Targeting

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[edit]
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[edit]

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[edit]
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[edit]
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
Envoy of Exuberance — Shield
Spiritcrush — Short bow
Whirlwind Attack — Greatsword
Arcing Arrow — Longbow
Glue Shot — Pistol
Jump Shot — Rifle
Thunderclap — Hammer
Barrage — Longbow
Ancestral Grace — Staff
Sublime Conversion — Staff
Cluster Bomb — Short bow
Choking Gas — Short bow
Infiltrator's Arrow — Short bow
Vault — Staff
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
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
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
Breakrazor's Bastion — Legendary Renegade Stance
Well of Gloom — Well
Well of Eternity — Well
Well of Blood — Well
Elixir of Promise — Elixir
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
Arcane Blast — 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
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
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
Drowning skills
Radiation Field
Summon Power Suit
Artillery Barrage
Fire Rocket Barrage
Shrapnel Mine
Healing Seed
Seed Turret
Autotargeting[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
Weapon skills
Profession mechanic skills
Effects that break enemy targeting[edit]
Detargeting[edit]
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[edit]
- 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.