What is assist attack? How do I use it? Tutorial

Foltern - Sanctuary

Hello. This is a video tutorial which explains what assist attack is and how to use it. I would have written a document explaining it but I felt both a video with text and simple demonstrations would be a bit better.


When I was a healer, I never really used it. I didn't know how actually. It was never explained to me. Looking back I can think of many situations where using it would have helped heh.. -.-


Now that I am an archer this tool has proven to be invaluable while completing bounty hunter quests and dealing massive damage in squads without drawing unwanted attention, switching targets rapidly or attacking the same mob as a Venomancer pulling mobs.


I've witnessed players attacking different mobs than the tank or Venomancer many times, either causing a party to get mobbed or themselves only. Because this tool exists, There is no reason to assume which monster a tank or Venomancer may attack or pull. I always attempt to assist attack the tanks mob, Until someone else pulls a mob to themselves and I must hit it before they get dominated. Using it properly, can greatly increase a parties effectiveness by allowing squad members to focus on the proper mobs. Making the tank and everyone's job easier really.

Here is a link to the HD video explaining what it is and how to use it. I hope it helps you grow as a player while making the game more fun and easier.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doldVlf1KwE

Regards

Jellytops - Heavens Tear

I can't see the movie, since Youtube is blocked at work :0P But I really hope this info goes out to all players! I have been in too many squads where I, after just a few mobs, have to give squad members a quick lesson in Assist Attack! Everyone should learn this! It will make the jobb of all tankers/healers much easier!!

Foltern - Sanctuary

Jellytops - Heavens Tear wrote: »

I can't see the movie, since Youtube is blocked at work :0P But I really hope this info goes out to all players! I have been in too many squads where I, after just a few mobs, have to give squad members a quick lesson in Assist Attack! Everyone should learn this! It will make the jobb of all tankers/healers much easier!!

Blocked at work? Gah..Probably bandwidth regulation =P.

Thank you for responding to this. I also hope it reaches every player possible ._. I do agree it makes playing in squads much easier for everyone, Especially tanks. It's always more fun when everyone knows what to do and nobody has to communicate in squad chat. Assist attack is a great tool which seems to go without heavy usage.

Regards

Vitenka - Dreamweaver

I'd just like to add one thing about assist attack:
It's great, use it. But don't just click it once and then auto-attack that enemy forever. Check that you got the one the tank is mainly going for, not some random add they had targeted for just a moment.

Foltern - Sanctuary

Vitenka - Dreamweaver wrote: »

I'd just like to add one thing about assist attack:
It's great, use it. But don't just click it once and then auto-attack that enemy forever. Check that you got the one the tank is mainly going for, not some random add they had targeted for just a moment.

I agree completely. What a player should do is very situational. Using assist attack while the barb gets in the first few hits after he uses any aggro holding skills has proven to work well for me.

Once or twice while trying to learn the tool, I have attempted to use assist attack while approaching mobs, only to learn the tank switched mobs on me and the same for venomancers pulling mobs. So using it at the proper time and verifying which mob you should focus on is critical to using the tool with success. If it is used to attack the wrong mobs, it isn't helping at all. Thank you for adding that.

Regards

RavinTink - Sanctuary

Thank you Foltern, I also hope this goes out to everyone. This is a very handy thing to know. My archer hubby utilized this all the time, saves my butt alot too..lol.

Also, clerics need to know how to use this and use it as often as possible. For example:

Your healing a barb in an instance, he is attacking a mob that doesnt do quite that much dmg to HIM. In most cases the cleric is BEHIND the barb and cant really target the mob. Since you already have the barb targeted for heals, you can simply "assist attack" and help him get it out of the way and get ready for harder more aggressive mobs.

Also, when healing a barb on a boss mob, you have the barb targeted, he/she goes "Immortal" which gives you at least 20 seconds to do some damage. Instead of trying to click on the boss then attk, simply click "assist attack" and do what you can (I can usually get in 1 tempest, 1 plume shot, and 1 whirlwind) in that 20 seconds. Then click the barbs name in squad list again and start the heals all over again.

It is a great thing to learn and utilize!

Again thank you for posting this!!

Foltern - Sanctuary

RavinTink - Sanctuary wrote: »

Thank you Foltern, I also hope this goes out to everyone. This is a very handy thing to know. My archer hubby utilized this all the time, saves my butt alot too..lol.

Also, clerics need to know how to use this and use it as often as possible. For example:

Your healing a barb in an instance, he is attacking a mob that doesnt do quite that much dmg to HIM. In most cases the cleric is BEHIND the barb and cant really target the mob. Since you already have the barb targeted for heals, you can simply "assist attack" and help him get it out of the way and get ready for harder more aggressive mobs.

Also, when healing a barb on a boss mob, you have the barb targeted, he/she goes "Immortal" which gives you at least 20 seconds to do some damage. Instead of trying to click on the boss then attk, simply click "assist attack" and do what you can (I can usually get in 1 tempest, 1 plume shot, and 1 whirlwind) in that 20 seconds. Then click the barbs name in squad list again and start the heals all over again.

It is a great thing to learn and utilize!

Again thank you for posting this!!

Thank you for responding. ^^. I agree with you. Unfortunately when I was a healer I never used assist attack. This is exactly the kind of thing that would have been useful :<. By not knowing about it , I suppose it made the game a lot harder. Your welcome for posting the information.

Regards

Foltern - Sanctuary

Cholla - Harshlands wrote: »

I would add:

You can tell if your tank (or someone) still has the monster you are attacking because its health will be going down. And if you do a lot of damage and you do not want to be pulling aggro, you should always wait for some damage on your target before you start attacking.

Also, if you pull aggro easily, and you have several tanks in your squad, you can be switching targets between them to avoid pulling monsters.

Thank you for responding. I do absolutely agree with you.
For myself only, I usually wait to attack a monster until the barb uses aggro holding skills, then I attack. Many times an impatient veno has hit a mob before their pet and I can't assist the barb, I have to get the mob off of another class. Then of course get blamed for stealing aggro.

I can't speak for everyone, however I am largely overpowered and normally, I can pull aggro with using only regular +3 attack bolts with no effort whatsoever so switching targets doesn't seem to help me either way.

There are some rare occasions when a barb uses those skills and I do not steal aggro until the skills effect wears off. I have no idea why some barbs can hold mobs and some cannot. Perhaps they have the skill leveled higher, I'm not sure exactly. My attack method remains the same. If there is a tank who has leveled skills or actually uses them and keeps me from getting aggro. I assist that barb only and drop mobs. Perhaps the difference is the genie skill alphamale. I don't know actually. I prefer to stick with one player only, constant target switching is possible but excessive for me. I say that only because I have some carpal tunnel and acute arthritis. Otherwise target switching is an interesting idea.

Regards

RavinTink - Sanctuary

Foltern - Sanctuary wrote: »

There are some rare occasions when a barb uses those skills and I do not steal aggro until the skills effect wears off. I have no idea why some barbs can hold mobs and some cannot. Perhaps they have the skill leveled higher, I'm not sure exactly. My attack method remains the same. If there is a tank who has leveled skills or actually uses them and keeps me from getting aggro. I assist that barb only and drop mobs. I prefer to stick with one player only, constant target switching is possible but excessive for me. I say that only because I have some carpal tunnel and acute arthritis. Otherwise target switching is an interesting idea.

Regards

My Hubby has the same problem at times. He steals aggro at very inopportune time. Far as I have been able to tell, its when a barb cant or wont use their aggro skills as soon as they regen or have chi. I have actually found some barbs who think hitting flesh ream once when they first hit a mob will keep aggro, sadly this it not true and even I end up taking aggro just from healing.

Mephistic - Dreamweaver

You should have put this in the Beginner's guide section, but nontheless it's good advice

Foltern - Sanctuary

RavinTink - Sanctuary wrote: »

My Hubby has the same problem at times. He steals aggro at very inopportune time. Far as I have been able to tell, its when a barb cant or wont use their aggro skills as soon as they regen or have chi. I have actually found some barbs who think hitting flesh ream once when they first hit a mob will keep aggro, sadly this it not true and even I end up taking aggro just from healing.

=( Hopefully if the squad contains a Venomancer, They will find it incumbent to supply the Barb with chi. I have been in parties where the Venomancer furnishes me with a steady supply of chi instead O.o. Of course it's not necessary for me to have chi really. I don't use MP skills. In certain circumstances I do of course.

I just got out of a bounty hunter with what in my opinion was a very poor barb. I considered finding a better squad many times. The squad was pro, bad barb and healer from the same faction. The barb was not able to hold aggro at all. even after I waited for him to use the appropriate skill to do so before ever attacking. I suppose he felt obligated to explain why he couldn't hold aggro from me, the wizzard or veno so he exclaimed his aggro skill was maxed. We did not cowboy mobs and attack them before he got near them, often times we waited patiently while he ran in and used an initial skill and waited for the aggro skills.

I'm beginning to wonder if a person does enough damage, The skill does not work ? I started a barb but have not yet leveled to learn about these skills and I am a new archer still learning my class and the skills from other classes as well. Is the Alphamale skill the only way for a Barb to hold mobs? I know that I am grossly overpowered when compared to other players my level archers included but, I have been in parties with barbs who can hold it as long as whatever skill is in effect on the mob. There are few barbs who can do this, But there are ones that can and mobs can be taken down very fast with virtually no danger to me. It allows me to use MP damage dealing skills for the larger critical hits and stronger base attacks. I just don't know what they are doing differently. the barb from my bad bounty hunter run did not have a genie in use. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Regards

Foltern - Sanctuary

Mephistic - Dreamweaver wrote: »

You should have put this in the Beginner's guide section, but nontheless it's good advice

Thank you ^__^

While I agree it should be there, I believe it will get more views here and in my opinion only, There seems to be an equal amount of mid level and higher level players not using it as new entry level and entry skilled players. Sure there are many players who know about it and use it well. There is also a lot of players who do not know and do not use it. Those players may not know about the feature, nobody will help them figure out how to use it or they may not understand how it works, after they have been given instructions. The purpose for this is to create anonymous awareness and elevate those players.

Regards.

Mephistic - Dreamweaver

Foltern - Sanctuary wrote: »

Thank you ^__^

While I agree it should be there, I believe it will get more views here and in my opinion only, There seems to be an equal amount of mid level and higher level players not using it as new entry level and entry skilled players. Sure there are many players who know about it and use it well. There is also a lot of players who do not know and do not use it. Those players may not know about the feature, nobody will help them figure out how to use it or they may not understand how it works, after they have been given instructions. The purpose for this is to create anonymous awareness and elevate those players.

Regards.

Very true lol, I agree that this should be seen by as many eyes as possible. Assist attack is an undeniably important addition to anyone's player arsenal.

Lady_Sam - Lost City

I agree entirely. Like everytime I squad for a BH, I have to do that fun explanation.

Thanks for this tutorial, I'll spam this link everywhere :P

Foltern - Sanctuary

Lady_Sam - Lost City wrote: »

I agree entirely. Like everytime I squad for a BH, I have to do that fun explanation.

Thanks for this tutorial, I'll spam this link everywhere :P

Thank you!! And your welcome ^^

Regards

MsEvilness - Heavens Tear

MsEvilness' guide to assist attack:

Right click party member's name, press "assist attack". Ta-da.

Foltern - Sanctuary

MsEvilness - Heavens Tear wrote: »

MsEvilness' guide to assist attack:

Right click party member's name, press "assist attack". Ta-da.

I probably should have covered that. I prefer this method because it's easier on my hands. If I refine the video at some point in time, I will include that as well. That method had not occurred to me at the time I was preparing this video. I use the method in the video because my skillbar is where my mouse rests a lot of the time in squad. I don't want to change my screen real estate to do that. It also requires 2 clicks. I prefer to use one click which is faster for me only. I have arthritis and carpal tunnel also, the less clicking the better for me.

Regards

_ShOt_ - Lost City

Wow, I never really payed any attention to it, I thought it didn't do much, but now I see it might actually come in quite handy, thanks for the guide.

Foltern - Sanctuary

_ShOt_ - Lost City wrote: »

Wow, I never really payed any attention to it, I thought it didn't do much, but now I see it might actually come in quite handy, thanks for the guide.

Sure no problem! I'm glad it got you thinking about how it can help you play more effectively. ^^

Regards

Worship - Harshlands

lol thank you for the tutorial... i have never even used assist attack before -_-

Foltern - Sanctuary

Worship - Harshlands wrote: »

lol thank you for the tutorial... i have never even used assist attack before -_-

Sure! Your welcome ^__^

Also MsEvilness reminded me of the second method to do this also. You may also right click a party member's name from the squad member list and choose assist attack.

Regards

Cervantia - Sanctuary

As for me I was suprised how many ppl seem to need this. I never had a problem with that... select another player > press assist attack > attack his target... what's so difficult about it?


edit: Read the comment with beginner guide too late, true for beginners it's important to know.

Foltern - Sanctuary

Cervantia - Sanctuary wrote: »

As for me I was suprised how many ppl seem to need this. I never had a problem with that... select another player > press assist attack > attack his target... what's so difficult about it?


edit: Read the comment with beginner guide too late, true for beginners it's important to know.

Thank you for your reply. And your edit =P

For myself as a first time player, With my healer. I was too unaware and engrossed learning other aspects of the game and reading 1perfectworld before quests had autopath, to take notice of assist attack.

I had read newbie guides in the forums, the full attack cleric guides and full support cleric guides and various healer compendium. When I first opened the action menu and saw the multitude of character animation operations, I assumed the screen was nothing but the sort. Later on in the game, around 6x I did notice it and was unable to figure out how it worked. Honestly, I just figured it was a broken feature, I did not know that it actually worked. I took the initiative myself to re-investigate all the screens in the game once I was comfortable with the game and my char.

I agree that learning how to use assist attack is fundamental and essential for efficient and productive squad play, I also think that based on my own experience, first time unseasoned entry level players are largely advancing through the game by questing as fast as possible and killing anything that moves and getting one shot by minibosses. Once they become familiar with the game and their char, They usually either discover other functionality for themselves, pay no attention to learning new things or someone else enlightens them to other accommodating features. For me it happened about the time I started having to do bounty hunters. Either way, assist attack is awesome.

Regards

XanZerstorer - Dreamweaver

Agreed, everyone should know what assist-attack is. Props on making a tutorial for it.

And I'm surprised to see how many people don't know about it. Makes me wonder if people actually check their windows or their skills/options lists, lol. I have people asking me where the radar is (or what is it?, really), how to attack, how to autopath...

... Hell maybe I'll make a "PWI Functions" video tutorials for the newbies. I'm actually serious, and it would sound like a fun little, helpful project.

Too bad I don't have FRAPS installed on this computer. Gotta wait to be at home now.

RavinTink - Sanctuary

One thing you might want to add tho so there is no confusion (and I know good and well someone will bring it up and complain, so I will add it now)

You can only assist attack with a member of your squad!!

It does not work if you click a random person who is NOT in squad and try to assist attack. ONLY SQUAD MEMBERS!

Foltern - Sanctuary

XanZerstorer - Dreamweaver wrote: »

Agreed, everyone should know what assist-attack is. Props on making a tutorial for it.

And I'm surprised to see how many people don't know about it. Makes me wonder if people actually check their windows or their skills/options lists, lol. I have people asking me where the radar is (or what is it?, really), how to attack, how to autopath...

... Hell maybe I'll make a "PWI Functions" video tutorials for the newbies. I'm actually serious, and it would sound like a fun little, helpful project.

Too bad I don't have FRAPS installed on this computer. Gotta wait to be at home now.

Thank you. And your welcome ^_^

Foltern - Sanctuary

RavinTink - Sanctuary wrote: »

One thing you might want to add tho so there is no confusion (and I know good and well someone will bring it up and complain, so I will add it now)

You can only assist attack with a member of your squad!!

It does not work if you click a random person who is NOT in squad and try to assist attack. ONLY SQUAD MEMBERS!

Hello, Actually in the video ( 2 min 3 seconds) I state to use it with with a squad member. I made sure to add that. Otherwise heh you would be hitting other people's mobs =P.... I loathe that -.-

Regards

DrunkWizard - Lost City

mages can use it too? o.o b:cute

Foltern - Sanctuary

DrunkWizard - Lost City wrote: »

mages can use it too? o.o b:cute

Assist attack can be used by all players ^^. The video demonstrates one method of using it.

Regards

ewingoil

Thanks for the information on it I always tried it with duel weapons.

Foltern - Sanctuary

ewingoil wrote: »

Thanks for the information on it I always tried it with duel weapons.

Your welcome! ^^

Regards