Template:Hybrid combat

Alpha-1 early hybrid combat demo.^[1]

You'll notice as I go into action mode, I have my reticle and when my reticle hovers over an enemy target, it'll turn red, essentially showing like "hey we know you have a valid target hit" that you can see; and when you press 'Q' you can lock on to that target. You can also hold tab to alternate between targets. So like that's an important aspect of the combat that we're trying to incorporate, which is mixing and meshing between tab and action, so you still have that action component but also are available to use some of your tab targeted skills.^[2] – Steven Sharif

Hybrid combat refers to the choice between tab targeted and action targeted combat in the Ashes of Creation MMORPG.^[2]^[3]

Q: Are you still considering whether the combined action/tab targeting combat will be replaced by either tab only or action only?

A: No, I think that we will find a healthy medium between the two. I think that really what it comes down to is the definition of action; and I think that there is a varying degree of opinions on what action targeting means so to speak. But as I've clearly defined in the past, and as you can research in on the Wiki, our opinion on- at least my opinion on- action combat is I think well represented in the way we want to hybridize that combat in Ashes of Creation; and I think that there is going to be a good balance between those two and it should be a seamless transition between the two as well. And you know we're going to be fleshing that out further as we move forward.^[4] – Steven Sharif

A toggle button (default Z, but can be re-bound to another key) allows the player to switch between action and tab targeted combat modes.^[5]^[6]^[1]^[7]

The action mode utilizes a targeting reticle and is very close to a third-person action game.^[2]^[1]^[7]^[8]
- The player does not have to be in reticle mode to use an action combat ability.^[9]
If you use an action combat ability that's going to be directional focused, you do not have to be in reticle mode to use that. It will fire where that reticle would be. So if you play by feel and you're in tab target camera mode, you can still utilize your action-oriented skills and abilities.^[9] – Steven Sharif
- The reticle will highlight/change color (to red) to indicate if the current target is able to be hit with the currently prepared skill.^[2]^[1]
- Action combat abilities will not have a lock-on feature but pressing Q while in action mode will lock on to the current target to enable the use of tab-oriented skills in action mode.^[5]^[2]
Action combat abilities will not have a lock-on feature so to speak. Some of those are going to be skill shot only. However because you can have a mix and match of tab abilities that require a target, you will be able to target lock in action mode as well. Right now that's delegated to the Q key as default, but you can obviously set that up you could put it on you know your left mouse button, or you could put it wherever you want; and when your reticle hovers over a target, it rapidly swaps your target ability and when you press your target lock it will then lock that target; and if you have tab-oriented skills, you can use your tab oriented skills and they will be used against that target.^[5] – Steven Sharif
- Holding Tab while in action mode will alternate between targets.^[2]
- Pressing right-click while in action mode will switch to tab mode for the currently highlighted target.^[1]
- The action camera is tied to the to player's reticle. There will likely be a hotkey that when held down will allow free camera movement.^[10]
- In future the user will have the ability to choose from different reticle appearances.^[11]

The tab mode (MMO mode) facilitates tab targeted combat.^[1]^[7] A tab-targeted ability requires a target in order to utilize that skill.^[5]^[8]
- Pressing left-click in tab mode will attack the target (with the currently selected weapon).^[1]
- There will be a "target of target" capability on the user interface.^[12]

Hybrid combat is being tested in Alpha-1.^[2]^[13]

Targeting modes are able to be achieved through choice of skills/abilities.^[5]^[13]^[14]
- 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.^[14]
- Different ranks of the same skill can change the skill from tab to action targeted or vice-versa.^[15]

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.^[14] – Steven Sharif

Action oriented and tab oriented versions of skills will have different characteristics. Variables will change based on which version is chosen.^[16]

Damage.^[16]
Charge up time.^[16]
CC effects.^[16]
Cooldown.^[17]
Energy consumption.^[17]
Cost to spec.^[17]
Attack range will likely remain the same; as it is driven by the weapon or skill itself.^[18]

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. ^[16] – Steven Sharif

This section contains potentially outdated information from Alpha-1 testing.

For the purposes of balance, certain skill types will be either tab or action oriented skills. For example:^[17]

Hard CCs may be housed in action oriented skills because they are skill shots that are more difficult to land.^[17]^[14]
Softer CC's would be housed in tab-targeted abilities.^[17]