👉 This page lists only the commands that appear in the modern user interface, organized into categories.
🎒 Inventory and Item Management
Commands to view, pick up, and drop in your inventory or on the floor.
| Command | Icon | Hotkey | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inventory | ![]() |
i |
Display all items currently carried in your inventory. | |
| Pick Up | ![]() |
, |
Pick up items from the floor at your current position. | |
| Pick Up and Stash | ![]() |
; |
Pick up items and automatically insert them into the best container in your inventory. (See Auto-Stashing Algorithm) | New in GnollHack. |
| Autopickup | ![]() |
@ |
Toggle the autopickup option on/off. | |
| Drop | ![]() |
d |
Drop an item onto the floor. | |
| Drop Multiple | ![]() |
Shift+d |
Drop multiple items from your inventory at once. | Alternate hotkey: %. |
⚔️ Combat and Attacks
Commands used for attacking, shooting, throwing, and managing active weapons or combat styles.
| Command | Icon | Hotkey | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wield Weapon | ![]() |
w |
Wield a weapon or tool as your primary weapon (use - to wield bare hands). |
|
| Fire | ![]() |
f |
Shoot or throw ammunition currently loaded in your quiver. | |
| Throw | ![]() |
t |
Throw an object or weapon from your inventory in a specified direction. | |
| Swap Weapons | ![]() |
x |
Swap your primary wielded weapon with your secondary/alternate weapon. | |
| Quiver | ![]() |
Shift+q |
Select ammunition (arrows, daggers, etc.) to load into your quiver for firing. | |
| Fight | ![]() |
Shift+f |
Attack/fight in a specified direction, even if you do not see a monster (forces an attack on a tile, useful for invisible foes). | |
| Dual Weapon Mode | ![]() |
Ctrl+x |
Toggle dual-wielding mode (two-weapon combat) on or off. | |
| Apply Polearm | ![]() |
Alt+Shift+p |
Strike a monster from a distance of two tiles using a wielded polearm or lance (can also be a swap weapon). | New in GnollHack. |
| Wield Previous | ![]() |
Alt+Shift+w |
Wield the weapon you previously wielded (useful after using a tool). | New in GnollHack. |
| Handedness | ![]() |
Alt+h |
Toggle weapon swapping mode (switch between swapping weapons in the right hand only or in both hands). | New in GnollHack. |
👕 Equipment and Wearables
Commands to view, wear, and remove armor, accessories, and other equipped gear.
| Command | Icon | Hotkey | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment | ![]() |
* |
Show a list of all your equipped items (combining armor, weapons, rings, amulets, and tools). | |
| Wear Armor | ![]() |
Shift+w |
Put on a piece of armor (helmet, body armor, gloves, boots, etc.). | |
| Take Off Armor | ![]() |
Shift+t |
Take off a single piece of armor you are currently wearing. | |
| Wear Many | ![]() |
Alt+w |
Put on multiple pieces of armor. | New in GnollHack. |
| Take Off Many | ![]() |
Alt+t |
Take off multiple pieces of armor at once. | |
| Put On Accessory | ![]() |
Shift+p |
Put on an accessory such as a ring, amulet, or pair of glasses. | |
| Remove Accessory | ![]() |
Shift+r |
Remove an accessory (ring, amulet, etc.) that you are currently wearing. |
🛠️ General Item Commands
Commands to eat, drink, read, apply tools, dig, engrave, dip, or break items.
| Command | Icon | Hotkey | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply Tool | ![]() |
a |
Apply (use) a tool, such as a key, lamp, or pick-axe. | |
| Eat | ![]() |
e |
Eat food or another edible item in your inventory or on the floor. | |
| Drink (Quaff) | ![]() |
q |
Drink a potion, water, or other beverage from your inventory or the floor. | |
| Read | ![]() |
r |
Read a scroll or spellbook. | |
| Zap Wand | ![]() |
z |
Zap a magic wand in a specified direction. | |
| Dig | ![]() |
Ctrl+g |
Dig the ground or a wall (requires a pick-axe or other digging tool). | New in GnollHack. |
| Engrave | ![]() |
Shift+e |
Write a message on the floor using a tool or your fingers (dust). | |
| Engrave Quick | ![]() |
Alt+Shift+e |
Quickly engrave on the floor using a predefined style or finger. | New in GnollHack. |
| Rub | ![]() |
Alt+r |
Rub a lamp or another object (rubbing a magic lamp can summon a genie if successful). | |
| Dip | ![]() |
Alt+d |
Dip an object into a potion, fountain, sink, or pool of water. | |
| Apply Pick-axe Quick | ![]() |
Alt+Shift+x |
Quickly apply a pick-axe, mattock, or another cutting tool to dig or cut in a direction. | New in GnollHack. |
| Break | ![]() |
Ctrl+b |
Break an item in your inventory to release its magic or contents (e.g., breaking a wand). | New in GnollHack. |
| Light / Snuff | ![]() |
Ctrl+l |
Light or snuff out a nearby light source, like a lamp or candle. | New in GnollHack. |
| Invoke | ![]() |
Alt+i |
Invoke the powers of a magical object or artifact. |
🚪 Containers and Door Interaction
Commands for interacting with doors, containers, chests, and bags.
| Command | Icon | Hotkey | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open Door | ![]() |
o |
Open an adjacent closed door. | |
| Close Door | ![]() |
c |
Close an adjacent open door. | |
| Loot | ![]() |
l |
Loot a container on the floor, saddle/unsaddle a steed, or retrieve items from decorations (such as torch holders). | Alternate hotkey: Alt+l. |
| Take Out of Bag | ![]() |
b |
Take one or more items out of a container in your inventory. | New in GnollHack. |
| Put Into Bag | ![]() |
Shift+b |
Put one or more items into a container in your inventory. | New in GnollHack. |
| Kick | ![]() |
k |
Kick an adjacent door, chest, monster, or another object. | Alternate hotkey: Ctrl+d. |
| Force Lock | ![]() |
Alt+f |
Force a lock on a chest or door using a weapon or tool. | |
| Untrap | ![]() |
u |
Attempt to disarm a trap, untrap a container/door, or rescue a trapped monster. | Alternate hotkey: Alt+u. |
🧭 Movement
Commands to navigate the dungeon, climb stairs, travel, and jump.
| Command | Icon | Hotkey | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Go Down | ![]() |
> |
Go down a staircase or ladder to the next level. | |
| Go Up | ![]() |
< |
Go up a staircase or ladder to the previous level. | |
| Travel | ![]() |
_ |
Automatically travel to a selected map tile using a pathfinding algorithm. | |
| Jump | ![]() |
j |
Jump to a nearby tile (requires jumping ability). | Alternate hotkey: Alt+j. |
🗣️ Communication and Interaction with NPCs and Pets
Commands to converse with NPCs, pay shopping bills, mount steeds, or call pets.
| Command | Icon | Hotkey | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chat | ![]() |
Shift+c |
Chat with an adjacent monster, pet, or NPC. | |
| Yell for Pets | ![]() |
Alt+y |
Yell to summon your pets to your side. | New in GnollHack. Alternate hotkey: Ctrl+y. |
| Pay Bill | ![]() |
p |
Pay your shopping bill to the shopkeeper. | |
| Ride | ![]() |
Alt+Shift+r |
Mount or dismount a saddled steed. |
📖 Game Information
Commands to search surroundings, view character stats or abilities, look at tiles, and review dungeon or monster history.
| Command | Icon | Hotkey | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Search | ![]() |
s |
Search adjacent tiles for secret doors and traps (success depends on perception and luck). | |
| Examine | ![]() |
Alt+x |
Examine an item to view its detailed statistics and properties. | New in GnollHack. |
| Abilities | ![]() |
Shift+a |
View your character's active and passive abilities (opens the status screen). | New in GnollHack. |
| Character Details | ![]() |
} |
Display detailed information, statistics, and attributes of your character. | New in GnollHack. |
| Look Far | ![]() |
' |
Look at a distant tile on the map to identify what the symbol represents. | |
| Dungeon Overview | ![]() |
Ctrl+o |
Show the dungeon overview screen listing visited levels and features. | |
| Near Look | ![]() |
: |
Look at the ground/items present at your current tile. | |
| Vanquished Creatures | ![]() |
Alt+k |
Show the list of monsters you have killed during the game. | |
| Genocided Monsters | ![]() |
Alt+g |
Show a list of all genocided monster species. |
🔮 Spellcasting
Commands to cast spells, view the spell menu, or mix spell components.
| Command | Icon | Hotkey | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cast Spell | ![]() |
Shift+z |
Cast a spell that you have learned. | |
| Spell Menu | ![]() |
+ |
Open the spell menu to view or cast spells. | New in GnollHack. Alternate hotkey: Alt+z. |
| Mix Spells | ![]() |
Shift+x |
Mix material components (reagents) for a spell. | New in GnollHack. |
⚙️ System
Commands to repeat the previous action, specify action repetition counts, or run extended command prompts.
| Command | Icon | Hotkey | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Repeat | ![]() |
Ctrl+a |
Redo/repeat the previous command. | |
| Number of Actions1 | ![]() |
n |
Specify a repetition count before entering a command. | New in GnollHack. Alternate hotkey: Alt+n. |
| Extended Command | ![]() |
# |
Prompt for and execute an extended command (e.g., #pray, #sit, or #chat). |
-
1 Number of actions works like this: press
n, then write the number of actions in numerals, and then choose the action. For example,n20ssearches 20 times.
🛐 Religion
Commands to pray to your deity for intervention or offer sacrifices at altars.
| Command | Icon | Hotkey | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pray | ![]() |
Alt+p |
Pray to your deity for help, healing, or safety. | See the Praying guide for details. |
| Offer Sacrifice | ![]() |
Alt+o |
Offer an item or corpse as a sacrifice on an altar to your deity. |
🧩 Other Commands
Miscellaneous utility commands for resting, naming, sitting, using polymorphed monster abilities, wiping your face, and viewing help.
| Command | Icon | Hotkey | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wait | ![]() |
. |
Rest or wait for one turn (does nothing; useful to let monsters approach or to pass the time). | |
| Name | ![]() |
Shift+n |
Name a specific monster, individual item, or category of items. | |
| Sit | ![]() |
Ctrl+s |
Sit down on the floor, a throne, or another seat (sitting on a throne can trigger magical effects). | |
| Use Monster Ability | ![]() |
Alt+Shift+m |
Use a special ability of your current monster form (if polymorphed). | |
| Wipe Face | ![]() |
Alt+e |
Wipe off dirt, grease, slime, or other substances from your face. | |
| Help | ![]() |
h |
Display the help menu with game information and commands. | Alternate hotkey: ?. |
🧙♂️ Wizard Mode Commands
Developer-only debug commands available when playing in Wizard Mode.
| Command | Icon | Hotkey | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wish | ![]() |
Ctrl+w |
Make a wish for any item. |
| Reveal Map | ![]() |
Ctrl+f |
Reveal the entire map of the current level. |
| Identify | ![]() |
Ctrl+i |
Identify all items in your inventory. |
| Level Teleport | ![]() |
Ctrl+v |
Teleport to a different level of the dungeon. |
| Genesis | ![]() |
Alt+m |
Create a monster. |















































































