All You Ever Wanted to Know About Macros

By Matticus Wednesday January 13, 2010

This is a guest post by Nightfreeze on macros.

Beginners’ Macro resources

WowWiki’s Intro to Macros
WowWiki: Howto Make a Macro
WowWiki’s useful macros for every class
EpicAdvice.com macros wiki
Spellbinder addon
GCD (Global Cooldown) explained
LUA scripting language
Macro Explain

How to build a macro

This is a brief guide that demonstrates how to make the most commonly used action-bar macros by building one up from basic to full-featured, with explanations at each step, using programming conventions designed to conserve as much of the 255 macro character limit as possible.
But first, what exactly are macros? Macros are small, simple programs* ~~written in Blizzard’s chosen scripting language, LUA~~, that solve several problems:

Every class in WoW has many more abilities than fit on the main action bar. Macros let you consolidate these abilities into single action bar buttons, and access those abilities using modifer keys (Shift, Alt, Ctrl). Using macros you can consolidate up to 24 abilities on the easy-to-reach 1-6 keys.
Macros let you combine multiple abilities so that one button push activates both, saving time. Note that this only works when no more than one of those abilities has a cast time, or is instant-cast but on the GCD (Global Cooldown).
Macros let you do other things, like calculate your tank’s avoidance in current gear, or find the Time-Lost Protodrake as you fly through Storm Peaks. (These are relatively complex and beyond the scope of this intro, though I’ve included both examples at the end for the curious.)

Step 1: Open the in-game Macro editor

Hit the Game Menu button, or press Escape to open the Game Menu.
Select Macro from the menu, and the Macro editor window will open.
Create a macro by selecting ‘New’ in the bottom right of the macro editor.
Select an icon for it. Always select the red ?. Reason for that explained below.
Name it anything you want, as long as it is not the same name as an ability. For example, don’t name your macro Shadowbolt, name it Shdwblt, or Shadow_bolt, or Macro_Shadowbolt, or something like that.
Click OK, now enter the code in the editor box. Copy and paste from one of the macros below just to see how it works.
When you’ve finished entering the code in the editor, save it by simply clicking the ‘New’ button again, or click on any other macro icons you may have. There is no ‘Save’ Button.
Drag the macro onto an action bar slot, and either click it, or use the Game Menu -> Keybindings control panel to bind a key to that action bar button (or the excellent Spellbinder addon to bypass the action bar entirely and bind that macro directly to any key, even one not on the actionbar). Test it out.

Step 2: The basic (useless) template

The most basic macro template is this:

#showtooltip /use Shadowbolt

#showtooltip makes the red ? icon turn into the Shadowbolt icon. The red ? is just a placeholder, and will display the icon of whatever #showtooltip instructs it to.

Use ‘/use’ instead of ‘/cast’ to save a character, which can add up on long macros that approach the 255 character limit.

This macro looks and works exactly the same as the Shadowbolt spell in your spellbook does. Drag it to your action bar, click it, and it fires a shadowbolt (if you’re a warlock).

Since it has no other functionality beyond the Shadowbolt spell in your spellbook, there is no point to making a macro this simple, it is only for demonstration purposes.

Step 3: The basic (useful) template

Now for a more useful template, that extends the basic one to include 4 levels of modifiers. This is what most action-bar ability macros share:

#showtooltip /use [mod:ctrl] ability 4;[mod:alt] ability 3;[mod:shift] ability 2;[nomod] ability 1

or without the [nomod] at the end, which is equally correct and saves a few characters (max is 255 characters for any macro):

#showtooltip /use [mod:ctrl] ability 4;[mod:alt] ability 3;[mod:shift] ability 2;ability 1

(there are some cases where inserting [nomod] is required, one of which is covered below. But most of the time it makes no difference, and you can leave it out to save character space)

Hold Ctrl and press this macro, and two things will happen: #showtooltipo will convert the red ? into the ability 4 icon for as long as Ctrl is held, and ability 4 will trigger.

Same with Alt and Shift. With no modifier key held, the icon for ability 1 will display on the macro, and ability 1 will trigger.

If you have mispelled an ability, or do not have it in your spellbook, the red ? will display instead of the ability’s icon, alerting you to an error in your macro.

You can make 6 macros with this basic template, and replace your spells on your 1-6 action bar, and it will allow you to access 24 abilities instead of 6 from that action bar, without using WoW’s more clunky action bar paging function.

You can further create additional macros with this template, and use the Spellbinder addon addon to bind them to any keys on your keyboard, for example those near and around your WASD or ESDF movement keys, for quick access to even more than 24 abilities.

Here is an example of a real macro, using warlock abilities. The concepts demonstrated are universally applicable to all classes:

#showtooltip /use [mod:ctrl] Bronze Drake;[mod:alt] Ritual of Summoning;[mod:shift] Summon Felguard;[nomod] Shadowbolt

Or without [nomod]:

#showtooltip /use [mod:ctrl] Bronze Drake;[mod:alt] Ritual of Summoning;[mod:shift] Summon Felguard;Shadowbolt

Ctrl + macro : displays Bronze Drake icon, and mounts you on your bronze drake
Alt + macro : displays Ritual icon, and casts Ritual
Shift + macro: displays Felguard icon, and summons Felguard
No modifiers + macro: : displays Shadowbolt icon, and casts Shadowbolt

Generally it’s best to put the lesser-used and/or the non-combat abilities with the modifier that is hardest to reach. For me, the hardest to reach modifier is Ctrl, so I put my least critical abilities, like my mount, there.

Alt is the next hardest to reach, so it gets the next least-critical abilities. Nomod is obviously easy to reach, so it gets the most critical abilities.

Any left over critical abilities I couldn’t fit into the nomod position on all my macros go with Shift, the next easiest-to-reach modifier.

Step 4: Multi-line macros

You can also make macros that cast multiple abilities with a single button push, as long as no more than one has a cast time, or is instant-cast but on the GCD (Global Cooldown).

For example, here’s an emergency Warlock macro for when the demon is killed. Warlock minions take up to 10 seconds to resummon, which can sometimes mean the difference b/t life and death (especially in PvP).

However, there is a talent in the Demonology tree called Fel Domination that reduces summoning cast time. When combined with another Demonology Talent, Master Summoner, the Warlock can ‘FelDom’ summon a demon in .5s.

This is a nice oh-shit button for Warlocks, however the lock has to hit 2 buttons to do this, and if they aren’t quick about it, the time it takes to do that can be costly. This macro combines Fel Domination and Summon Felguard into a single macro:

#showtooltip /use Fel Domination /use Summon Felguard

Instead of having to hit the Fel Domination button, and then the Summon Felguard button, the warlock can just hit this single macro to accomplish both abilities.

To add to this example, if you’re an Orc warlock, you can add the Orc racial ability Blood Fury to give your newly summoned Felguard a little more oomph for a few seconds:

#showtooltip /use Blood Fury /use Fel Domination /use Summon Felguard

This works b/c both Blood Fury and Fel Domination are instant-cast and off the GCD, meaning they can be instantly cast one right after the other.

Summon Felguard has a cast time, meaning it has to be the last line in the macro, since anything that comes after cast-time spells or GCD instant spells are ignored by the macro.

Another simple, but extremely useful for dps, example of this is the Assist Macro. It enables a dps to quickly target and focus-fire the tank’s target:

/target TankName /assist

Line 1 targets the tank (you have to edit this macro with the tank’s name for every run). Line 2 target’s the tank’s current target. Keep using it throughout the fight to make sure you stay on the tank’s target.

The only exception is if the tank has raid-marked the mobs in a kill order. In that case, follow the kill order, not the tank’s target (sometimes the tank has to briefly target another mob besides the Skull to hold aggro on the adds).

Step 5: Combine modifier and multi-line macros

Now, lets combine modifier macros and multiline macros into a single macro. Doing this can cause problems if you don’t construct it correctly. For example, there are several problems with the basic combined macro below, what do you think they may be?

#showtooltip /use Fel Domination /use [mod:ctrl] Bronze Drake;[mod:alt] Ritual of Summoning;[mod:shift] Ritual of Souls;Summon Felguard

The problem is that when you use this macro, you cast Fel Domination even when you’re holding Ctrl, Alt, or Shift. You don’t want to blow the crucial cooldown on Fel Domination when you just want to mount your drake, or summon a party, or create healthstones, only when you summon your Felguard. To fix this, you also have to add a modifier to the Fel Domination line:

#showtooltip /use [nomod] Fel Domination /use [mod:ctrl] Bronze Drake;[mod:alt] Ritual of Summoning;[mod:shift] Ritual of Souls;Summon Felguard

and/or

#showtooltip /use [nomod] Fel Domination /use [mod:ctrl] Bronze Drake;[mod:alt] Ritual of Summoning;[mod:shift] Ritual of Souls;[nomod] Summon Felguard

Both of these work correctly. The key is adding [nomod] in front of Fel Domination. Whether Summon Felguard also has [nomod] does not matter in this case. There are some rare edge cases where it does matter, but that’s beyond the scope of this intro.

However, there is another problem with this macro, albeit only an aesthetic one. The problem is that #showtooltip will now show the icon for Fel Domination instead of Summon Felguard when nomod is used. When there are multiple lines in a macro like this, #showtooltip always displays the icon of the first line. This can be fixed by copying the main line of the macro to the #showtooltip line:

#showtooltip [mod:ctrl] Bronze Drake;[mod:alt] Ritual of Summoning;[mod:shift] Ritual of Souls;[nomod] Summon Felguard /use [nomod] Fel Domination /use [mod:ctrl] Bronze Drake;[mod:alt] Ritual of Summoning;[mod:shift] Ritual of Souls;[nomod] Summon Felguard

Finally, there is one last problem. This macro will always use Fel Domination to summon a Felguard, even when you don’t need it to. In fact you want to save FelDom only for emergencies. So you can modify this macro to provide two Summon Felguard options, one with FelDom and one without:

#showtooltip /use [mod:shift] Fel Domination /use [mod:ctrl] Bronze Drake;[mod:alt] Ritual of Summoning;[mod:shift] Summon Felguard;[nomod] Summon Felguard

The above macro displays the icon for Fel Domination when Shift is held. If you prefer it to display the icon for Summon Felguard when shift is held, copy the main line of the macro to the #showtooltip line:

#showtooltip [mod:ctrl] Bronze Drake;[mod:alt] Ritual of Summoning;[mod:shift] Summon Felguard;[nomod] Summon Felguard /use [mod:shift] Fel Domination /use [mod:ctrl] Bronze Drake;[mod:alt] Ritual of Summoning;[mod:shift] Summon Felguard;[nomod] Summon Felguard

Using this macro with nomod will summon a Felguard normally, using it while holding Shift will insta-summon the minion w/ Fel Domination.

Step 6: Target modifier macros

You can also create macros that cast a spell on a specific target. We’ll use a Pally healing spell to demonstrate.

This casts Flash of Light on the current target:

#showtooltip /use Flash of Light

This casts Flash of Light on yourself (if you’re a pally), even if you have another player currently targeted:

#showtooltip /use [target=player] Flash of Light

This casts Flash of Light on your focus, even if you have someone else targetted:

#showtooltip /use [target=focus] Flash of Light

This casts Flash of Light on whoever your game cursor is hovering over (the mouseover target), even if you have someone else targeted:

#showtooltip /use [target=mouseover] Flash of Light

You can combine all into a single macro with modifiers:

#showtooltip /use [mod:ctrl,target=player] Flash of Light;[mod:alt,target=focus] Flash of Light;[mod:shift,target=mouseover] Flash of Light;[nomod] Flash of Light

Step 7: Other examples

1. For DK tanks, our highest single-target threat ability is Rune Strike. However, Rune Strike does not work like most other strikes. It only becomes available to be cast after the DK has dodged or parried an attack, and clicking the Rune Strike button does not cause it to hit right away, but on your next melee strike.

Macro-deficient DK’s just put this ability on a action bar somewhere and try to keep an eye on it and hit every time it procs. But macros make using this ability every time it procs much easier. Just macro Rune Strike into every combat ability macro. Since you’re spamming these constantly throughout the fight, you’ll always activate Rune Strike whenever it procs:

#showtooltip [mod:ctrl] ability 4;[mod:alt] ability 3;[mod:shift] ability 2;[nomod] Obliterate /use [nomod] !Rune Strike /use [mod:ctrl] ability 4;[mod:alt] ability 3;[mod:shift] ability 2;[nomod] Obliterate

#showtooltip [mod:ctrl] ability 4;[mod:alt] ability 3;[mod:shift] ability 2;[nomod] Death Strike /use [nomod] !Rune Strike /use [mod:ctrl] ability 4;[mod:alt] ability 3;[mod:shift] ability 2;[nomod] Death Strike

#showtooltip [mod:ctrl] ability 4;[mod:alt] ability 3;[mod:shift] ability 2;[nomod] Blood Strike /use [nomod] !Rune Strike /use [mod:ctrl] ability 4;[mod:alt] ability 3;[mod:shift] ability 2;[nomod] Blood Strike

#showtooltip [mod:ctrl] ability 4;[mod:alt] ability 3;[mod:shift] ability 2;[nomod] Heart Strike /use [nomod] !Rune Strike /use [mod:ctrl] ability 4;[mod:alt] ability 3;[mod:shift] ability 2;[nomod] Heart Strike

#showtooltip [mod:ctrl] ability 4;[mod:alt] ability 3;[mod:shift] ability 2;[nomod] Scourge Strike /use [nomod] !Rune Strike /use [mod:ctrl] ability 4;[mod:alt] ability 3;[mod:shift] ability 2;[nomod] Scourge Strike

Why is the ! used? When Rune Strike procs, if you hit the Rune Strike button to cast it, it does not instantly cast but waits till your next melee strike to cast. However, if you accidentally hit the Rune Strike button again b/f your next melee strike, it will deactivate Rune Strike and you may miss the proc. Adding the !Rune Strike instructs the game to ignore the button press if Rune Strike is already activated and just waiting on the next melee hit, so it won’t be accidentally deactivated.

Having said that, this may have been changed by a recent patch, and the ! is no longer needed for these kind of abilities. However I haven’t tested that myself yet, don’t know for sure, and still use !Rune Strike.

2. One final example of multi-line macro, is my DK Blood tank oh-shit button. When I take big damage spikes, this macro buffs my self-healing with Vampiric Blood and then uses a Runic Healing Potion. I follow up with a Rune Tap and Death Strike. This can usually get me from 20% hp to 80% in a few GCDs, and is one of the few tanking abilities in the game able to mitigate spike dmg after it happens:

#showtooltip /use [mod:ctrl] whatever;[mod:alt] whatever;[mod:shift] whatever;[nomod] Vampiric Blood /use [nomod] Runic Healing Potion

Step 8: Advanced Macros & Scripts

Here are several examples of more advanced macros. These are actually scripts, rather than macros, and are more complex than the prior examples. If you’re interested in learning more, I suggest starting at WoWwiki’s macro page. EpicAdvice.com also has a good thread on macro resources.

1. Trying for Ruby + Emerald Void in Occulus and need a macro that helps your group time your timestops? Hit this one a the start of the fight:

/in 12 /rw Timestop #1 NAME1 /in 27 /rw Timestop #2 NAME2 /in 42 /rw Timestop #3 NAME3 /in 57 /rw Timestop #4 NAME4 /in 72 /rw Timestop #5 NAME5 /in 87 /rw Timestop #6 NAME1 /in 102 /rw Timestop #7 NAME2 /in 117 /rw Timestop #8 NAME3

2. Are you a tank and need to know what your total avoidance is? These macros will query your stats and tell you:

DK: /run ChatFrame1:AddMessage(format("Avoidance with Stoneskin Gargoyle: %.2f%%", GetDodgeChance() + GetParryChance() + 6 + 1/(0.0625 + 0.956/(floor(GetCombatRatingBonus(CR_DEFENSE_SKILL))*0.04))))

Druid: /run ChatFrame1:AddMessage(format("Total avoidance: %.2f%%", GetDodgeChance() + 5 + 1/(0.0625 + 0.956/(GetCombatRating(CR_DEFENSE_SKILL)/4.91850*0.04))))

Pally: /run ChatFrame1:AddMessage(format("Total avoidance: %.2f%%", GetDodgeChance() + GetParryChance() + 5 + 1/(0.0625 + 0.956/(GetCombatRating(CR_DEFENSE_SKILL)/4.91850*0.04))))

War: /run ChatFrame1:AddMessage(format("Total avoidance: %.2f%%", GetDodgeChance() + GetParryChance() + 5 + 1/(0.0625 + 0.956/(GetCombatRating(CR_DEFENSE_SKILL)/4.91850*0.04))))

Find the TLPD:

/tar Dirkee /tar Vyra /tar Time /stopmacro [noexists] /w Your Name %t Is watching you! /run RaidNotice_AddMessage(RaidBossEmoteFrame,"THERE IT IS! KILL IT!", ChatTypeInfo["RAID_WARNING"]) /script PlaySoundFile("Sound\\interface\\RaidWarning.wav")

Many more at WoWwiki’s Macro pages.

Summary

Create multilevel ability macros with modifiers:

#showtooltip /use [mod:ctrl] ability 4;[mod:alt] ability 3;[mod:shift] ability 2;[nomod] ability 1

Cast more than one ability at a time with multi-line, multilevel macros, as long as no more than one has a cast time, or is instant-cast but on the GCD. The cast-time or GCD ability must be on the last line of the macro, since everything after that ability is ignored:

#showtooltip /use [mod:shift] non-GCD ability 1;[nomod] non-GCD ability 2 /use [mod:shift] non-GCD ability 3;[nomod] non-GCD ability 4 /use [mod:ctrl] GCD ability 4;[mod:alt] GCD ability 3;[mod:shift] GCD ability 2;[nomod] GCD ability 1

Copy the last line after #showtooltip to display the icons for the main abilities used in the addon:

#showtooltip [mod:ctrl] GCD ability 4;[mod:alt] GCD ability 3;[mod:shift] GCD ability 2;[nomod] GCD ability 1 /use [mod:shift] non-GCD ability 1;[nomod] non-GCD ability 2 /use [mod:shift] non-GCD ability 3;[nomod] non-GCD ability 4 /use [mod:ctrl] GCD ability 4;[mod:alt] GCD ability 3;[mod:shift] GCD ability 2;[nomod] GCD ability 1

*Macros are technically not programs at all, since they cannot run on their own, can only be run inside Warcraft. Which is why they’re called macros instead of programs.

43 Comments

Zusterke on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Extensive post! nice.

“Step 6: Target modifier macro” – it might be a good idea to mention the newly introduced ‘shortcuts’ for these targets:
target=player
target=mouseover
target=target
can be replaced by:
@player
@mouseover
@target
Ripdog on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Just a little correction – macros are NOT LUA. LUA is a full scripting language, with variables, logic and the like. Macros have a kinda-almost subset of logic and no variables, as well as a host of other deliberate limitations. However, these limitations make macros very easy to write.

an example of LUA code, courtesy of the version of AzCastBar lingering in my addons dir:
– Format time as it is shown on the CastBar
function core.FormatTime(sec,ext)
if (abs(sec) <= 60) then
return (ext and "%.2f" or "%.1f"):format(sec);
else
return ("%d:%.2d"):format(sec / 60,abs(sec) % 60);
end
end

TL;DR: Macros are /commands, LUA is stuff like above.
Ben on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

thought i’d add a couple more tips, since this is “all you ever wanted to know” :)

Another useful thing to do with macros is a castsequence for leveling. Some classes have a pretty standard set of things they do every 1v1 pull, like on my dk:
/castsequence [reset=combat] Icy Touch, Plague Strike Death Strike, Blood Strike, Blood Strike, Death Coil
or something like that. actually i may have put the coil at the start, since its ranged and i’d usually have rp from the previous fight. this just makes it so you can cast all of your abilities by hitting the same key over and over, instead of moving all over your keyboard.

another important thing for leveling hunters is that you can have your own ability, with a gcd, in the same macro as a pet ability, eg:
/startaattack
/petattack
/cast Hunter’s Mark
so that you don’t have to tell your pet to attack separately

and even tho u went over mouseovers and focus macros, i just thought it would be worth mentioning:
you can use these on enemies too!
mouseovers can be very useful with cc abilities, or when u want to throw dots on other mobs without changing your main target. same goes for focus macros, eg u can purge nether powers off jaraxxus, your focus, while still targeting an add.
camo on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Wow awesome post!
A pretty cool site for testing and/or explaning macros is http://www.macroexplain.com.
You just need to paste your macro and it’s checked if it’s possible to build your macro that way including gcd check and ability link.
Gethe on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

The ! before Rune Strike is no longer required. I have watched this on my own DK and Rune Strike does not reset if you do not have !.
Matticus on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Ripdog: Thanks! Made a quick correction to that fact.
Tebla on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Well, there goes another Idea I put into my AS application :)

Good guide, though.
KAP on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Awesome Matt. Thanks so mcuh.
Fert on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

I use alot of /tar chain macros for raiding, such as:
/tar Lord
/tar Mistress
/tar Felflame

This is my Lord Jaraxxus easy mode script, I use a separate one for the portals when doing hard mode because otherwise it is always targeting dead portals/mistresses. Is there a way to add a check where it will only target the next line if the current target is dead?
Fert´s last blog ..The Stash of the Week
Taryble on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Fert, just add

/stopmacro [nodead]

after each /tar line.
Fert on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Nice! I will try this tonight with my Putricide macro.
Fert´s last blog ..The Stash of the Week
Scouris on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Don’t you need an extra addon for the /in 5 do_this macro?
Nightfreeze on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

@Zusterke: Thanks, that saves even more characters.

@RipDog: Thanks for the clarification. Would it be correct to have said that macros use a small subset of Blizzard’s chosen scripting language, LUA? That’s the gist of what I meant.

@Ben: Yeah I love that hunter macro, which I used alot on my old BC main hunter. That’s a perfect example of multiple abilities in a single macro, thanks for including it.

Regarding /castsequence macros, I hesitate to recommend them, especially to people new to macros, b/c I’ve seen dps who leveled with them become too reliant on them in end-game pve, and suffering tunnel vision, lack of adaptability, less thorough class knowledge as a result. What do you guys think?

Great site Camo, thanks. Matticus, can you add that to the Beginners’ Resources list of links at the beginning if you get a chance?

@Gethe: thanks for checking and posting, noted for future posts on the topic.

@Scouris: if you do need an extra addon for the /in 5 do_this macro, I’m not aware of it, and only have it installed accidentally. None is mentioned in the Wowhead post where I originally found that macro, and I didn’t download and install anything to make it work. It might be that at some point in the past an addon was required, but a patch added the functionality to WoW and made it uneccessary.
Windsoar on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Nice beginner’s guide. While many a forum dedicates a special place to the long-winded macro thread, having a basic understanding of what some basic macros do can really help a player formulate his or her own game-plan.

The only thing I really felt was missing was a overview of how to /use [items]–while you showed one macro that utilized healing pots in an all ditch effort–I think the trinket macro as a “beginner’s” helper would have been appropriate, either as a stand-alone or incorporated into the infamous *omg, blow the torpedos* dps/healing/tank macro.

Thanks again.
Windsoar´s last blog ..Healers Advantage
Matticus on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Nightfreeze: Added the link as you requested.

Windsoar: It wouldn’t do to put all macro tips and tricks into one post, would it? This allows Nightfreeze to set us up with a part 2! :D
Nightfreeze on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

That Matticus, and good idea. Will base the next one on suggestions people make in this thread, stuff they felt was missing, so feel free to add.

My objective in writing this one was to teach clickers how to make and use action-bar macros in as approachable and unintimidating way as possible. Part 2 should have the same primary objective, but covering whatever I missed with this first one.
Ben on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

@Nightfreeze

I think those are just properties of those people :D i did my dk from 68->80 pretty much using a macro, and i didn’t feel i had any trouble when i hit 80. tho that was my 3rd 80 so i may not be a good example. i definitely had tunnelvision on my mage, my first 80, where i used this macro:
/castsequence Frostbolt, Frostbolt, Frostbolt, Frostbolt, Frostbolt, Frostbolt, Frostbolt, Frostbolt, Frostbolt, Frostbolt, Frostbolt, Frostbolt, Frostbolt….
jk :) so yeah i think tunnelvision is just a property of all fresh 80s, but when you know they used a castsequence you have something to blame it on
Aloix on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Nice post, I like macros and am always looking to incorporate more into my keybinds/abilities.

One suggestion, on the assist macro – yes, I definitely think ALL DPS should use one. However, using a specific tank name can get tedious, as it means frequently manually editing it.
What I prefer to do in most cases is setting the tank as my focus, and then using an assist focus macro. the most simple one is obviously /assist focus.
However, a more accurate one is /target [target=focustarget, harm, nodead]
or I suppose /target [@focustarget, harm, nodead] would work as per the first comment.
The only time this doesn’t work is in Oculus, in which case I manually edit it, adding an /assist TankName and /assist Drake to it, and then deleting that bit after leaving the dungeon.
Wynthea on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Brilliant. One of the best, clearest, most concise and yet useful intro-to-macro posts ever. I hope you write a follow up!
Nightfreeze on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

@Aloix: Thx Aloix, I use the focustarget macro too, just wasn’t sure about including that in an intro post for clickers. I’ll include it in part 2 though.

@Wyn: Thx Wyn, much appreciated. Working on a followup, taking suggestions & wish lists. :)
Maritime on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

I recommend against using a tank as an assist target. You never know when a tank is going to have to switch targets to throw out a taunt or stun. In our guild we set a specify a DPS, usually the marking hunter, as the main assist.
The Frozen Gnome » Blog Archive » The Daily Quest: Mack rows

[...] If you want to know everything there ever was to know about macros, Matticus made a post over at NoStockUI concerning that very subject. [...]
The Daily Quest: Mack rows « Sto « Best Mmorpgs Blog

[...] If you want to know everything there ever was to know about macros, Matticus made a post over at NoStockUI concerning that very subject. [...]
Aloix on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

@ Maritime – Good point. However, it’s situation dependent. Not all guilds use a main assist.
And regardless, as with everything, brain engagement is required. One must consider if one is in a PuG 5man, or a raid? Is there a kill order? Is the tank an ‘AOE-type’ tank?
The best thing is to use some sort of assist macro, and may be combined with simply tab or click targeting in some content.
The point of it all simply is to make sure you target/attack the right thing in the quickest way possible.
Windsoar on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

@Matticus
No need to entice me back ^^ I’ll look forward to it nonetheless.
Windsoar´s last blog ..Healers Advantage
The Daily Quest: Mack rows | zacsgames.com

[...] If you want to know everything there ever was to know about macros, Matticus made a post over at NoStockUI concerning that very subject. [...]
Greevil on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

I tried using the time stop macro in Oc last night and as far as i can tell there isn’t any way to add macros to the vehicle bar that the drakes have. is there a unlock setting somewhere?
another guy on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

As of patch 3.3, you can no longer use the RAID_WARNING channel unless you are in a raid. If you are in a party, but not a raid, it will throw an error.

Then again, if nobody is doing a quest you can convert your party to a raid… My guess (untested) is that if you use the Dungeon Queue tool you can’t convert to raid. If you are trying to do heroic achievements, you’re probably not PuGing, so the only downside is that you’ll have to fly to the instance which is so 2009!
gnarf on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Instead of linking to the wiki post about macro references, could you maybe link to http://epicadvice.com/questions/tagged/macro – its a much more useful link :)
Matticus on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Updated and fixed gnarf. Thanks!
Nightfreeze on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

@Greevil: Try enabling your other action bars and putting the macro on one of those instead? Escape -> Interface -> Action Bars -> check the additional ones to enable them. Or try a bar mod like Bartender or Dominos.

@another guy: Thx, wish Bliz hadn’t made that change, rw was useful even in 5mans. Haven’t testing doing a 5man as a raid group though.
Direbane on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

First, thanks for this great introduction to the World of Macros. An excellent read, if even as a refresher for someone already acquainted with macro creation.

I would like to illustrate one issue I found with your article, if I may.

You recommended (and linked to) an AddOn called “Spellbinder.” An AddOn that facilitates the keybinding of macros without having to assign an action bar slot to said macro. I was surprised when I compared the date of this article to the date on which the AddOn you recommended was most recently updated.

I’m curious to know why you recommended an AddOn that hasn’t been updated in over a year in an article that was written less than a week ago?

It may be that this AddOn still functions as advertised, however in the time since that AddOn was most recently updated much has changed about the way macros are written (Deprecated commands, restructured API, new modifiers, variables, qualifiers, etc.).

I would think it best to recommend an AddOn that is routinely maintained to ensure that it’s functionality and framework are as close as possible to the current methodology of macro creation and use.

To that end, I would like to suggest an AddOn called “BindPad,” which may be found at the following address:

http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info6385-BindPad-GUItosetkeybindingsforspellitemmacro.html

Thanks again for the time you put into your article, it was a nice refresher course for me.

Please understand that the intent of my comment is only to further enhance the usefulness of your article and I hope that I have in no way insinuated any hostility towards you, your readers, or the author of the “Spellbinder” AddOn.

Also know that I am neither the author of the two AddOns referenced in this article, nor am I in any way affiliated with their authors or the respective websites on which they’re hosted.

Direbane.
Qi on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Late-whine (only just had time to read this): at some point you tell us to make this one:
#showtooltip [mod:ctrl] Bronze Drake;[mod:alt] Ritual of Summoning;[mod:shift] Summon Felguard;[nomod] Summon Felguard
/use [mod:shift] Fel Domination
/use [mod:ctrl] Bronze Drake;[mod:alt] Ritual of Summoning;[mod:shift] Summon Felguard;[nomod] Summon Felguard

Which is just over 255 characters, and is, in standard game layout without added mods, impossible to my knowledge. You would need a mod like Macaroon to make this possible. Since you say you want to keep within this 255, that macro (and prolly others in the article, didn’t count them) are too large for standard setup. Make part2 of this article include a solution for that ;-)

Very good article nonetheless, some new stuff in it I didn’t know!
Nightfreeze on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Oops, thx for catching that Qi. Alot of times I write macros in a text-editor first, then copy and paste them into the game (easier to see and catch typos). I did that for this article, but didn’t test it in game since I’ve used plenty of variations on different toons and knew it works, and forgot to word count that one.

In cases where your macro turns out too long, you usually have to chop out parts that aren’t necessary, like [nomod]. Chopping out one or both [nomod]‘s in the macro you refer to would shorten it enough:

#showtooltip [mod:ctrl] Bronze Drake;[mod:alt] Ritual of Summoning;[mod:shift] Summon Felguard;Summon Felguard
/use [mod:shift] Fel Domination
/use [mod:ctrl] Bronze Drake;[mod:alt] Ritual of Summoning;[mod:shift] Summon Felguard;Summon Felguard

Sometimes you also have to make compromises to squeeze it all in, like leaving out the long #showtooltip qualifier and just dealing with the wrong icon showing. At least the functionality is still there:

#showtooltip
/use [mod:shift] Fel Domination
/use [mod:ctrl] Bronze Drake;[mod:alt] Ritual of Summoning;[mod:shift] Summon Felguard;Summon Felguard
Qi on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Yup, true. But I am working on something more ambitious atm ;-) Try this on for size:
#showtooltip
/use [mod:ctrl,nostance]Inner Fire;[mod:ctrl,stance,@focus]Vampiric Touch;[mod:alt]Fear Ward;[mod:shift,nostance,@mouseover,help][mod:shift,nostance,help][mod:shift,nostance]Binding Heal;[mod:shift,stance]Dispersion;[nomod,nostance,@mouseover,help][nomod,nostance,help][nomod,nostance]Flash Heal;[nomod,stance]Vampiric Touch

Note: I haven’t tested it yet so it’s probably not correct, but I’m pretty sure I will get it working in some way. The hardest part is that for all the instances of the [help] function I want to have (cast @mouseover, @target and @player, but you don’t have to name those) I have to repeat every setting again which makes them too long very fast. This is something I found before and I am trying to use your article to make them into what I actually wanted, but I hope I can find a way of shortening them…
Qi on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

See here: http://plusheal.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4591 for the research I have done on the subject so far in the past ;-)
Go Read Something Good! « Jaded Alt

[...] All You Ever Wanted to Know about Macros–Yes, I still sucky at macros, but this one is a pretty good all-around look at how macros work and their flexibility and limitations. Worth a read if you want anything more complicated than /tar bad stuff. A la No Stock UI. [...]
Zuktaw on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

I’ve been looking high & low for a macro to make Force of Nature useable.
I want to click a button or key & have my treants spawn. They can spawn near me, in front of me, whatever…I don’t care.

They’re not volley or blizzard (?) I don’t need to put them where they’ll be attacking, they’ll get there shortly.

I’m not the only one, but folks do disagree with me =D
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=22418639323&postId=233057336240&sid=1#10

Any ideas?
derp on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

You need to have Ace if you want to use /in.

Just thought I’d point that out.
FertZane on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

@FertZane (Yes, I am replying to myself) I have since found and addon, TargetForMe, that is a single rotating macro that changes based on what boss you are fighting. You can also change the macro and it will be the same when you come back to that boss the next time, good for customizing your macro for your particular needs.
FertZane´s last blog ..The Stash of the Week
Daily Links 7. May 2010 « My Workstation Blog

[...] All You Ever Wanted to Know About Macros | No Stock UI [...]
Audio Interconnect Cables on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Once perfect article. find that kind of information reading simply by groundwork for a client, and consistently looking for.
Empoe on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

I personal find a solid oh shit macro. For my lock is a simple two click cast macro. It heals you for about 22k Hp or so. yes it does seem bloated. I could not find a better way to make it work. Due to the gcd. If a better way is out there I would love to read about it.

/cast demon armor
/cast death coil
/cast Runic healing potion
/cast Health stone.