Hyper Light Breaker: Mastering Target Lock-On

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• How To Target Enemies In Hyper Light Breaker

• When Should I Lock On vs Use Free Cam?

Hyper Light Breaker's enigmatic gameplay leaves many mechanics shrouded in mystery, encouraging players to organically discover optimal strategies. A crucial element is the lock-on system, the game's targeting mechanic. While locking onto a target provides focused combat, it's not always the best approach. This guide explains how to target enemies and offers guidance on when to utilize lock-on versus free camera mode in this synthwave roguelite.

How To Target Enemies In Hyper Light Breaker

To target an enemy, center them in your view and press the right analog stick (R3). The game usually identifies the target automatically, unless it's amidst a crowd. Your view will zoom slightly, and a reticle will appear around your target.

Line of sight isn't required; as long as the enemy is visible onscreen and within range, you can lock on.

Locking on alters character movement and camera control. The camera remains fixed on your target, causing your movements to generally circle them. Fast-moving enemies can quickly shift camera perspective, potentially altering your input direction during movement.

To switch targets while locked on, move the right analog stick left or right. The reticle automatically jumps to the nearest enemy within range.

Pressing the right analog stick again cancels the lock-on, returning to the default third-person camera. This can also be changed in the settings menu. The lock-on will automatically disengage if you move too far from your target.

When Should I Lock On vs Use Free Cam?

Lock-on excels in one-on-one combat, particularly against bosses or strong (yellow health bar) enemies—but only after eliminating other mobs. The focused camera leaves you vulnerable to attacks from enemies outside your immediate view.

Free camera mode is generally more advantageous. Against multiple weak enemies or those easily dispatched, lock-on is unnecessary and hinders your situational awareness.

Reserve lock-on for mini-bosses or bosses after clearing surrounding enemies. Maintain focus by locking on, but cancel if new enemies appear, then re-engage once the boss is isolated.

For example, during Extraction, you face waves of regular enemies followed by a mini-boss. The mini-boss might spawn while other enemies are still present. Here, free camera is superior until all regular enemies are defeated, then lock onto the mini-boss for focused fire.