🎯

Target Selection & Swapping

Choose the right target and know when to swap

Target Selection Fundamentals

Hitting the right target is often more important than how well you hit them. Bad target selection loses games that perfect play would have won.

The Kill Target Criteria

  • Squishiest: Who dies fastest to your damage?
  • Most Valuable: Who hurts their team most by being dead?
  • Most Accessible: Who can you actually reach and stick to?
  • Least Protected: Who has the fewest peels/defensives?

The ideal target scores high on multiple criteria.

General Target Priority (Adjust Per Matchup)

1
Healer (If Reachable)

Dead healer = won game. But only if you can actually pressure them.

2
Squishy Caster

Mages, Shadow Priests, Ele Shamans die fast when trained.

3
Pets (Situational)

Warlock pets remove Soul Link. Hunter pets remove BW damage.

4
Tanky DPS

Warriors, SL/SL Locks, Rogues with Evasion up—hard to kill.

Target Selection by Enemy Comp

Different comps require different kill targets. Here's a cheat sheet:

vs. Healer + DPS (2v2)

Usually Train the DPS

Unless healer is very squishy (Holy Priest, Resto Shaman). DPS pressure forces healer to spam heals.

Sometimes Kill the Healer

If you have MS + enough CC to lock out DPS while you kill healer.

vs. Double DPS (2v2)

Recommended Kill the Squishier One First

No healer means whoever dies first loses. Pick the easier kill.

vs. RMP (3v3)

Recommended Priest (when out of position)

Disc Priest is squishy without Pain Suppression. Catch them forward.

Alternative Mage (after Ice Block)

Force Block early with pressure, then kill in stuns when it's down.

vs. Warrior Cleave (3v3)

Recommended The Healer

Warriors can't peel well. CC one warrior, train healer with other DPS.

vs. Warlock Teams

First Kill the Pet

Removes Soul Link (20% damage reduction). Then swap to Lock or healer.

Then Warlock or Healer

Without Soul Link, Warlock is squishy. Or pressure healer through DoTs.

When to Swap Targets

Swapping is powerful but dangerous. Swap wrong and you reset all pressure. Swap right and you get a free kill.

✅ GOOD Times to Swap

Target Uses Major Defensive

Mage Ice Blocks? Swap. Paladin bubbles? Swap. Don't hit immunities.

New Target is Out of Position

Their healer steps too far forward. Their DPS overextends. Punish immediately.

Healer Runs OOM

Swap TO the healer when they're low mana. No mana = no instant heals = dead.

You Have Setup on New Target

Kidney Shot is ready on Mage, Mage has no Blink. Swap and execute.

Pet is Unprotected

Warlock pet is far from Warlock. Kill it to remove Soul Link.

❌ BAD Times to Swap

Current Target is Almost Dead

20% HP? Finish them! Swapping resets all your pressure.

No Setup on New Target

Swapping without CC ready means they'll just kite/heal.

Team Isn't Coordinated

If only you swap, you split damage and kill nothing.

Panic Swapping

"This isn't working!" isn't a good reason. Have a plan.

The Swap Call

Always call swaps: "Swapping priest NOW" gives your team time to redirect CC and damage. Silent swaps fail.

Target Calling (Shot Caller Role)

Every team needs a designated target caller. This is how to do it:

Who Should Call?

Best: Ranged DPS

Can see the whole arena. Not tunnel-visioned. Mage, Warlock, Hunter ideal.

Okay: Healer

Good overview but busy healing. Can call if DPS aren't capable.

Avoid: Melee (Usually)

Too focused on staying on target. Limited awareness. Exception: experienced Warriors.

What to Call

Target "Kill Mage" / "Priest is kill" / "Hard swap Lock"
CC Targets "Poly healer" / "Fear warrior off me" / "Cyclone Rogue"
Enemy CDs "Mage blocked" / "No trinket on priest" / "Cloak down"
Go Calls "Go go go" / "Kill now" / "Full send"
Defensive Calls "Peel me" / "Reset" / "Drink drink drink"

Calling Rules

  • Be decisive. A mediocre call everyone follows beats a perfect call no one hears.
  • Be clear. "Kill priest" not "maybe we should consider attacking the priest?"
  • Be brief. "Swap lock" not "okay so I think we should probably swap to the warlock"
  • Confirm understanding. After major calls, teammates should acknowledge.

Focus Target & Arena Macros

Efficient targeting requires proper macros. Here are the essentials:

Focus Target Basics

Your focus target lets you track and CC one enemy while attacking another.

Set Focus
/focus

Sets your current target as focus. Bind this to an easy key.

Cast on Focus
/cast [@focus] Polymorph

Casts Poly on your focus without changing target. Essential for CC.

Focus Arena 1/2/3
/focus arena1 /focus arena2 /focus arena3

Directly sets focus to arena enemy 1, 2, or 3. Faster than clicking.

Arena Target Macros

Target Arena Enemy
/target arena1 /target arena2 /target arena3

Instantly target arena enemies. Bind these for quick swaps.

CC Arena Enemy Directly
/cast [@arena1] Polymorph /cast [@arena2] Fear /cast [@arena3] Cyclone

CC specific arena enemies without targeting them. Advanced but powerful.

Interrupt Arena Enemy
/cast [@arena1] Kick /cast [@arena2] Counterspell

Interrupt enemies without swapping target. Crucial for stopping heals.

Recommended Setup

  • Focus: Usually enemy healer (for CC)
  • Target: Kill target
  • Arena1/2/3 keybinds: For quick swaps and emergency CC