---
key: mechanic/boss-fight-atlas--boss-target-lock
type: mechanic
id: boss-fight-atlas--boss-target-lock
lang: en
title: Target lock
summary: The boss tracks its target until an explicit direction-lock moment.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/boss-fight-atlas--boss-target-lock/
jsonUrl: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/boss-fight-atlas--boss-target-lock.json
markdownUrl: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/boss-fight-atlas--boss-target-lock.md
aliases: []
tags:
- Boss fights
- Targeting and rhythm
sourceIds:
- source-588b516a15af722e
- source-7657348ee9e76d22
- source-938d01176a1635ea
- source-3d98aa5b859ad11b
- source-d88e73d9030adb59
- source-baf38070a8989361
- source-945019fe5d82d809
- source-a5ed4b8db6620df1
sources:
- id: source-588b516a15af722e
title: 'Boss Fight Atlas: Target lock (RU)'
url: 'https://polyakovin.github.io/boss-fight-atlas/ru/mechanics/target-lock/'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-7657348ee9e76d22
title: 'Boss Fight Atlas: Target lock (EN)'
url: 'https://polyakovin.github.io/boss-fight-atlas/en/mechanics/target-lock/'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-938d01176a1635ea
title: Shriek · Ori and the Will of the Wisps
url: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvuB8cImPIg&t=1165s'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-3d98aa5b859ad11b
title: Absolute Radiance · Hollow Knight
url: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgh04-wCRyk&t=20s'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-d88e73d9030adb59
title: Phrike · Returnal
url: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdBbTMFLFIo&t=32s'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-baf38070a8989361
title: Enemy Attacks and Telegraphing · Mike Stout
url: 'https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/enemy-attacks-and-telegraphing'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-945019fe5d82d809
title: 'Boss Up: Boss Battle Design · GDC Vault'
url: 'https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1024921/Boss-Up-Boss-Battle-Design'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-a5ed4b8db6620df1
title: Cuphead
url: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6anMOwVo7tc&t=12s'
verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
- catalogId: boss-fight-atlas
id: boss-target-lock
title: Boss fights
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/boss-fight-atlas/#boss-target-lock'
categoryIds:
- catalog-part-7
supersededBy: []
attributes:
preview:
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
title: Target lock
description: The boss tracks its target until an explicit direction-lock moment.
image:
src: images/mechanics/boss-frame-6anmowvo7tc-12.webp
width: 854
height: 480
game: Cuphead
sourceUrl: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6anMOwVo7tc&t=12s'
originalUrl: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6anMOwVo7tc'
sourceFrameSeconds: 12
credit: Studio MDHR; gameplay capture by Boss Fight Database
rights: >-
Game graphics © Studio MDHR. Gameplay recording by Boss Fight Database.
Visible source markings preserved. All rights reserved; excluded from
MIT and CC BY 4.0.
caption: An aiming line defines the upcoming dangerous lane
alt: An aiming line defines the upcoming dangerous lane
markers:
- x: 37
'y': 56
label: The targeting line makes the upcoming beam direction explicit
tips:
- 'Use distinct cues for tracking, locking and attack execution.'
examples:
- title: Cuphead
url: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6anMOwVo7tc&t=12s'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
Editorial reference index based on the 124 public Boss Fight Atlas mechanic
pages checked on 2026-10-20. Original concise RU/EN definitions by
gamemechanics.pro; source categories, game/boss associations and reference
URLs retained from the atlas. Linked materials retain their original rights;
references are upstream attributions, not independent verification.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/boss-fight-atlas
---
# Target lock
id: boss-fight-atlas--boss-target-lock
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/boss-fight-atlas--boss-target-lock
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/boss-fight-atlas--boss-target-lock/
The boss tracks its target until an explicit direction-lock moment.
## At a glance
[Cuphead](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6anMOwVo7tc&t=12s) · Game graphics © Studio MDHR. Gameplay recording by Boss Fight Database. Visible source markings preserved. All rights reserved; excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
[Source recording](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6anMOwVo7tc), 12 s
1. The targeting line makes the upcoming beam direction explicit
- Use distinct cues for tracking, locking and attack execution.
- [Cuphead](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6anMOwVo7tc&t=12s)
## How it works
The boss tracks its target until an explicit direction-lock moment.
## Variants
### How the technique works
- The boss tracks its target until an explicit direction-lock moment.
## Context and limits
A concise reference to all 124 Boss Fight Atlas mechanics across its 14 source sections. Each entry includes a definition, full RU/EN lesson links, game references and further reading retained from the source. Animations and detailed rules remain in the atlas.
## Connected materials
## Sources and provenance
Editorial reference index based on the 124 public Boss Fight Atlas mechanic pages checked on 2026-10-20. Original concise RU/EN definitions by gamemechanics.pro; source categories, game/boss associations and reference URLs retained from the atlas. Linked materials retain their original rights; references are upstream attributions, not independent verification.
- [Boss Fight Atlas: Target lock (RU)](https://polyakovin.github.io/boss-fight-atlas/ru/mechanics/target-lock/) (id: source-588b516a15af722e)
- [Boss Fight Atlas: Target lock (EN)](https://polyakovin.github.io/boss-fight-atlas/en/mechanics/target-lock/) (id: source-7657348ee9e76d22)
- [Shriek · Ori and the Will of the Wisps](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvuB8cImPIg&t=1165s) (id: source-938d01176a1635ea)
- [Absolute Radiance · Hollow Knight](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgh04-wCRyk&t=20s) (id: source-3d98aa5b859ad11b)
- [Phrike · Returnal](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdBbTMFLFIo&t=32s) (id: source-d88e73d9030adb59)
- [Enemy Attacks and Telegraphing · Mike Stout](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/enemy-attacks-and-telegraphing) (id: source-baf38070a8989361)
- [Boss Up: Boss Battle Design · GDC Vault](https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1024921/Boss-Up-Boss-Battle-Design) (id: source-945019fe5d82d809)
- [Cuphead](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6anMOwVo7tc&t=12s) (id: source-a5ed4b8db6620df1)
CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors