How Can I Spell Dodge Like the AI?

[l_pha]

Is there an easy way when to tell when they start casting and where they are casting? It's kind of unfair how the AI can know exactly when and where you are casting the moment you put down a spell. The only way I can tell is when I start seeing the graphics for the spell but by then it is already too late. Unless it's a fast unit like cav my units usually get mostly hit.

[The Sand Witch]

you can often see a blue circle (or similar) for vortex spell casts. Some are legit unspottable (thinking of wulfric's boat).

It might have to do with your camera as well. Debugg cam is often best to get a larger vision of the battle at any time (it's not a cheat or mod, it's part of the game, you can choose which camera you get through the text file by entering the proper number).

After that, it's all about your time reaction.

[Sera]

u can't, coz when u play your army, u are on your own, but the AI is not the same, they control each unit individual, that's why settlement battle is the pain in the arse when this mechanic really anoying

[Emilia Tempest]

Most spells have a tell to know when they fire.
They usually have a sound while being cast, usually have a blue indicator on the battlefield (a vortext usually has a circle for example).
One way to also see spells coming is to watch the caster of the enemy, when they do an casting animation you can quickly look around where the spell lands (not that effective but can help).

This way you can dodge most spells, but some spells are so fast that you cant dodge them (most wind-type spells, all direct damage spells, some magic missile spells).
Some units can also not dodge spell reliably, mostly slow units (nurgle as a whole, most heavily armored units, dwarfs/chaos dwarfs). Normal infantry (like empire swordsmen) can dodge most spells reliably if you catch the spell being cast early.
But if units are engaged in melee, its nearly impossible to dodge a spell without taking any damage.

The best way to learn how it looks, is to go into custom battles. giving the ai only an mage (choose an lore like metal, warrior of chaos have that, or cathay has that).
and then make an army with light infantry and heavy infantry (get two of each) so they will cast their spells.
Focus on only letting the ai use one spell (aka remove all spells but one damaging spell, metal lore has both an vortex and an bombardment) and try to look for the indicator.
And you can restart the match as many times as you like to repeat the test.

[Count von Bunnyhopven]

The AI will only dodge spells that has the Bombardment descriptor. So not most spells. This means that you should only use these spells when the enemy is occupied. Either in a fight, with shooting or on a wall.

On the plus side, bombardment spells are among the very few damage spells that can actually target enemies on top of walls.

[RamboRusina]

If you play low difficulties that allow pausing it can be done, with constant pauses to check for target indicators to a degree. Fast unit with high acceleration can dodge pretty easily, but slow unit will likely get hit unless at very end of spell or long cast time.