Step-by-step guides, community tutorials, and real user experiences to master memory scanning, pointers, and scripting.
After installing Cheat Engine, run the built-in tutorial from your Start Menu (or Programs). It walks you through:
Reaching at least step 5 gives you a solid base. Many forum users recommend completing the full tutorial for pointers and code injection.
Classic forum tutorial using Pinball. Good for understanding the basics in a simple game.
Clearer walkthrough of the first seven steps of the CE tutorial.
How to make a cheat activate only while a key is held.
Custom scan and display formatting for values stored differently in memory.
When you don’t know the exact value (e.g. health bar with no number), use Unknown initial value, then Scan type: Changed value or Unchanged value after you take damage or heal. Filter repeatedly until the list is manageable, then try changing values to find the right one.
Common approach shared on the forum and wiki.
Many games store health as a Float (e.g. 0.0–1.0 or 0–100.0). If exact value search with 4 Bytes gives too many or no results, try Float or Double. See wiki: Finding values - Floats / Integers.
Direct addresses often change when you restart the game (ASLR, dynamic allocation). Use Pointer Scan to find a pointer path that stays valid across restarts. The built-in tutorial and wiki “Pointers” and “Cheat Engine Tutorial Guide (x64/x32)” cover this.
You can use Lua to auto-attach to a process by name and run scripts when the process is opened. Forum and wiki: “How to setup a Lua auto attach script”, “Introduction to Lua with CE: Beginner to Basic Script Writer”. .CT files can contain Lua scripts; only use tables from trusted sources (scripts can do anything CE can).
| Goal | Typical steps |
|---|---|
| Find a known number (gold, ammo) | Exact value → Next scan (change value in game) → Add to list / Freeze |
| Find unknown value (health bar) | Unknown initial value → Changed/Unchanged → repeat → try editing |
| Stable address after restart | Pointer scan from found address; use pointer in table |
| Change code (infinite ammo, etc.) | Find what writes → Auto Assembler (injection or replace) |
| Unity / Mono game | Mono menu (Activate mono features) → .NET/Mono dissector; wiki Mono tutorials |