Commands

👉 This page lists all the commands available in GnollHack, 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.
Kick		k	Kick an adjacent door, chest, monster, or other object.	Alternate hotkey: Ctrl+d.
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.	The polearm can also be a swap weapon.
Wield Previous		Alt+Shift+w	Wield the weapon you previously had wielded.	Useful after using a tool.
Handedness		Alt+h	Toggle weapon swapping mode.	Switch between swapping weapons in right hand only or in both hands.

🎒 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.
Drop		d	Drop an item onto the floor.
Pick Up and Stash		;	Pick up items and automatically insert them into the best container in your inventory.
Examine		Alt+x	Examine an item to view its detailed statistics and properties.
Near Look		:	Look at the ground/items present at your current tile.
Drop Multiple		Shift+d	Drop multiple items from your inventory at once.
Filtered Inventory		Shift+i	Display a filtered list of inventory items.	e.g. unpaid items, specific item classes.
Adjust Letters		Alt+a	Adjust inventory letters for items.

🚪 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.
Put Into Bag		Shift+b	Put one or more items into a container in your inventory.
Yank (Take Loot)		y	Take one or more items out of a container that is lying on the floor.
Yank (Put Loot)		Shift+y	Put one or more items into a container that is lying on the floor.
Tip (Empty)		Alt+Shift+t	Tip/empty a container to dump all of its contents onto the floor.
Force Lock		Alt+f	Force a lock on a chest or door using a weapon or tool.
Break		Ctrl+b	Break an item in your inventory to release its magic or contents.	e.g. breaking a wand or potion.

🛠️ Consumables and General 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.
Light / Snuff		Ctrl+l	Light or snuff out a nearby light source, like a lamp or candle.
Dig		Ctrl+g	Dig the ground or a wall.	Requires a pick-axe or other digging tool.
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.
Wipe Face		Alt+e	Wipe off dirt, grease, slime, or other substances from your face.
Rub		Alt+r	Rub a lamp or other object.	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.

🔮 Magic and 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.	Alternate hotkey: Alt+z.
Zap Wand		z	Zap a magic wand in a specified direction.
Read		r	Read a scroll, spellbook, or engraving.
Invoke		Alt+i	Invoke the powers of a magical object or artifact.
Mix Spells		Shift+x	Mix material components (reagents) for a spell.

👕 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.	Combines 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.
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.
Show Worn Armor		[	Display all pieces of armor you are currently wearing.
Show Worn Rings		=	Display the rings you are currently wearing.
Show Worn Amulet		"	Display details of the amulet you are currently wearing.
Show Weapon		)	Display the weapon you are currently wielding.
List Tools		(	Display a list of tools you are currently using.

📖 Information and UI Controls

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

Command	Icon	Hotkey	Description	Notes
Character Details		}	Display detailed information, statistics, and attributes of your character.
Abilities		Shift+a	View your character's active and passive abilities.	Opens the status screen.
Look		Shift+l	Examine your surroundings or a specific tile on the map.
Far Look		/	Look at a distant tile on the map to identify what symbol represents.
Chat		Shift+c	Chat with an adjacent monster, pet, or NPC.
Yell for Pets		Alt+y	Yell to summon your pet to your side.	Alternate hotkey: Ctrl+y.
Dungeon Overview		Ctrl+o	Show the dungeon overview screen listing visited levels and features.
Annotate Level		Ctrl+n	Add a text annotation/note to the current dungeon level.	Alternate hotkey: Alt+Shift+a.
Name		Shift+n	Name a specific monster, individual item, or category of items.
Name Category		Alt+Shift+n	Assign a name to a specific monster or category of objects.
Call		Ctrl+c	Assign a name/call name to a monster, an object, or an object class.
Previous Message		Ctrl+p	Recall and display the previous message(s).
Redraw Screen		Ctrl+r	Redraw the entire screen.
Use Monster Ability		Alt+Shift+m	Use a special ability of your current monster form (if polymorphed).
Help		h	Display the help menu with game information and commands.	Alternate hotkey: ?.

🔍 Zoom and View Controls

You can adjust the map zoom level using the following keyboard shortcuts:

Command	Icon	Hotkey	Alternate Hotkey
Zoom In		Ctrl++	Alt++
Zoom Out		Ctrl+-	Alt+-
Reset Zoom		Ctrl+0	Alt+0
Toggle Minimap Mode		Ctrl+.	Alt+.

⚙️ Game Control and System Meta Commands

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

Command	Icon	Hotkey	Description	Notes
Save		Alt+s	Save the game and exit.	Saves progress securely and returns to the main menu.
Commands Menu		Alt+c	Open the commands menu.	Extremely useful for touchscreen and keyboard-less players.
Repeat		Ctrl+a	Redo/repeat the previous command.
Number of Actions1		n	Specify a repetition count before entering a command.	Alternate hotkey: Alt+n.
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.
Extended Command		#	Prompt for and execute an extended command (e.g. #pray, #sit, #chat).
Options		Shift+o	View and modify game options.	See the Options page.
Pay Bill		p	Pay your shopping bill to the shopkeeper.
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.
Version Info		v	Display the version number and build details of the game.
Game History Info		Shift+v	Display the game's compilation options and version history.
GnollHack Library Info		Alt+v	Display details about the compiled GnollHack libraries and build.
Quit		Alt+q	Quit the game (deletes your character and ends the current game session).

• 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.

🧭 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).	Pass time or let monsters approach.
Travel		_	Automatically travel to a selected map tile.	Uses a pathfinding algorithm to navigate.
Search		s	Search adjacent tiles for hidden secret doors and traps.	Success depends on perception and luck.
Go Mode (Rush)		g	Move in a direction, stopping at interesting features.	Stops when seeing a monster, door, trap, etc.
Move Mode (Rush)		m	Move in a direction without picking up items on the ground.
Go Mode (Run)		Shift+g	Run in a direction until blocked or interrupted.	Stops at walls, monsters, or interesting objects.
Move Mode (Run)		Shift+m	Run in a direction without picking up items on the ground.
Jump		j	Jump to a nearby tile.	Alternate hotkey: Alt+j. Requires jumping ability.
Untrap		u	Attempt to disarm a trap, untrap a container/door, or rescue a trapped monster.	Alternate hotkey: Alt+u.
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.

🧭 Directional Controls

You can move in the eight cardinal and diagonal directions using several different layout controls.

🧭 Arrow Keys

On keyboards without a number pad, you can combine the arrow keys with Ctrl or Alt to move diagonally:

Key	Cardinal	Ctrl + Key	Diagonal	Alt + Key	Diagonal
↑	North (↑)	Ctrl + ↑	Northwest (↖)	Alt + ↑	Northeast (↗)
↓	South (↓)	Ctrl + ↓	Southwest (↙)	Alt + ↓	Southeast (↘)
←	West (←)	Ctrl + ←	Northwest (↖)	Alt + ←	Southwest (↙)
→	East (→)	Ctrl + →	Northeast (↗)	Alt + →	Southeast (↘)

🧭 Number Pad

If your keyboard has a number pad, enable Num Lock and use the keys as follows:

• 7, 8, 9 for Northwest, North, Northeast.
• 4, 6 for West, East.
• 1, 2, 3 for Southwest, South, Southeast.
• 5 in the center enables run/rush mode.

🧭 Regular Number Keys

On compact keyboards without a number pad, the regular number keys can be used for direction:

• 7, 8, 9 for Northwest, North, Northeast.
• 4, 6 for West, East.
• 1, 2, 3 for Southwest, South, Southeast.
• 5 in the center enables run/rush mode.

🧙‍♂️ Wizard Mode Commands

These commands are only available when playing in Wizard mode (developer debug 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.
Detect		Ctrl+e	Detect hidden features on the map.
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.