Area of effect attacks
Attacks that damage everything within a radius or shape rather than a single target, rewarding positioning of both the caster and the enemies grouped in the blast. AoE is the multiplicative force behind clearing crowds efficiently: a single fireball that hits ten enemies is worth far more than ten single-target hits, which shapes both enemy design (pack monsters to reward AoE) and player builds (AoE-focused characters trade single-target burst for crowd control). Designers use AoE to vary combat rhythm between single-target duels and satisfying crowd clears, and to create positioning counterplay (spreading out to avoid it). Key decisions: shape and telegraphing (circles, cones, lines each demand different reads), friendly-fire rules, falloff damage from the epicenter, and cast/travel time that gives enemies a chance to react. Pitfall: AoE that's too easy to land trivializes positioning entirely — telegraphs, cast delays, or limited uses keep it a decision rather than a free win button.
- Dev effort: Small
- Timing: Real-time or turn-based
- Common in: arpg, rpg