Clarification on /startattack macro (2024)

Hi,

I'd just like to clarify the exact reason why people macro their special attacks with /startattack...

Is it to get some white damage going before your special ability starts? Because white damage will start anyway when I attack normally with hemo anyway. If someone could explain to me in simple terms why this is so important, would be really thankful!

Makes target switching easier. Not having to worry about starting your autoattack etc.

Think about a target switch with 0 energy. No energy for hemo, no auto attack.

I have all my melee classes skills macroed with /startattack

#showtooltip Crusader Strike
/startattack
/cast Crusader Strike

For example, otherwise u hit a skill that is on CD and u stand there not autoattacking.

Also works if the attack is still on GCD or cooldown, or it's a spell that doesn't require a target (say, FoK or Consecrate).

Originally Posted by nomura

Because white damage will start anyway when I attack normally with hemo anyway.

If you have no energy to hemo then your character will not attack until you get enough energy to do so, thus missing white swing time.
/startattack is a bit more important on warriors though since no white swings, no rage.

Ok that makes a lot of sense now. I actually tried this out on dummies in SW and basically starved myself down to 0 energy and switched to another dummy spamming normal hemo, and somehow i still saw white damage popping up while the "not enough energy" message was coming up...

Is that a different case to being in arena or was i testing it in the wrong way?

Originally Posted by nomura

Ok that makes a lot of sense now. I actually tried this out on dummies in SW and basically starved myself down to 0 energy and switched to another dummy spamming normal hemo, and somehow i still saw white damage popping up while the "not enough energy" message was coming up...

Is that a different case to being in arena or was i testing it in the wrong way?

Things like right-clicking (means you attack it anyway), or having autoattack on target switch enabled kinda remove the point to it. Try without that and most attacks shouldn't start your swings.

Ahh, I just looked into the Combat options on Interface and you can select Stop Auto Attack, which if unchecked will cause you to autoattack the next target either way.

So to clarify, if I have this box unticked, it saves me from having to essentially put any /startattack macros onto special abilities = no need at all.

Still find it strange that so many forums post these macros as essential when this solves the problem really..(?)

because unchecking this option takes a measure of control out of your hands.

the whole point behind /startattack is, that it saves you a right-click (thats what normally starts your autoattack until you have enough energy to use an ability)

you can uncheck this box, and leave it at that, but:

1. There are situations when you actually WANT your attacks to stop after killing a target...all I have to do to achieve that is NOT pressing a button...you with your shiny uncheck box have to hit Esc, turn around or something. (And by then the flagcarrier could already be on the run again, his sheep dispelled by your autoattack)
2. You wont automatically target a distant enemy with this...all I have to do is run up to it and hit the button, you need to klick
3. The box only works if you have a target and switch to another after the kill. Imagine Ultraxion Hero, you die in Hour, and get a battlerezz. YOU have to target the dragon again, or wait for your energy to get high enough fpr your first ability. I just hit the button as soon as I´m back on my feet and spam away happily.

Edit, forgot this;
So yes, /startattack IS essential if you don't want to be a baddie. Cuz you WILL lose time on target without it, no matter what.

Some abilities just don't start autoattack, be it because of developer intent or a bug.

Some examples, past and present, include fan of knives, swipe, stormstrike, many others.

Some things just start it, and some don't. I don't see a point in adding it to a macro for an ability that starts your attack, but Fan of Knives in particular is one that I have to put it in.

The option where you continue autoattacking your next target only happens if you were autoattacking before the target switch.

If, say, your current target dies and your autoattack stops, switching to a new target will not start your autoattack. So if you're out of energy, simply hitting mutilate, or sinister strike, or hemo or whatever will not start your autoattack.

Many thanks for the great clarifications!

I'll probably be posting a few more questions in the coming days as I am trying to sort all my macros and keybinds (target/focus) for arena.

Cheers

edit: wrong post lol