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

Keyboard

y		k		u
	↖	↑	↗
h	←		→	l
	↙	↓	↘
b		j		n

Numpad^†

Numpad 7		Numpad 8		Numpad 9
	↖	↑	↗
Numpad 4	←		→	Numpad 6
	↙	↓	↘
Numpad 1		Numpad 2		Numpad 3

(^†)Available ony if number_pad option is 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	Extended 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.
		#herecmdmenu		Show a menu of possible actions in your current location.
		#therecmdmenu		Show menu of possible actions in an adjacent location.
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	Fight		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	Meta + u	Untrap something.
			u†

In Game Status

Category	Action	Extended Command	Key	Short Description
	Character info	#attributes	Ctrl + x	Display basic information about your character.
	Conduct	#conduct	Meta + C	List which challenges you have adhered to.
Current equipment		#seeall	*	Show all equipment in use.
	Amulet	#seeamulet	"	Show currently worn amulet.
	Armor	#seearmor	[	Show currently worn armor.
	Gold	#seegold	$	Count your gold.
	Ring	#seerings	=	Show currently worn ring(s).
	Spellcasting	#seespells	+	List and reorder known spells.
	Tool	#seetools	(	Show tools currently in use.
	Weapon	#seeweapon	)	Show currently wielded weapons.
Discoveries		#known	\	Show discovered objects.
		#knownclass	`	Show discovered objects of one type.
Dungeon	Overview	#overview	Meta + O	Display an overview of the dungeon.
			Ctrl + o†
	Annotate	#annotate	Meta + A	Leave a note about the level.
			Ctrl + n†

Equipment, Skills & Inventory

Category	Action	Extended Command	Key	Short Description
Equipment	Twoweapon	#twoweapon	X	Toggle two-weapon combat.
			Meta + 2††
	Take off	#takeoffall	A	Remove all armor.
	Put on	#puton	P	Put on an accessory.
	Remove	#remove	R	Remove an accessory (ring, amulet, or blindfold).
	Take off	#takeoff	T	Take off one piece of armor.
	Wield	#wield	w	Wield a weapon.
	Wear	#wear	W	Wear a piece of armor.
	Swap weapons	#swap	x	Swap wielded and secondary weapons.
	Apply	#apply	a	Apply (use) a tool. If used on a wand, that wand will be broken, releasing its magic in the process.
			m + a	m prefix skips items if the tool used acts on items on the floor
	Quiver	#quiver	Q	Select ammunition for quiver.
Skills	Enhance	#enhance	Meta + e	Advance or check weapons skills.
Inventory		#inventory	i	Show your inventory.
		#inventtype	I	List inventory by type.
			I + *	List all gems in inventory.
			I + u	List all unpaid items
			I + x	List all used up items that are on your shopping bill
			I + B	List all items known to be blessed
			I + U	List all items known to be uncursed
			I + C	List all items known to be cursed
			I + X	List all items whose bless/curse status is unknown
			I + $	Count your money.
	Call	#call	C	Name a monster or object, or add an annotation.
	Name	#name	Meta + n	Name an item or type of object.
			N†
	Adjust	#adjust	Meta + a	Adjust inventory letters.

Character interaction

Category	Action	Extended Command	Key	Short Description
	Chat	#chat	Meta + c	Talk to someone, monster or creature.
Shop	Pay bill	#pay	p	Pay your shopping bill.
Creature	Ride	#ride	Meta + R	Ride (or stop riding) a monster.
	Call	#call	C	Name a monster or object, or add an annotation.
	Name	#name	Meta + n	Name an item or type of object.
			N†
	Monster Ability	#monster	Meta + m	Use a monster's special ability.
	Turn undead away	#turn	Meta + t	Turn undead.
Gods	Pray	#pray	Meta + p	Pray to the gods for help.
	Offer	#offer	Meta + o	Offer a sacrifice to the gods.

Item interaction

Category	Action	Extended Command	Key	Short Description
Basics	Pick up	#pickup	,	Pick up things at current location.
			m + ,	m prefix to force a selection menu
	Drop	#drop	d	Drop an item.
		#droptype	D	Drop specific item types.
			D + B	Drop all objects known to be blessed.
			D + U	Drop all objects known to be uncursed.
			D + C	Drop all objects known to be cursed.
			D + X	Drop all objects of unknown B/U/C status.
			D + a	Drop all objects, without asking for confirmation.
			D + i	Examine your inventory before dropping anything.
			D + u	Drop only unpaid objects (when in a shop).
			D + m	Use a menu to pick which object(s) to drop.
			D + % + u	Drop only unpaid food.
	Kick	#kick	Ctrl + d	Kick something.
			k†
	Read	#read	r	Read a scroll, spellbook, or something else.
	Eat	#eat	e	Eat something.
			m + e	m prefix skips eating items on the floor.
	Drink	#quaff	q	Drink something.
	Rub	#rub	Meta + r	Rub a lamp or a stone.
	Dip	#dip	Meta + d	Dip an object into something.
	Invoke	#invoke	Meta + i	Invoke an object's powers.
	Throw	#throw	t	Throw something.
Containers,bag,box	Tip	#tip	Meta + T	Tip over a container.
	Loot	#loot	Meta + l	Loot a box on the floor.
			l†
Doors	Open door	#open	o	Open a door.
	Close door	#close	c	Close a door.
Lock	Force lock	#force	Meta + f	Force a lock.

System

Action	Extended Command	Key	Short Description
History	#history	V	Show long version and game history.
Version	#versionshort	v	Show version string.
	#version	Meta + v	List compile time options for this version of NetHack.
Redraw screen	#redraw	Ctrl + r	Redraw the screen.
		Ctrl + l†
Shell escape	#shell	!	Do a shell escape. (Disabled on most NetHack servers.)
Options	#options	O	Show and change settings.

(^†) 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 vanquished 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.

Reference cards

A number of downloadable reference cards are also available for quick reference.

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.