diff --git a/lua/pending/buffer.lua b/lua/pending/buffer.lua
index 3e98415..2036357 100644
--- a/lua/pending/buffer.lua
+++ b/lua/pending/buffer.lua
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ local function setup_syntax(bufnr)
       syntax clear
       syntax match taskId /^\/\d\+\// conceal
       syntax match taskHeader /^\S.*$/ contains=taskId
-      syntax match taskPriority /! / contained containedin=taskLine
+      syntax match taskPriority /\[\d\+\] / contained containedin=taskLine
       syntax match taskLine /^\/\d\+\/  .*$/ contains=taskId,taskPriority
     ]])
   end)
diff --git a/lua/pending/diff.lua b/lua/pending/diff.lua
index 9f5e577..1107b31 100644
--- a/lua/pending/diff.lua
+++ b/lua/pending/diff.lua
@@ -34,10 +34,11 @@ function M.parse_buffer(lines)
       table.insert(result, { type = 'blank', lnum = i })
     elseif id or body then
       local stripped = body:match('^  (.+)$') or body
+      local prio_str = stripped:match('^%[(%d+)%] ')
       local priority = 0
-      if stripped:match('^! ') then
-        priority = 1
-        stripped = stripped:sub(3)
+      if prio_str then
+        priority = tonumber(prio_str)
+        stripped = stripped:sub(#prio_str + 4)
       end
       local description, metadata = parse.body(stripped)
       if description and description ~= '' then
diff --git a/lua/pending/init.lua b/lua/pending/init.lua
index 86c1971..1593bc5 100644
--- a/lua/pending/init.lua
+++ b/lua/pending/init.lua
@@ -52,8 +52,17 @@ function M._setup_buf_mappings(bufnr)
   vim.keymap.set('n', 'g?', function()
     M.show_help()
   end, opts)
-  vim.keymap.set('n', '!', function()
-    M.toggle_priority()
+  vim.keymap.set('n', '<C-a>', function()
+    M.change_priority(1)
+  end, opts)
+  vim.keymap.set('n', '<C-x>', function()
+    M.change_priority(-1)
+  end, opts)
+  vim.keymap.set('v', 'g<C-a>', function()
+    M.change_priority_visual(1)
+  end, opts)
+  vim.keymap.set('v', 'g<C-x>', function()
+    M.change_priority_visual(-1)
   end, opts)
   vim.keymap.set('n', 'D', function()
     M.prompt_date()
@@ -119,7 +128,8 @@ function M.toggle_complete()
   buffer.render(bufnr)
 end
 
-function M.toggle_priority()
+---@param delta integer
+function M.change_priority(delta)
   local bufnr = buffer.bufnr()
   if not bufnr then
     return
@@ -137,7 +147,7 @@ function M.toggle_priority()
   if not task then
     return
   end
-  local new_priority = task.priority == 1 and 0 or 1
+  local new_priority = math.max(0, task.priority + delta)
   store.update(id, { priority = new_priority })
   store.save()
   buffer.render(bufnr)
@@ -149,6 +159,33 @@ function M.toggle_priority()
   end
 end
 
+---@param delta integer
+function M.change_priority_visual(delta)
+  local bufnr = buffer.bufnr()
+  if not bufnr then
+    return
+  end
+  local start_row = vim.fn.line("'<")
+  local end_row = vim.fn.line("'>")
+  local meta = buffer.meta()
+  local changed = false
+  for row = start_row, end_row do
+    local m = meta[row]
+    if m and m.type == 'task' and m.id then
+      local task = store.get(m.id)
+      if task then
+        local new_priority = math.max(0, task.priority + delta)
+        store.update(m.id, { priority = new_priority })
+        changed = true
+      end
+    end
+  end
+  if changed then
+    store.save()
+    buffer.render(bufnr)
+  end
+end
+
 function M.prompt_date()
   local bufnr = buffer.bufnr()
   if not bufnr then
@@ -305,7 +342,10 @@ function M.show_help()
     '',
     '<CR>     Toggle complete/uncomplete',
     '<Tab>    Switch category/priority view',
-    '!        Toggle priority',
+    '<C-a>    Raise priority level',
+    '<C-x>    Lower priority level',
+    'g<C-a>   Raise priority for visual selection',
+    'g<C-x>   Lower priority for visual selection',
     'D        Set due date',
     'U        Undo last write',
     'o / O    Add new task line',
@@ -330,7 +370,8 @@ function M.show_help()
     '  Empty input clears due date',
     '',
     'Highlights:',
-    '  PendingOverdue  overdue tasks (red)',
+    '  PendingOverdue   overdue tasks (red)',
+    '  PendingPriority  [N] priority prefix',
     '',
     'Press q or <Esc> to close',
   }
diff --git a/lua/pending/views.lua b/lua/pending/views.lua
index 1e599f5..84567e9 100644
--- a/lua/pending/views.lua
+++ b/lua/pending/views.lua
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ local config = require('pending.config')
 ---@field category? string
 ---@field overdue? boolean
 ---@field show_category? boolean
+---@field priority? integer
 
 ---@class pending.views
 local M = {}
@@ -138,7 +139,7 @@ function M.category_view(tasks)
     for _, task in ipairs(all) do
       local prefix = '/' .. task.id .. '/'
       local indent = '  '
-      local prio = task.priority == 1 and '! ' or ''
+      local prio = task.priority > 0 and ('[' .. task.priority .. '] ') or ''
       local line = prefix .. indent .. prio .. task.description
       table.insert(lines, line)
       table.insert(meta, {
diff --git a/plugin/pending.lua b/plugin/pending.lua
index 7270825..56dedc3 100644
--- a/plugin/pending.lua
+++ b/plugin/pending.lua
@@ -30,8 +30,12 @@ vim.keymap.set('n', '<Plug>(pending-view)', function()
   require('pending.buffer').toggle_view()
 end)
 
-vim.keymap.set('n', '<Plug>(pending-priority)', function()
-  require('pending').toggle_priority()
+vim.keymap.set('n', '<Plug>(pending-priority-up)', function()
+  require('pending').change_priority(1)
+end)
+
+vim.keymap.set('n', '<Plug>(pending-priority-down)', function()
+  require('pending').change_priority(-1)
 end)
 
 vim.keymap.set('n', '<Plug>(pending-date)', function()