Targeted skills

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Targeted skills require either a soft or hard locked target.[1][2]

  • Soft locking is when the reticle moves over a valid target while in action mode. The targeting plate will appear slightly grayed out to indicate that this is a soft-lock target. If the reticle moves away from the target or the target moves away from the reticle, the target is lost.[2].
  • Hard locking is when the player uses right-mouse on a soft-locked target in action mode, or when the player selects a valid target in tab mode. The targeting plate will not be grayed-out to indicate that a hard-lock target is selected. Unlike soft locking, if the target moves out of the reticle, the target is not lost. Tab will still cycle between hard-locked targets in action mode based on proximity priority.[3][2]
  • Targeted skills will be greyed out if the target is not within a valid range.[1]
  • The developers will be testing additional targeting methods, such as target-of-target as well as separate friendly and enemy targets, most likely during Alpha-2.[4]
Skill Icon Base skill
Arcane Volley Arcane Volley (Active).png Fires a volley of arcane missiles at your target, dealing arcane damage with each hit.[5][6]
Barrage Barrage Icon.png Fires a continual barrage of arrows at your target for 1.5 seconds, dealing 12% physical damage per arrow.[7]
Barrier Barrier.png Sacrifice 25% of your maximum health to place a health shield on target ally for 10 seconds. Does not stack.[8][9]
Bear Trap Bear Trap Icon.png Spawn a Trap at the target location, which arms after 1 second. When an enemy triggers the Trap, they take damage and become Rooted for 2 seconds.[10]
Bless Weapon Bless Weapon.png Imbues your target's weapon with radiant light, causing each of their weapon combo attacks to deal additional radiant damage and applies a mana regeneration buff to the caster. Each hit extends the duration of the mana regeneration buff, up to a maximum of 15 seconds. Has a 10% chance to proc bonus radiant damage and apply a stack of Burning to the target.[11][12]
Chain Lightning Chain Lightning Icon clean.png Release a powerful streak of lightning that hits your primary target and then chains outward to all nearby enemies from that target, dealing lightning damage and applying 3 stacks of Electrified to each target hit.[13][14][15]
Condemn Condemn.png Stun target enemy for 3 seconds.[16][17]
Defiant Light Defiant Light.png Heal target ally for 50% of their maximum health over 10 seconds. If that target would receive fatal damage while under this effect, this effect is consumed and prevents that target's death, healing them for 25% of their maximum health instead.[18][19]
Deliverance Deliverance.png Held ability: Charges up healing energy that heals a target ally upon release, scaling in power the longer it is charged and the more % missing health of the target.[20][21]
Fireball Fireball (Active).png Instantly hurl a ball of fire toward your target, dealing fire damage and applying 1 stack of Burning to target on impact. Burning deals periodic fire damage over time for each stack applied. When the target reaches 5 stacks, they become Conflagrated, dealing extreme fire damage over time.[22] Hitting a conflagrating enemy with a lightning spell causes Fusion, dealing significant damage and removing the Conflagrated effect.[23]
Frostbolt Frostbolt (Active).png Launch a bolt of frost towards your target, dealing ice damage and applying 2 Chilled stacks to the target on impact. Chilled reduces movement speed of the target for each stack applied. When the target reaches 5 stacks, they become Frozen, rooting them in place for the duration. Hitting a frozen enemy with a lightning spell causes them to Shatter, dealing significant damage and removing the Frozen effect.[24][25]
Headshot Headshot.png Deals 175% physical damage to target enemy.[26]
Healing Touch Healing Touch.png Heal target ally in melee range for a large amount of health.[27][28]
Judgment Judgment Icon2.png Cast a heal on target ally for a large amount of health. If this is cast on an enemy, it instead deals radiant damage to the target and applies 2 stacks of Burning.[29][30]
Lightning Strike Lightning Strike (Active).png Held ability: Charge up a bolt of lightning to unleash upon your target, dealing lightning damage and applying 2 stacks of Electrified to the target. This deals additional damage based on how long it was charged. Electrified reduces the target's magical mitigation for each stack applied. When the target reaches 10 stacks, all Electrified stacks are consumed and they become temporarily Shocked. Whenever a Shocked enemy takes damage, they take additional damage and 1 stack of Shocked is consumed. Shocked is initially applied with 20 stacks.[31][32]
Longbow basic attack Bow basic attack.png A slower, powerful, longer range basic ranged attack. Tapping the basic attack button will shoot normally. Holding the basic attack button will charge the shot (and root the player) to cause added damage.[33][34][35]
Mend Mend.png Instantly launch a healing projectile toward target ally. Each charge of this ability consumed after the first has no mana cost, and restores an increasing amount of mana to the caster based on the number of missing charges. Consecutive uses of the ability will gain bonus healing.[36][37]
Protect Protect (Active).png Intercept attacks that strike your friendly nearby target, redirecting half of the damage taken to you. Must be within 10ys to Protect. If this range is exceeded for more than 5 seconds, the effect ends.[38]
Resplendent Beam Resplendent Beam.png Held ability: Fire a beam of healing energy toward a target ally. Charging this spell allows the beam to bounce to up to 5 additional friendly targets closest to the original target, based on how long it was charged. The amount of healing is reduced for each subsequent target.[39][40]
Scatter Shot Scatter Shot Icon.png Fires a spread of projectiles, dealing Physical Damage to every enemy target within a 20m cone in front of the caster.[41]
Shortbow basic attack Copper Shortbow Icon.png A fast, low power, short range basic ranged attack. Holding down the basic attack button will repeatedly fire.[34][35]
Slam Slam.png Slam your target with immense force, knocking them back. Applies 10 stagger. Deals 500% additional threat.[42]
Slumber Slumber (Active).png Applies the sleeping condition to targets affected within a small area around the primary target, rendering them unable to move or take any action. Any damage dealt to a sleeping target will break the effect. Duration is reduced by 20% for each additional target hit, to a minimum of 40% of base duration.[43][44][45]
Smite Smite.png Smite your target, dealing instant damage and applying a stack of Burning to target enemy. Has no cast time and deals increased damage if activated within melee range of the target. This attack always critically hits on targets under the effect of Condemn.[16][46]
Snipe Snipe New.png Charge a powerful ranged attack, dealing large damage after charging for 3 seconds. Deals 300% physical damage.[47]
Soothing Glow Soothing Glow.png Apply a healing over time effect to target ally. Reapplying this effect extends its duration on the target by its base duration value.[48][49]
Thundering Shot Thundering Shot Icon.png Fires a lightning-infused projectile at your target, dealing 200% of your physical power as Lightning damage.[50]
Wings of Salvation Wings of Salvation.png Sprout phoenix-like wings and leap to target ally, then grant a small amount of temporary health to that target on arrival.[51][52] An ally is defined as any non-combatant player or non-mob NPC.[53]

Indirect fire skills

Alpha-2 Chain Lightning arcing around an environmental obstacle.[54]

Indirect fire skills are targeted skills where the projectiles may path around obstructions that are not in line-of-sight, so long as the maximum distance travelled for the skill is not exceeded.[55][54][56]

  • This is a prototype concept that is subject to testing and balancing.[56]
  • A limited number of these may exist throughout different class kits.[56]
Some abilities might have indirect fire. So, if you have let's say a Archer or Ranger who has the ability to select a Mage as their secondary class; and they might want to augment a Snipe ability in order to go around a corner like an Arcane Archer might have... Some abilities might not care about that line-of-sight. They might care the distance to the target around the corner, or the path that it's taking; and if it's outside that path is too long it might not be able to reach them of course.[55]Steven Sharif
Skill Icon Base skill
Chain Lightning Chain Lightning Icon clean.png Release a powerful streak of lightning that hits your primary target and then chains outward to all nearby enemies from that target, dealing lightning damage and applying 3 stacks of Electrified to each target hit.[13][14][15]
Headshot Headshot.png Deals 175% physical damage to target enemy.[26]

Hybrid combat

Ranger hybrid combat in Alpha-2.[57]

Our desire has always and continues to be how we can create a mixture of tab target abilities and skill-shot oriented positional, directional-based ability usage and make something cohesive in that design. And I think that what we're achieving with that regard may not fully feel like an action-oriented game, but we've always intended to be more hybrid-oriented, leaning towards tab target. So you're going to see a mixture of abilities that require the targets and that don't; and then you're going to have an option as the player's perspective to utilize an action camera mode, which utilizes a soft target lock feature and our reticle.[58]Steven Sharif

Hard-locked friendly player target.[59]

Hybrid combat refers to the choice between tab and action combat in Ashes of Creation.[58][60][61][62][63][64] A toggle button (default Z, but can be re-bound to another key) allows the player to switch between action and tab combat modes.[58][65][66][67][68]

  • The action mode camera is tied to the to the player's reticle (crosshair).[69][58][2][70]
    • There will likely be a hotkey that when held down will allow free camera movement in action mode.[70]
    • In future the user will have the ability to choose from different reticle appearances.[69][71]
  • Targeted skills require either a soft or hard locked target.[58][2]
    • Soft locking is when the reticle moves over a valid target while in action mode.[69] The targeting plate will appear slightly grayed out to indicate that this is a soft-lock target. If the reticle moves away from the target or the target moves away from the reticle, the target is lost.[2]
    • Hard locking is when the player uses right-mouse on a soft-locked target in action mode, or when the player selects a valid target in tab mode. The targeting plate will not be grayed-out to indicate that a hard-lock target is selected. Unlike soft locking, if the target moves out of the reticle, the target is not lost. Tab will still cycle between hard-locked targets in action mode based on proximity priority.[3][2]
Q: Is the development team moving away from action combat, or is action combat more prevalent with the melee classes, and the healing/range classes are more tab-target other than AoE spells?
A: We have not moved away from our hybrid approach to the development of Ashes of Creation's combat; and specifically to reiterate: that approach is incorporating elements of skill shots, fast and reactive gameplay that is situationally relevant, and incorporates the camera mode of both tab-targeting as well as action combat reticle. That's something that is still in progress. We haven't moved away from that however. To note, our approach of that hybridization is going to incorporate things like templated skill-shots, directionally relevant activated abilities, along with the ability to dodge to roll projectiles that can impact collision. Those are elements of action combat that are present.[75]Steven Sharif

Templated and targeted versions of skills will have different characteristics.[76][65][77][78][79]

Skill progressions, skill point allocation is determined by the player. The player will be able to choose either more tab-target oriented skills or more action-based skills and customize their playable experience to what accommodates their preference. From a balancing standpoint for us developers, we need to make sure that certain abilities house certain functions so that there's a balance between skill shots and tab-target abilities.[78]Steven Sharif
  • Targeted skills will be greyed out if the target is not within a valid range but templated skills will generally require the player to assess the correct range for the skill.[1]
info-orange.pngSome of the following information has not been recently confirmed by the developers and may not be on the current development roadmap.
  • It may not be possible to be able to fully spec into just action or tab targeted skills. There might be a 75% cap on choosing skills from any one type.[78]
  • For the purposes of balance, certain skill types will be either tab or action oriented skills.[81]
    • Hard CCs may be housed in action oriented skills because they are skill shots that are more difficult to land.[81][78]
    • Softer CC's would be housed in tab-targeted abilities.[81]
As an example: Let's say you're playing a ranged class. You could have an action-oriented power shot in your skill tree or you could have a single target power shot that ramps up and does more damage.[79]Steven Sharif

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Livestream, January 27, 2023 (1:11:07).
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Video, September 30, 2022 (17:00).
  3. 3.0 3.1 Livestream, September 30, 2022 (49:16).
  4. Livestream, July 28, 2023 (59:56TpBSGYWxd38).
  5. Arcane Volley Description2.png
  6. Video, April 28, 2023 (22:13).
  7. Barrage New Description.png
  8. Video, July 28, 2023 (19:50).
  9. Barrier Info Panel.png
  10. Bear Trap Description.png
  11. Video, July 28, 2023 (14:03).
  12. Bless Weapon Info Panel.png
  13. 13.0 13.1 New Chain Lightning Description.png
  14. 14.0 14.1 Video, May 31, 2023 (12:12).
  15. 15.0 15.1 Video, April 28, 2023 (17:50).
  16. 16.0 16.1 Video, July 28, 2023 (29:23).
  17. Condemn Info Panel.png
  18. Video, July 28, 2023 (22:12).
  19. Defiant Light Info Panel.png
  20. Video, July 28, 2023 (7:34).
  21. Deliverance Info Panel.png
  22. Fireball Description2.png
  23. New Fireball Description.png
  24. New Frostbolt Description.png
  25. Video, April 28, 2023 (15:35).
  26. 26.0 26.1 Headshot Description Ranger2.png
  27. Video, July 28, 2023 (23:28).
  28. Healing Touch Info Panel.png
  29. Video, July 28, 2023 (15:15).
  30. Judgment Info Panel.png
  31. Lightning Strike Description2.png
  32. Video, April 28, 2023 (13:40).
  33. Livestream, September 30, 2022 (26:42).
  34. 34.0 34.1 Video, September 30, 2022 (19:32).
  35. 35.0 35.1 Video, September 30, 2022 (10:44).
  36. Video, July 28, 2023 (5:16).
  37. Mend Info Panel.png
  38. Protect Description.png
  39. Video, July 28, 2023 (12:04).
  40. Resplendent Beam Info Panel.png
  41. Scatter Shot Description.png
  42. Slam Description.png
  43. Video, April 28, 2023 (17:22).
  44. Slumber Description2.png
  45. Video, September 29, 2023 (11:23).
  46. Smite Info Panel.png
  47. Snipe Description New.png
  48. Video, July 28, 2023 (9:22).
  49. Soothing Glow Info Panel.png
  50. Thundering Shot Description.png
  51. Video, July 28, 2023 (24:03).
  52. Wings of Salvation Info Panel.png
  53. Video, July 28, 2023 (24:16).
  54. 54.0 54.1 Video, April 28, 2023 (20:57).
  55. 55.0 55.1 Livestream, April 28, 2023 (59:52).
  56. 56.0 56.1 56.2 steven-indirect-fire.png
  57. Video, September 30, 2022 (17:03).
  58. 58.0 58.1 58.2 58.3 58.4 58.5 Livestream, April 28, 2023 (53:58).
  59. Video, May 31, 2023 (11:20).
  60. Livestream, April 7, 2023 (49:45).
  61. steven-hybrid.png
  62. Livestream, August 27, 2021 (1:16:04).
  63. Livestream, June 25, 2021 (22:34).
  64. Livestream, November 16, 2017 (30:45).
  65. 65.0 65.1 Livestream, June 25, 2021 (27:43).
  66. steven-combat-revamp-update-2.png
  67. Livestream, August 28, 2020 (1:15:39).
  68. Livestream, April 30, 2020 (1:09:51).
  69. 69.0 69.1 69.2 Livestream, December 19, 2023 (1:15:00).
  70. 70.0 70.1 Livestream, March 26, 2021 (59:21).
  71. Livestream, June 25, 2021 (26:11).
  72. Livestream, December 19, 2023 (1:18:49).
  73. Livestream, September 30, 2022 (52:33).
  74. Livestream, September 30, 2022 (48:10).
  75. Livestream, August 31, 2023 (2:22:01).
  76. 76.0 76.1 76.2 76.3 Livestream, September 30, 2022 (41:06).
  77. Newsletter, 2018-08-7
  78. 78.0 78.1 78.2 78.3 Livestream, 2018-04-8 (PM) (37:57).
  79. 79.0 79.1 79.2 79.3 79.4 79.5 Podcast, August 4, 2018 (1:07:59).
  80. Livestream, August 28, 2020 (1:12:50).
  81. 81.0 81.1 81.2 81.3 81.4 81.5 Podcast, August 4, 2018 (1:11:05).
  82. steven-action-tab-attack-range.png