health - he/she will still lose health but it will never drop below zero.
|
runscript addmoney X
| adds X copper pieces
|
runscript injury remparty
| removes all injuries from entire party
|
runscript healplayer
| heals entire party
|
runscript zz_app_debug
| opens an approval window - allows changes to approval and romance settings
|
runscript dbg_setattrib [attrib] [value]
| gives a temporary buff to the selected attribute (1-STR etc)
|
Screen Shot 1 - make a desktop icon
Screen Shot 2 - amend the desktop icon target
CommentsLoading...
my screen does freeze when i press ~ adn it unfreezes when i pres "enter" but the cheats don work :P they uset to in Origins... can somebody help?
not_important: some of the Origins cheats will not work - they've been changed slightly - the ones I list in the above table work on my machine!
What version of DA2 do you have? Is it a digital download, steam version or shop bought version?
I did find that I had to be very careful with what I type in the console!
I tried the addxp and addmoney cheat like you listed above, its the 1.00 version... thanks anyway
Does not work for me. Got win7
Drago: does the screen freeze when you hit the ~ key? (Note - do not press shift when doing this!)?
Did you buy the game digitally? from Steam? or froma store?
I did all the options to enable the console as this, among other sites have said, but it still won't work. I have windows vista and the shop bought game.
I have the same problem as Drago. I also have Windows 7, and the console doesn't work for me neither. I tried using a different method from another site (it involved editing the file itself...), and it worked, once. I mean like the second time I tried to play the game (meaning I closed the game then opened it again.), it didn't work. I think I have the Steam version, but....truthfully, I don't know because I got downloaded it online ;D
All: I'll add instructions on how to amend the keybindings - I know this will help some users of Windows 7 and possibly Windows Vista....
BTW Make sure you are editing the actual .exe file DragonAge2.exe - see screen shots.
“C:\Program Files (x86)\Dragon Age 2\bin_ship\DragonAge2.exe” -enabledeveloperconsole
I'm having the same problem. Windows 7 Steam version. I've done the shortcut addition and tried putting the -enabledeveloperconsole line in the steam launch options and I still can't get to it. I've tried running it as administrator and just running it normally. And I've played around with different keybindings too. It's not worked for me once.
Knyte:
Try opening the main steam window - find the games library. right click on the game and choose properties - click the set launch options button. Put -enabledeveloperconsole in there and click ok.
Launch the game through steam see if that works. When you open the console you don't actually see any text or anything and are typing blind. If you don't move forward when pressing W you know the console is open.
Just found this too on a forum:
Just got the steam version to work. Don't make the shortcut. Just go into Steam Library and set the Launch Options to -enabledeveloperconsole
Next go into the DragonAge2Launcher.xml and find
go to your KeyBindings.ini and find OpenConsole_0=Keyboard::Button_Grave
change the 0 to 1 so it looks like OpenConsole_1=Keyboard::Button_Grave
Start up the game and hit the ` key and you should not be able to move thus being able to type in your cheats
Hope this helps
WOOT! It worked :DDD Thnx so much >> Took me a while tho, cuz I tried it with a different key, but it didn't work. Again, Ty :D
Good to know, I have been playing dragon age 2 the last few days, great game, I have not needed any cheats but the cash one could come in handy.
Useful +1
hey i tried doing this but i get a "problem with shortcut" error Im running win7 and it was store bought
Dave: it sounds like the 'target' isn't quite setup correctly. basically you edit the target - add a space and then type the -enabledeveloperconsole
I created a Youtube video (see above) which shows the process of creating the desktop icon and editing....
So I tried editing the gamefile (dragonagelauncher2.xml) to add the line in after autoquit true and all that but that still doesn't work. Also played around with diffrent key bindings in case that was it but it's not pulling up the console. I guess I'm just not destined to cheat. Thanks for the help though :)
BTW my game file line looks like this, autoquit="true" arguements="-enabledeveloperconsole" />
At one point I even had the xml edited, the steam launch option line in and the shorcut edited and it stil didn't work.
Also, in changing the keybinding from OpenConsole_0 to _1 I now have two lines that say OpenConsole_1. The first one is assigned to a hotkey, the 2nd one is set to UNASSIGNED.
I don't know if this matters, but the XML file has a little lock icon on it. At this point that's all I can think of that might be causing a problem.
Sorry for the multiple posts but it's working now! Thanks for everything.
Knyte: no problem about the multiple posting! Great to hear things are working!
hey, I followed all the instructions, i have the store bought game and Vista 64 bit, but neither the tilde nor the ctrl+x option are working. when i "`" and try to type the healplayer cheat for example, the menus (character, inventory etc) start opening up and the cheats dont work.
Can you please help me with that?
Leah,
if the character menu is popping open when you try to access the console, it's because the game did not recognize the tilde key press. As noted above, hit the un-shifted tilde key, type the desired cheat code, then hit , . and in that order.
Leah,
if the character menu is popping open when you try to access the console, it's because the game did not recognize the tilde key press. As noted above, hit the un-shifted tilde key, type the desired cheat code, then hit enter, tilde. and enter in that order.
Sorry, the page didn't like having the keys offset by less than/greater than signs; hence the double post.
It seems that some of the cheats, such as runscript pc_immortal, are not as persistent as they were in DAO. In DAO about the only time immortality needed to be reset is if you switched from controlling the Warden to a different party member. It also happened moving between areas in the final battle. In DA 2, it seems as though immortality has to be reset every time you enter a different area on the map, as well as if you switch control from Hawke to a different party member.
So I believe I have the .dragonage2launcher.xml file correctly altered () And I have the key binding set to OpenConsole_1=Keyboard::Button_Grave. Anyone want to tell me why the console isn't opening?
So I believe I have the .dragonage2launcher.xml file correctly altered And I have the key binding set to OpenConsole_1=Keyboard::Button_Grave. Anyone want to tell me why the console isn't opening?
This is what the .xml file looks like:
Sorry for the multi posts, it seems it won't allow me to post greater than/less than signs.
This is what the .xml file looks like:
true action="execute" file="${BINARIES_DIR}\DragonAge2.exe" path="${BINARIES_DIR}" autoquit="true" arguments="-enabledeveloperconsole" /
but with the greater than/less than signs.
Josh, you don't edit the xml file. Simply right click on your Dragon Age 2 icon. Go to Properties. Make sure that the target line points to Program Files x86/Dragon Age 2/bin_ship/DragonAge2.exe. Once it does, add -enabledeveloperconsole at the end of the line with a single space between exe and the hyphen. That's all that needs to be done. Now when you are in the game, you just need to hit the tilde key and type in the code you want to use. You then need to hit Enter, tilde, and Enter to activate the cheat code and close the console. You should see a quick message in the middle of the screen saying something like Immortal=1 or something related to whichever code you used. If done properly you can now move again (activating the console freezes you). If you can't; then hit enter, and you should be fine. Be aware, that although you are frozen while the console is open, the action will continue around you.
Be aware, as I mentioned previously, that at least some of the cheats (like pc_immortal), which were more or less persistent in Origins, have to be set each time you move from one area to another. If you are using the immortality cheat, and go from High Town to Dark Town for instance, you lose your immortality and have to redo the cheat. When you leave Dark Town to go to the Docks, it needs to be redone again. This appears to be true each and every time you go from one area to another.
hey gordon, thanks a lot, but it didn't work, so i reread everything and finally tried the F12 option by changing the keybindings file. guess my laptop's one of "some machines". thanks again.
Hey thanks, but 1 thing I totally forgot to mention is that I am trying this trhough the steam version of the game.
Josh: see my comment from 12 days ago - there's instructions and a link for the steam version!
hey i did everything of the above and i actually can bring up the console window, glad that works already....
but for some reason.. it doesn't mather what cheat i type in... nothing happens... the console works... the cheats and enter not....
what should i do about that?
i got the downloaded version if that mathers anything...
Jordy: I noticed that some of the cheats don't work if you're in the middle of a battel. I know the 'runscript pc_immortal' does, but the gold one, and the level up you have to do outside of a battle.
You have to be very careful when entering - and press Enter at the end.....I also have the downloaded version..
nice hub, i like games.
simey: well i almost always type them outside battle.... most of the time in the hawke estate.... certainly no battle there i guess =) .... but well gold and exp still don't work or whatever other cheat
I can't wait to get my paws on this.
my friend got this game but had no cd drive so did a crazything works great now i have the same thing i followed the directions and nothing on the game did another thing from another site nothing help contact me on utube ps 1.0 win 7
my friend got this game but had no cd drive so did a crazything works great now i have the same thing i followed the directions and nothing on the game did another thing from another site nothing help contact me on youutube ps 1.0 win 7 youtube account schoolboyz92
target box is invalid if you add the -enabledeveloperconsole. It says make sure the path and file name is correct
James make sure there's a space between the last " and the minus sign. Should look like:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Dragon Age 2\bin_ship\DragonAge2.exe" -enabledeveloperconsole
Assuming you installed in the same folder as I did - you can probably copy and past this....
OOo tnx a lot it works :)HUB ruels !:D
i need ur help..how to put f12 in OpenConsole_0=Keyboard::Button_..i have try push "F12" button but it is not working.
umm cheats are not working for me well my screen doesn't freeze so i do not know what is going wrong i bought daII from steam is that the problem?
The Man - this is from another forum:
"Just got the steam version to work. Don't make the shortcut. Just go into Steam Library and set the Launch Options to -enabledeveloperconsole
Next go into the DragonAge2Launcher.xml and find
go to your KeyBindings.ini and find OpenConsole_0=Keyboard::Button_Grave
change the 0 to 1 so it looks like OpenConsole_1=Keyboard::Button_Grave
Start up the game and hit the ` key and you should not be able to move thus being able to type in your cheats
Hope this helps
MOre at:
yea i just tried what you said and it still will not work...i'm starting to wonder if this thing just hates me
thnx for posting that site it helped
i don't think ur xp cheat is working though none of my people are gaining xp but everything else seems to be working
The man: some of the cheats don't work during combat - they worked for me - I'll check my 'typing' when I get a chance!
umm important note it seems like the xp cheat does do something if u put it in u can't gain xp normally so you will be stuck at whatever lvl u r
hi,im in trouble in doing cheat cause im in version 1.00 can anybody help me...
ridwan - the version shouldn't matter. Check out the Youtube - the file you use is importan as is the way you add the -enabledeveloperconsole
Also if you have the steam version this method may not work - but if you check out the other comments above there is a link to a forum where there is a method for the Steam version..
how to make the backup file
please simeyc...how can i save the dragonage2 xml file its just always error after i edit it
i have windoes 7 and store bought, the cheats dont work, and everytime i try typing them in it always goes to something involving my charcters.
ridwan: not sure - I'll see if I can do some research - have you tried saving as a different filename and then editing the filename in Windows Explorer - it's always a good idea to make a copy of the file first anyway.
ananymos: I have Windows 7 and the cheat mode works for me - check out my Youtube video - and make sure you change the right file and add the -enabledeveloperconsole exactly - also you might want to try different keybindings.
Hey. I have windows 7 and a store bought game and i managed to get the console working fine but the cheats dont work. when i press enter nothing happens. Ive tried the different cheats above to test it. I really just wanna get rid of that sketchy quest bug.
crystolite 14 months ago
Nice hub,thanks