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 a Shadow Priest (WoW MoP 5.2). On the right side, you will find links to the other parts of the guide.

This guide has been reviewed and approved by Artzie (@Artzieh), a Shadow Priest who raids in Method, and by Twintop, one of the main Shadow Priest theorycrafters, who runs Shadow Orbs and Mind Spikes and works on How To Priest.

1. Macros↑top

1.1. Generic Macros for Priests

1.1.1. Leap of Faith Mouseover Macro

• /cast [@mouseover,help,nodead][] Leap of Faith

This macro will cast Leap of Faith on the target your are currently mousing over, if it is a friendly target and not dead. Otherwise, it will cast Leap of Faith on your current target.

1.2. Specific Macros for Shadow Priests

1.2.1. Dispersion Cancelaura Macro

• #showtooltip Dispersion
• /stopcasting
• /cast Dispersion
• /cancelaura Dispersion

This macro allows you to cast Dispersion without delay, by interrupting your current cast. Clicking the macro again will then cancel your Dispersion, allowing you to once again cast spells. This is useful if you were only using Dispersion to bypass an encounter mechanics and you wish to resume your DPS immediately.

1.2.2. Mind Flay/Mind Sear Macro

MadMonk, in the comments section of this guide, recommended a macro that makes using channeled spells (most notably Mind Flay and Mind Sear) very easy. Essentially, you are able to spam your hotkey without worrying about accidentally interrupting your current channel when trying to start the new channel of the same spell. We list the macros for both spells below.

• #showtooltip Mind Flay
• /cast [nochanneling:Mind Flay] Mind Flay

• #showtooltip Mind Sear
• /cast [target=focus,exists,nochanneling:Mind Sear][nochanneling:Mind Sear]Mind Sear

Note that in the case of the second macro, we also added the target=focus component. This was suggested by Byron in the comments of this guide. This casts Mind Sear on your focus target (which in this case should be a tank or melee DPS player who is in melee range of all the adds you are trying to DPS). The usefulness of this feature is that you are able to damage all the targets that are stacked together, something which you would not be able to do if you were targeting one of the adds (Mind Sear does not damage its target, and only the enemies around the target). If you do not have a focus target, the macro will simply cast Mind Sear at your current target.

Note that if you are using the Solace and Insanity talent (which you should be in almost all situations), then the Mind Flay macro will be detrimental to you. This is because if your Devouring Plague is about to run out on the target, you must re-cast a new Mind Flay, so that this Mind Flay will continue to benefit from the damage boost even after Devouring Plague has run out. The macro does not allow you to do that (pressing it again will not cancel your current Mind Flay cast), so in this case you should either not use the macro at all, or interrupt your Mind Flay through other means (moving, canceling your cast).

2. Addons↑top

2.1. Generic Addons for Priests

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 that you 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. 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.

2.1.4. Weak Auras

WeakAuras is an extremely useful addon that allows you to have visual effects on your screen, helping you track your buffs, debuffs and cooldowns. It is highly customisable and it can make it much, much easier to keep track of your procs and play your spec more proficiently. It can also be used for a variety of other functions.

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.

A lightweight alternative to Recount is Skada Damage Meter.

2.1.6. HaloPro

HaloPro is a lightweight addon that allows you to track the range of your Halo spell, making it much easier to use optimally.

2.2. Specific Addons for Shadow Priests

2.2.1. Shadow Priest DoT Timer

Shadow Priest DoT Timer is an incredibly useful addon for Shadow Priests. In addition to displaying how long until each of your DoTs expires on the target (as well as tracking some of your buffs, such as Power Infusion), this addon also shows you how strong each application of your DoTs on the target is (based on the buffs and procs you had when you cast it) and how much stronger or weaker the DoT would be if you reapplied it with your current buffs and procs.

While this addon is not mandatory for playing properly, it certainly makes the DoT refreshing aspect much easier, and we highly recommend it.

2.2.2. AffDotsPriest

AffDotsPriest is an very useful plugin for the AffDots addon, which allows you to track your DoTs and maximise their damage. It is a good alternative to Shadow Priest DoT Timer.

3. Changelog↑top

• 08 May 2013: Added AffDotsPriest addon.
• 12 Apr. 2013: Added mention of how the Mind Flay macro interferes with Solace and Insanity, and how you can remedy the issue.
• 09 Apr. 2013: Improved the Mind Sear macro slightly, by allowing it to be cast on your current target when you do not have a focus target.
• 26 Mar. 2013: Added Mind Sear and Mind Flay macros.