WoW:API AttackTarget

Reference e
AddOns WoW API Widget API XML UI Event API WoW Lua Macro API CVars Battle.net HOWTOs Snippets UI tech Categories

→ WoW API

← WoW API < AttackTarget

Toggles auto-attacking of the player's current target.

AttackTarget();

---

Arguments

none

---

Returns

nil

---

Example

AttackTarget();

Result

If you were swinging your melee weapon at your target, you'll stop. If you weren't, you'll start.

---

Description

This is actually a toggle. If not currently attacking, it will initiate attack. If currently attacking, it will stop attacking.

You can test your current attack "Action slot" using IsCurrentAction(actionSlot) for status (you'll have to find the auto-attack slot, though).

If you need a way to always engage auto-attack, rather than toggle it on or off, one workaround is AssistUnit("player") this will always attack if you have "Attack on assist" checked in the Advanced tab of the Interface Options panel. Note that you cannot combine this with TargetNearestEnemy() in the same function/macro: the "assist" target isn't updated fast enough.

---

The AssistUnit("player") method described in the previous paragraph doesn't always work, in particular if you are switching between targets a lot. The most reliable way to make sure your attack is always on, no matter how many times you hit the attack button, is to use the following macro:

/script if not IsCurrentAction(61) then UseAction(61) end;

All that one-line script does is see whether your Attack button is not enabled, and if it isn't, it turns it on.

To make this work for you:

1. drag the default Attack icon (it is button #1 on the 1st skill bar by default) to an unused slot, preferably on a skill bar you don't use much. If you want to skip step #2, simply drag the default Attack icon to button #1 of the 6th skill bar (i.e. slot 61)

2. replace the number 61 in the script with the number of that slot. The slots are numbered 1-12 for the 1st skill bar, 13-24 for the 2nd bar, and so on (25-36, 37-48, 49-60, 61-72).

3. assign the macro to a button on a skill bar (e.g. button #1 on the 1st skill bar)

Slightly longer, but more complete method to just find attack anywhere on your bar.

/script if not ma then for i = 1,72 do if IsAttackAction(i) then ma = i; end; end; end; if ma then if not IsCurrentAction(ma) then UseAction(ma); end; else AttackTarget("target");end;