diff --git a/src/Perl6/Actions.pm b/src/Perl6/Actions.pm
index 466cb9ba6c5..29ebf92cf75 100644
--- a/src/Perl6/Actions.pm
+++ b/src/Perl6/Actions.pm
@@ -2848,7 +2848,7 @@ class Perl6::Actions is HLL::Actions {
     # steals spaces after a postfixish. Thus "$a $b" would get messed up.
     # Here we take them back again. Hacky, better solutions welcome.
     sub steal_back_spaces($/, $expr) {
-        my $pos := pir::length__IS($/) - 1;
+        my $pos := nqp::chars($/) - 1;
         while pir::is_cclass__IISI(32, $/, $pos) {
             $pos--;
         }
@@ -3320,7 +3320,7 @@ class Perl6::Actions is HLL::Actions {
     # the $usage parameter to make it more helpful.
     sub compile_time_value_str($past, $usage, $/) {
         if $past<has_compile_time_value> {
-            pir::repr_unbox_str__SP($past<compile_time_value>);
+            nqp::unbox_s($past<compile_time_value>);
         }
         else {
             $/.CURSOR.panic("$usage must have a value known at compile time");
diff --git a/src/Perl6/Grammar.pm b/src/Perl6/Grammar.pm
index 55e4b560653..a799f559d53 100644
--- a/src/Perl6/Grammar.pm
+++ b/src/Perl6/Grammar.pm
@@ -1730,7 +1730,7 @@ grammar Perl6::Grammar is HLL::Grammar {
     sub bracket_ending($matches) {
         my $check := $matches[+$matches - 1];
         my $str   := $check.Str;
-        my $last  := pir::substr($str, pir::length__IS($check) - 1, 1);
+        my $last  := pir::substr($str, nqp::chars($check) - 1, 1);
         $last eq ')' || $last eq '}' || $last eq ']' || $last eq '>'
     }
 
diff --git a/src/Perl6/Metamodel/BOOTSTRAP.pm b/src/Perl6/Metamodel/BOOTSTRAP.pm
index 9545ac04a3e..3bf99eea3d7 100644
--- a/src/Perl6/Metamodel/BOOTSTRAP.pm
+++ b/src/Perl6/Metamodel/BOOTSTRAP.pm
@@ -46,15 +46,15 @@ Mu.HOW.add_parrot_vtable_mapping(Mu, 'get_bool',
     sub ($self) { $self.Bool() });
 Mu.HOW.add_parrot_vtable_mapping(Mu, 'get_integer',
     sub ($self) {
-        pir::repr_unbox_int__IP($self.Int())
+        nqp::unbox_i($self.Int())
     });
 Mu.HOW.add_parrot_vtable_mapping(Mu, 'get_number',
     sub ($self) {
-        pir::repr_unbox_num__NP($self.Num())
+        nqp::unbox_n($self.Num())
     });
 Mu.HOW.add_parrot_vtable_mapping(Mu, 'get_string',
     sub ($self) {
-        pir::repr_unbox_str__SP($self.Str())
+        nqp::unbox_s($self.Str())
     });
 Mu.HOW.add_parrot_vtable_mapping(Mu, 'defined',
     sub ($self) { pir::istrue__IP($self.defined()) });
diff --git a/src/Perl6/Module/Loader.pm b/src/Perl6/Module/Loader.pm
index 8cdbae934e8..fa3b34ace7d 100644
--- a/src/Perl6/Module/Loader.pm
+++ b/src/Perl6/Module/Loader.pm
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ method need($name, %name_adverbs?) {
     # Need not load file if we already did so.
     unless %LOADED{$pm_file} {
         # Is there a pre-compiled PIR version?
-        my $pir_file := pir::substr__SSII($pm_file, 0, pir::index__ISSi($pm_file, '.', pir::length__IS($pm_file)-4)) ~ '.pir';
+        my $pir_file := pir::substr__SSII($pm_file, 0, pir::index__ISSi($pm_file, '.', nqp::chars($pm_file)-4)) ~ '.pir';
         my $loaded_pir := 0;
 # stat[7]: modifytime
         if pir::stat__ISI($pir_file, 0)
diff --git a/src/Perl6/Module/Locator.pm b/src/Perl6/Module/Locator.pm
index ac3ce2b9447..83327099fee 100644
--- a/src/Perl6/Module/Locator.pm
+++ b/src/Perl6/Module/Locator.pm
@@ -8,29 +8,29 @@ method find_candidates($lookfor, @inc) {
     my @dirs      := pir::split__PSS('::', $lookfor);
     my $file      := @dirs.pop();
     my $localpath := +@dirs ?? pir::join__SSP('/', @dirs) ~ '/' !! '';
-    # pir::say("\nlookfor: $lookfor\nlocalpath: $localpath\nfile: $file");
+    # nqp::say("\nlookfor: $lookfor\nlocalpath: $localpath\nfile: $file");
 
     # within each @inc path look for "$localpath/$file.pm"
     my @candidates;
     for @inc {
         my $path := "$_/$localpath";
-        # pir::say("  path: $path");
-        my $check_path := pir::substr__SSII($path, 0, pir::length__IS($path) - 1);
+        # nqp::say("  path: $path");
+        my $check_path := pir::substr__SSII($path, 0, nqp::chars($path) - 1);
         if pir::stat__ISI($check_path, 0) && pir::stat__ISI($check_path, 2) {
             my @dir := pir::new__PS('OS').readdir($path);
             my $candidate := "";
             for @dir {
-                # pir::say("    readdir: $_");
-                if pir::substr__SSII($_, 0, pir::length__IS($file) + 1) eq $file ~ '.' {
-                    if pir::substr__SSII($_, pir::length__IS($_) - 4, 4) eq '.pm6' ||
-                       !$candidate && pir::substr__SSII($_, pir::length__IS($_) - 3, 3) eq '.pm' {
+                # nqp::say("    readdir: $_");
+                if pir::substr__SSII($_, 0, nqp::chars($file) + 1) eq $file ~ '.' {
+                    if pir::substr__SSII($_, nqp::chars($_) - 4, 4) eq '.pm6' ||
+                       !$candidate && pir::substr__SSII($_, nqp::chars($_) - 3, 3) eq '.pm' {
                         $candidate := "$path$_";
                     }
                 }
             }
             if $candidate {
                 @candidates.push($candidate);
-                # pir::say("      found: $candidate");
+                # nqp::say("      found: $candidate");
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/core/Array.pm b/src/core/Array.pm
index bb7289df41b..eb3c0d9fc27 100644
--- a/src/core/Array.pm
+++ b/src/core/Array.pm
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ class Array {
     method STORE(|$) {
         # get arguments, shift off invocant
         my $args := pir::perl6_current_args_rpa__P();
-        pir::shift__PP($args);
+        nqp::shift($args);
         # clear our current items, and create a flattening iterator
         # that will bring in values from $args
         pir::setattribute__vPPsP(self, List, '$!items', Mu);
diff --git a/src/core/Cool.pm b/src/core/Cool.pm
index ca852002b53..84ca6203009 100644
--- a/src/core/Cool.pm
+++ b/src/core/Cool.pm
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ my class Cool {
     }
 
     method chars() {
-        nqp::p6box_i(pir::length__IS(nqp::unbox_s(self.Str)));
+        nqp::p6box_i(nqp::chars(nqp::unbox_s(self.Str)));
     }
 
     method substr($start as Int, $length?) {
@@ -29,11 +29,11 @@ my class Cool {
     }
 
     method uc() {
-        nqp::p6box_s(pir::upcase__SS(nqp::unbox_s(self.Str)))
+        nqp::p6box_s(nqp::uc(nqp::unbox_s(self.Str)))
     }
 
     method lc() {
-        nqp::p6box_s(pir::downcase__SS(nqp::unbox_s(self.Str)))
+        nqp::p6box_s(nqp::lc(nqp::unbox_s(self.Str)))
     }
 
     method ucfirst() {
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ my class Cool {
     }
 
     method ord() {
-        nqp::p6box_i(pir::ord__IS(nqp::unbox_s(self.Str)))
+        nqp::p6box_i(nqp::ord(nqp::unbox_s(self.Str)))
     }
 
     method flip() {
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ my class Cool {
 
     proto method index(|$) {*}
     multi method index(Cool \$needle, Cool $pos = 0) {
-        my $result := nqp::p6box_i(pir::index__ISSI(
+        my $result := nqp::p6box_i(nqp::index(
                 nqp::unbox_s(self.Str),
                 nqp::unbox_s($needle.Str),
                 nqp::unbox_i($pos.Int)
diff --git a/src/core/EnumMap.pm b/src/core/EnumMap.pm
index d7bdde5cfb5..6e26c088def 100644
--- a/src/core/EnumMap.pm
+++ b/src/core/EnumMap.pm
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ my class EnumMap {
     method exists(Str \$key) {
         nqp::p6bool(
             pir::defined($!storage)
-            && pir::exists__IQs($!storage, nqp::unbox_s($key))
+            && nqp::existskey($!storage, nqp::unbox_s($key))
         )
     }
 
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ my class EnumMap {
             my Mu $iter := pir::iter__PP($!storage);
             my Mu $pair;
             while $iter {
-                $pair := pir::shift__PP($iter);
+                $pair := nqp::shift($iter);
                 take Pair.new(:key($pair.key), :value($pair.value));
             }
         }
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ my class EnumMap {
 
     method at_key(Str \$key) {
         self.exists($key)
-            ?? pir::set__PQs($!storage, nqp::unbox_s($key))
+            ?? nqp::atkey($!storage, nqp::unbox_s($key))
             !! Any
     }
 
diff --git a/src/core/IO.pm b/src/core/IO.pm
index f5c12a073cf..3e7f0f50624 100644
--- a/src/core/IO.pm
+++ b/src/core/IO.pm
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # XXX Relatively cheaty, just to get us able to output something.
 # But you should see what USED to be here! O.O
 sub print(*@list) {
-    pir::print(@list.shift) while @list.gimme(1);
+    nqp::print(@list.shift) while @list.gimme(1);
     1.Bool
 }
 
diff --git a/src/core/List.pm b/src/core/List.pm
index e7184fa1768..a8069d8d74d 100644
--- a/src/core/List.pm
+++ b/src/core/List.pm
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ class List {
 
     method at_pos(\$pos) {
         self.exists($pos)
-          ?? pir::set__PQi($!items, nqp::unbox_i($pos))
+          ?? nqp::atpos($!items, nqp::unbox_i($pos))
           !! Mu
     }
 
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class List {
 
     method exists(\$pos) {
         self.gimme($pos + 1);
-        nqp::p6bool(pir::exists__IQI($!items, nqp::unbox_i($pos)))
+        nqp::p6bool(nqp::existspos($!items, nqp::unbox_i($pos)))
     }
 
     method flat() {
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ class List {
     method munch($n is copy) {
         self.gimme($n);
         my Mu $rpa := pir::new__Ps('ResizablePMCArray');
-        pir::push__vPP($rpa, pir::shift__PP($!items))
+        pir::push__vPP($rpa, nqp::shift($!items))
             while $!items && $n-- > 0;
         pir__perl6_box_rpa__PP($rpa)
     }
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ class List {
 
     method shift() {
         # make sure we have at least one item, then shift+return it
-        self.gimme(1) && pir::shift__PP($!items)
+        self.gimme(1) && nqp::shift($!items)
     }
 
     multi method perl(List:D \$self:) {
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ class List {
     }
 
     method STORE_AT_POS(\$pos, Mu \$v) {
-        pir::set__1QiP($!items, nqp::unbox_i($pos), $v)
+        nqp::bindpos($!items, nqp::unbox_i($pos), $v)
     }
 
     method RPA() {
diff --git a/src/core/ListIter.pm b/src/core/ListIter.pm
index 4eea79bbb9b..5a3760eabfd 100644
--- a/src/core/ListIter.pm
+++ b/src/core/ListIter.pm
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ my class ListIter {
             my $flattens = $!list.defined && $!list.flattens;
             my $eager = Whatever.ACCEPTS($n);
             while $!rest && ($eager || $n > 0) {
-                $x := pir::set__PQi($!rest, 0);
+                $x := nqp::atpos($!rest, 0);
                 if pir::not__II(pir::is_container__IP($x)) && $x.defined
                     && Iterable.ACCEPTS($x) {
                         last if $eager && $x.infinite;
@@ -29,9 +29,9 @@ my class ListIter {
                             pir__perl6_unbox_rpa__PP($x),
                             0, 1);
                 }
-                elsif Nil.ACCEPTS($x) { pir::shift__PP($!rest) }
+                elsif Nil.ACCEPTS($x) { nqp::shift($!rest) }
                 else {
-                    pir::shift__PP($!rest);
+                    nqp::shift($!rest);
                     $x := $!list.STORE_AT_POS($pos, $x) if $!list.defined;
                     pir::push__vPP($rpa, $x);
                     $eager or $n = $n - 1;
@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@ my class ListIter {
 
     method infinite() {
         $!rest 
-          ?? Iterable.ACCEPTS(pir::set__PQi($!rest,0)) 
-             && pir::set__PQi($!rest,0).infinite
+          ?? Iterable.ACCEPTS(nqp::atpos($!rest,0))
+             && nqp::atpos($!rest,0).infinite
              || Mu
           !! 0.Bool
     }
@@ -79,9 +79,9 @@ my class ListIter {
 # we leave these here for documentation purposes.
 # sub pir::perl6_list_from_rpa__PPPP(|$) {
 #     my $args     := pir::perl6_current_args_rpa__P();
-#     my $type     := pir::shift__PP($args);
-#     my Mu $rpa   := pir::shift__PP($args);
-#     my $flattens := pir::shift__PP($args);
+#     my $type     := nqp::shift($args);
+#     my Mu $rpa   := nqp::shift($args);
+#     my $flattens := nqp::shift($args);
 # 
 #     my $list := pir::repr_instance_of__PP($type);
 #     pir::setattribute__vPPsP($list, $type, '$!flattens', $flattens);
@@ -92,8 +92,8 @@ my class ListIter {
 # 
 # sub pir::perl6_iter_from_rpa__PPP(|$) {
 #     my $args     := pir::perl6_current_args_rpa__P();
-#     my Mu $rpa   := pir::shift__PP($args);
-#     my $list     := pir::shift__PP($args);
+#     my Mu $rpa   := nqp::shift($args);
+#     my $list     := nqp::shift($args);
 # 
 #     pir::setattribute__0PPsP(
 #         pir::setattribute__0PPsP(
diff --git a/src/core/Mu.pm b/src/core/Mu.pm
index a84b4cabab2..98d413a5b29 100644
--- a/src/core/Mu.pm
+++ b/src/core/Mu.pm
@@ -60,14 +60,14 @@ my class Mu {
 
 sub DUMP(|$) {
     my Mu $args := pir::perl6_current_args_rpa__P();
-    my Mu $topic  := pir::shift__PP($args);
+    my Mu $topic  := nqp::shift($args);
     if pir::isnull__IP($topic) { '(null)' }
     elsif pir::isa__IPs($topic, 'ResizablePMCArray') {
         my $s = 'RPA<' ~ nqp::p6box_s(pir::get_addr__IP($topic)) ~ '>(';
         my $t = '';
         $topic := pir::clone__PP($topic);
         while $topic {
-            my Mu $x := pir::shift__PP($topic);
+            my Mu $x := nqp::shift($topic);
             $s = $s ~ $t ~ DUMP($x);
             $t = ', ';
         }
diff --git a/src/core/Parcel.pm b/src/core/Parcel.pm
index a147634f3fe..c9f8266f9dc 100644
--- a/src/core/Parcel.pm
+++ b/src/core/Parcel.pm
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ my class Parcel {
     multi method gist(Parcel:D:) {
         my @gist;
         my Mu $rpa := pir::clone__PP($!storage);
-        @gist.push( pir::shift__PP($rpa).gist ) while $rpa;
+        @gist.push( nqp::shift($rpa).gist ) while $rpa;
         @gist;
     }
 
@@ -20,9 +20,9 @@ my class Parcel {
         my Mu $rpa := pir::clone($!storage);
         my $perl = '(';
         if $rpa {
-            $perl = $perl ~ pir::shift__PP($rpa).perl;
+            $perl = $perl ~ nqp::shift($rpa).perl;
             if $rpa {
-                $perl = $perl ~ ', ' ~ pir::shift__PP($rpa).perl while $rpa;
+                $perl = $perl ~ ', ' ~ nqp::shift($rpa).perl while $rpa;
             }
             else {
                 $perl = $perl ~ ',';
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ sub pir__perl6_box_rpa__PP(|$) {
         pir::repr_instance_of__PP(Parcel),
         Parcel,
         '$!storage',
-        pir::shift__PP(pir::perl6_current_args_rpa__P()))
+        nqp::shift(pir::perl6_current_args_rpa__P()))
 }
 
 sub pir__perl6_unbox_rpa__PP(\$parcel) {
diff --git a/src/core/Str.pm b/src/core/Str.pm
index 57020d222dc..a5e38db387c 100644
--- a/src/core/Str.pm
+++ b/src/core/Str.pm
@@ -37,27 +37,27 @@ multi infix:<~>(Str \$a, Str \$b) {
 }
 
 multi infix:<eq>(Str \$a, Str \$b) {
-    nqp::p6bool(pir::iseq__ISS(nqp::unbox_s($a), nqp::unbox_s($b)))
+    nqp::p6bool(nqp::iseq_s(nqp::unbox_s($a), nqp::unbox_s($b)))
 }
 
 multi infix:<ne>(Str \$a, Str \$b) {
-    nqp::p6bool(pir::isne__ISS(nqp::unbox_s($a), nqp::unbox_s($b)))
+    nqp::p6bool(nqp::isne_s(nqp::unbox_s($a), nqp::unbox_s($b)))
 }
 
 multi infix:<lt>(Str \$a, Str \$b) {
-    nqp::p6bool(pir::islt__ISS(nqp::unbox_s($a), nqp::unbox_s($b)))
+    nqp::p6bool(nqp::islt_s(nqp::unbox_s($a), nqp::unbox_s($b)))
 }
 
 multi infix:<le>(Str \$a, Str \$b) {
-    nqp::p6bool(pir::isle__ISS(nqp::unbox_s($a), nqp::unbox_s($b)))
+    nqp::p6bool(nqp::isle_s(nqp::unbox_s($a), nqp::unbox_s($b)))
 }
 
 multi infix:<gt>(Str \$a, Str \$b) {
-    nqp::p6bool(pir::isgt__ISS(nqp::unbox_s($a), nqp::unbox_s($b)))
+    nqp::p6bool(nqp::isgt_s(nqp::unbox_s($a), nqp::unbox_s($b)))
 }
 
 multi infix:<ge>(Str \$a, Str \$b) {
-    nqp::p6bool(pir::isge__ISS(nqp::unbox_s($a), nqp::unbox_s($b)))
+    nqp::p6bool(nqp::isge_s(nqp::unbox_s($a), nqp::unbox_s($b)))
 }