AION 2 settings: macros, targeting and FPS

In 30 seconds

Before you startAssign a macro key. It is unbound by default. Set dash and flight ascent too.

TargetingMelee: turn off “Set Main Target Upon Attack”. Ranged: enable automatic target selection when using a skill.

PvPSet target search to priority and hostile players first, so Tab selects a player instead of a mob.

FPSSet particle effects to “My Effects Only”, effects quality to Very Low, and hide other players' pets.

EyesSet teleport effect colour to Dark and turn off camera shake in combat.

Where to find the settings

Open settings with Esc → Settings. The sections are Controls, Combat, Display, Graphics and Hotkeys. Paths below follow the labels in the game client.

None of these options gives an unfair advantage; they are convenience settings that are oddly disabled by default. Change them any time, even during combat.

Hotkeys: do this before your first step

Combat, targeting and hotkeys: recommended settings

Three keys you need

MacroHotkeys → General → scroll to “Macro”. It is unbound by default, so macros will not run. Right mouse button is a common choice.
DashThis does more than run: it also dashes and grants a brief evasion window. Bind it to a key you can reach without looking.
FlightHotkeys → Flight Controls → “Ascend while flying” and descend. The defaults use Ctrl combinations; change them because you will fly often.

The Skill Macros guide explains how to build one. Key rule: do not put a cooldown-free basic attack at the end of a macro row. The macro will keep pressing that attack and never reach the other skills.

Targeting: soft and hard locks

AION 2 has two kinds of target lock:

Soft lock — a white circle around the target. Skills aim at it, but turning the camera can change the target.
Hard lock — two arrows on the target's health bar. It stays selected until you change it.

By default, either mouse attack immediately hard-locks a target. Tune this to your class:

Setting	Location	Melee	Ranged
Set Main Target Upon Attack	Controls	Off — switch between enemies instantly; use Tab to lock one	Optional
Auto Target Upon Skill Use	Controls	Optional	On — hold the macro and your character picks the next mob; open-world farming is easier

Always use Tab on bossesEven with auto-lock disabled, use Tab to lock a boss. Otherwise your skills may hit a nearby mob.

Target search for PvP

Under Combat → Target Search:

Option	Set to	Why
Detailed Target Search Settings	By Priority	Tab selects by priority instead of nearest target
Hostile Players	Priority 1	In the Abyss and Rifts, Tab selects a player before a mob
Preferred Search Direction	In front of camera	Selects targets where you look. Some PvE players leave it unrestricted for auto-attacks

Hotkeys → General also has Select Hostile Player, which you can bind to the mouse wheel. It is optional if you set priorities.

PvE and PvP need different settings“Nearest First” with no direction is convenient in dungeons; in the Abyss, use “By Priority” and put players first. Check before going into PvP.

Screen and FPS

New players often see a screen full of damage numbers, flashes and other players' effects — and frame drops in a crowd. Settings can help with both.

Less visual clutter

Damage numbersDisplay → Combat Hints. You can hide them, but combat feels empty; try the compromise below.
Interface sizeGraphics → Optimization → Interface Size. It also changes damage-number size, making them less likely to cover a boss.
Effects qualityGraphics → Optimization → Very Low. Fewer particles make long sessions easier on your eyes.
Particle effectsGraphics → Optimization → Particle Effects Display → My Effects Only. Hides allies' effects and can improve FPS.

More frames in crowds

Identical appearanceGraphics → Optimization → Identical Player Appearance. In large fights, other characters use the same model. Turn it on for artifact capture and world bosses; even a powerful PC may lag otherwise.
Other players' petsDisplay → General → Pets. Your own pet can stay visible; hide everyone else's.

If FPS is still low or the game crashes, see AION 2 launch errors: black screen, lag and FPS.

Comfort options that should be on by default

Option	Location	Recommended setting
Display Weapon Out of Combat	Graphics → Camera	On — the weapon stays in hand; looks better for many classes
Teleport Effect Colour	Graphics → Camera	Dark — avoids a bright white flash at every teleport
Camera Shake During Combat	Graphics → Camera	Off — personal preference, but shake gets tiring
Boss Direction Indicators	Display → Combat	Show the boss's front or rear marker; useful in Conquest when attack direction matters

Bag: auto-salvage without losses

Turn on auto-extraction and auto-salvage so you do not handle junk manually. Set the filter so yellow (Unique) items are never salvaged, manually or automatically. You will need them later to improve equipment.

You can also set scrolls, power stones, food and potions to auto-use: drag a slot downward until a yellow bar appears. In Settings → Combat, allow auto-use during combat.

Five-minute checklist

Hotkeys → General → Macro is bound (right mouse button)
Dash and flight ascent have convenient keys
Main target on attack off (melee), or auto-select target on (ranged)
Target search by priority; hostile players first
Particle effects set to My Effects Only; effects quality Very Low
Identical appearance on before large battles
Other players' pets off
Dark teleport effect; camera shake off
Unique items excluded from auto-salvage

“Macro does not work”The macro key is unbound by default. Check Hotkeys → General.
Basic attack at the end of a macro rowThe macro only presses that skill. Put it separately or first.
Tab selects mobs in PvPHostile-player priority is not enabled.
Lag during artifact captureIdentical appearance and other players' particle effects are not set.
A yellow item got salvagedExclude Unique items from auto-salvage.

The key point

Before playing, bind Macro, Dash and flight ascent. Set targeting for your class and prioritize hostile players for PvP. Use My Effects Only, lower effects quality, and show identical appearances in large fights for a cleaner screen and better FPS. Dark teleport effects and disabled camera shake are easier on the eyes.