diff --git a/data/core/macros/ai.cfg b/data/core/macros/ai.cfg
index db8e513f0f74..4aed54c43b51 100644
--- a/data/core/macros/ai.cfg
+++ b/data/core/macros/ai.cfg
@@ -375,19 +375,7 @@
 #enddef
 
 #define AI_SCALE_ATTACK_DEPTH_BY_DIFFICULTY
-    # change attack depth depending on difficulty
-#ifdef EASY
-    {AI_SIMPLE_ALWAYS_ASPECT attack_depth 3}
-#endif
-
-#ifdef NORMAL
-    {AI_SIMPLE_ALWAYS_ASPECT attack_depth 4}
-#endif
-
-#ifdef HARD
-    {AI_SIMPLE_ALWAYS_ASPECT attack_depth 5}
-#endif
-
+    #deprecated 3 1.17 The attack_depth aspect has no effect on the AI any more.
 #enddef
 
 ############################################################
diff --git a/data/core/macros/utils.cfg b/data/core/macros/utils.cfg
index 6b84d433ba52..6605bbf6ad8b 100644
--- a/data/core/macros/utils.cfg
+++ b/data/core/macros/utils.cfg
@@ -122,14 +122,11 @@
 #enddef
 
 #define ATTACK_DEPTH EASY_VALUE NORMAL_VALUE HARD_VALUE
-    # Macro to define AI attack depth for different difficulty levels
-    # (set it to 1-6)
-    {QUANTITY attack_depth {EASY_VALUE} {NORMAL_VALUE} {HARD_VALUE}}
+    #deprecated 3 1.17 The attack_depth aspect has no effect on the AI any more.
 #enddef
 
 #define ATTACK_DEPTH4 EASY_VALUE NORMAL_VALUE HARD_VALUE NIGHTMARE_VALUE
-    # Four-difficulty version of ATTACK_DEPTH
-    {QUANTITY4 attack_depth {EASY_VALUE} {NORMAL_VALUE} {HARD_VALUE} {NIGHTMARE_VALUE}}
+    #deprecated 3 1.17 The attack_depth aspect has no effect on the AI any more.
 #enddef
 
 #define NO_SCOUTS