Targeting

"Target" redirects here. For the effect applied by the bounty enemies, see Target (effect). For the command to mark the target for allies, see Call Target.

Targeting is a game mechanic for selecting NPCs, player characters, and objects for combat or interaction. Targeting is one of the key elements of the combat system and used to cast skills at a specific enemy or area. Interacting with objects or allied NPCs, like vendors, does not require targeting them, but helps selecting a specific interaction if multiple objects are located close to each other.

Interaction

Targeting an interactable object or allied NPC can be done by mouse-clicking them or by using "Nearest Ally", "Next Ally", or "Previous Ally" keybinds (unassigned in the Control Options by default). Allied player characters are prioritized over NPCs for targeting when using the keybinds. Some combat skills, primarily the abilities of Thief's elite specialization Specter, have a special effect when targeted at allies.

Combat

Targeting an NPC displays its name and characteristics.

In all game modes, in order to engage the enemy in combat, player needs to target it and use a skill. With default controls, a nearby enemy is targeted by pressing the "Next Enemy" keybind ( Tab by default) or by mouse-selecting it. Targeting with the keybind prioritizes NPC with the highest rank. Alternatively, getting in range of the auto-attacking skill and double-clicking the enemy model starts the auto-attack chain.

Some skills require a target in order to be activated (e.g. Phantasmal Berserker), while others can be used regardless despite having a single-target behavior (e.g. Fireball). If a skill is used without a target, it will be cast in the direction the character or camera are currently facing, and might not hit the enemy. Sometimes, it can be used deliberately, for example, using leap or retreat skills without a target as a movement aid. This is only possible with "Autotargeting" in General Options disabled. Many skills that create projectiles can also be used without a target, for example, directing the camera up or down while casting demonstrates the pathfinding for the free-form projectiles.

After the targeted enemy is defeated, a new target can be selected manually by pressing "Next Enemy", "Previous Enemy" or "Nearest Enemy" keybinds. If "Autotargeting" is enabled, the next foe in range will be selected automatically upon casting a skill or if an ability was already queued just before the previous target was defeated.

Ground targeting

Thief's short bow skills 2, 4, and 5 are ground targeted, indicated by the red target reticle in their icon

Ground-targeted skills are instead aimed at the specific area on the ground and usually affect multiple enemies (area of effect skills). These skills can be cast anywhere regardless of the direction the character is facing, but might be obstructed if there is no clear line of sight to the selected area. Ground targeted abilities are indicated by the red target reticle in their icon.

• Using the skill will bring up highlighted area of target which can be aimed and subsequently activated with a mouse click.
• Set the option of 'Ground Targeting' in Options -> General Options -> 'Combat/Movement' to 'Instant' in order to aim at your cursor's current position.
  • Setting this to Instant is the only way to continuously attack with a ground-targeted 1 skill (eg. Mortar Shot) by holding its hotkey or left mouse with Action Cam; there is no way to auto attack for these types of skills.
• Ground-targeted skills can be used regardless of character facing and can hit targets within the AOE even if they would normally be obstructed (i.e. if they are behind a corner). However, there must still be a clear line of sight between the player and the point targeted, or a "No Line of Sight" message will pop up.
• Most ground-targeted skills which can be used underwater lose that property upon going under water, instead the effect is either applied at caster's location or targeted foe's location.

Skills with ground targeting

Skills with ground targeting

Weapon skills   Symbol of Punishment — Scepter   Symbol of Swiftness — Staff   Line of Warding — Staff   Deflecting Shot — Longbow   Symbol of Energy — Longbow   Hunter's Ward — Longbow   Coalescence of Ruin — Hammer   Phase Smash — Hammer   Drop the Hammer — Hammer   Abyssal Blitz — Spear   Abyssal Blot — Spear   Abyssal Raze — Spear   Envoy of Exuberance — Shield   Spiritcrush — Short bow   Whirlwind Attack — Greatsword   Arcing Arrow — Longbow   Valiant Leap — Staff   Line Breaker — Staff   Maiming Spear — Spear   Disrupting Throw — Spear   Glue Shot — Pistol   Jump Shot — Rifle   Thunderclap — Hammer   Barrage — Longbow   Warclaw's Engage — Spear   Predator's Ambush — Spear   Spider's Web — Spear   Ancestral Grace — Staff   Sublime Conversion — Staff   Cluster Bomb — Short bow   Choking Gas — Short bow   Infiltrator's Arrow — Short bow   Vault — Staff   Shadow Sap — Scepter   Searing Salvo — Pistol, when attuned to fire   Aerial Agility — Pistol, when attuned to air   Aerial Agility — Pistol, when attuned to air   Phoenix — Scepter, when attuned to fire   Shatterstone — Scepter, when attuned to water   Water Trident — Scepter, when attuned to water   Dust Devil — Scepter, when attuned to earth   Flamewall — Focus, when attuned to fire   Lava Font — Staff, when attuned to fire   Meteor Shower — Staff, when attuned to fire   Ice Spike — Staff, when attuned to water   Geyser — Staff, when attuned to water   Frozen Ground — Staff, when attuned to water   Healing Rain — Staff, when attuned to water   Gust — Staff, when attuned to air   Static Field — Staff, when attuned to air   Eruption — Staff, when attuned to earth   Unsteady Ground — Staff, when attuned to earth   Ripple — Spear, when attuned to water   Lightning Orb — Warhorn, when attuned to air   Stone Tide — Scepter, when attuned to water and earth   Pressure Blast — Staff, when attuned to fire and water   Plasma Blast — Staff, when attuned to fire and air   Pyroclastic Blast — Staff, when attuned to fire and earth   Monsoon — Staff, when attuned to air and water   Lahar — Staff, when attuned to water and earth   Temporal Curtain — Focus   Mind Stab — Greatsword   Chaos Storm — Staff   Tides of Time — Shield   Unstable Bladestorm — Dagger   Enfeebling Blood — Dagger   Grasping Dead — Scepter   Mark of Blood — Staff   Chillblains — Staff   Putrid Mark — Staff   Reaper's Mark — Staff Bundle skills   Chapter 3: Azure Sun — Tome of Resolve   Chapter 3: Valiant Bulwark — Tome of Courage   Infusion Bomb — Med Kit   Super Elixir — Elixir Gun   Flame Blast — Flamethrower   Napalm — Flamethrower   Grenade — Grenade Kit   Shrapnel Grenade — Grenade Kit   Shrapnel Grenade — Grenade Kit   Flash Grenade — Grenade Kit   Freeze Grenade — Grenade Kit   Poison Grenade — Grenade Kit   Mortar Shot — Elite Mortar Kit   Poison Gas Shell — Elite Mortar Kit   Endothermic Shell — Elite Mortar Kit   Flash Shell — Elite Mortar Kit   Elixir Shell — Elite Mortar Kit   Explosive Lava Axe — Conjured Flame   Frost Storm — Frost Bow   Firestorm — Fiery Greatsword   Explosive Lava Axe — Slag Axe Transform skills   Seismic Leap — Rampage   Cosmic Ray — Celestial Avatar   Seed of Life — Celestial Avatar   Lunar Impact — Celestial Avatar   Dawn's Repose — Enter Shadow Shroud   Ripple of Horror — Lich Form   Voracious Arc — Harbinger Shroud Healing skills   Breakrazor's Bastion — Legendary Renegade Stance   Well of Gloom — Well   Well of Eternity — Well   Well of Blood — Well   Elixir of Promise — Elixir Utility skills   Hallowed Ground — Consecration   Purging Flames — Consecration   Sanctuary — Consecration   Wall of Reflection — Consecration   Merciful Intervention — Meditation   Signet of Mercy — Signet   Bow of Truth — Spirit Weapon   Hammer of Wisdom — Spirit Weapon   Shield of the Avenger — Spirit Weapon   Sword of Justice — Spirit Weapon   Call to Anguish — Legendary Demon Stance   Inspiring Reinforcement — Legendary Dwarf Stance   Elemental Blast — Legendary Dragon Stance, Consume   Darkrazor's Daring — Legendary Renegade Stance   Icerazor's Ire — Legendary Renegade Stance   Razorclaw's Rage — Legendary Renegade Stance   Tree Song — Legendary Alliance Stance, Kurzick   Scavenger Burst — Legendary Alliance Stance, Luxon   Banner of Defense — Banner   Banner of Discipline — Banner   Banner of Strength — Banner   Banner of Tactics — Banner   Stomp — Physical   Throw Mine — Gadget   Shift Signet — Signet   Muddy Terrain — Survival   Shadow Refuge — Deception   Shadowstep — Deception   Shadow Flare — Cantrip   Well of Bounty — Well   Well of Silence — Well   Well of Sorrow — Well   Well of Tears — Well   Arcane Wave — Arcane   Lightning Flash — Cantrip   Conjure Earth Shield — Conjure   Conjure Flame Axe — Conjure   Conjure Frost Bow — Conjure   Conjure Lightning Hammer — Conjure   Renewal of Air — Glyph, when attuned to air   Renewal of Earth — Glyph, when attuned to earth   Renewal of Fire — Glyph, when attuned to fire   Renewal of Water — Glyph, when attuned to water   Glyph of Storms — Glyph   Lightning Storm — Glyph, when attuned to air   Sandstorm — Glyph, when attuned to earth   Firestorm — Glyph, when attuned to fire   Ice Storm — Glyph, when attuned to water   Signet of Water — Signet   Feedback — Glamour   Null Field — Glamour   Veil — Glamour   Blink — Manipulation   Illusion of Life — Manipulation   Well of Action — Well   Well of Calamity — Well   Well of Precognition — Well   Well of Senility — Well   Corrosive Poison Cloud — Corruption   Signet of Undeath — Signet   Spectral Ring — Spectral   Well of Corruption — Well   Well of Darkness — Well   Well of Power — Well   Well of Suffering — Well   Sand Swell — Punishment   Serpent Siphon — Punishment   Elixir of Anguish — Elixir   Elixir of Bliss — Elixir   Elixir of Ignorance — Elixir   Elixir of Risk — Elixir Elite skills   Soulcleave's Summit — Legendary Renegade Stance   Battle Standard — Banner   Supply Crate — Turret   Glyph of the Stars — Glyph   Glyph of the Stars — Glyph   Shadowfall — Well   Conjure Fiery Greatsword — Conjure   Time Warp — Glamour   Gravity Well — Well   Jaunt — Deception   Elixir of Ambition — Elixir Profession mechanic skills   Citadel Bombardment — Citadel Order   Earthshaker — Hammer, Burst   Combustive Shot — Longbow, Burst   Harrier's Toss — Spear, Burst   Toss Elixir H — Elixir, Tool belt   Toss Elixir X — Elixir, Tool belt   Orbital Strike — Tool belt   Toss Elixir B — Elixir, Tool belt   Toss Elixir C — Elixir, Tool belt   Toss Elixir R — Elixir, Tool belt   Toss Elixir S — Elixir, Tool belt   Toss Elixir U — Elixir, Tool belt   Grenade Barrage — Tool belt   Throw Napalm — Tool belt   Defense Field — Tool belt   Crash Down   Call Lightning   Throw Gunk — Stolen skill   Throw Magnetic Bomb — Stolen skill   Unstable Artifact — Stolen skill   Deploy Jade Sphere — Jade Sphere, when attuned to fire   Deploy Jade Sphere — Jade Sphere, when attuned to water   Deploy Jade Sphere — Jade Sphere, when attuned to air   Deploy Jade Sphere — Jade Sphere, when attuned to earth Downed skills   Shadow Escape   Deception Drowning skills   Deception Racial skills   Radiation Field   Summon Power Suit   Artillery Barrage   Fire Rocket Barrage   Shrapnel Mine   Healing Seed   Seed Turret

Autotargeting

If Autotargeting is enabled in the General Options, then using a non-ground targeted skill will automatically target a nearby enemy.

• If Autotargeting is disabled, it's possible to target the nearest foe manually using the "Next Enemy", "Nearest Enemy", or "Previous Enemy" keybinds.
• Alternatively, holding down Lock Auto Target keybind temporarily disables autotargeting mechanic, even if it is enabled in Options. It locks the auto-target as long as the key is pressed down and will automatically auto-target the next foe again when the key is let go.
• Additionally, there are keybinds to toggle the Autotargeting on/off or temporarily fully disable it.

Breaking enemy target

Enemy NPCs also engage in combat by targeting the player character, although it is rarely indicated directly in the user interface. Some skills and effects like Stealth have the ability to break targeting, forcing enemies to select the target again (if their skills require a target). This mechanic works both against hostile NPCs in PvE game mode and enemy players in PvP and WvW game modes.

Channeled skills that were already tracking the target like Rapid Fire will not stop tracking if the character breaks targeting once the channeling has started.

Skills that break enemy targeting

Weapon skills

•   Axes of Symmetry — Axe
•   Axes of Symmetry — Axe

Utility skills

•   Mirror Images — Clone
•   Illusionary Ambush — Deception

Profession mechanic skills

•   Smoke Assault

Effects that break enemy targeting

•  Stealth

Detargeting

Removing the target can be done by left-clicking anywhere in the game world outside of the targetable objects and NPCs. While there is no specific keybind for this action, pressing, instead of holding down, the "Lock Autotarget" keybind also removes the target.

Action Camera

Primary article: Action Camera

Action Camera is a special camera mode that enables a third/first person shooter style targeting. With this camera mode active, the mouse cursor is locked in the middle of the screen and transformed into a target reticle. Left-Click casts the first weapon skill, and Right-Click is used to select a character or object as a target.

Gallery

The following icons appear above the heads of targeted NPCs and objects:

• 

  Ally

• 

  Enemy

• 

  Object

• 

  Party member