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 Subtlety Rogue (WoW MoP 5.3). On the right side, you will find links to the other parts of the guide.

This guide has been reviewed and approved by Dryaan, one of the best Rogues in the world, who raids in Envy. You can watch his stream on Twitch.

1. Macros↑top

1.1. Generic Macros for Rogues

1.1.1. Tricks of the Trade

• #showtooltip
• /cast [@mouseover] Tricks of the Trade

This macro will cast Tricks of the Trade on your mouse over target.

• #showtooltip
• /cast [@focus] Tricks of the Trade

This macro will cast Tricks of the Trade at your focus. This can be useful if you prefer this over the mouseover option.

• #showtooltip
• /cast [@mouseover, help] [@focus, help] [@targettarget, help] Tricks of the Trade

This macro combines the two macros from above. Also, if you have no mouseover target and no focus, then it casts Tricks of the Trade on your target's target (who is most likely going to be the tank if you are targeting the boss).

1.1.2. Kick

• /cast [mod:ctrl,@focus] Kick; Kick

This macro casts Kick at your target. If you are pressing Control, it casts Kick at your focus, instead.

1.2. Specific Macros for Subtlety Rogues

1.2.1. Virmen's Bite and Stealth

• #showtooltip Virmen's Bite
• /use Virmen's Bite
• /cast [nocombat] Stealth

This macro will use your Virmen's Bite potion and, if you are not in combat, will cast Stealth. You can use this macro for pre-potting before a fight or for using your potion during combat.

1.2.2. Premeditation and Ambush

• #showtooltip Ambush
• /cast Premeditation
• /cast Ambush

Use this macro to cast Premeditation followed by Ambush.

1.2.3. Backstab

• #showtooltip
• /startattack
• /cast Backstab

This is useful for switching targets if you have Stop Auto Attack checked in the Interface > Combat menu (it is unchecked by default). If you do not have enough Energy to start casting Backstab, you will at least start auto-attacking.

1.2.4. Shadow Dance and On-use Trinkets

• #showtooltip Shadow Dance
• /use 13
• /use 14
• /cast Shadow Dance

This macro will attempt to use your on-use trinkets before casting Shadow Dance.

1.2.5. Shadowmeld and Ambush

• #showtooltip
• /cast Shadowmeld
• /cast Ambush

Shadowmeld, the Night Elf racial trait, enables you to cast Ambush (which makes Night Elves an excellent race for Subtlety Rogues). This macro should be cast in combat to get additional casts of Ambush and, therefore, increased uptime on Find Weakness.

1.3. Generic Addons for Rogues

1.3.1. Showing Stacks of Anticipation

When using Anticipation as your Tier 6 talent (something that you should be doing most of the time), you need something more than the default User Interface to track your stacks. Both ElvUI and Weak Auras provide ways of tracking these stacks. There are also battle text addons and addons specifically made to track Anticipation, which are available on curse.com.

1.3.2. 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.

1.3.3. 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.

1.3.4. 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.

1.3.5. 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.

1.3.6. 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.

1.3.7. 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.

1.4. Specific Addons for Subtlety Rogues

Currently, we feel that there is no need for additional addons to play a Subtlety Rogue to its full potential.

2. Changelog↑top

• 20 May 2013: Dryaan's second review of the guide: added macro for Kick.
• 19 Mar. 2013: Emphasized the fact that having a way to track stacks of Anticipation is important.
• 19 Mar. 2013: Added a third, more powerful Tricks of the Trade macro.