Advanced Combat Tracker

Advanced Combat Tracker is a free Windows parser for MMO combat logs, best suited to players who want to examine fights in detail and are willing to set up a game-specific plugin. Its combination of live parsing, encounter history and granular analysis makes it a capable choice; the Windows and .NET Framework requirements narrow the audience.

Overview

ACT can parse combat as it happens, import whole log files or retrieve older encounters from its History Database. That makes it useful both during play and when reviewing a past session. Tables and graphs range from encounter summaries to individual combat actions, while Encounter VCR and Encounter Timeline provide graphical views of how a fight unfolded.

Support is plugin-based, with hosted plugins for EverQuest II, Final Fantasy XIV, Rift, Age of Conan, Aion, Star Wars: The Old Republic and The Secret World. This breadth is useful for players of those games, but ACT is not a plug-and-play universal parser: choosing the right plugin is part of getting started.

Key features

Detailed encounter review

ACT combines full combat metrics with replay analysis and session history. Players can move from a high-level encounter view to individual actions, then use the VCR or Timeline for a graphical account of events. That depth suits players diagnosing a fight or comparing its details; it is more than a quick live damage readout.

Timers and custom triggers

Spell timers and countdowns can track parsed skills or events. Custom triggers match log lines, capture part of a line, play an alert sound or start a timer. These options are useful for players who want log-driven reminders, though they require configuring triggers around the events they care about.

Exports and extensibility

ACT exports tables or encounters as formatted text, HTML, XML or web pages, and supports FTP uploads and ODBC database connectivity. Its .NET plugin API accepts precompiled assemblies as well as C# and Visual Basic.NET source files, giving technically inclined users room to extend the tool. Those options add flexibility, but matter less to someone who only wants a basic live readout.

Pricing

ACT is freeware: its plan costs nothing and provides a Windows desktop download. There is no paid plan or trial to weigh, so it suits players who want combat analysis without a software charge. The trade-off is not a tiered feature limit, but the Windows platform requirement and the need to find a suitable plugin for the game.

Platforms

ACT runs on Windows. Its download page points users to Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8.1 and says .NET Core and .NET 5–8 will not work with ACT, so users should check that requirement before installing. The maker offers an installer and a ZIP archive; the ZIP includes the ACTv3 installation files and Clipboard Sharer. Portable mode keeps ACT files relative to its program folder, and the maker recommends the ZIP for that use.

After first launch, ACT creates a configuration file in the user's %APPDATA% folder. The maker says it does not specifically save data to the Windows Registry.

Who it's for

ACT is a strong fit for Windows MMO players who want to inspect combat at several levels, revisit earlier encounters or build log-based alerts. Its plugin model and .NET requirement make it less suitable for players seeking a minimal setup, or for anyone who needs a non-Windows option. The Cactbot download listing also says it requires the latest OverlayPlugin and does not support ACTx86, a constraint relevant to users considering that plugin.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Real-time parsing, whole-file imports and a History Database cover both live monitoring and retrospective review.
• Pro: Tables, graphs, VCR and Timeline views allow analysis from an encounter summary down to individual actions.
• Pro: Custom triggers, multiple export formats, FTP and ODBC support accommodate tailored alerts and downstream workflows.
• Con: Game support depends on plugins, so users need to select and configure one for their game.
• Con: Windows and .NET Framework 4.8.1 requirements exclude other platform setups and make the framework choice important.
• Con: Cactbot requires the latest OverlayPlugin and does not support ACTx86.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, browse Game Damage Meters. Consider Elite Insights if Linux, macOS or self-hosted platforms matter; it is free and MIT-licensed, provided as-is. EQ Zera is another free option, with web and Windows support and no purchase, account or sign-in requirement or locked features. Choose eqdps if Linux support matters; it is free to use and offers optional EQLDB uploads.

AwowLab Overlay is a free Windows alternative whose core job requires no paid tier. EQL Meter may suit users who want macOS support; it is MIT-licensed and has no account or cloud backend. PQ Companion is a free Windows 10/11 option for Project Quarm. STOOP is free on Windows 10/11, with no account or paid tiers. Combat Metrics is an ESO addon; its required libraries must be downloaded separately.

Verdict

Choose ACT if you play a supported MMO on Windows and want both live parsing and substantial tools for examining past encounters. Its strongest reason to choose it is the range from granular fight analysis to configurable alerts and exports, all at no software cost. Look elsewhere if Windows or the .NET Framework requirement does not suit your setup, or if you do not want to manage game-specific plugins.