Thread: Best method for fast Clobbers

Heya guys, I've leveled my chump, but I'm experiencing some gameplay fumble-fingers.

I'm just not fast enough on my clobber. It's driving me crazy. And disappointing my (very polite) kin-mates. I know my roll, and I don't think I'm doing it well enough.

I'm a left-hand-keyboard (1234qweasdz-tab), right-hand-mouse (turn, move, camera, target) kind of player.

My clobber skill is currently bound to the '=' key. (Hotbar 1, far right). I find that I do not use the '=' key, but instead click on the hotbar instead. It's just faster for me.

But I'm still just too d**n slow - too often. The time between seeing an induction I need to clobber, doing the target reselection (via mouse or tab), doing the necessary move to target to get close enough, and then actually hitting the clobber command - is just taking me too long.

So I think I need a better method.

I'd like to hear from experienced champs what techniques they use to get off fast clobbers. On target.

Thanks in advance!

(And I can't tell you why I do just fine on my Burg or my Guard - who has a 5 second stamp cooldown. I think it's because I do less target switching. Maybe. Addle has a nice range too.)

Originally Posted by Viniel

My clobber skill is currently bound to the '=' key. (Hotbar 1, far right). I find that I do not use the '=' key, but instead click on the hotbar instead. It's just faster for me.

Thanks for making the problem so easy to diagnose.

When you need to clobber, you need it now. That said, I put clobber on the 4 key, (I just use BW, WA, and SS too often to move it closer). Getting it close where you can use it at a moment's notice will help a lot.

Also practice. I think the best way to train yourself to know where it is is to use it for interrupting your BS. Just hit BS, wait for the moment it starts and clobber. Then once you got that down, maybe practice interrupting in skirmishes or something.

I just have mine set to CTRL-1, yes a 2 key combo but I have no issues with it. = seems so far down the keyboard, and I have 1-8 set to my various melee attacks. Since I'm always hitting 1 -2 - 3 (WA, SS, BW), my fingers are always near that side anyway.

Mine is Ctrl-1 as well but I click all my skills. That being said just practice, I tend to horn stun if I see another induction on an off target mob since that is easier than tabbing through. Invariably I end up tabbing past the inducting mob since I hit tab too fast.

My key mapping is a little strange since I have Hamstring and Swift Strike set to my mouse buttons. Generally what I do for any skills that end up on the far end of my hotbar (6 and above) I set the ones I need to be able to use quickly to a hotkey that is around my movement buttons. So like speak said earlier I have clobber set on the left side of my hotbar (3, on my keyboard since SS is Ctrl-6 slot but bound to a mouse button) and it just flows well.

How it pans out on my keyboard with other skills, champ-wise:
F= Bracing Attack
Z= Flurry
X= Red Haze
C= Exchange of Blows
B= Second Wind

It worked out for me that Hotbar 1 = Strike Line Hotbar 2 (Ctrl)= aggro management Hotbar 3 (Alt) = Emergency skills and Hotbar 4 (Shift) = AoEs.
Short story, make it easier to reach.

Originally Posted by Viniel

But I'm still just too d**n slow - too often. The time between seeing an induction I need to clobber, doing the target reselection (via mouse or tab), doing the necessary move to target to get close enough, and then actually hitting the clobber command - is just taking me too long.

On all my characters that have a interrupt skill I have set it to the V key. I use ESDF for movement instead of WASD, so that I can reassign A, G, Q, W, R, and all the letters below the SDF row to skills. This lets me have more skills in reach of my left hand without having to move my hand much to hit pretty much any key from 6-0. I do set skills to these keys but they are ones I rarely need to hit.

There's a bigger hindrance I see based on your quote above. Even with your finger hovering on the interrupt key, you will have a hard time getting it off if it's not your current target. Tab (or whatever select next enemy key is) seems to pick targets at random and not always the closest one to you. Trying to use the mouse to click one mob when there's a few around plus a bunch of players is really hard to do.

If you have time before a fight begins, find out what mob has an induction that absolutely has to be stopped, and stay on it. If it truly is an induction that can't go off because it will possibly cause a group wipe, your whole group should be killing it first anyways, unless they choose to mezz or fear it first.

Another thing you can do is identify which mobs might need to be interrupted, and hover the mouse over them and hit the H key (I may have changed this - it's under Key Mapping - Miscellaneous as "Detach Tooltip"). This will make a tooltip with a simple life bar that you can move around your screen, and click on to target the mob. If you do this for multiple mobs with the same names, you'll have to be quick to identify which one is doing an induction and select it.

Keep in mind there's some situations where only having one person to interrupt just isn't enough.

Step over to it unselect anything then hit backspace.

That said my interrupt key is the same for all my classes Stamp Kick Clobber Addle are key 4.

I have Clobber mapped to my mouse's side buttons. (Technically Alt + Side Button 1) So easy.

Bind clobber to the X key, that way, when it comes time to interrupt, you just move your index finger down one key from D. Very fast, and you get faster with practice.

I have a similar set-up to you, and I have found that placing it on the 0 (zero) means I hardly ever miss an interrupt because it stands out among the line and because it forces me to bring my right hand up to the keyboard for clobber intensive fights so I often am just spamming it.

I have found, also, that it helps for me to have 'themes' throughout my alts. This being the best example is interrupts are almost always on the 0 (burg, grd, champ) so that repetition really grinds it into me that anytime i need to interrupt i am on the 0 like it's my job (because it is!)

Hopefully that helped, if you want i can post a pic of my hotbar setup

1. Key in an easy to reach place (I use arrow keys to move, numpad for skills. Clobber is numpad0 for me)

2. Use detached tooltips to mark targets that need clobbering. If there are two loremasters in a pull, mouse over each one and press 'H'. You can then click on the tooltip to target it quickly

3. If there's only one thing in a pull that needs clobbering: bind a key to 'previous target selection'. Then click on the clobber target, then click again in the main target. Press the key you bound to quickly toggle between the two. This is useful for returning to your target after FMs toos.

If you are very comfortable with the key in which you assign your Clobber to, that's fine, no need to change that. The next step is to recognize (and remember) which mobs have inductions as this allows you to pay attention to those (in multiple mobs scenario) who you're not currently targetting. Lastly, I always double-press my Clobber key just to make sure it executes right away. Unlike Addle, whenever I press Clobber key just once, it doesn't always execute immediately but double-pressing the key works all the time.

Originally Posted by VmirTehPwn

1. Key in an easy to reach place (I use arrow keys to move, numpad for skills. Clobber is numpad0 for me)

2. Use detached tooltips to mark targets that need clobbering. If there are two loremasters in a pull, mouse over each one and press 'H'. You can then click on the tooltip to target it quickly

3. If there's only one thing in a pull that needs clobbering: bind a key to 'previous target selection'. Then click on the clobber target, then click again in the main target. Press the key you bound to quickly toggle between the two. This is useful for returning to your target after FMs toos.

Playing for over a year and I'm still a noob. The tooltip thing is just what I've always wanted, a means of marking stuff that I need to switch back to.

Thanks, and rep4u

I clobber on the '4' key as well. Standard fervour generating skills are 2 and 3, with the corruptions removal on 1. Never had an issue being diggigy-on-the-spot with clobbers or corruptions. Seems to work for me.

I put Clobber on the number 2 key. It is a main attack for almost every instance I run, so I just put it some easy place to find.

I play the same as you, right hand mouse, left hand moving. I click my skills with my mouse, all except clobber. I have my 1 2 and 3 skills as follows: Wild attack, swift strike, blade wall. All these require no fervour. Clobber is number 4. When I see an induction, All I do is simply move my left pointer finger up and press the number 4. I used to click it and it was always slower, it is pretty much instant for me. That is the ONLY skill I use a number for and dont click. Give it a try, guarantee you will like it.

Trying to upload a picture, dont know how though always says my file size is too big, I resize it and it still doesnt work. Other peoples pictures are always so big! why cant I get mine to work?!?!

Using two side buttons of my mouse that I key'd to 2 slots on one of my hotbars. One is for Clobber (or interrupts on other classes I might play) they other one for Feral Strike or Hamstring (if I do pvp the odd time). See the red circle under a mob, it the mouse button without moving any fingers away from WASD or point to a skill bar.

I have all of my interrupts on my toons mapped to the ~tilde~ key. It means that whenever I see an induction I am able to very quickly use my interrupt. My hand is always around there anyway and seems to work for me. I like to pride myself on not missing any inductions. Hope this helps! And as others have said you just need to know where it is mapped and feel comfortable with it.

I guess im one of those weird people who clicks on skills...But hey it has worked for me.

Originally Posted by nolins12

I guess im one of those weird people who clicks on skills...But hey it has worked for me.

Me too, man.

Originally Posted by acklandm

I have all of my interrupts on my toons mapped to the ~tilde~ key. It means that whenever I see an induction I am able to very quickly use my interrupt. My hand is always around there anyway and seems to work for me. I like to pride myself on not missing any inductions. Hope this helps! And as others have said you just need to know where it is mapped and feel comfortable with it.

I actually like that. CTRL-1 works for me because CTRL is easy to get to as well as 1, but ~ is in a logical location on the keyboard. I may actually remap that key as a standard...Clobber, Blinding Flash. Interesting.

I use 1-2 for Wild Attack/Swift Strike, 3-5 as other strikes, and I've mapped the function keys F1-F5 to be other things I need to hit quickly. F1 is in a really easy spot to hit on my keyboard so that is mapped to clobber (and I use that for the interupt spot on any character I play to make it even easier).

So I can easily hit 4 for brutal and while that's going off hit F1 for clobber to get some extra dps in as well...

Originally Posted by kermie-lee

Me too, man.

Me three. Honestly with the animations, I can move my mouse fast enough to the individual skills and get it off.

It's rare I "miss" a clobber, normally they are just evaded or whatever is the norm these days.

I'm just old and don't have the keyboard mapping leet skills I guess...

All of my "important but not necessarily all the time" skills (Clobber, Turn the Tables, Merciful Shot, Rain of Arrows, etc..) go on the Shift+1,2,3,4 slots. The shift key is big so there is little or no fumbling and it's not eating up commonly used space. Works for me.

Originally Posted by aad0italian

Trying to upload a picture, dont know how though always says my file size is too big, I resize it and it still doesnt work. Other peoples pictures are always so big! why cant I get mine to work?!?!

Upload to PhotoBucket then just paste in the IMG tag. The forum image upload thing is pretty worthless.

I have a mouse with 9 programmables....I use the left side of the scroll wheel for clobber....my tab key will change targets which is easy enough to hit with my fingers on the 1,2,3,4 keys by 'default'....[although I'm normally clobbering my current target anyway].

Since they made clobber an "instant skill" I use it as a normal part of my attack cycles....if you try it, you'll notice that the two skills you fire off immediately after clobber will execute much faster than normal and by the time you've fired off those two skills, the cooldown has expried and you're ready to Clobber again.....I can't explain why, but give it a try [Clobber/SS/WA or BW, FTW!].....works well for me. =)

Enjoy those interrupts!

I use my hands for skills too. I put clobber on CTRL+4, it works fine for me. If you're having more trouble, maybe put it on Alt+X or even just 12345.

Originally Posted by Viniel

I'm a left-hand-keyboard (1234qweasdz-tab), right-hand-mouse (turn, move, camera, target) kind of player.

My clobber skill is currently bound to the '=' key. (Hotbar 1, far right). I find that I do not use the '=' key, but instead click on the hotbar instead. It's just faster for me.

Sounds as simple as moving it to a key that your left hand can hit easily. When you list (1234qweasdz-tab) as left hand, does that mean that is ALL you use your left hand for or do you use the F-keys or ctrl/shift/alt versions of any of them?

Also a good idea mentioned is to put all your interrupt skills on all your guys on the same key. Generally I haven't done that but I could see how it would be useful.

my key mapping

Clobber --> ctrl+4
fervour --> ctrl+q
ardour --> alt+q
glory --> shift+q
Brutal strikes --> q
Battle Frenzy --> z
Hamstring --> x
Feral Strikes --> e
Horn --> F
Crafted Horn --> shift+f
sudden defence --> shift+e
dire need --> shift+r
bracing attack --> ctrl+space
nearest target --> ctrl+shift
relentless strikes --> ctrl+r
fight on! --> alt+f

my 2c

Definitely agree with using same key for interrupts over several characters. Once you get used to using it the same way, it becomes second nature.

A part of it is experience, knowing which mobs do inductions, what happens if you don't interrupt them, etc. Like Thorili said, your sound the attack is a great interrupt for multiple inductions/off target inductions (if the mobs are stunnable).

If you want some practice, Goblin Town iirc is a good place. Don't remember the exact mob in there, but they induct pretty quickly and often. Gather multiple of them and you can test your interrupt abilities without a major risk of dying.

Originally Posted by AceItcher

Sounds as simple as moving it to a key that your left hand can hit easily. When you list (1234qweasdz-tab) as left hand, does that mean that is ALL you use your left hand for or do you use the F-keys or ctrl/shift/alt versions of any of them?

Also a good idea mentioned is to put all your interrupt skills on all your guys on the same key. Generally I haven't done that but I could see how it would be useful.

Heya Jungo; I haven't wired much muscle memory into ctrl, shift combos. Except one, alt-1 for horse mount/dismount. And I gained that muscle memory through hours of farming ore and going through doors. It's on all my alts now. I honestly don't think I could move it!

But there are some excellent suggestions in this thread. My action plan:
- Move my interrupt skills for all interrupt-capable toons to the same key or key-combo
- Make it triggerable with my left hand, without moving my left hand out of position.

My thanks to all for their constructive suggestions!

Best Method is to hotkey the skill on a key you can easily reach.

I use WASD (left hand) , Mouse (right hand) for turning and camera movement.
I got clobber on the C key. I can keep my hand on WASD and use thumb to press C.
Being able to clobber and keep mobility.
Use whatever you're comfortable with.

Originally Posted by ararax2

That said my interrupt key is the same for all my classes Stamp Kick Clobber Addle are key 4.

Same, although for my new waden I'm thinking of pulling my programmable keyboard back out of the box and setting up a "clear-all-spear-shield-gambit" button just so I can fire off one key for him. Trying to chain together 3 or 4 key presses gets old. I might also use the combined spear+shield skill with the prog. keyboard and not use that skill at any other time if I have something I need to interrupt.

But kick, addle, and stamp all go on #4. I need to move my blinding flash there, too, I think, and maybe my fear.

I have clobber bound to the middle mouse button... real fast to click and I never miss a clobber.

Here's my keyboard.



I use ALT+3. As you can see, it's pretty darn easy to hit those keys. Left ring finger on Alt and left index finger on 3.

heres my set up

Originally Posted by Dom12

Upload to PhotoBucket then just paste in the IMG tag. The forum image upload thing is pretty worthless.

you're the best!!!! I never even noticed the image HTML thing there, didnt even cross my mind. Thanks a million

Originally Posted by speaksoftly

Thanks for making the problem so easy to diagnose.

When you need to clobber, you need it now. That said, I put clobber on the 4 key, (I just use BW, WA, and SS too often to move it closer). Getting it close where you can use it at a moment's notice will help a lot.

Also practice. I think the best way to train yourself to know where it is is to use it for interrupting your BS. Just hit BS, wait for the moment it starts and clobber. Then once you got that down, maybe practice interrupting in skirmishes or something.

Don't mean to brag but I'm a pretty decent clobber champ, hard not to be with so much Everseer training.

My clobber is bound to -

Having it on the right side is actually a tactical advantage for me. i am left hand keyboard too, but when I'm on a boss that I know needs clobbers, are you really using the mouse that much? For me, no, not at all.

So for bosses like Everseer, Blind One, Gorothul, I pretty much just use my left hand to do normal skills while my right hand hovers over the - key, out of the way of my other hand.

And for quick clobbers on things like LM's in SG, well I'm used to it enough that I can hit it just as fast as you can hit 1-4 with either hand, whichever is best at the moment.

I'm not a big clicker, and I don't rely on the mouse for movement, so its not a problem for me to do this.
But I can see keeping it on the left side being a better fit for some, or keeping it on the right and hovering with the cursor itself.

The biggest things are practice and reaction. You can put it in the "perfect" spot, but if you're not used to hittin it instinctively, then its not gonna work any better than something else

EDIT: Another post reminded me of this, I have the "select closest target" bound to the ~ key. I use it A LOT. Much quicker than the backspace key. I do need my mouse hand for this usually since you're moving to the target at the same time. So runnin up to it and hitting that is a very quick and easy way to grab my target AND be in position, clearly doesn't always work in crowds of mobs, but its a help.

My clobber is bound to the E key, but I have found that on full sized keyboards you can bind to the numeic keypad + or - keys and hit those with your mouse hand without really losing anything, just take your hand off the mouse for a second to tap the keys.

The trouble is definately your lack of having it on a near to reach key. Or you can bind an extra mouse button, if you have a fancy mouse.

dont drink so much while playing!

ok serioulsy though, i dont have any issues at all with getting an interrrupt off and i point and click my skills from my hotbar. ive got a rotation down and its mostly muscle memory with the odd need to hit a big heal.

is it a problem with not getting to clobber in time or are you just "missing" the attack? the only issues i have are if the mob evades it