| General commands: |
|---|
| ? | help | display one of several informative texts |
| #quit | quit | end the game without saving current game |
| S | save | save the game (to be continued later) and exit |
| ! | sh | escape to some SHELL (if allowed) |
| ^Z | suspend | suspend the game (independent of your current suspend char) |
| O | options | set options |
| / | whatis | tell what a map symbol represents |
| \ | known | display list of what's been discovered |
| v | version | display version number |
| V | history | display game history |
| X | explore | switch the game to explore (discovery) mode |
| ^A | again | redo the previous command (^A denotes the keystroke CTRL-A) |
| ^R | redraw | redraw the screen |
| ^P | prevmsg | repeat previous message (subsequent ^P's repeat earlier ones) |
| # | | introduces an extended command (#? for a list of them) |
| Game commands: |
|---|
| ^D | kick | kick (a door, or something else) |
| ^T | 'port | teleport (if you can) |
| ^X | show | show your attributes |
| a | apply | apply or use a tool (pick-axe, key, camera, etc.) |
| A | armor | take off all armor |
| c | close | close a door |
| C | call | name an individual monster (ex. baptize your dog) |
| d | drop | drop an object. d7a: drop seven items of object 'a' |
| D | Drop | drop selected types of objects |
| e | eat | eat something |
| E | engrave | write a message in the dust on the floor (E- use fingers) |
| f | fire | fire ammunition from quiver |
| F | fight | followed by direction, fight a monster |
| i | invent | list your inventory (all objects you are carrying) |
| I | Invent | list selected parts of your inventory
Iu: list unpaid objects
Ix: list unpaid but used up items
I$: count your money
|
| o | open | open a door |
| p | pay | pay your bill (in a shop) |
| P | puton | put on an accessory (ring, amulet, etc) |
| q | quaff | drink something (potion, water, etc) |
| Q | quiver | select ammunition for quiver |
| r | read | read a scroll or spellbook |
| R | remove | remove an accessory (ring, amulet, etc) |
| s | search | search for secret doors, hidden traps and monsters |
| t | throw | throw or shoot a weapon |
| T | takeoff | take off some armor |
| w | wield | wield a weapon (w- wield nothing) |
| W | wear | put on some armor |
| x | xchange | swap wielded and secondary weapons |
| z | zap | zap a wand |
| Z | Zap | cast a spell |
| < | up | go up the stairs |
| > | down | go down the stairs |
| ^ | trap_id | identify a previously found trap |
| ),[,=,",( | | ask for current items of specified symbol in use |
| * | | ask for combination of ),[,=,",( all at once |
| $ | gold | count your gold |
| + | spells | list the spells you know; also rearrange them if desired |
| _ | travel | move via a shortest-path algorithm to a point on the map |
| . | rest | wait a moment |
| , | pickup | pick up all you can carry |
| @ | | toggle "pickup" (auto pickup) option on and off |
| : | look | look at what is here |
| ; | farlook | look at what is somewhere else by selecting a map symbol |
| Extended Commands (#command) |
|---|
| adjust | adjust inventory letters. |
| chat | talk to someone. |
| conduct | list which challenges you have adhered to. |
| dip | dip an object into something. |
| enhance | advance or check weapons skills. |
| force | force a lock. |
| invoke | invoke an object's powers. |
| jump | jump to a location. |
| loot | loot a box on the floor. |
| monster | use a monster's special ability. |
| name | name an item or type of object. |
| offer | offer a sacrifice to the gods. |
| pray | pray to the gods for help. |
| quit | exit without saving current game. |
| ride | ride (or stop riding) a monster. |
| rub | rub a lamp or a stone. |
| sit | sit down. |
| turn | turn undead. |
| twoweapon | toggle two-weapon combat. |
| untrap | untrap something. |
| version | list compile time options for this version of NetHack. |
| wipe | wipe off your face. |
| ? | get this list of extended commands. |
| Meta-key keyboards commands: |
|---|
| M-? | | Display extended command help (if the platform allows this) |
| M-2 | twoweapon | toggle two-weapon combat (unless number_pad is enabled) |
| M-a | adjust | adjust inventory letters |
| M-c | chat | talk to someone |
| M-d | dip | dip an object into something |
| M-e | enhance | advance or check weapons skills |
| M-f | force | force a lock |
| M-i | invoke | invoke an object's special powers |
| M-j | jump | jump to another location |
| M-l | loot | loot a box on the floor |
| M-m | monster | use a monster's special ability |
| M-n | name | name an item or type of object |
| M-o | offer | offer a sacrifice to the gods |
| M-p | pray | pray to the gods for help |
| M-q | quit | stop playing |
| M-r | rub | rub a lamp or a stone |
| M-s | sit | sit down |
| M-t | turn | turn undead |
| M-u | untrap | untrap something |
| M-v | version | print compile time options for this version |
| M-w | wipe | wipe off your face |