# \[Reported\] Burning gem causes targeting softlock **URL:** \ **Category:** Bug Reports\ **Created:** [August 8, 2022, 3:49pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-burning-gem-causes-targeting-softlock/76479 "2022-08-08T15:49:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DracoL1ch](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/dracol1ch/32/75027_2.png) [@DracoL1ch](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/DracoL1ch)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 3:49pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-burning-gem-causes-targeting-softlock/76479/1 "2022-08-08T15:49:18Z")
**Platform, device version and operating system:** any **Screenshot or image:** not required **What you were expecting to happen, and what actually happened:** When you match a burning gem, quickly click your troop with a single target abillity. Game allows you to click ‘cast’ once the board stand still, meanwhile burning gem visual effect is still on fly. Once spell is clicked, targeting phase begins. And now when burning effect hits its target, that target becomes unavailable, even if fire doesn’t affect it at all by its trait. If you didn’t click fast enough any target (which is unlikely) its soft locked. Also For any reason, burning gem animation takes quite a while, feels like enemy might even skip the very first damage instance if he gets to make a turn right After you have triggered the burn match. **How often does this happen? When did it begin happening?** For months already ---
**Author:** ![Stratelier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@Stratelier](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Stratelier)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 6:25pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-burning-gem-causes-targeting-softlock/76479/2 "2022-08-08T18:25:38Z")
Yup, the same thing can also happen with: - Lycanthropy Gems - Curse Gems - etc. (Freeze Gems?) Ironhawk’s 3rd trait can also trigger it on targets that are Submerged (e.g. Delve run with Tidal Affix). Basically ANYTHING that alters a target during the manual-targeting prompt will for some reason remove them from the target selection, which can easily softlock the game because the manual-targeting prompt has no means of canceling it. > [@DracoL1ch](#): > > **Screenshot or image:** not required No, no, NO on so many levels. A lot of bug report topics tend to end up stalling out simply because the one person who experienced it never took screenshots/video for proof and nobody _else_ can figure out how to make it happen again for confirmation/analysis/resolution. Some bugs can be incredibly esoteric with very specific requirements to generate (fortunately, this _isn’t_ one of them) so you really NEED to “show your work” in as raw format as possible. Video captures are ideal, but not everyone can “always be recording” so if your platform has a feature like automatic video buffering (allowing you to capture video footage after the fact) then learn how to use it and include a snapshot of the bug actually happening with every report. ---
**Author:** ![JamesDurning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@JamesDurning](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/JamesDurning)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 6:26pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-burning-gem-causes-targeting-softlock/76479/3 "2022-08-08T18:26:51Z")
I’ve also noticed when using Fire Spirit, the match resolution takes a lot of time. I don’t think they tried this sort of mass matching of burning gems. ---
**Author:** ![DracoL1ch](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/dracol1ch/32/75027_2.png) [@DracoL1ch](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/DracoL1ch)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 5:39am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-burning-gem-causes-targeting-softlock/76479/4 "2022-08-09T05:39:50Z")
So basically any special gem with long animation effect, makes sense as all of them based on the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![OminousGMan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/ominousgman/32/70503_2.png) [@OminousGMan](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/OminousGMan)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 3:37am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-burning-gem-causes-targeting-softlock/76479/5 "2022-08-10T03:37:07Z")
Hey everyone! I’ve tried to reproduce this issue on our side and I haven’t been able to trigger this soft locking issue that you’re reporting. Are you able to provide a video of this issue so we’re able to get a better idea as to what is happening and causing this issue to occur? OminousGMan - Support Human 🕵️‍♂️ ---
**Author:** ![DracoL1ch](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/dracol1ch/32/75027_2.png) [@DracoL1ch](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/DracoL1ch)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 5:02am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-burning-gem-causes-targeting-softlock/76479/6 "2022-08-10T05:02:18Z")
Gonna make one soon ---
**Author:** ![DracoL1ch](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/dracol1ch/32/75027_2.png) [@DracoL1ch](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/DracoL1ch)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 5:44am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-burning-gem-causes-targeting-softlock/76479/7 "2022-08-10T05:44:49Z")
[![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/gemsofwar/original/3X/1/9/194677415906ead970e5e100890ab5d720c223bf.jpeg "GOW burning gem glitch") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAKJ1rIP5iE) [![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/gemsofwar/original/3X/2/6/265d9dca3df2c7d7093a3bb39f73a5d2f377a91a.jpeg "GOW burning gem glitch 2") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhMxED10BEM) [![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/gemsofwar/original/3X/3/c/3c508bd06284a28bd711c135c929cc4d77c373ec.jpeg "GOW burning gem based glitch") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK36s1JWohM) ---
**Author:** ![Fourdottwoone](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/fourdottwoone/32/66655_2.png) [@Fourdottwoone](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Fourdottwoone)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 8:33am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-burning-gem-causes-targeting-softlock/76479/8 "2022-08-10T08:33:10Z")
This issue has already been reported several times, it also happens for other special gems that visually home in on a troop. See also these bug reports: > [@\[Reported\] Game locks up in battle](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/investigating-game-locks-up-in-battle/74558): > > Platform, device version and operating system: PC, Steam Screenshot or image: What you were expecting to happen, and what actually happened: I was expecting to be able to kill the last opponent with Zuul. Spell has been cast, the game just doesn’t allow me to select anything, no troops, no gems, nothing. It’s a soft lock, the game is still running animations. How often does this happen? When did it begin happening? Update 6.2. Steps to make it happen again Play fast enough? Th… > [@Stuck on enemy select without a valid enemy](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/stuck-on-enemy-select-without-a-valid-enemy/75852): > > Platform, device version and operating system: Steam PC, Windows 10 Screenshot or image: What you were expecting to happen, and what actually happened: Team I used [1150,6529,6498,6600,3041,2,1,2,2,3,3,1,14014] 3x seasons I clicked my first troop - the weapon and then cast. I expected to be able to select an enemy but a lycanthropy gem was exploded before and flew to an enemy and after that I was stuck like in the image above shown. For a short time a saw valid enemies bu… ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAwesome](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/captainawesome/32/74890_2.png) [@CaptainAwesome](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/CaptainAwesome)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 1:34pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-burning-gem-causes-targeting-softlock/76479/9 "2022-08-10T13:34:28Z")
Thx @Fourdottwoone for gathering those reports. In all videos it’s clearly visible that every player tried to cast the spell **BEFORE** the last instance off an status effect gem flying over the board has reached it’s destination. @OminousGMan Easiest solution would be imo: Give us a cancel button if we dont wanna cast a spell and let the game “update/reload” the current game status by doing so. This would also solve a longtime request of the community. ---
**Author:** ![Stratelier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@Stratelier](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Stratelier)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 3:28am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-burning-gem-causes-targeting-softlock/76479/10 "2022-08-11T03:28:40Z")
Also my own report (with video and screenshots) - [[Reported] Lycanthropy Gem caused softlock when spellcasting vs. single opponent](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/lycanthropy-gem-caused-softlock-when-spellcasting-vs-single-opponent/74955) > [@CaptainAwesome](#): > > In all videos it’s clearly visible that every player tried to cast the spell **BEFORE** the last instance off an status effect gem flying over the board has reached it’s destination. > [@OminousGMan](#): > > I’ve tried to reproduce this issue on our side and I haven’t been able to trigger this soft locking issue that you’re reporting. Some complications: 1 - You should match the special gem in a way that grants an Extra Turn so that you can spellcast while it is still homing. 2 - Special gems seem to home in on their target at randomized speeds, so the time window for the above (i.e. ability to reproduce) is unpredictable. Per my hypothesis above, it seems like when you cast a manual-target spell, _anything_ that triggers an update to a target’s status (like Ironhawk’s third trait vs. a Submerged target) somehow removes them from the internal list of eligible targets for that spell, which is a BIG problem when it happens (even when it does not happen often). In all these videos (but particularly the last one) you can clearly see that the affected troop is highlighted as a target UNTIL the special gem actually hits them. Naturally, this problem did not occur until the implementation of special gems and Ironhawk’s release. And it wouldn’t be an issue at all if we could just cancel out of a spellcast in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAwesome](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/captainawesome/32/74890_2.png) [@CaptainAwesome](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/CaptainAwesome)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 4:25am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-burning-gem-causes-targeting-softlock/76479/11 "2022-08-11T04:25:57Z")
It was easily reproduceable for me in my 1st attempt with the same team. I tested it several times with always the same soft lock. Just make sure to get an extra turn **and** match at least one burning gem with Fire Spirit **and** try to cast Wrath Naga **immediately afterwards** while the spell of Fire Spirit is still resolving. For the “Cancel-solution” I see some problems which should be paid attention on before. 1st: Pressing the “Cast”-Button already triggers traits like 3rd trait from Ironhawk which would result in an infinite combo of cast and cancel with any empowered troop on turn 1. 2nd: Adding some kind of “prevent you from selecting your own troops before the board state has resolved completely” will cause plenty of time delay where all preselection has to wait until everything is done at the current board state. ---
**Author:** ![DracoL1ch](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/dracol1ch/32/75027_2.png) [@DracoL1ch](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/DracoL1ch)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 5:58am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-burning-gem-causes-targeting-softlock/76479/12 "2022-08-11T05:58:35Z")
There are plenty solutions but the main bug is adding an effect causing troop to refresh its card making it unclickable. This must be fixed, should not be a big problem. ---
**Author:** ![Stratelier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@Stratelier](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Stratelier)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 5:22pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-burning-gem-causes-targeting-softlock/76479/13 "2022-08-11T17:22:33Z")
> [@CaptainAwesome](#): > > For the “Cancel-solution” I see some problems which should be paid attention on before. > 1st: Pressing the “Cast”-Button already triggers traits like 3rd trait from Ironhawk which would result in an infinite combo of cast and cancel with any empowered troop on turn 1. Yes, good catch. Literally the ONLY trait that should trigger during the target-select prompt is Stealthy. All other “on cast” traits must wait until the ACTUAL spellcast (i.e: popup of troop art & spell name). > [@CaptainAwesome](#): > > 2nd: Adding some kind of “prevent you from selecting your own troops before the board state has resolved completely” will cause plenty of time delay where all preselection has to wait until everything is done at the current board state. If you play on console with a controller, you cannot interact with the board (e.g. inspect troop cards) during the opponent’s turn or during combos/cascades. It’s probably still possible to generate the softlock via controller, but the time window is that much tighter because you can’t queue up the spell mid-combo. ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAwesome](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/captainawesome/32/74890_2.png) [@CaptainAwesome](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/CaptainAwesome)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 5:57pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-burning-gem-causes-targeting-softlock/76479/14 "2022-08-11T17:57:00Z")
> [@Stratelier](#): > > Literally the ONLY trait that should trigger during the target-select prompt is Stealthy. There shouldn’t be a trigger at all. The stealthy troop should remain locked as long there is another troop without stealthy in my team and it should be unlocked as soon the troop is stunned or one of the last remaining troops with stealthy. If the stealthy troop(s) is/are the only left and > [@Stratelier](#): > > If you play on console with a controller, you cannot interact with the board (e.g. inspect troop cards) during the opponent’s turn or during combos/cascades. It’s probably still possible to generate the softlock via controller, but the time window is that much tighter because you can’t queue up the spell mid-combo. Okay, didn’t know about that. On Switch it works due touchpad. So the 2nd issue would probably only affect Steam and Switch users. Would be a pain on Switch since the loading time for each battle is almost twice the amount of Steam loading time from my experience. ---
**Author:** ![Stratelier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@Stratelier](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Stratelier)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2022, 2:28am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-burning-gem-causes-targeting-softlock/76479/15 "2022-08-12T02:28:42Z")
> [@CaptainAwesome](#): > > There shouldn’t be a trigger at all. The visual reminder of “you can’t select that target right now because of Stealthy” is still useful to have, so technically it requires _an_ event trigger – just not the same trigger as every other “on spellcast” trait. > [@CaptainAwesome](#): > > So the 2nd issue would probably only affect Steam and Switch users. Mouse input is processed more or less the same as touchscreen input. And why there is no general keyboard input (or PC controller? can someone confirm?) is an age-old question. ---
**Author:** ![OminousGMan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/ominousgman/32/70503_2.png) [@OminousGMan](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/OminousGMan)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2022, 3:19am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-burning-gem-causes-targeting-softlock/76479/16 "2022-08-12T03:19:40Z")
Hey everyone! Thank you to @DracoL1ch, @CaptainAwesome and @Stratelier for all the information you have provided on this issue you’ve been experiencing and how to reproduce this bug. I have been able to encounter this issue and have logged this bug with the development team. I have also passed along the possible solution of adding a “Cancel Spell” button to Gems. Also, thank you @Fourdottwoone for linking those other threads that appear to be related to this issue, I’m going through the process of looking into them using the new information everyone has provided. I really appreciate all the help. Thank you 🙂 OminousGMan - Support Human 🕵️‍♂️ ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAwesome](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/captainawesome/32/74890_2.png) [@CaptainAwesome](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/CaptainAwesome)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2022, 4:00am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-burning-gem-causes-targeting-softlock/76479/17 "2022-08-12T04:00:15Z")
> [@Stratelier](#): > > The visual reminder of “you can’t select that target right now because of Stealthy” is still useful to have, so technically it requires _an_ event trigger – just not the same trigger as every other “on spellcast” trait. I expressed myself incorrectly to this point. What I mean is, there should be a trigger, but one that is already turned “on” from the beginning of a battle as along there is a troop with “stealthy” involved. This _ongoing_ trigger should be turned “off” as soon as no troop **without** “stealthy” exists anymore or all “stealthy” troops get stunned. Turn it “on” again, when a troop without “stealthy” is respawned and so on. I’ll try to make a bit easier: 1 or more troops with “stealthy” + 1 or more troops without “stealthy” = Trigger is turned “on” and prohibids selection of “stealthy” troops. All troops or no troop have “stealthy” = Trigger is turned “off” and all troops are selectable This should flip the conditions around and would allow us in rare cases to select a “stealthy” troop but it would prevent soft locks imo. ---
**Author:** ![DracoL1ch](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/dracol1ch/32/75027_2.png) [@DracoL1ch](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/DracoL1ch)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2022, 4:36pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-burning-gem-causes-targeting-softlock/76479/18 "2022-08-27T16:36:25Z")
Just got this bug again, its not fixed in the latest patch ---
**Author:** ![CaptainAwesome](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/captainawesome/32/74890_2.png) [@CaptainAwesome](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/CaptainAwesome)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2022, 6:50pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-burning-gem-causes-targeting-softlock/76479/19 "2022-08-28T18:50:08Z")
Which Device? Which kind of gem is still buggy? For me it’s fixed at least on Steam. So would be good to get some more details here… ---
**Author:** ![DracoL1ch](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/dracol1ch/32/75027_2.png) [@DracoL1ch](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/DracoL1ch)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2022, 9:09pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-burning-gem-causes-targeting-softlock/76479/20 "2022-08-28T21:09:45Z")
All the same way as in my videos, steam. Will do a new one later [Next page](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/reported-burning-gem-causes-targeting-softlock/76479.md?page=2)