Macros and addons are an integral part of a raider's arsenal as they can make it easier to perform a variety of tasks, improving your overall game experience. Below, we present macros and addons that can be useful to an Arcane Mage (WoW 4.3). On the left side, you will find links to the other parts of the guide.

1. Macros↑top

1.1. Generic Macros for Mages

1.1.1. Counterspell

• #showtooltip
• /stopcasting
• /cast [@focus,exists][@target] Counterspell

This macro casts Counterspell at your focus, if you have one. Otherwise, Counterspell is cast at your current target.

1.1.2. Spellsteal

• #showtooltip
• /stopcasting
• /cast [@focus,exists][@target] Spellsteal

This macro for Spellsteal works in the same way as the above macro for Counterspell.

1.1.3. Blink

• #showtooltip
• /stopcasting
• /cast Blink

This macro will cancel your current spell cast and make you blink away. This saves you the trouble (and the time!) of interrupting your spell cast manually.

1.1.4. Ice Block

• #showtooltip
• /stopcasting
• /cancelaura Ice Block
• /cast Ice Block

This macro will cast Ice Block. Using the macro again will cancel the spell.

1.1.5. Slow Fall

• #showtooltip
• /cast [@mouseover,nodead,help][nodead,help][@player] Slow Fall

This macro for Slow Fall is very useful. If you are hovering over a party member (be it on the raid frames or on their actual character) it will cast Slow Fall on them. Otherwise, it casts it on your target, if it is friendly. If your focus and your target are not friendly party members, then the macro casts Slow Fall on you.

1.1.6. Polymorph

• #showtooltip Polymorph
• /clearfocus [modifier:alt]
• /focus [@focus,noexists]
• /clearfocus [@focus,help][@focus,noharm]
• /stopcasting
• /stopmacro [@target,noharm]
• /cast [@focus,exists,harm][@target] Polymorph
• /y Casting Polymorph on %F

This macro casts Polymorph on your focus or your current target. The first time you use this macro, the focus is set on your current target (if it is an enemy). Subsequent uses of the macro will keep casting Polymorph on your focus, unless you press alt (or whatever modifier you specify in the second line of the macro), in which case, the macro will set the focus on your current target before casting Polymorph on it.

To sum it up, use the macro to keep your assignment sheeped and press alt while using the macro to sheep a new enemy.

Note that this macro will slightly interfere with the Counterspell and Spellsteal macros given earlier. If you try to use one of these two macros, it will result in the spell being cast on your sheeped target (which is your current focus). In such cases, use a simpler macro for Counterspell and Spellsteal that casts the spells at your current target.

1.2. Specific Macros for Arcane Mages

1.2.1. Presence of Mind

• #showtooltip Arcane Blast
• /script UIErrorsFrame:Hide()
• /cast Presence of Mind
• /script UIErrorsFrame:Clear()
• /script UIErrorsFrame:Show()
• /cast Arcane Blast

Presence of Mind is a decent DPS cooldown, especially since it triggers Arcane Potency. Because it cannot be used when Arcane Power is active, it loses a bit of its appeal. The above macro should be used as your main way of casting Arcane Blast so that every time you use it, it tries to cast Presence of Mind. The UIErrorsFrame functions are used to hide the error messages that would appear if Presence of Mind is on cooldown; we also advise you to disable the error sounds from the Sound options.

1.2.2. Arcane Power and Mirror Image

• #showtooltip Arcane Power
• /castsequence reset=5 Arcane Power, Arcane Blast, Mirror Image, Arcane Blast

Many would be tempted to make a simple macro that chains /cast Arcane Power, /cast Mirror Image, and /cast Arcane Blast. Unfortunately, this is currently broken as in such a macro, Mirror Image would sometimes trigger the Global Cooldown (despite not being supposed to because of Glyph of Arcane Power) and Arcane Blast would not be cast.

Because of /castsequence, the macro we propose (and which was suggested by one of our readers) must be used several times in a row. The first time, it casts Arcane Power, the second time Arcane Blast, the third time Mirror Image, and the fourth time Arcane Blast (again). The idea is to simply spam the macro until these 4 actions have been triggered, after which spamming Arcane Blast can be resumed.

reset=5 means that 5 seconds after the first use of the macro, it will reset to casting Arcane Power. A /castsequence also resets when it encounters a spell that is on cooldown. The macro could be made to cast Arcane Power, followed by Mirror Image, followed by Arcane Blast, but when Mirror Image is on cooldown, it would not cast Arcane Blast.

Naturally, it is advised to add /use 13, /use 14 (for your on-use trinkets), /use Mana Gem, and/or /use Volcanic Potion before the /castsequence command.

1.2.3. Conjure Mana Gem and Presence of Mind

• #showtooltip Conjure Mana Gem
• /castsequence reset=2, Presence of Mind, Conjure Mana Gem

Double clicking/using this macro will cause Presence of Mind to grant you an instant cast Conjure Mana Gem. This is especially useful in long fights where you have to reconjure a new Mana Gem. Note that if you are using the macro from the previous section, Presence of Mind will almost always be on cooldown.

2. Addons↑top

2.1. Generic Addons for Mages

2.1.1. ElvUI

Here, at Icy Veins, we use ElvUI for all our characters. This addon is a complete replacement of the default User Interface. It comes with almost everything you need to perform properly: action bars, cooldown timers, proc display, etc.

We strongly recommend you to get this addon.

2.1.2. Boss Mods: Deadly Boss Mods or Bigwigs

Boss mods are addons that warn you about boss abilities and give you live advice on how to handle some mechanics. We strongly recommend you to get one such addon. At Icy Veins, we mostly use Deadly Boss Mods, the most popular boss mod. A good alternative is Big Wigs.

2.1.3. Omen Threat Meter

Omen Threat Meter is the most popular addon for displaying the current threat levels on your target. We recommend you to use it to avoid taking aggro when the tank is still building up threat on an enemy.

2.1.4. Parrot or Mik's Scrolling Battle Text

Parrot and Mik's Scrolling Battle Text are highly customisable addons for displaying floating battle text while in combat (incoming heals, damage of your spells, etc.). They both work very well by default.

2.1.5. Recount

Recount is a well known addon that most people use for displaying current DPS or HPS (Healing Per Second). We advise you to also use it for checking what you take damage from and if the share of damage/healing you do with each of your abilities is similar to that of other players of your class.

2.1.6. Grid and GridClickSets (Optional)

ElvUI comes with decent raid frames. The only real reason for using Grid and GridClickSets is if you want to be able to decurse raid or party members by right clicking their frame in the raid of party frame. If you choose to go with Grid, then you might want to also use GridStatusRaidDebuff.

2.1.7. Extra Addons

While the aforementioned addons are enough to play decently, you might want to check out two other addons:

• Coolline Cooldowns is an addon that displays the remaining time on your cooldown in a very intuitive manner;
• Mage Nuggets provides various utilities that mages will find useful during combat.

2.2. Specific Addons for Arcane Mages

2.2.1. Mage Mana Bar

Mage Mana Bar is an addon that many players find useful for keeping track of their Burn and Preservation Phases when playing an Arcane Mage.

Currently, we feel that there is no need for additional addons to play an Arcane Mage to its full potential.