Commands

👉 This page lists only the commands that appear in the modern user interface, organized by theme.

⚔️ Combat and Attacks

These commands are used for attacking, shooting, throwing, and managing your active weapons.

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 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 had wielded (useful after using a tool).	New in GnollHack.
Handedness		Alt+h	Toggle weapon swapping mode (switch between swapping weapons in right hand only or in both hands).	New in GnollHack.

🎒 Inventory and Item Management

Use these commands to view, organize, select, and inspect items in your inventory or on the ground.

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.	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: %.
Examine		Alt+x	Examine an item to view its detailed statistics and properties.	New in GnollHack.

🚪 Containers and Door Interaction

Commands for interacting with doors, 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 other 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.

🛠️ Consumables and Tools

These commands are used to eat, drink, apply utility tools, and manage light sources.

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.
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 other object (rubbing a magic lamp can summon a genie if successful).
Dip		Alt+d	Dip an object into a potion, fountain, sink, or a pool of water.
Apply Pick-axe Quick		Alt+Shift+x	Quickly apply a pick-axe, mattock, or other cutting tool to dig/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.
Wipe Face		Alt+e	Wipe off dirt, grease, slime, or other substances from your face.

🔮 Spellcasting

Commands to cast spells, use wands, read scrolls, and mix 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.
Read		r	Read a scroll, spellbook, or engraving.
Mix Spells		Shift+x	Mix material components (reagents) for a spell.	New in GnollHack.

🗣️ Communication and Interaction with NPCs

Commands to converse with NPCs, monsters, and summon 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 pet to your side.	New in GnollHack. Alternate hotkey: Ctrl+y.
Pay Bill		p	Pay your shopping bill to the shopkeeper.

👕 Equipment and Wearables

Commands to view, wear, and remove armor and accessories.

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.

📖 Game Information Commands

These commands open information screens, name entities, and control the user interface.

Command	Icon	Hotkey	Description	Notes
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 symbol represents.
Dungeon Overview		Ctrl+o	Show the dungeon overview screen listing visited levels and features.
Name		Shift+n	Name a specific monster, individual item, or category of items.
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.

⚙️ Meta Commands

Commands that manage the game state, save progress, or display settings.

Command	Icon	Hotkey	Description	Notes
Help		h	Display the help menu with game information and commands.	Alternate hotkey: ?.

System Commands

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, #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, n20s searches 20 times.

Special Abilities

Command	Icon	Hotkey	Description	Notes
Use Monster Ability		Alt+Shift+m	Use a special ability of your current monster form (if polymorphed).

🧭 Movement and Exploration

Use the following commands to navigate the dungeon, climb stairs, rest, and search.

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.
Wait		.	Rest or wait for one turn (does nothing; useful to let monsters approach or to pass time).
Travel		_	Automatically travel to a selected map tile using a pathfinding algorithm.
Search		s	Search adjacent tiles for hidden secret doors and traps (success depends on perception and luck).
Jump		j	Jump to a nearby tile (requires character jumping ability).	Alternate hotkey: Alt+j.
Ride		Alt+Shift+r	Mount or dismount a saddled steed.
Sit		Ctrl+s	Sit down on the floor, a throne, or another seat (sitting on a throne can trigger magical effects).

Religion-Related Commands

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.

🧙‍♂️ Wizard Mode Commands

These commands are only available when playing in Wizard mode (developer debug mode).

Command	Icon	Hotkey	Description	Notes
Wish		Ctrl+w	Make a wish for any item.	Wizard mode only.
Reveal Map		Ctrl+f	Reveal the entire map of the current level.	Wizard mode only.
Identify		Ctrl+i	Identify all items in your inventory.	Wizard mode only.
Level Teleport		Ctrl+v	Teleport to a different level of the dungeon.	Wizard mode only.
Genesis		Alt+m	Create a monster.	Wizard mode only.