Addons are one of the most powerful tools available to any World of Warcraft player. They make gameplay smoother, improve awareness, and save time by automating small tasks that would otherwise distract you from the action. Over the years, I’ve tested hundreds of them — some good, some outdated, and a few that completely changed how I play.
This page lists the addons I currently use and recommend for both casual and competitive players.
Interface and Quality of Life
Bartender4
A must-have for customizing action bars. It lets you move, resize, and shape your interface exactly how you like it. Whether you’re a raider or a PvP player, having your skills organized your way makes a huge difference.
Leatrix Plus
This addon adds dozens of small but useful tweaks, such as auto-selling gray items, skipping gossip dialogues, and auto-repairing gear. It doesn’t change the game drastically but makes daily gameplay much smoother.
Bagnon
Combines all bags into a single large window. It’s cleaner, easier to sort, and lets you search for specific items in seconds. Once you use it, you’ll never want to go back to separate bag frames again.
MoveAnything
Perfect for players who like complete control over their interface. It allows you to reposition nearly every element — frames, cast bars, minimap, quest log, and more.
Combat and Raiding
Deadly Boss Mods (DBM)
Still one of the best raid tools available. DBM gives clear warnings, countdowns, and alerts for every boss mechanic. It’s ideal for both beginners and veterans.
WeakAuras
One of the most flexible and powerful addons ever made. It tracks abilities, procs, buffs, and cooldowns using custom visuals or sounds. Once you learn how to use it, it can handle almost any tracking need you can imagine.
Details! Damage Meter
Tracks your DPS, HPS, interrupts, and other performance data. It’s excellent for improving your gameplay and understanding what’s happening in your group.
GTFO
Plays a sound whenever you’re standing in something dangerous. It’s simple, funny at times, and surprisingly effective at keeping you alive.
Mythic+ and Dungeon Tools
Mythic Dungeon Tools (MDT)
A map-based planning addon that lets you see every pull, boss, and route in a dungeon. Essential for players who run keys regularly or lead groups.
Angry Keystones
Enhances the default Mythic+ interface with timer tracking, affix details, and split data for previous runs. It’s light, fast, and extremely useful for progression.
OmniCD
Displays party cooldowns in real time so you know exactly when defensive or healing abilities are ready. It’s a key addon for organized Mythic+ and raid teams.
PvP Addons
Gladius Ex
Improves arena awareness by showing enemy trinkets, cooldowns, and DR timers. It’s clean, customizable, and perfect for both beginners and advanced PvP players.
BigDebuffs
Enlarges important crowd control and debuff icons on your raid or party frames, so you can react faster in high-pressure PvP situations.
sArena
A lightweight arena frame replacement. It gives a clearer view of enemy positions and helps you track health and mana bars more efficiently.
Professions and Economy
TradeSkillMaster (TSM)
The most complete Auction House and crafting management tool. It automates pricing, posting, and material tracking. It takes time to learn but pays off in gold.
Auctionator
A simpler alternative to TSM, great for casual players who just want clear market prices and quick buying or selling.
GatherMate2
Saves every node you discover for herbs, ores, and treasures, then displays them on your map. Ideal for anyone who enjoys gathering or farming materials.
LootAppraiser
Calculates the potential value of your loot as you farm, showing live gold-per-hour results. It’s motivating and helps you track profitable runs.
Utility and Exploration
TomTom
Adds a simple navigation arrow and waypoint system. Perfect for questing, farming, or collecting achievements across large zones.
HandyNotes
Displays map notes for treasures, rares, and collectibles. Many players use it with expansion-specific plugins like HandyNotes: Dragonflight or HandyNotes: Shadowlands.
RareScanner
Alerts you when a rare mob, chest, or collectible item is nearby. It’s great for collectors and completionists.
World Quest Tracker
Improves the default world quest map, showing rewards and grouping options so you can plan your route efficiently.
How to Keep Addons Updated
Keeping addons current is essential for performance and stability. Outdated versions can cause UI errors or slow down gameplay.
I use the CurseForge App to manage updates — it automatically downloads the latest versions and keeps everything organized.
Always check after major patches, as Blizzard often changes APIs that can temporarily break certain addons.
My Personal Setup
Everyone’s interface looks different, but my philosophy is simple: clean, minimal, and functional. I keep only the addons that make gameplay smoother or more informative without cluttering the screen.
If you’re new to using addons, start with just a few essentials — DBM, Details!, WeakAuras, and Bagnon — then slowly add more as you find what works best for your playstyle.
Final Thoughts
Addons don’t play the game for you, but they make it easier to stay organized and efficient. The right setup can improve awareness, boost performance, and even make everyday activities more enjoyable.
Experiment, customize, and find what fits your needs. Whether you raid, PvP, or farm gold, addons are there to support the way you play.