Behavior Tree User Guide

Describes how to create and edit Behavior Trees and Behavior Tree related assets.

Creating Behavior Tree Assets

This section illustrates how to create the various Behavior Tree assets within Unreal Engine 5. 

Creating a Behavior Tree

Behavior Trees are essentially the AI's processor and can make decisions and execute various branches based on the outcome of those decisions. Behavior Trees are created inside the Content Drawer in the following manner: 

Click the +Add button, then under Create Advanced Asset select Artificial Intelligence and Behavior Tree.

Click the Add button then under Create Advanced Asset select Artificial Intelligence and Behavior Tree

The new Behavior Tree asset will be added to the Content Drawer where you can define its name.

The new Behavior Tree asset will be added to the Content Drawer where you can define its name

You can also use the right-click context menu and select +Add > Artificial Intelligence > Behavior Tree. 

Creating a Blackboard

The Blackboard asset can be considered as the "brain" of the AI and stores Key values that the Behavior Tree uses to make its decisions.  Blackboard assets can be created using the following methods:

Click the +Add button, then under Create Advanced Asset select Artificial Intelligence and Blackboard.

Click the Add button, then under Create Advanced Asset select Artificial Intelligence and Blackboard

The new Blackboard asset will be added to the Content Drawer which you can rename to your desired name.

The new Blackboard asset will be added to the Content Drawer which you can rename to your desired name

Another method in which you can create a Blackboard is inside a Behavior Tree: 

Inside the Behavior Tree Editor from the Toolbar by clicking the New Blackboard button. 

Inside the Behavior Tree Editor from the Toolbar by clicking the New Blackboard button

This will also create a new Blackboard asset inside the Content Drawer

Creating a Behavior Tree Task

A Task is an "action" you want the AI to perform, such as move to a location or rotate to face something. 

If optimization is a concern, you may want to consider switching Blueprint Behavior Tree Tasks to native Behavior Tree Tasks.

In addition to the existing Tasks available, you can create custom Tasks with your own logic: 

Click the New Task button from the Toolbar inside the Behavior Tree Editor

Click the New Task button from the Toolbar inside the Behavior Tree Editor

This will open a new Blueprint of the BTTask_BlueprintBase class where you can provide your Task logic. 

This will open a new Blueprint of the BTTask_BlueprintBase class where you can provide your Task logic

The Task Blueprint will be created inside the Content Drawer in the same location as your Behavior Tree asset. 

Whenever you create a new Task from the Behavior Tree Editor, it's a good practice to go into the Content Drawer and rename the asset instead of using the default name.

When creating a new Task, you can use an existing Behavior Tree Task as the Parent Class to inherit functionality by selecting it from the drop-down menu. 

You can use an existing Behavior Tree Task as the Parent Class to inherit functionality  by selecting it from the drop-down menu

Creating a Behavior Tree Decorator

Decorators (also known as conditionals) attach to nodes inside Behavior Trees and can be used to make decisions on whether a branch (or even a single node) in the tree can be executed. There are several default Decorators that you can use in your Behavior Trees, however, you can also create custom ones:

Click the New Decorator button from the Toolbar inside the Behavior Tree Editor

Click the New Decorator button from the Toolbar inside the Behavior Tree Editor

This will open a new BTDecorator_BlueprintBase class where you can provide your Decorator logic. 

This will open a new BTDecorator_BlueprintBase class where you can provide your Decorator logic

The Decorator Blueprint will be created inside the Content Drawer in the same location as your Behavior Tree asset. 

Whenever you create a new Decorator from the Behavior Tree Editor, it's a good practice to go into the Content Drawer and rename the asset instead of using the default name.

When creating a new Decorator, you can use an existing Behavior Tree Decorator as the Parent Class to inherit functionality from by selecting it from the drop-down menu. 

You can use an existing Behavior Tree Decorator as the Parent Class to inherit functionality from by selecting it from the drop-down menu

Creating a Behavior Tree Service

Services attach to Composite nodes and will execute at their defined frequency as long as their branch is being executed. These are often used to make checks and to update the Blackboard and take the place of traditional Parallel nodes in other Behavior Tree systems. While there are a few Services available by default, you will more than likely want to create your own custom Services that assist in determining how your Behavior Tree is executed. 

If optimization is a concern, you may want to consider switching Blueprint Behavior Tree Services to native Behavior Tree Services.

Click the New Service button from the Toolbar inside the Behavior Tree Editor

Click the New Service button from the Toolbar inside the Behavior Tree Editor

This will open a new BTService_BlueprintBase class where you can provide your Service logic. 

This will open a new BTService_BlueprintBase class where you can provide your Service logic

The Service Blueprint will be created inside the Content Drawer in the same location as your Behavior Tree asset. 

Whenever you create a new Service from the Behavior Tree Editor, it's a good practice to go into the Content Drawer and rename the asset instead of using the default name.

When creating a new Service, you can use an existing Behavior Tree Service as the Parent Class to inherit functionality by selecting it from the drop-down menu. 

You can use an existing Behavior Tree Service as the Parent Class to inherit functionality from by selecting it from the drop-down menu

Editing a Blackboard

Usually, you'll create a Blackboard before your Behavior Tree as the Behavior Tree references the Blackboard in its decision-making process (you can always add Keys later as you need them). You can edit a Blackboard asset by double-clicking on the asset in the Content Drawer to open it up in the Blackboard Editor.

You can edit a Blackboard asset by double-clicking on the asset in the Content Drawer to open it up in the Blackboard Editor

If you are editing a Behavior Tree that has an assigned Blackboard, you can switch to the Blackboard by clicking the tab in the upper-right corner of the window.

You can switch to the Blackboard by clicking the tab in the upper-right corner of the window

In the Blackboard Details panel, you can assign a different Blackboard as the Parent, inheriting Keys from it.

In the Blackboard Details panel you can assign a different Blackboard as the Parent, inheriting Keys from it

You can add Keys by clicking the New Key button in the Blackboard window.

You can add Keys by clicking the New Key button in the Blackboard window

Please see Blueprint Variables for a breakdown of variable types that can be stored as Keys.

When a Key has been created, you can define properties associated with the Key in the Blackboard Details panel.

You can define properties associated with the Key in the Blackboard Details panel

Property

Description

Entry Name

The user defined name of the Key.

Entry Description

Optional description to explain what this Blackboard Key does.

Key Type

Defined when you create the Key, however ,Object and Class Keys provide the additional option of defining a specific Class. This enables you to store any type of data that inherits from Object (such as Actors) in them.

Instance Synced

This is used to determine if the Key will be synchronized across all instances of the Blackboard.

To Rename or Delete Key, right-click a Key to bring up the context menu, or press F2 or Delete on a Key.

To Rename or Delete Key right-click a Key to bring up the context menu

For Class and Object Keys, you can click the little triangle beside Key Type which enables you to define the Base Actor Class to use.

For Class and Object Keys you can click the little triangle beside Key Type

For Enum Keys, there are additional properties that can be set by clicking the little triangle beside Key Type.

For Enum Keys there are additional properties that can be set by clicking the little triangle beside Key Type

Property

Description

Enum Type

The assigned Enumeration to use.

Enum Name

The name of the enum defined in C++ code will take priority over the asset assigned under Enum Type.

Is Enum Name Valid

Set when Enum Name override is valid and active.

Editing a Behavior Tree

To edit a Behavior Tree, you will need to open a Behavior Tree asset: 

Double-click a Behavior Tree asset in the Content Drawer to enter Behavior Tree Mode

Double-click a Behavior Tree asset in the Content Drawer to enter Behavior Tree Mode

Or by switching over to Behavior Tree Mode:

Click the Behavior Tree tab in the upper-right corner of the Behavior Tree Editor

Click the Behavior Tree tab in the upper-right corner of the Behavior Tree Editor

To switch over to Behavior Tree Mode, you will need to have a currently opened Behavior Tree asset and are switching from Blackboard Mode

Assigning a Blackboard

In order for the Behavior Tree to access a Blackboard, you must assign a Blackboard asset: 

Select the Root node in the graph (or deselect all nodes), then in the Details panel, set your desired Blackboard Asset

In the Details panel set your desired Blackboard Asset

After assigning a Blackboard, the Blackboard panel will update with its associated Blackboard Keys.

The Blackboard panel will update with its associated Blackboard Keys

Working with Nodes

To add Composites or Tasks to the graph of your Behavior Tree, right-click the graph to bring up the context menu and select your desired node. 

Right-click the graph to bring up the context menu and select your desired node

Only Composite nodes can be connected to the Root node of a Behavior Tree.

You can also drag off a node and select a node to add from the context menu. 

You can also drag off a node and select a node to add from the context menu

To remove nodes from the graph, select a node (or nodes) and press Delete (or right-click and select Delete). 

To remove nodes from the graph select a node or nodes and press Delete or right-click and select Delete

To connect nodes together, left-click and drag from the output pin, to input pin on another node. 

To connect nodes together left-click and drag from the output pin, to an input pin on another node

Connecting nodes in Behavior Trees only work by connecting an output to an input (you cannot connect from an input to an output).

To disconnect nodes, right-click a node (or define a selection of nodes) and select your desired Break All Pin Link(s) method. 

To disconnect nodes right-click a node or define a selection of nodes and select your desired Break Link(s) method
Break All Pin Link(s) can be used to break a single link or multiple nodes that are pinned. Break link to... will break the connection to the specified node. 

You can also press alt + left-click on an input or output pin to break the connection.

To edit a node, select a node, then in the Details panel, you can adjust its properties.

Select a node and in the Details panel you can adjust its properties

You can also copy and paste selected nodes and their settings. To do this, select a node (or drag a selection box around a selection of nodes) then press ctrl+c (to copy) and ctrl+v (to paste). 

To copy or paste a node select a node  then press ctrl+c to copy and ctrl+v to paste

Node Decorators and Services

You can add Decorators or Services to a node in your Behavior Tree graphs from the node context menu.

To do this, right-click a Composite or Task node, then select the Decorator or Service you want to add to the node. 

To do this right-click a Composite or Task node then select the Decorator or Service you want to add to the node

To remove a Decorator or Service from a node, select a Decorator or Service then press the Delete key or use the right-click context menu. 

To remove a Decorator or Service from a node select a Decorator or Service then press the Delete key or use the right-click context menu

To edit a Decorator or Service attached to the node, first, select the Decorator or Service, then you can adjust your desired properties in the Details panel. 

To edit a Decorator or Service attached to the node first select the Decorator or Service then you can adjust your desired properties in the Details panel

Composite Decorators that are added to a node, can be opened up for editing. 

To open a Composite Decorator, double-click a Composite Decorator to open a graph that returns a Boolean (true or false) value. 

Click image for full view

Any TaskDecorator, or Service created from the toolbar, can be opened up in Blueprint for editing.

After creating a custom TaskDecorator, or Service and adding it to your graph, double-click it to open it for editing: 

After creating a custom Task Decorator or Service and adding it to your graph double-click it to open it for editing

You can also open any custom TaskDecorator, or Service in the Content Drawer.

Double-click a custom TaskDecorator, or Service in the Content Drawer to open it in Blueprint for editing. 

Double-click a custom Task Decorator or Service in the Content Drawer to open it in Blueprint for editing

You can also copy Decorators or Services and paste them onto other nodes.

Select a Decorator or Service and press ctrl+c (to copy) and ctrl+v (to paste) onto another node. 

Select a Decorator or Service and press ctrl+c to copy and ctrl+v to paste onto another node

Help shape the future of Unreal Engine documentation! Tell us how we're doing so we can serve you better.
Take our survey
Cancel