Aim Assist Presets

Aim assist presets are pre-defined configurations for the aim assist feature in Minecraft. Presets are handy because they allow you to set aim assist parameters in specific situations without having to use the /aimassist command repeatedly. Presets also go beyond the capabilities of the /aimassist command in a number of cool ways, such as allowing you to exclude certain entities or blocks from targeting rules or choosing which items can target liquids!

Aim Assist presets are part of the behavior pack and preset files should be placed in the same folder as your camera presets in your behavior pack:

Aim assist preset settings

Aim assist preset settings determine how potential targets are evaluated by the aim assist feature. You can define what aim assist category to use and when to use them, as well as what blocks or entities can be targeted by a specific preset. To begin, create a json file called aim_assist_preset.json. It should look something like this:

"minecraft:aim_assist_preset": {
    "identifier": "test:test_preset",
    "item_settings": {},
    "default_item_settings": "default",
    "hand_settings": "default",
    "exclusion_list": {},
    "liquid_targeting_list": {}
}

Let's take a look at these settings.

• identifier: The unique name for this aim assist preset. You can use this id in the /aimassist command or in your camera preset file.
• item_settings: The items that should use special preset categories when held and the category that they should use.
• default_item_settings: The settings used by any other item not specified in item_settings.
• hand_settings: The settings used when not holding any items.
• exclusion_list: The list of blocks or entities that should never be targeted when using this aim assist preset.
• liquid_targeting_list: The list of items that can target liquids when held.

Aim assist categories

Aim assist categories define the priority for each type of block or entity when using the aim assist feature. To create an aim assist category, create a categories.json file and place it in the same directory as your aim_assist_preset.json file. This file contains all of your aim assist categories. Each category is a predefined group of settings; only one category can be active at any time. The active category is determined by what item the player is holding at any given time.

Let's create an aim assist category that helps us target logs over other block types when we're holding an axe. Your categories.json file should look like this:

"minecraft:aim_assist_categories": {
  "categories": [
    {
      "name": "default",
      "priorities": {}
    }
    {
      "name": "test:axe_priorities",
      "entity_default": 1,
      "block_dafault": 1,
      "priorities": {
        "blocks": {
          "minecraft:oak_log": 6,
          "minecraft:birch_log": 6,
          "minecraft:acacia_log": 6,
        }
      }
    }
  ]
}

Let's take a closer look at the test:axe_priorities category:

• name: The unique identifier for the aim assist category.
• entity_default: The default priority to be used for entities by this aim assist category. This should usually be 1.
• block_default: The default priority to be used for blocks by this aim assist category. This should usually be 1.
• priorities: The list blocks and entities that should override the default priorities when this category evaluates targets.
  • entities: The list of entities that should override the entity_default priority when this category evaluates targets.
  • blocks: The list of blocks that should override the block_default priority when this category evaluates targets.

Important

The number used for priority values works by multiplying the targeting criteria by the specified value. For example, we've given oak_log a priority of 6. This setting makes the aim assist feature treat oak logs as if they are six times closer to the player (or the center of the targeting cone, in angle aim assist mode) than any other block. This does not mean that oak logs will always be targeted over other blocks; it simply means that they will be treated as if they are much closer than they actually are. Blocks that are closer than even the modified distance of an oak log could still be targeted. You should fine tune the priority numbers in your categories to get them feeling right.

Aim assist in camera presets

When you use camera presets, you can use the aim_assist field in your camera.json file:

"minecraft:camera_preset": {
    "identifier": "test:third_person",
    "inherit_from": "minecraft:follow_orbit",
    "aim_assist": {
        "preset": "test:axe_priorities",
        "target_mode": "distance",
        "angle": [30, 30],
        "distance": 10
    }
}

The aim assist settings defined in this preset will override any settings set by the aim assist command when this camera preset is active. Other aim assist commands or presets will only be active when the camera preset does not have a defined aim_assist object.