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 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.[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 | 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† |
The following information pertains to an upcoming version (NetHack 3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that the information below is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate it.
As of commit f6b3b968, #vanquished is usable in a normal game, instead of only in wizard mode.
As of commit 6fd00477, the #genocided command is added, allowing players to see what they have genocided.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.[2] | |
| 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. |
Additionally, the #vanquished command is available in normal games, rather than only in wizard mode.
Reference cards
A number of downloadable reference cards are also available for quick reference.
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.
