What exactly is auto-attack?

[hammong]

I see the term "auto-attack" thrown around a lot on this forum, and I'm not exactly sure what it means.

 

For example, there was talk from Moorgard about auto-attack damage being increased 25% a while back.    Obviously this can't mean the "auto-attack" that occurs when you are standing idle and press a Combat Art to stab a mob, and you automatically engage combat attack mode.  

 

I've also see in an other thread that auto-attack damage is higher when using a bow with higher quality (more costly) arrows.   I've compared lower tier arrows to higher tier arrows with my bow, and I see no change in CA damage done with the bow, and the damage numbers on the bow itself remain unchanged.    What is this "auto-attack" that is being referred to in this example?

 

Any help and insight you have are appreciated!    I'm a necro by trade, the Assassin thing is new for me. 

 

- Denzel Lugassi, 33 Assassin on Mistmoore

 

 

[Hawgeous]

Obviously this can't mean the "auto-attack" that occurs when you are standing idle and press a Combat Art to stab a mob, and you automatically engage combat attack mode.  

 

I think you may be hitting on it here, auto attack is when you engage a mob and do not use any CAs.

It is started by one of the first CAs you get, prolly got it while on the initial boat ride (if you went on the first boat ride).

This art makes you swing your weapon or use your bow, depending on which one is keyed.

The weapon auto attack has a picture of crossed swords, I think, and the bow auto attack has a picture of a bulls eye if I recall correctly.

 

When using auto attack the damage you do will be based on the damage rating/stats of the weapon you are using in addition to any procs if your weapon is imbued or has any proc affect noted.

[hammong]

Hmm so when Moorgard starts boosting auto-attack damage by 25% we're talking about bumping up the damage listed on our weapons, aka normal combat damage as opposed to combat arts damage.  

 

So as it applies to bows and arrows -- does higher quality arrows make a noticible difference when standing at range and plinking with the bow?    It sure didn't seem to make any difference, but of course I didn't parse a stack of feyiron vs. a stack of carbonite arrows to compare.    Maybe I should, at least it would be a definitive answer.

 

[King Leor]

Ya, the tier of the arrow determins how much your auto attack damage is and will not affect your bow CA damage. So if you click yourlittle bulls eye and leave it and not touch any more buttons than you will notice a difference in dmg based on your arrows. But as for your combat arts the tier of arrows doens't matter. Of course it's slow as most use a 7 sec delay bow and no body will auto attack with that and do nothing else. But ya. arrow tier only matters when on auto attack.

Leoric
Level 60 ranger

[dea]

Using a combat art will put you into a melee or ranged auto-attack state depending on the combat art used. You can also open your knowledge book and use one of the icons there to toggle melee or ranged auto-attack manually (I use keymaps to manage auto-attack, my personal preference). Auto-attack is what happens when you are attacking with a weapon on the weapons normal delay cycle. It does not mean you aren't using combat arts, it merely refers to the damage that it dealt directly from your weapons that is *not* attributed to a combat art or proc. As an Assassin, learn to love your auto-attack. It is currently one of our best assets. In your logs it will tend to look something like the following when you are dealing melee auto-attack damage: YOU hit X for Y points of {slashing/piercing} damage.

[hammong]

Oh, I'm loving it all right.  =)  

I am having an absolute blast with my Assassin.    I hope the love continues!