What’s a Macro you ask?
Macros are scripts that allow several actions to be customized into one button that can be used just like an ability or spell. So if you can easily use 2 or 3 commands with one button. You can even change from one set of armor to another in your bags…with just one button, plus more. There’s a lot of really cool things you can do with macros
They save a lot of time, and make it possible for you to multi-task while you’re in battle. Ever wondered how that one guy could be killing a mob and chatting at the same time…he was probably using a macro.
How do I Make a Macro?
Creating Macros is pretty easy. Once you do one, you’ll get the hang of it. Macros have their own screen, so access it by typing /macro or /m or by clicking on the computer in the lower section of your screen, and then clicking on the Macros Button. You can also get there by pressing Esc and then hitting the Macros Button. I prefer clicking on the computer(the same one as when you logout).
At the Bottom of the Macros Screen click New, and a window will appear on the right, this will be your Macro’s Icon. So try to pick something that will help you think of what you’re putting on it.
Then Name it at the top, again name it something that will remind you of it. Use abbreviations if possible, it’ll only show so much of your name on the icon. Click the Okay Button, and the icon has been created.
Next you’ll need to add Macro Script in the Macro Command Area and you’ll have your Macro. Make sure if you’re putting in an ability or spell that it is spelled exactly how it is in your spellbook. The easiest way to do this is to open your spell book and Shift Click the spell/ability you want to go into the macro.
You can do more than use abilities and spells with your macros. Equiping an item or using an item can be acheived as well. Once again your items must be spelled exactly as they appear, Shift Clicking will save lots of headache. If you’re attempting a macro with an item that has a “use” effect like a trinket, the macro will automatically equip it if it’s not already equiped.
/use inventory slot will let you use an item that you have equiped. Trinkets are the most common for this, slots 13 and 14. For Instance you could use a trinket in your macro by using /use 14.
You can also do this with items that are in your bag. Each bag in your “bag slots” is identified by 4,3,2,1, and 0 from left to right. 0 being your backpack. Each slot in your bag also has a number 1-16 or more. Starting in the upper left 1,2,3,4 on the first row 5,6,7,8 on the second row and so on. When you type in two numbers seperated by a space you’re telling the macro to use bag X spot Y. For example /use 0 16 could be your favorite trinket, food, water or whatever in your backpack bottom right corner.
A macro can also equip an item by name. Shift Click for the best results as they must be spelled exactly in all Macros. /equip will put an item into its default spot. Or if it’s a ring or trinket, just like in the game when you try to right click two different rings in your back, they’ll equip to the same finger and only one will be there. Macros simplify this process by using the slot number to identify where it needs to go. So /equip slot 12 Ring of Saviors, and your ring will be placed on finger 2.
What are the Slots?
So you’re ready to use a macro to equip an item and you need to know where to equip it. Below is the list of the Number and the Slot which it represents.
0 = ammo
1 = head
2 = neck
3 = shoulder
4 = shirt
5 = chest
6 = belt
7 = legs
8 = feet
9 = wrist
10 = gloves
11 = finger 1
12 = finger 2
13 = trinket 1
14 = trinket 2
15 = back
16 = main hand
17 = off hand
18 = ranged
19 = tabard
Double check the list to make sure you get it right, at first glance it seems like they’re in some sort of easy to understand organization, haha. That’s just not the case.
What about Spells & Abilities?
Just like with every other macro, exact spelling is key. I really hope you’re getting the idea to Shift Click them. Ok keeping it simple a spell can be cast using /cast spell name. /cast Fireball will shoot a Mage’s Fireball. The macro will automatically pick up the highest rank that you have for it.
If you’re using a spell between for cooldown time that is an “auto shot” you must stop the spell with /stopcasting. You DO NOT have to have the name of the spell here, just /stopcasting.
So you might be using…
/use wand
/stopcasting
/cast Fireball
And that’s the just of setting up macros. It may seem a little confusing at first, but all we do is open up the macros window, choose an icon, and place some script on it to let it know what it should do. So hopefully if you’re not using macros yet, this will get you started.
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