Initial targeting map
At the start of a normal battle, each hero has a predictable first target:
| Your position | Initial enemy target |
|---|---|
| Front left | Enemy front left |
| Front right | Enemy front right |
| Back left | Enemy front left |
| Back middle | Enemy front right |
| Back right | Enemy front right |
The enemy uses the same pattern against your formation.
The closest-target retargeting rule
When the current target dies—whether the hero or its escort group—the attacker immediately selects the physically closest valid enemy. There is no pause for the player to choose. This makes formation geometry and movement important after the first death.
The initial lane map is therefore only the beginning. The first frontline death can cause several heroes to collapse onto the remaining front, while special targeting skills can bypass the normal sequence.
Example: enemy front left dies
| Your hero | Before | After enemy FL dies |
|---|---|---|
| Front left | Attacks enemy FL | Switches to enemy FR |
| Front right | Attacks enemy FR | Continues on enemy FR |
| Back left | Attacks enemy FL | Switches to enemy FR |
| Back middle | Attacks enemy FR | Continues on enemy FR |
| Back right | Attacks enemy FR | Continues on enemy FR |
After the left front falls, all surviving normal-target attackers concentrate on the remaining front right. The exact timing determines whether the surviving front can withstand the combined pressure.
Distance and melee cavalry exceptions
Retargeting uses physical distance, not a permanent lane assignment. A melee cavalry hero can occasionally choose a ranged cavalry in the back row when that unit is physically closer than the surviving frontliner. Knockback, movement, and skill targeting can also alter proximity.
The opening targets are confirmed. Later targets must be read from distance, movement, and hero-specific skills.
Strategic consequences
- Front-right durability matters because it starts under three normal attackers.
- Killing one enemy front can create a rapid full-team collapse onto the other.
- A deliberate frontline bait can change which side retargets first.
- The best position for a direct counter is often the lane that guarantees the intended opening matchup.
- A hero may fail because it dies before a key cast, even when its skill kit is theoretically correct.
Backline-targeting exceptions
Heroes with backline-targeting, heroes-first, or random-targeting effects can attack outside the normal front-first sequence. Against one such threat, place a sturdier back-row cavalry or infantry where the attack is likely to land. Against several, the entire backline structure may need to change.
Conquest conclusions use the current raw Conquest Lab dataset. Arena conclusions are preliminary projections unless a section explicitly says otherwise. Exact private rows, lineups, powers, and ratios are not published.