[PvP Addon Guide] Focus Frames

[Boomerr]

This is a guide I wrote for my PvP focused guild a month or so ago. I figured I might as well share it with MMOwned to show what I have to offer. Try to ignore the parts that seem out of context.

Enjoy!

Focus Frames: and How to Use Them. By Boomer, for The Enclave


What Are Focus Frames?
Do you find arena impossible? Are you often in a multi-target engagement and find yourself being chain
feared or counter-spelled to no end? Do you want to start playing like you deserve the oxygen you breathe?

You sir, need to learn to use Focus Frames.

Focus frames are extraneous targeting unit frames that are used to monitor a second target in addition
to your primary target, allowing clutch focus interrupts / CCing without losing track of your primary target.

Look at the Header Image. Say this mage has betrayed the Alliance and has joined an army of invisible Horde,
and I establish him as my focus. This allows me to see when and what she is casting. In this case, I see
her casting a massive rank 1 frostbolt at me, so I spell reflect it while having myself targeted. If she
was an enemy healer, casting Holy Light on his 2v2 partner, I would know when to intercept/pummel him
without needing to have him targeted all the time.

Before BC came out, Focuses were primarily used for PVE purposes. With Arena, people started using
these as an advantage over other teams. I will explain how in this guide.

So here is the low-down: and while it may seem complicated, it really isn’t.

The Addon(s)
First, you need a focus frame addon. These addons show the actual focus frame. They come in several
shapes and sizes, and really what you use is preference. You are looking for one with focus frame capability. I will link a few.

• Blizzard-ui-like focus frame: FocusFrame (Simple, some configuration).
• My unit frames: AG Unitframes (Replaces Blizz Frames, lots of configuration).

The Focus Macro
To make use of these, you need a macro to establish a focus target.

• Type “/macro” to open up your macro window.
• Hit New, and make a new macro named “focus” and with any icon you want.
• In the macro command area, type the following:

 
/focus [target=mouseover,exists][exists]
/stopmacro [target=mouseover,exists][exists]
/clearfocus

Drag the new button out and bind it to an extra key. Mine is bound as Shift-1. When you hit this button, your
current target will also become your focus frame.

When you hit the key, it will focus whoever you have your mouse over, or if you have nobody under your mouse, it will focus your target. If you have to target, it will clear you focus frame.

Congratulations, you have a focus target macro!

What now?
Now, the general idea is to keep your focus target at bay using the abilities of your class. Below I include a few class-specific macros relevant to focus frames. If yours is not included, just try to copy what I
use as a warrior.

Each macro includes the limitation "target=focus". This means you will execute that command on your focus
without switching targets. Typically, these macros look something like this:

/cast [target=focus] Spell Name Here

For example, a rogue might use a macro such as "/cast [target=focus] Blind" to blind their focus after he trinkets out of his partner's crowd control.

Please note: Macros with [target=focus] in them do NOT switch targets to your focus, so you can
silence/counterspell/fear your focus while still on your primary target. If you want to target your focus in a
macro, remove the [target=focus] tag and add "/target Focus" to the beginning of the macro.

Class Specific Macros!
You should be able to piece together some basic macros for you class, but here are some example macros,
and macros contributed by members of my guild and MMOwned.

WARRIORS: Intercept/Intervene, Pummel, and Disarm focus macros.
Intercept on Focus or Intervene on Focus (While holding the alt key). EDIT: I have this bound as my mousewheel up key. This is absolutely vital for success as a warrior in arena, for intercepting enemy healers and timing pummels with your parnters' cooldowns.

 
#showtooltip [stance:3] Intercept; Intervene
/cast [target=focus] Intercept; 
/cast [modifier: alt, target=focus] Intervene

Pummel, Pummel Focus while holding alt key

 
/cast Pummel
/cast [modifier: alt, target=focus] Pummel

Disarm (if in defensive stance), Switch to Defensive stance (if not in defensive stance), Disarm Focus (while holding alt). EDIT: I no longer use this macro, but you get an idea of how these macros work.

 
#show Disarm
/cast [stance:2] Disarm; [nostance:2] Defensive Stance
/cast [modifier:alt, target=focus] Disarm

MAGES: Counterspell, Polymorph, and Spellsteal focus macros.
Polymorph Focus with Announcement in /bg and /p chat.

 
#show Polymorph
/cast [target=focus,harm] polymorph
/bg Polymorphing %f
/p Polymorphing  %f

Counterspell. Interrupts all casting to cast counterspell:

 
#show Counterspell
/stopcasting
/cast [target=focus,harm] Counterspell

ROGUES: Blind, Gouge, Wep Swap + Shiv, and Kick focus macros.
Swaps weapons to use shiv on focus then switches back. Tentative macro.

 
#show Shiv
/equipslot 17 YourExtraOffHand
/cast[target=focus] Shiv
/equipslot 17 YourNormalOffHand

PREISTS: Shackle (thanks to Smeems).

#showtooltip Shackle Undead

/clearfocus [modifier:alt][target=focus,dead][target=focus,help][target=focus,noexists]
/focus [target=focus,noexists]
/cast [target=focus]Shackle Undead

[aleeg91]

Nice guide mate, as a warrior i am, this is rlly nice for my 2v2 hard work, ty lets hope someone rep you

[raspberry]

+ rep

Great post

[Aradroth]

Nice job dude, I might use this on my shaman with grounding totem and earth shock etc. +rep

[Boomerr]

Glad to see you guys like it. I'll be contributing more over time. Just a busy guy.

[Thimpey]

I've been using this for a while, but I hate to have /focus macros

[Cashasty]

Nice guide mate, as a warrior i am, this is rlly nice for my 2v2 hard work, ty lets hope someone rep you

You can +Rep him too, even as a leecher.



And +Rep from me for you ofc, nice guide. I am using focus macros for long time

[Edge]

Wrong section.

This should be in: UI & Macro Discussions - MMOwned - World of Warcraft Exploits, Hacks, Bots and Guides

[Altf4]

Quite a nice guide, thanks

[aleeg91]

Some rep there for ya Boomerr

[Boomerr]

Wrong section.

This should be in: UI & Macro Discussions - MMOwned - World of Warcraft Exploits, Hacks, Bots and Guides

I didn't even realize there WAS a UI and Macro section. Thanks for pointing that out.

Mods: if you feel it should be moved, feel free.

[xkillerb]

Nice.. +rep for you..

[raddo]

nice .....

[o0o0o0]

great and useful guide +rep

[Ferag]

Good guide. You got my 2 rep.