Tracking
Tracking
"I sense there are trees nearby." "We're in a forest." "See?"
Tracking is a perception skill that allows the character to know if invisible, hidden, or otherwise unseen characters, monsters, or NPCs are around — without rendering them visible. Tracked targets become arrows on the screen constantly pointing in their direction, allowing the tracker to locate and follow them. It is one of the two anti-stealth skills (alongside Detect Hidden), but its niche is different: where Detect Hidden reveals, Tracking locates. They pair together for any serious counter-stealth or hunter build.
In modern UO, Tracking is most useful in PvP combat: even with very little skill, you can reliably track most other visible characters, making it far more difficult for opponents to flee. For dungeon work, Tracking is invaluable in pathfinding through the maze-and-stealth environments of Khaldun, the Lost Pyre, and the Stygian Abyss.
Mechanics — what skill level enables
Higher skill enables three things, simultaneously:
- Track higher-skilled stealth targets — at low Tracking, a high-Hiding/Stealth character can hide from you even after you target them; at high Tracking, even GM-Stealth characters cannot escape the arrow.
- Detect at greater range — the search-area radius for "is anything hidden nearby" expands with skill.
- Detect more reliably — the per-tile success roll improves; at GM, success is near-certain at maximum range.
The arrow does not show the target's character info — just direction. To identify the tracked character, you must close in and use Detect Hidden or Reveal to actually see them.
How to use
- Activate the Tracking skill (button or macro).
- The Tracking gump opens, asking "What kind of creature shall I track?"
- Choose a category (Animals, Monsters, NPCs, Players).
- The gump lists the trackable targets within range.
- Select one. An arrow appears on your character's portrait pointing toward the target.
The arrow updates as the target moves. If the target moves out of range, the arrow disappears.
Special note: it does not matter if you actually select a target to track or not — you still gain skill as long as the Tracking window opened. The act of opening the gump is what gives the chance.
Racial and category bonuses
- Humans have an inferred minimum of 20 Tracking thanks to Jack of all Trades.
- Elves and Gargoyles have no specific Tracking bonus. (No racial preference in this skill.)
Tracking + Detect Hidden — the canonical pair
The two skills handle separate tasks:
| Skill | What it tells you | Range model |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking | "Someone hidden is in that direction" | Wide-area arrow; targets specific |
| Detect Hidden | "Reveal them on that tile" | Local-area reveal; turns hidden visible |
A counter-stealth template typically carries both: Tracking finds the stealther's general direction, you close to within a few tiles, then Detect Hidden reveals them on a specific tile, and combat begins.
PvP application — the flee-stopper
Tracking is famously a flee-stopper in PvP. A wounded opponent who tries to recall away or retreat past terrain gets tracked through the entire move; once they stop and rest, you arrive. Even 20 Tracking (Jack of all Trades level) is sufficient to track most players in real-time.
For dedicated PvP anti-rogue/anti-stealth builds: - 80–100 Tracking + 80–100 Detect Hidden + Reveal scrolls — the full anti-Hiding template for Felucca PvP. - Pair with Bushido for the high-DI counter or Magery for Reveal/Earthquake combo.
Training
| Range | Method |
|---|---|
| 0 → 40 | Train from Walker the Tracking Instructor in New Haven. He is found NW of the bank in front of a house near the water (this is shard-locale-specific — at Drachenfels he is in that specific spot). |
| 40 → 100 | Use the skill in any open area with monsters, NPCs, or players nearby. Just open the Tracking gump repeatedly. The act of opening the gump grants the gain chance, regardless of whether you select a target. |
Accelerated quest path
For accelerated skill gain to 50, accept the quest from Walker the Tracking Instructor in New Haven. Quest reward includes the blessed leather pants Walker's Leggings (a permanent reward worth keeping past the skill phase).
Best training environments
- Any town with NPCs — opening the Tracking gump with NPCs in range works fine.
- Open road with random monsters — passive gain while traveling.
- Champ Spawns — high creature density makes the gump return many targets. Gains compound.
Special targets the Tracking skill can find
The Tracking gump categorizes by:
| Category | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Animals | Tameable and wild animals — horses, wolves, bears, dragons, etc. |
| Monsters | Hostile creatures — undead, demons, elementals, etc. |
| NPCs | Non-tameable humanoid NPCs (vendors, guards, quest-givers). |
| Players | Player characters in range, regardless of Hiding/Stealth status. |
Player tracking through Hiding and Stealth is the high-value use case. Even GM Stealth players can be tracked by GM Tracking; the difficulty of the skill check is determined by target's Hiding skill vs your Tracking skill, not by Stealth movement.
See also
- Detect_Hidden — the reveal-on-tile companion skill
- Hiding · Stealth — the skills Tracking counters
- Reveal_Spell — Magery 5th circle, complementary to Detect Hidden
- New_Haven — Walker's training quest location
- Khaldun — Tracking-friendly maze dungeon
- Lost_Pyre — Lost Lands tracking environment