Wastrels guide to Crowd Control Macros.

[Wastrel]

On this edition of "Wastrel's guide" we examine Crowd Control and the tricks and macros to make using it easier.

Mage, hunter, Priest, Rogue, it doesn't matter what your class, chances are you've got something to make someone (or something) stay put and be less annoying to your healer. I'll assume that anyone reading this guide has three things in common.

1: You play World of Warcraft. This guide won't help you in City of Heroes or Everquest.

2: You have a crowd control ability or know someone else who does.

3: You have just put a check for $50 in the mail to me, made out to "Cash"

Since you are all so generous, Let me continue.


The basic assumption of crowd control is that you want to keep that mob or player in a non-threatening state against their will. To do this we have to balance several points including applying the CC, knowing when it has broken, and reapplying the control again.

We've all been there. You Shackled the caster at the start of the pull, turned to heal your main tank, and a hunter looses a multishot. You or another healer eat a fireball and you (if you're lucky and smart) realize the mob is loose. Now you've got to spin around, Click on or tab-target that caster, cycling through the chaos and noise until he reappears, shackle him again, and then move back to your tank before he takes a dirt nap. All the while Vent is lighting up with "Shackle is loose! Shackle is Loose! Garrote on the Tank! OMG Shackle Taco!"

What a pain in the arse!

If we break that down we have a list of three needs.

1: Apply CC

2: Monitor CC target

3: Reapply CC quickly and easily.

To accomplish these we'll be making use of the /focus command.

Quoting Wowwiki:
A focus target is a secondary target system, used to keep track of a second unit other than the currently targeted unit. The focus is a sort of "target memory" meaning that the focus can be set then recalled with simple macro commands.

Simply put, a focus can be used in macros to cast spells on a target that is not your main target. You never need un-target the unit you're working on to recast your crowd control again.

The default UI provides some Focus utility, you will be able to set a focus target and use these macros, but you will not see focus frame or really any visual indication that your focus was successful except a glow around that units frame when it is targeted.

Most unit frame addons include a "focus frame" which creates a unit frame similar to your target frame for the focused target. This would allow you to see the health, mana, buffs and debuffs on the target at all times and know immediately when your CC breaks. For that reason I recommend a unit frames addon for all players, be that a deluxe model like X-perl or the basic AG Unit Frames or CT-Mod Unit Frames.

Now that we all know what Focus is, may I introduce: Eldermin's Wonder do it all Super Direct Crowd Control Macro!

/focus [button:1] target
/cast [button:1] <crowd control spell here>
/cast [button:2 , target=focus] <crowd control spell here>

What this does:
When left-clicked this sets a focus target and, if you're using a Unit Frames addon, makes a focus frame appear on your screen. At the same time it casts your chosen direct crowd control spell.
When Right-clicked it re-casts the chosen spell without changing your current target.

this is the most basic form of focus use macro, but simple is usually best. I will list some more complex and class specific macros in the next section.

Class Macros

Every class has specific needs for CC macros, some are quite simple:
/cast Fear
/say LOL

Some are quite complex:
/cast Polymorph
/focus
/run SetRaidTarget("focus", 1)
/run if UnitSex("target")==1 then g="female " else g="male " end;s="I'm going to sheep a "..g..UnitLevel("target").." %T";c="Party";if GetNumRaidMembers()>0 then c="raid" end;SendChatMessage(s,c)

These are Basic macros that serve a purpose, I'll try not to fancy them up or add too much that isn't absolutely needed. If you want your macro to call your target a name, emote something, and then announce in party chat that your cat is on fire, you'll have to set that up yourself.

Note: for most of these I'll use the term "click" or "left click" the same function as a hotkey button press. Right click is just that, using the right side or second mouse button.
In most cases the [button:1] and [button:2] can be replaced with [nomodifier] and [modifier:alt] at will, changing the functionality to be any press/click and alt press/click respective. Note that [modifier:shift] and [modifier:alt] are also valid.



DRUID
The basic focus - Hibernate or roots macro works well here, but while researching this I found this useful variation:

/focus [target=focus, exists, nodead] focus; [btn:2][] target
/cast [target=focus] Entangling Roots
Left click sets focus of current target if you don't have one, then casts roots. If you have a focus this will cast the roots on that target. Right-click to change focus before your first is dead and cast roots on it instead.

Cyclone is another good use for this macro, as it becomes a fire and forget and will allow you to move to another target or begin healing and re-clone without interruption.

/focus [target=focus, exists, nodead] focus; [btn:2][] target
/cast [target=focus] Cyclone



HUNTER

Hunter CC has 3 parts, Setting the trap, Getting the mob into the trap, and knowing when the mob is out of the trap so you can repeat from step 1.
Setting a trap is the easy part, so no macro is really needed there. It's parts 2 and 3 that can be tricky.


/focus [button:2] target
/cast [target=focus, exists][] Distracting Shot

On right click this macro sets your focus as whatever you're targeting and fires distracting shot. On regular click it fires distracting shot at your focus, if it exists, or at your current target.

This is useful because it allows you to set a focus quickly and if you include this button in your normal rotation it will fire distracting shot into your trap target, increasing threat without un-targeting your main DPS mob.
Since Distracting shot does not break freezing trap this allows you to maintain aggro for chain pulls.



MAGE

Sheep Moon. Mage CC is direct and simple, we turn angry people into grass chewing sheep (or pigs, or occasionally turtles)

/focus [target=focus, noexists][target=focus, dead]
/cast [target=focus] Polymorph
/stopmacro [focus, noexists]
/p Sheeping %f you Spank it, You Tank it.

this complex looking variation sets a focus of there isn't one, then polymorphs the focus target.
The macro also announces in party chat that the name of the mob being sheeped, a courtesy I like to give my teammates. It lets them know the CC is being reapplied.
An interesting not for this macro, it stops running if there is no focus, this can only be accomplished if there was no focus targer and no target was specified when the macro was used. The error message "no target" still appears but no chat message is published.



PALADIN

/castsequence Divine Shield , Hearthstone
/emote rude

OK, so that's not Crowd control, but it seems every paladin in the world uses that macro anyway. I had to.

While Paladins don't have traditional CC abilities, they do have an ability to taunt mobs that deserves a macro to become truly useful.

/cast [help,nodead] [target=targettarget,help,nodead] Righteous Defense

This changes the default usage of Righteous defense (which is targeted on Players, not mobs, to allow it to work both as intended and as a ranged version of the warrior taunt.
Note that this version also checks that the target for taunt is friendly and Alive. it's no use taunting off of a dead teammate, and trying to taunt a mob off an enemy player is morally wrong.



PRIEST

/focus [target=focus,noexists][target=focus, dead]
/cast [target=focus] Shackle Undead
/stopmacro [focus, noexists]
/raid Shackling %f, this is my undead, There are many like it but this one is mine.

Basically the Mage macro rebuilt with a raid chatline and reference to "Full Metal Jacket" thrown in. Change the /raid to /p for 5-man use. Personally I love to know my Priests are on the case when shackles are important, and this reassures everyone that you are.



ROGUE

/cast sap

OK, so you don't need a macro for this, but I didn't want to leave you out.

I did find this little gem for your Ambush button:

/cast [nostealth] Stealth
/cast Pick Pocket
/cast Ambush

If you have Autoloot on (and who doesn't?) this will Rob your enemy every time you open with Ambush.
Substitute your favorite opener, of course.



SHAMAN

You get nothing, I'm sorry. Don't blame me, Blame Blizzard for not giving you even one functioning Crowd Control ability.

As a no-prize, however, I present you with:

/1 From the Crossroads, head south.
/1 You'll cross a bridge - on your map it's near where the trail from Lushwater Oasis meets the main road.
/1 you'll see two huts off to the western side, her body is just inside the tent.

Think it's useless? Try spending levels 12-21 in the barrens... You'll thank me later.



WARLOCK

Fear, ah, the great and controversial. Love it, Hate it, think it breaks too early or not early enough, Fear is part of what makes warlocks so vicious.

Fear kiting macro

/focus [button:1] target
/cast [button:1] Fear
/cast [button:2,target=focus] Fear

Simple enough, but let's get more creative, eh?

/focus [nomodifier,button:1][target=focus, noexists][target=focus, dead] target
/cast [nomodifier,button:1] Fear
/cast [modifier:alt,target=focus, exists]Death Coil ; [modifier:alt,target=target]Death Coil
/cast [nomodifier,button:2,target=focus, exists] Fear ; [nomodifier,button:2,target=target] Fear

Fun one, eh? While this macro is untested , in theory it should do the following:
If you left click or press the button it sets your focus to the target then casts fear.
Hold Alt and it casts Death Coil on your Focus, or Target if you have no Focus
Right click and you will cast Fear on your Focus target or regular target if no focus exists.

Useful for Fear kiting and as an "Osheet" button.

Banish Macro:

/focus [nomodifier,target=focus, noexists][target=focus, dead]
/cast [nomodifier,target=focus] Banish
/cast [modifier:alt,target=focus] Banish(rank 1)
/stopmacro [focus,noexists]
/raid %f, I condemn you to the Abyss! Know my Power and know FEAR!

Sets a focus of your target and Banishes it, then re-banishes the focus when clicked again. hold Alt to use rank 1 banish. Again a raid chat line is added so that your mates know you're working on the problem.



WARRIORS

You hit stuff, you get hit. You have no crowd control. Take it up with Blizzard, there's a line forming behind the Shammies.



There you have it, My big guide to Crowd control macros. Hope you enjoyed it and can put some of it to use.


If any of these macros don't work please post them here, several were written off the top of my head and are untested. I will correct the guide immediately when an error is found.

[Notahax]

wow... +4rep

[ddrfreak]

/focus [target=focus, noexists][target=focus, dead]
/cast [target=focus] Polymorph
/stopmacro [focus, noexists]
/p Sheeping %f you Spank it, You Tank it.

So.. I click this macro, it sheeps my target and makes it the focus target... I press the button again, and it sheeps my focus target? Or sheeps my current target and turns that into the focus target? >.< I confuzzled...

[lolister]

On Blinded target use :
/focus [target=focus, noexists][target=focus, dead]
/cast Vanish
/cast [target=focus] Sap

amirite?

[ddrfreak]

He posts something helpful.
Then he goes offline.
Now he dun help anyone.

[pardalis1111]

wall of orange text crits you for 100,000
you die
at least its orange?


anyway. you have a few macros that are good there.
i wont use them personally because i have my own but gj contributing

[Valgas]

/focus [target=focus, noexists][target=focus, dead]
/cast [target=focus] Polymorph
/stopmacro [focus, noexists]
/p Sheeping %f you Spank it, You Tank it.

So.. I click this macro, it sheeps my target and makes it the focus target... I press the button again, and it sheeps my focus target? Or sheeps my current target and turns that into the focus target? >.< I confuzzled...

it will always sheep your FOCUS target... so, while u r dpsin' the skull unit, u can just click the macro without changing target.

[ddrfreak]

Sweet. I was just a little concerned of sheeping teh wrong person

Thankyou... Guest.

[Imbahamut]

Every class has specific needs for CC macros, some are quite simple:
/cast Fear
/say LOL

Hehe made me laugh, +rep for the this nice guide

[richardsonc]

On Blinded target use :
/focus [target=focus, noexists][target=focus, dead]
/cast Vanish
/cast [target=focus] Sap

amirite?

this is so useful and u look baller in arenas when you do it. especiallty rogue/rogue team such as i run. also here is a better rogue sap macro, i win like 90% of all opening saps against rogues with this.
#showtooltip Sap
/console targetNearestDistance 10.000000
/targetenemy [noharm][dead]
/console targetNearestDistance 41.000000
/cast [harm,nodead] Sap

also this one for arena if its say a priest/rogue team your up against and you want to pull the rogue out. EDIT: what exactly this does is if you have sap on a priest for example, you mash it and it will clear the target sapped and sap the rogue.
#show sap
/cleartarget
/targetenemy
/cast sap


here is blind mouseover. you can be attacking something such as the priest, then rogue jumps on your partner, all you have to do is put your mouse over that rogue and hit this macro. but if you have no target your mouse is over it will blind your current. very useful.
/cast [target=mouseover, exists] Blind; blind

these are found on arenajunkies along with alot more, but these are the most used. imo.

[rduffy6]

gdgd keep it up

[ShamefulDisplay]

How useful.