Hyper Light Breaker: How To Lock-On Target

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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 cryptic nature adds to its charm, but leaves many mechanics unexplained. Mastering the lock-on system is crucial for effective gameplay. While locking onto a target offers focused combat, it's not always the best strategy. This guide explains how to use the targeting mechanic and when to employ 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 surrounded by others. A reticle will appear, and your view will zoom slightly.

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

Locking on alters character movement and camera control. The camera follows your target, causing your movements to generally circle them. Fast-moving enemies can quickly shift camera perspective, potentially altering your directional inputs mid-action.

To switch targets while locked on, use the right analog stick to select 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 automatically cancels if you move too far from your target.

When Should I Lock On vs Use Free Cam?

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

For most situations, free camera mode is superior. When facing multiple enemies or weaker foes, lock-on hinders your ability to react to surrounding threats.

Against mini-bosses or bosses, after clearing weaker enemies, lock-on keeps the main target centered. Cancel the lock-on if other enemies appear, then re-engage once they're dealt with.

During Extraction, for instance, you'll 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 preferable until all regular enemies are defeated, then lock onto the mini-boss for focused combat.