diff --git a/src/map/lua/lua_baseentity.cpp b/src/map/lua/lua_baseentity.cpp
index 5439d84c9e3..2010a4f1473 100644
--- a/src/map/lua/lua_baseentity.cpp
+++ b/src/map/lua/lua_baseentity.cpp
@@ -16587,15 +16587,32 @@ void CLuaBaseEntity::useMobAbility(sol::variadic_args va)
     // clang-format off
     m_PBaseEntity->PAI->QueueAction(queueAction_t(0ms, true, [PTarget, skillid, PMobSkill](auto PEntity)
     {
-        if (PTarget)
+        auto mobObj = dynamic_cast<CMobEntity*>(PEntity);
+
+        // has both a valid target (specified by user and mob)
+        if (PTarget && mobObj)
         {
-            PEntity->PAI->MobSkill(PTarget->targid, skillid);
+            float currentDistance = distance(mobObj->loc.p, PTarget->loc.p);
+            if (currentDistance <= PMobSkill->getDistance())
+            {
+                PEntity->PAI->MobSkill(PTarget->targid, skillid);
+            }
         }
-        else if (dynamic_cast<CMobEntity*>(PEntity))
+        // does not have a specified target so default to current battle target
+        else if (mobObj)
         {
             if (PMobSkill->getValidTargets() & TARGET_ENEMY)
             {
-                PEntity->PAI->MobSkill(static_cast<CMobEntity*>(PEntity)->GetBattleTargetID(), skillid);
+                auto defaultTarget = mobObj->GetBattleTarget();
+                if (defaultTarget)
+                {
+                    // check distance from player or mob will use TP move and 'lock' itself
+                    float currentDistance = distance(mobObj->loc.p, defaultTarget->loc.p);
+                    if (currentDistance <= PMobSkill->getDistance())
+                    {
+                        PEntity->PAI->MobSkill(defaultTarget->targid, skillid);
+                    }
+                }
             }
             else if (PMobSkill->getValidTargets() & TARGET_SELF)
             {