Commands
- This article is about commands. For a chart of keyboard keys and their uses, see Commands (by key).
In NetHack, a command is an action you want the game to perform. This includes actions your character might do, gathering information about your character or the game, or even modifying the behavior of the game itself.
In previous versions of NetHack, commands were separated into two main categories: normal commands, which predominantly were by default bound to single character keys, and extended commands, which were somewhat less common and either didn't have a default keybinding or were executed with a modifier key like alt or ctrl. These "extended commands" are entered by typing # and entering the command name.
NetHack 3.6.1 does not make a meaningful distinction between normal commands and extended commands, providing most normal commands with an "extended" form, and can be entered either by their respective keybinding or the extended way. 3.6.1 also adds the custom keybinding system, where players can arbitrarily re-bind commands to particular keys or key combinations. When setting these, the "extended" format command name is used. For more information see the binding keys main article.
When entering commands with the # prefix, some commands will autocomplete after only a few letters. This behavior can be modified with the AUTOCOMPLETE option.
Commands
Here is a list of commands, their default keybinding, and a short description.
| Command | Shortcuts | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| adjust | alt + a | Adjust inventory letters. |
| annotate | alt + A | Leave a note about the level. |
| apply | a | Apply (use) a tool. |
| attributes | ctrl + x | Show your attributes. |
| autopickup | @ | Toggle autopickup on/off. |
| call | C | Name a monster or object, or add an annotation. |
| cast | Z | Cast a spell. |
| chat | alt + c | Talk to someone. |
| close | c | Close a door. |
| conduct | alt + C | List which challenges you have adhered to. |
| dip | alt + d | Dip an object into something. |
| down | > | Go down a staircase. |
| drop | d | Drop an item. |
| droptype | D | Drop specific item types. |
| eat | e | Eat something. |
| engrave | E | Engrave writing on the floor. |
| enhance | alt + e | Advance or check weapons skills. |
| exploremode | Change your game mode to explore mode. | |
| fire | f | Fire ammunition from quiver. |
| force | alt + f | Force a lock. |
| glance | ; | Show what a map symbol means. |
| help | ?, h† | Show the help menu. |
| herecmdmenu | Show a menu of possible actions in your current location. | |
| history | V | Show long version and game history. |
| inventory | i | Show your inventory. |
| inventtype | I | Inventory specific item types. |
| invoke | alt + i | Invoke an object's powers. |
| jump | alt + j, j† | Jump to a location. |
| kick | ctrl + d, k† | Kick something. |
| known | \ | Show discovered objects. |
| knownclass | ` | Show discovered objects of one type. |
| look | : | Look at what is under you. |
| loot | alt + l, l† | Loot a box on the floor. |
| monster | alt + m | Use a monster's special ability. |
| name | alt + n, C, n† | Name an item or type of object. |
| offer | alt + o | Offer a sacrifice to the gods. |
| open | o | Open a door. |
| options | O | Show and change settings. |
| overview | alt + O, ctrl + o | Display an overview of the dungeon. |
| pay | p | Pay your shopping bill. |
| pickup | , | Pick up things at current location. |
| pray | alt + p | Pray to the gods for help. |
| prevmsg | ctrl + p | Show previously displayed game messages. |
| puton | P | Put on an accessory. |
| quaff | q | Drink something. |
| quit | alt + q | Exit without saving current game. |
| quiver | Q | Select ammunition for quiver. |
| read | r | Read a scroll, spellbook, or something else. |
| redraw | ctrl + r, ctrl + l† | Redraw the screen. |
| remove | R | Remove an accessory. |
| ride | alt + R | Ride (or stop riding) a monster. |
| rub | alt + r | Rub a lamp or a stone. |
| save | S | Save the game and exit. |
| search | s | Search for unseen things near you. |
| seeall | * | Show all equipment in use. |
| seeamulet | " | Show currently worn amulet. |
| seearmor | [ | Show currently worn armor. |
| seegold | $ | Count your gold. |
| seerings | = | Show currently worn ring(s). |
| seespells | + | List and reorder known spells. |
| seetools | ( | Show tools currently in use. |
| seetrap | ^ | Show the type of an adjacent trap. |
| seeweapon | ) | Show currently wielded weapons. |
| shell | ! | Do a shell escape. (Disabled on most NetHack servers.) |
| sit | alt + s | Sit down. |
| suspend | ctrl + z | Suspend the game. |
| swap | x | Swap wielded and secondary weapons. |
| takeoff | T | Take off one piece of armor. |
| takeoffall | A | Remove all armor. |
| teleport | ctrl + t | Teleport around the level. |
| terrain | Show the map without monsters, objects, or traps. | |
| therecmdmenu | Show menu of possible actions in an adjacent location. | |
| throw | t | Throw something. |
| tip | alt + T | Tip over a container. |
| travel | _ | Travel to a specific location on the map. |
| turn | alt + t | Turn undead.[1] |
| twoweapon | X, alt + 2†† | Toggle two-weapon combat. |
| untrap | alt + u, u† | Untrap something. |
| up | < | Go up a staircase. |
| version | alt + v | List compile time options for this version of NetHack. |
| versionshort | v | Show version string. |
| wait | . | Rest one move while doing nothing. |
| wear | W | Wear a piece of armor. |
| whatdoes | & | Tell what a key does. |
| whatis | / | Show what type of a thing a symbol corresponds to. |
| wield | w | Wield a weapon. |
| wipe | alt + w | Wipe off your face. |
| zap | z | Zap a wand. |
| ? | alt + ? | Get this list of commands. |
(†) These keybindings are only present when the number_pad option is enabled.
(††) These keybindings are only present when the number_pad option is disabled.
Wizard-mode commands
Playing in wizard mode adds several commands:
| Command | Shortcut | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| levelchange | Change your experience level. | |
| lightsources | Show mobile light sources. | |
| monpolycontrol | Control monster polymorphs. | |
| panic | Test the panic routine. | |
| polyself | Polymorph self. | |
| seenv | Show seen vectors. | |
| stats | Show memory statistics. | |
| timeout | Look at the timeout queue. | |
| vanquished | List vanguished monsters. | |
| vision | Show vision array. | |
| wizdebug_bury | Bury objects under and around you. | |
| wizdebug_traveldisplay | Toggle travel display. | |
| wizdetect | ctrl + e | Search a room. |
| wizgenesis | ctrl + g | Create a monster. |
| wizidentify | ctrl + i | Identify all items in inventory. |
| wizintrinsic | Set intrinsic. | |
| wizlevelport | ctrl + v | Teleport to another level. |
| wizmap | ctrl + f | Map the level. |
| wizrumorcheck | Verify rumor boundaries. | |
| wizsmell | Smell monster. | |
| wizwhere | Show locations of special levels. | |
| wizwish | ctrl + w | Wish for something. |
| wmode | Show wall modes. |
SLASH'EM
SLASH'EM adds the following extended commands:
| Command | Short Description |
|---|---|
| 2weapon | Alias of 'Twoweapon'. |
| Borrow | steals gold from monsters. |
| Technique | use a technique. |
| Youpoly | Polymorph at will, as a Doppelganger, Flame mage, or Ice mage. |
Notes
This page may need to be updated for the current version of NetHack.
It may contain text specific to NetHack 3.6.1. Information on this page may be out of date.
Editors: After reviewing this page and making necessary edits, please change the {{nethack-361}} tag to the current version's tag or {{noversion}} as appropriate.
