Combat architecture for Unreal Engine

Hitboxes, i-frames, input buffering, damage, enemies that decide when to dodge. One system at a time, with the code.
More about Quod Soler

I'm Quod Soler, Lead Gameplay Programmer on Lords of the Fallen ( Hexworks ). I've shipped eleven games. Here I take the combat systems I build on top of the Gameplay Ability System ( GAS ) and explain how each one works, with the code. Plus the engine work that surrounds it. More about me →

Quod Combat FrameworkGameplay Ability SystemCombat DesignAll topics
How Enemies Decide to Dodge

How Enemies Decide to Dodge

Dodge chance is a GAS attribute, pressure is a stacking effect on top of it, and the AI simply rolls dice.
Building Souls-Style Input Buffering on Top of GAS

Building Souls-Style Input Buffering on Top of GAS

A buffered press is simply a struct, a gate tag and one drain function that an anim notify state calls.
MMCs and Executions in GAS: Count the Outputs, Not the Inputs

MMCs and Executions in GAS: Count the Outputs, Not the Inputs

If only one number changes you want an MMC, no matter how complex the formula. Only a hit that writes many attributes needs an execution.
Dodge i-Frames with GAS: Anim Notify Windows and Perfect Dodges

Dodge i-Frames with GAS: Anim Notify Windows and Perfect Dodges

The dodge ability grants no invulnerability at all. A notify on the montage does it, and you get perfect dodges almost for free.
Hitbox Rank and Group: Sweetspots Without Scripting

Hitbox Rank and Group: Sweetspots Without Scripting

A sweetspot is simply one extra capsule and one integer. How rank and group IDs decide which hitbox wins.
Introduction to GAS: The Six Pieces of Unreal's Gameplay Ability System

Introduction to GAS: The Six Pieces of Unreal's Gameplay Ability System

The six pieces of GAS, how one attack flows through them, and three rules that prevent most GAS bugs.
GiveAbilityAndActivateOnce: One-Shot Abilities Without the Cleanup

GiveAbilityAndActivateOnce: One-Shot Abilities Without the Cleanup

Grant an ability, activate it once, and let GAS remove the spec by itself.
How to Increase Unreal Engine Performance and FPS

How to Increase Unreal Engine Performance and FPS

Turn off the heavy features and push UE5 past 1000 FPS.
Best Udemy Unreal Engine Courses: Blueprint, C++ and Gameplay Abilities

Best Udemy Unreal Engine Courses: Blueprint, C++ and Gameplay Abilities

Learn Unreal Engine fast!
Gameplay Effect Components in UE5: Setup, Duration, and Stacking Explained

Gameplay Effect Components in UE5: Setup, Duration, and Stacking Explained

The built-in Gameplay Effect Components, plus how duration and stacking work.
How to Fix Crashes in Unreal Engine 5 Games on Intel i7-13700K and i9-13900K Series

How to Fix Crashes in Unreal Engine 5 Games on Intel i7-13700K and i9-13900K Series

The fix for those Intel CPU crashes, step by step.
Unreal GAS Ability Tasks: PlayMontageAndWait, WaitDelay and 8 More

Unreal GAS Ability Tasks: PlayMontageAndWait, WaitDelay and 8 More

Don't wait a Delay to Play your Montages, use Gameplay Ability Tasks
How to Create Procedural Levels with Level Instances in UE5

How to Create Procedural Levels with Level Instances in UE5

Create the Procedural World of your Dreams
Learning about Ability Instancing Policy in GAS

Learning about Ability Instancing Policy in GAS

So many instancing types!
Top Games Like The Exit 8 for Observation Horror Fans

Top Games Like The Exit 8 for Observation Horror Fans

Make sure to not miss any anomaly
Palworld Launch Analysis: A Deep Dive into Follower and Wishlist Impact on Game Success

Palworld Launch Analysis: A Deep Dive into Follower and Wishlist Impact on Game Success

Predicting Steam game sales is hard.
How to Build a Save System in Unreal Engine 5 (Blueprint Only, 10-Minute Setup)

How to Build a Save System in Unreal Engine 5 (Blueprint Only, 10-Minute Setup)

Saving data has never been easier in Unreal
10 Games Made With Unreal Engine 5

10 Games Made With Unreal Engine 5

What Games use Unreal Engine 5? These ones.
Best Unreal Engine Plugins to speed up your Development Time

Best Unreal Engine Plugins to speed up your Development Time

Plugins that save you real development time.
I created a Steam Game in 60 hours using Blueprint. Here is what I learned.

I created a Steam Game in 60 hours using Blueprint. Here is what I learned.

The Power of Blueprints for fast iteration
Making Sense of Gameplay Effect Durations

Making Sense of Gameplay Effect Durations

Instant vs Has Duration vs Infinite
How to Use Motion Warping in Unreal Engine 5 (Blueprint Guide)

How to Use Motion Warping in Unreal Engine 5 (Blueprint Guide)

Are we suddenly playing Kingdom Hearts!!??
Crafting Dynamic Poison & Antidote Mechanics with Unreal Engine 5.3 Modular Gameplay Effects

Crafting Dynamic Poison & Antidote Mechanics with Unreal Engine 5.3 Modular Gameplay Effects

Create the definitive poison swamp that every souls-like needs!
Mastering IK Retargeting: How to Efficiently Share Animations in Unreal Engine

Mastering IK Retargeting: How to Efficiently Share Animations in Unreal Engine

Learn how to use the IK Retargeting system in Unreal to share animations between characters.
How to create an Unreal Engine Plugin: A Step-By-Step Guide with Examples

How to create an Unreal Engine Plugin: A Step-By-Step Guide with Examples

Roll your own Unreal Engine plugin, module and all.
Unreal Engine Component Visualizers: Unleashing the Power of Editor Debug Visualization

Unreal Engine Component Visualizers: Unleashing the Power of Editor Debug Visualization

Learn how to improve in-editor debugging and speed-up your development.
How to create Attribute Sets using Unreal Gameplay Ability System

How to create Attribute Sets using Unreal Gameplay Ability System

Gameplay Ability System Documentation on how to create Attribute Sets to hold your character stats
Hard References vs Soft References in Unreal Engine: When to Use Each

Hard References vs Soft References in Unreal Engine: When to Use Each

Learn the differences between Hard and Soft references in Unreal Engine
How to Use Data Tables in Unreal Engine 5: A Complete Guide

How to Use Data Tables in Unreal Engine 5: A Complete Guide

DataTables store static data and then it can be consulted at runtime.
Intro to Unreal Procedural Content Generation Framework

Intro to Unreal Procedural Content Generation Framework

Learn the basics of the new Unreal 5.2 way to create procedural content in a visual scripted way
Customize your Unreal Class Icons

Customize your Unreal Class Icons

Make Unreal Engine look fabulous!
Unreal Gameplay Ability System Documentation and GAS Resources

Unreal Gameplay Ability System Documentation and GAS Resources

Unreal Gameplay Ability System is not well documented. Here are some useful resources for GAS.
Using Gameplay Tags to store Game State

Using Gameplay Tags to store Game State

Storing state in Gameplay Tags makes it easier to store state and create interesting gameplay
The Modular Level Design of Fallout 4

The Modular Level Design of Fallout 4

Creating modular levels requires good thinking. Here is how Bethesda did it.
Complex Character Interactions in Shadow of War

Complex Character Interactions in Shadow of War

How the takedowns and finishers stay in sync.
Prototyping in Horizon Zero Dawn

Prototyping in Horizon Zero Dawn

Prototype fast, keep what works, ditch the rest.
How Game Designers need to validate their ideas

How Game Designers need to validate their ideas

Two years out, testers called Horizon 'beyond disappointing'.