how does it do it?

[master22]

how does the auto- targeting mode know how is "smart" and who is a "threat" so it can pick the right target?

[Superace]

A threat is shooting at you. Smart just has most points.

[master22]

I would think threat is: close to you in points

smart is: many points, few crashes

[Ryan Douglas]

For a complete description of all these settings and how they work, select Simulation->Settings..., then Multiplayer in the left pane, then Auto-targeting Mode in the right pane and read the text below.

[Superace]

- If Smart, the target is randomly chosen between all players above the current player in score, but extra weight is given both to the leader and to the player who most recently damaged you. If no one is above you in score, the target is randomly chosen.