protected void checkAndPerformAttack() {
        if (this.entity.position().distanceTo(new Vec3(this.entity.getTarget().getX(), this.entity.getTarget().getY(), this.entity.getTarget().getZ())) < this.entity.getBbWidth()+this.entity.getTarget().getBbWidth() && this.ticksUntilNextAttack <= 0) {
            if(entity != null) {
                entity.setAttacking(true);
            }
        } else entity.setAttacking(false);
    }

    @Override
    public void tick() {
        super.tick();
        checkAndPerformAttack();
        if(entity.isAttacking()) {
            animCounter++;

            if(animCounter >= animTickLength) {
                /**you can add a second timer to damage at a specific time if you want to**/
                entity.getTarget().hurt(DamageSource.mobAttack(this.entity), (float) this.entity.getAttributeBaseValue(Attributes.ATTACK_DAMAGE));
                animCounter = 0;
                entity.setAttacking(false);
            }
        }
        this.ticksUntilNextAttack = Math.max(this.ticksUntilNextAttack - 1, 0);
    }