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.
Directional keys
| y | k | u | ||
| ↖ | ↑ | ↗ | ||
| h | ← | → | l | |
| ↙ | ↓ | ↘ | ||
| b | j | n |
| Numpad 7 | Numpad 8 | Numpad 9 | ||
| ↖ | ↑ | ↗ | ||
| Numpad 4 | ← | → | Numpad 6 | |
| ↙ | ↓ | ↘ | ||
| Numpad 1 | Numpad 2 | Numpad 3 |
Available ony if number_pad option need to be enabled.
Commands
Here is a list of commands, their default keybinding, and a short description.
Meta Key
| System | Key |
|---|---|
| NT, OS/2, PC and ST | Alt |
| Amiga | Set altmeta option |
Controls
| Category | Action | Command | Key | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cancel | ESC | |||
| Redo last command | Ctrl + a | |||
| Panic button | Ctrl + c | Quit the game. | ||
| Shell Commands | Save | #save | S | Save the game and exit. |
| Quit | #quit | Meta + q | Exit without saving current game. | |
| Suspend | #suspend | ctrl + z | Suspend the game (UNIX(R) versions with job control only). | |
| Message | Repeat previous messages | #prevmsg | ctrl + p | Show previously displayed game messages. |
| Help on commands | #whatdoes | & | Tell what a key does. | |
| #? | Meta + ?††† | Get the list of available extended commands. | ||
| Help, in game | Help (in-game) | #help | ? | Show the help menu. |
| h† | ||||
| What is | #whatis | / | Show what type of a thing a symbol corresponds to. | |
| Far look | #glance | ; | Show what a map symbol means. | |
| #therecmdmenu | Show menu of possible actions in an adjacent location.[1] | |||
| In game options | Explore mode | #exploremode | Enter non-scoring game exploring/discovery mode. Used for learning about the game. | |
| Autopickup | #autopickup | @ | Toggle autopickup on/off. | |
| Terrain | #terrain | Show the map without monsters, objects, or traps. | ||
| Motion | Direction keys | Go one step in the direction indicated | ||
| Uppercase Direction keys | Go in that direction until you hit a wall | |||
| m + Direction keys | Move without picking up objects or fighting | |||
| M + Direction keys | Move far, no pickup | |||
| g + Direction keys | Move until something interesting is found. | |||
| G + Direction keys | Same as g + Direction keys, but forking of corridors is not considered interesting. | |||
| Ctrl + Direction keys | ||||
| Staircase | #up | < | Go up a staircase. | |
| #down | > | Go down a staircase. | ||
| Travel | #travel | _ | Travel to a specific location on the map. | |
| m + _ | m prefix shows a menu of interesting targets in sight without asking to move the cursor. | |||
| Teleport | #teleport | Ctrl + t | Teleport around the level, if you have the ability. | |
| Jump | #jump | Meta + j | Jump to a location. | |
| j† | ||||
| Other actions | Wipe | #wipe | Meta + w | Wipe off your face. |
| Sit | #sit | Meta + s | Sit down. | |
| Rest | #wait | . | Rest one move while doing nothing. | |
| Space if rest_on_space is on. | ||||
| Battle | F + Direction keys | Fight a monster (even if you only guess one is there). | ||
| Firing | #fire | f | Fire ammunition from quiver. | |
| Quiver | #quiver | Q | Select ammunition for quiver. | |
| Zap | #zap | z | Zap a wand. | |
| Spellcasting | #cast | Z | Cast a spell. | |
| Throw | #throw | t | Throw something. | |
| Explore | Near look | #look | : | Look at what is under you. |
| Search | #search | s | Search for unseen things near you. | |
| Engrave | #engrave | E | Engrave writing on the floor. | |
| Trap | #seetrap | ^ | Show the type of an adjacent trap. | |
| untrap | #untrap | alt + u | Untrap something. | |
| u† |
| 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. |
| call | C | Name a monster or object, or add an annotation. |
| 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. |
| drop | d | Drop an item. |
| droptype | D | Drop specific item types. |
| eat | e | Eat something. |
| enhance | alt + e | Advance or check weapons skills.
|
| force | alt + f | Force a lock. |
| 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. |
| kick | Ctrl + d, k† | Kick something. |
| known | \ | Show discovered objects. |
| knownclass | ` | Show discovered objects of one type. |
| 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. |
| puton | P | Put on an accessory. |
| quaff | q | Drink something.
|
| 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. |
| 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. |
| seeweapon | ) | Show currently wielded weapons. |
| shell | ! | Do a shell escape. (Disabled on most NetHack servers.)
|
| swap | x | Swap wielded and secondary weapons. |
| takeoff | T | Take off one piece of armor. |
| takeoffall | A | Remove all armor. |
| tip | alt + T | Tip over a container. |
| turn | alt + t | Turn undead.[2] |
| twoweapon | X, alt + 2†† | Toggle two-weapon combat.
|
| version | alt + v | List compile time options for this version of NetHack. |
| versionshort | v | Show version string. |
| wear | W | Wear a piece of armor. |
| wield | w | Wield a weapon.
|
(†) These keybindings are only present when the number_pad option is enabled.
(††) These keybindings are only present when the number_pad option is disabled.
††† Not supported on all platforms
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 command currently does not function properly; see this commit.
- ↑ This command is related to the D&D concept of "undead turning"; it does not cause your character to suddenly become an undead monster!
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.
