Simple Destruction Warlock Weak Auras

Feb 2013 UI with Weak Aura Configuration – click to embiggen!

Possibly the biggest change I made when warlocks were revamped in Mists of Pandaria was to throw out my keybinds. That one decision to jettison what I knew about the class and start over allowed me to dramatically change my UI, because it had been built up to support a very specific keybind structure. It allowed me to move away from the Cast Keyboard / Move Mouse style I’d gotten trained into (I now use a more traditional ESDF layout with the Naga) and simplify things considerably. It also made me look at what the default UI could and couldn’t do, and that in turn led me to try out Weak Auras, a really powerful addon and the replacement for Power Auras.

Auras are already part of the default UI – different classes will have event procs display as a graphic that shows up on the screen to let the player know that an ability is usable, or the mana cost is free, or some benefit is available. Weak Auras allows you to customize auras beyond the default. It’s a little tricky to set up at first, but if you take your time and are clear about your requirements then it’s no harder than Need to Know.

My own setup is relatively simple in concept – use a series of spinning concentric circles to alert me to certain powerful spells becoming available. I didn’t want to track every buff or action, but I did want to give myself some kind of visual prompt to take immediate action. Shadowburn, for instance, is an extremely powerful execute spell that Destro locks should use whenever it’s available, which is when the target is below 20% health and you have a Burning Ember to spend. The problem with the default UI is that the button doesn’t light up when you can cast it (unlike Execute or other similar spells) – it just becomes quietly castable. Adding an Aura to let me know that it’s up allows me to cast it more often.

The big circles in my UI shot above are for my target, while the smaller ones above my character’s head are for my focus target. They circle around.

• The big purple circles are Shadowburn. I wanted something really big and visible since effectively using Shadowburn in PvP allows you to get your opponents down much much faster. Most people don’t get up from a Shadowburn.
• Moving in, the yellow circle is Conflagrate. In PvE you might cast Conflag on CD, but I do like to save it for the snare effect in PvP. I found that I wouldn’t always look and see if Conflag was up before trying to cast it (instead of Fel Flame), so this aura provides a reliable way for me to know which instant to spam.
• The inner orange circle is Immolate. This aura just tells me if Immolate is on the target or not. Immolate is not a must-have DoT anymore, but this is a convenient way for me to know if I am applying pressure at a moment’s glance or not. If I were to trim anything, it would be this one.
• The upper purple circle is Shadowburn again, but on my focus. Visual consistency is important, but so is knowing if my focus target is able to be shadowburned or not.
• The evil looking eyes are letting me know that Havoc is available to cast on my focus. I use a simple macro which sends Havoc to my focus if one is selected, or to my target if I have no focus. This aura helps me know that I’m all set and ready to wreak havoc.

This provides a relatively simple alerting system for Destruction Warlocks that covers my bases. If I were playing more PvE, I might add in a Backdraft Proc tracker to let me know that I should cast Incinerate instead of Chaos Bolt. I’m also experimenting with a Dark Bargain/Unending Resolve series of auras to let me know to when DB is about to fall off so I can cast Unending Resolve to lessen incoming damage, but I’m not sure that I really want that one right now. There are also some buff reminders I should put up (make sure Dark Intent is on, remind when pet is dead and no corresponding buff available, etc.) but that’s a project for another day.

One of the nice elements of Weak Auras is that it allows you to export settings to share with others, which I’ve done below. These strings – and they’re messy and long – can be copy and pasted into Weak Auras so you can get the exact aura someone uses, either to use out of the box or customize to your desired effect. I’ve included these strings below.

Enjoy!

Shadowburn Target

d0dReaGAjH6LsHAxiu2MKKzIqAUivnBj(nQ6MsHCBP03eXPfStQYEj7Mk7xsq)usi)vughs58uvzOivAWuvvgUuDqkQxtr6yiQJtvv1cPQSueKflfTCv9qeupfSmH0ZvzIsIAQOYKfvth6IscCvQQsxw56uAJiv8yHAZskBxs13Lc(QKitJIyEiu9zkCyugnsgVKuNKQQ4wiqxtKUhc4ziYWeIZHqSilobTcYfKlobX8f(xCYJSOdTQsjrKK0KutsttJKqw1iykj5fv0XeArirJerQks00O0sJst1iyAQ8ij6qlkPiKJKKMAcjsKjsvPQgbtjjuG1HFWWyV4eyVLD9vkES2jFcSUakazVXqbxFLIhRDYJCcTKeHc(ze4DC(1NaCvJ2FcAwMlVr85tG5kxzb5HRITUymuFQPaCvJ2Fc8hhUVglE0BopN3D0xPXm1S9zh90LVH9MTp7A0Ydm6nBF2rVz7ZIstalppGbEhRKHFWWy)jo5rwCcWpyySxCcq)6tWHm0EcS3YOgRGuQPa7TmK9gdj08FB4xU8j4Snx95qWwRwOAbze2mWLbCMjeNG((45qQXkiLGOreS6ZHcmhJbExf6F(7XAwMGZ2C1NdP7VAHQfa0TcikrfyDbuaYEJHcS3YU(kfpw7Kpbw3QphkGzrEb2BzwxaLpbuJvqQm((EgY)ciobeyVL13hphsnwbPKpb99XZHuJvqQm((EgY)ciobeC9vkES2jpYj0ssekW6WpyySxCcU(kfpw7Kh5eAjjcSUakazVXqHcfkiKlaOy58n00(obmxOLHbEN4eCi7rXjO)7gk4O(GZuHcAzbN4eG(1NG(VBOG(VBOGNhz4iCHp20gc3ekOwWfokXjO)7gk4O(GZuHcfGFWWyV4eKBFgg4DcQsa6xFcoKH2tqS9q(2m0V(eCidTNGRVsXJ1o5roHwsIG((45qQXkiLGOreyDbuaYEJHcSUvFouagAxUa7TSRVsXJ1o5tG9wM1fq5tqm1InvWQphkWElRVpEoKAScsjFc67JNdPgRGuz899mK)fqCciuqdHCKsEKstf4STCFWWy)jVOcOwWGcLhPKubfEwU4eyVLfxy3jFcE(YeNGwBbdItOqb2BzxFXYNGRVyXj4coJYKhjHcIlS7eNGl4mktqLmtiIwreUXcfkuWjGmXmHyjeJMG6YJSjrIiuc

Conflagrate Target

da00gaqlrsTlG0WqvoMuSmqXZiuMgHCnH02aQ(gighQQoNij3JqvDquXcbvpeOmrrv5IsvSruvgjOKoPuv9srvvZui6MIQ0ov4NsvzOaHJceXsfcpfzQaUQOk2kqK(kquZvQ0EP(RqnyqPomklgKESuAYIYLvTzf5ZemAPItl41IeZws3gvA3e9BjgUiooOelxPNd10jDDiBxr9DcvgVOY5fPwpHQmFrvL9lvPDJbmfm1Vu)oXAF3(BlsCxk51AmFH9X8f2dLvRMWMAaveOqaLFtCnLzkZaMq4VXP9GNje(BCop4zcj1nii81aMWjVwhmU3JgiPcCySAk7yMIwME4S2ue2csMzOMWmUh45u0Ed3u2XmfTm98v2lSfKmZqnPBqq4RbmPPtUjSYue2eo516GX9E0ajvGdJPI4K9jRPnCtF(s1eNwnuK9c78GzqR3esgutkBfUAcHFSYwHRrCybf2Nz4Mq4hJtEToyCVHBkiN)IVHBcHFmsgud3es(5lvtmKwmjzCp2aE0yQFUClvMERMYou00eq6KBcw5erE5lprA10urQM4BdIxVWgKGyzltz9cBaatDEqOJA(ebPHNiiqebUiW5XlkeW9uQfjYuTWYmGje(XTvggB4M2s9gWexuvdgWQvti8JXjV1WnHWpUTWfktnCt4K3Aat4GuOEpeZQP2kdJnGjCqkuVjqMter2hy5VvRMGYAtrylizgWZPO9MaEofTh3LsETYPvdZmnuK9n)TYsJ72tBnKGFmHKMMk7f2csMb8CkAVjGNtr7XDPKxRCA1WmtdfzFZFRS04U90wdj4htiPP9cHIeiDYnPpNI2BcA9YS8wYUjo5lFMyYaxMgksdyIllinGjnDYnLShF1uYE8vtBrz6bRGK6xWQL2uexaFRwn1ULK40EWdurnM0Ntr7n1Vu)oXAFxozzfjUliFwkCqld3fefX9LdAz48(SaRlh0YWD5Gwgm8BsI4cSbbHVypeZewdTPKoFOLPHI0qn1wQL1aE0y(4h8OILkirHevu0Or5bPXtPoQyEiMh8SAQTWnzpgBOMczMaRiNQmHLP3eRM0H5rJjXfY0oMpr8dtu(fdc48A4Vb8Oqa3tPwKittfPsbX7E0aJjwwwqdfjRgRBqq4l2aE0yat6gee(AatA6KBcRmfHnHKF(s1edPfti8JdY5V4B4M(8LQjoTAOi7f25bZGwVjmc6NVubX(Pqotei6jYinHWpgN8ADW4Ed3ec)yLTcxJ4WckSpZWnHrq)8LkHMMc5mfdghciMa4ebGje(XizqnCtizqnLuzP)AcN8ADW4EpAGWpeiwnHK6gee(Aat4KxRdg37rde(HaXQvpGXaM0nii81aM00j3ewzkcBcHFCNZQAhd3egb9ZxQeAAkKZumyCiGycGteaM(8LQjy9SQ2Xegb9ZxQGy)uiNjce9ezKM6Cwv7yINjK8ZxQMyiTycHFmsgud3ec)ywnmFd3esgutkBfUAQZzvTtCj5ltlRPEZpX3QjKu3GGWxdycjdQjLTcxTA1QPGC(l(gQPPYEHTGKzGvQL1aE04rJhW4rJhI5rJhI8OXQPYgUuzAOinbs7jcG(bJtKMA3ssCop4bQOgtqzTPiSfKmdSsTSgWJgp4bAupGXdEGg1dX8GhOr9qKh8anQvtqzTPiSfKmRVPj8vpGXQPzpAeXJNvBa

Immolate Target

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Havoc Focus

d8ZWeaqyOwpqQxcK0UKGETe14GOMPOsZLez2k52GYnbsSnsQ(gOIttQDcyVODtv7huPFkjnmH43cMgjzOqGbdQQHdPdcehvOIoMu54cvQfsclfcTyH0YPYdHipv1Jb55kMOqvnvrMSs10jUOOIRcQYZev11LYgLaNuISzj12vkFuOcFvOk9zr57KugjjQLjugTeA8sIljuj3sOkUMOkNxQ6Yuohe0FbQzht8yM4vgVfG4lbKYbXcabPCuQesvbUs4O6Lw6bRg2TcqLbhf7TqDr8waIc)W3vOQcHtHiZdJFNFNj(kvRRhtiqKcJ1LFErIGq4OEEQhlpEO2ibyjRIap0DSy8n0DSy8AOGNk4fNolZCmXhuZx1V6Pc(Mxl81bO2WR9BMBmQG3JHzdteOJxz8waIc)UfTvxN6rnELbbrqPa4Llf(6Gx4lWPbnCHFC2W7oSGHl8tj(IMoROqa1vXVc4DM4BJbgAHNHk4DHLXepS2s0mrHcFBmWdQbrf8TXadfGfflubp0cpdt8J2NTm(4feeZTksGkf(b1GyIF0(SLrG8PqHVo4LRbTrGUy876bDH7VGHkp8X1W7SmDWN6rnEXQinNXpIgQCF8BoSOdEgLhVVRfDWJxGfNolZCdteOJjEXPZYmht8spQXpcwAdFBmWc2LzcIwC30oBNk4TnZl8Gaj6GhUWhEdo6Y4NwuBZ8ccCwTUc)rqo5MlFBmWdQTwayygvW382M5fECtc8nVw4rx4EZX3gdCZRfQGFArTnZlVvxRRWdgjqEc8tGGyIFqT1cadZiaYrIPkcf(MxC6SmZXe)GARfagMraKJetvekuOWlwfP5m(KvrAoBu6O2AbcKO3WIo4RUzUfUFusH5gZvMFemu5bPGxWApmZl8LaEP4NdpOdbyeicpUjbQGVVAD9yclq98HtxSUyQuhzeQsfYiezwhpQYJxVZRmElaXdfwbhteqfb6OWJHeDWpmXpc2jmXVhaNTcQXO8zRGAGXqIo45NIb1OqHx73m3ymkVVbl50zzMBiqmESxddl6GNj(rWoHjEPh14rD2ycpQZgt4NIoTVmfEyyTNjEPh14rD2ycpQZgt4rBRXOWxR96Pit8spQXJ6SXeEuNnMWpfDAFzku431d6c3xck45l5fZvJHmLkbf8JsfXBbi(rWqLhee0EHxr1uQkOGyP4q5eVyveKcRGJjc0rGoceJaDeiFc0raveOJcf(nc0PksekKa

Shadowburn Focus

d0Z1faGAjvPxkkj7sjY2efZuc1CfLA2k8BeUPIuDBuLVjrhwWofv7LA3KSFsL8tsL6VI04iW5fQgQeYGfLy4k1bfsNMOJrqhxusTqHYsvcTyfXYr6HsQ8uWJjLNl1eLuvtfrtwrnDOlQiPRQiXZqLUokBuc6ZIyZsY2fIVRe1xvKY0ivnpsfggQQLPKgnHgpQOtkPkULsW1KuUhPIETe4YQohQWwOjnWZWSHztAyw21ltPHYi3tmWuivMKCQjnW6N27pg5bE3XmWus0qfHgRn07pg5bE35clfuwA0a9jscfz89nGNtKrVHjJRMNoX8neT(13qCDxv1hDHz4lG)Qa9Rz4yvyTs9RUAb91mWPURQ6JoN)s6lfKHBzgoQXv4And45ez0BOEu4PvbTND05zcvN90EOGOmAOZUiILpnkJg6P)zzi7OmAOZokJgwfyiOK8cOKqzsdngOOjnGX33WM((OHn99rdTivQkWObEbPYKgW47BytFF0WM((ObkbgWx3GqRGLL9nAOsQKTOjnGX33WM((OHn99rdTivQkWOrdH5zjkjuHrksLjjN2M05cnPbKktso1KgW47BOXaYAdS(PIpmqrpXqZM8ixHaRQsYPH06IcKPaz0fjnW6NIbAYXfFwZK0p7yg2NQDfk(WafnSY3WJCfAiQgkju6kltPdtg3qZM8ixHfrFLKtdqrtT4InWus0agOjhnW6N27pg5bE3XmWupYvOHadjmW6NYus0Xmi(Waftj2NgqcQbDOtdS(P7t1UcfFyGIoMH9PAxHIpmqXuI9PbKGAqh60qV)yKh4DNlSuqzPrdmfsLjjNAsd9(JrEG3DUWsbLLgykjAad0KJgn68vtAaPYKKtnPbm((gAmGS2aRFQirJYHeJ7ygA2Kh5keyvvsonKwxuGmfiJUiPHh5k0WuusuxzPoXanOHNkBuQ1gA2Kh5kSi6RKCAakAQfxSbMsIgQi0yTbM6rUcneyiHbw)uMsIoMbrIgLdjg3GirJYXnAGPqQmj5utAGPKOHkcnwB0OrdivMKCQjnmZObusOmKXqV)yKh4DNlSuqzPbm((gAmGS2at9ixHgqjVpByFQ2vO4ddu0WkFdmLenurOXAdASgj4LIX33qJbK1gy9t79hJ8aV7yg0eVwbgEKRqdS(P7t1UcfFyGIoMH9PAxHIpmqXuI9PbKGAqh60aRFktjrhZOb5SbqmmtS8egvPRSuiHgRnOy8iPYKKtBNZ1WYYzu05R81ByqeMnPbw)uTrOBhZaLyCtAGhBGstA0Obw)0EFnhZqVVMjn0svY4oNRrdAJq3M0qlvjJByArxSyDxxwz0ObnIbb1KoxOlSua)mRC5GBn9c5lqqg(UAHACD(QluFTvHRz4lG)k3sok5y1vlulJZ56cfWTuixoYWrn965NHlx9UAHACnA0qBq4s6xQCjbgI4CH65Z3On

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