This is a list of essential Vanilla WoW addons. Short URL – https://cutt.ly/evadd
IMPORTANT: When downloading an addon from GitHub, first look in Releases (in the right side of the window) to get the latest version. If there is nothing in releases, then download source (green button “Code” then “Download ZIP”). If you download source, usually you have to rename the addon folder deleting the “-master” suffix. For example rename folder “Mail-master” into “Mail”. Sometimes the addon contains a sub-folder with the right name. For example inside “EQL3-master” there is the folder “EQL3”
Addon archiving sites:
legacy-wow.com – addons.us.to – vanilla-addons.com – dkpminus.com – vanillawowaddons.com
https://www.curseforge.com
https://www.wowace.com
https://www.wowinterface.com
Addon catalogues, lists and packs:
GitHub List (Local copy) – VADP – Addon-Community – wabc – VA20 – crazypoultry pack (descr) – laytya pack – Kronos – Elysium – Nostalrius – Turtle (forum)
Forums about addons:
Nostalrius – Elysium – Kronos – VanillaGaming – MMO-Champion.com – OwnedCore.com – CurseForge – WowInterface – Classic.WowHead
Here is the essential addons list:
pfQuest, EQL3, Mail, aux-addon, SUCC-bag, Atlas, LazyPig (replaces GrayAutoSell, QuickLoot), ShaguTweaks (replaces OmniCC, MapCoords, GrayAutoSell, ShaguValue, ShaguMount and many others), oCB3, Chronometer, Decursive (mage, druid, priest, paladin, shaman), CharactersViewer, ImprovedErrorFrame, MinimapButtonBag, Master Control Program (MCP)
Not entirely essential but very important addons:
ModifiedPowerAuras, TargetFrameBuff, MobHealth2, Gatherer, OmniCC, ShaguScore, oGlow, WhoList_Fix, MapNotes3, BestBuff, Omnibus, ShaguClock, RingMenu, Ghost, crafty, Master Trade Skills v1.12, BookEnchants, SpellAlert, AuldLangSyne, ShaguJunk, FocusFrame, Vanilla-Farmer
Raiding addons: BigWigs, CThunWarner, Decursive, XPerl UnitFrames, ZGLoot, BuffWatch, KLHThreatMeter, DPSMate, Interruptor
PVP addons: SaySapped_Extended, Sentry, Retarget, SpellAlert
Mage, Druid, Priest, Palladin: AutoBuff, TopMeOff
Rogue: RogueFocus, PoisonPouch (from RoguePack), QuickLoot
Warrior: WarriorHUD, VF_WarriorAddon, Samuel, RageTracker
Hunter: Make Guns Sound Like Bows
Druid: DruidManaBar
Enchanting: Enchantrix
Skinning: BetterSkinningSound
Fishing: QuickLoot
Gonome: Mechanostrider Silencer
These are some addons that are not completely essential but they are still very useful (or very nice, or very interesting) to me:
ShaguTweaks-mods, ChatTimestamps, URL Copy, LevelRange, ChatCopy, AuctionSearchTimer, TheoryCraft, Outfitter, EQCompare, ColorSocialFrame, AutoDing, Corpse Info, CharacterMap, guildbank, ChatLog, SpecialTalentUI, SuperInspect, linkmend, QuestHistory, KillLog, RecipeRadar, ShaguNotify, ShaguKill, GryphonsRemover, unitscan, QuestAnnouncer, Alkitron_HonorTab, WhoFavorites, LootLink Enhanced, NotesUNeed, Chat Keys, MoveAnything, ToggleGather
Very nice addons:
EVTCalendar, TimeManager, Niagara, CritLine
These are the addons that many players find essential:
Classic-Snowfall, modui, pfUI, LunaUnitFrames
Honorable mentions:
Automaton, TrinketMenu, TalentSaver, ShardCap
These are other, well know addons: Carbonite, Cartographer, FuBar, Titan, Bongos
Addons descriptions:
pfQuest – This is by far the best quest helper addon, way better than Questie. It contains a complete database of mobs, it will plot on the map all the mobs you need for your quests, also shows the droprates. It also enables posting quest links in chat. It has many options, you can configure it to show low level quests and the quests that are +3 your level and it can show the quest levels in the quest log. Also it can search and plot any mobs you want on the map (use the search button). Use /db chests – /db rares – /db mines – /db herbs – to mark on the map the locations of chests, rare mobs, minerals (veins) and plants.
EQL3 – It improves the quest log, making it easy to navigate through quests. Make sure you open Options then uncheck option “Minimize Upon Close”.
Ctrl + click on a quest name while chat is open in order to show your quest progress to your group (or in whisper, /s, /ra etc).
Hover over a quest name in order to see who else in your group has it (only those players who are close to you).
Mail – Huge improvements for the Mailbox. Send multiple items at once, very rapidly. Autocompletes recipient names. Fetch mail attchments with right-click. Automatically opens all mail, very quick.
Also improves trade, now you can right-click on an item while trading
SUCC-bag (alternatively OneBag) – This addon simply shows all the bags as a single, big bag. Also shows the bank as a single big bank.
Alternative – OneBag + OneBank
Alternative – EngBag
Atlas – It contains Atlas, AtlasLoot and AtlasQuest. It shows maps of dungeons, maps of dungeon entrances, shows the loot from dungeons and also the quests for dungeons. Also it shows the reagents required for producing items using professions.
MapCoords – Shows cursor/player coords on worldmap and shows coords below your portrait and your party members portrait (use “/mc player” and “/mc party” to enable)
Better alternative: ShaguTweaks
aux-addon – A Vanilla Auction House addon with features far beyond anything that’s existed for Vanilla before. Most importantly, it makes it very easy to post auctions. More info here and here.
Use “/aux post duration 24” to make sure the auctions are posted for 24 hours by default.
Type “/aux tooltip value” to disable showing value in tooltip
Click on an auction (in the list, when posting) to undercut it.
ShaguValue – It displays the item sell value on tooltip. Very useful. Now you know which items you can trash first when your bag is full and which ones to keep.
Better alternative: ShaguTweaks
LazyPig – Makes life much easier
Loot roll automation for ZG, MC, AQ and Naxxramas.
Automatically Need / Greed on green items with Ctrl + Alt.
Automatically sells all your gray items and repairs when you are at a merchant (Shift).
Automatically positions the most relevant part of the loot window under your cursor.
Automatically unmounts the player when using an action.
Easy split stacks using Shift + Right Click on stacked item.
Chat Filter (spam, loot)
Auto accept – Invites, Summons
Battleground automation – Enter BG, Leave BG, Release
Fast turn in of quests, especially useful for repeatable quests (e.g. AV quests). Use Shift + Right Click.
(Warriors) Automatically cancel Salvation when it is cast on you.
With LazyPig you don’t need anymore these addons: _AutoBG, ZGLoot, GrayAutoSell, QuickLoot, QuestHaste, ShaguMount, Block Salvation, Automaton
GrayAutoSell – Automatically sells all your gray items when you interact with a merchant.
Better alternatives: LazyPig or ShaguTweaks
QuickLoot – Automatically positions the most relevant part of the loot window under your cursor. Very useful for rogues when pick pocketing. And for fishing. Also useful for enchanters when disenchanting. And for all the other players that open loot without auto-looting (Shift). If you get errors then comment lines (– ) from line 135 to 178.
Better alternative: LazyPig
ShaguMount – Automatically unmounts the player when using an action.
Also makes it stand up if the player is sitting.
Better alternative: ShaguTweaks
If you want to disable the error sound then use this – Error Sounds Be Gone!
ShaguTweaks – A lot of improvements to the UI
It replaces the following addons: OmniCC, GrayAutoSell, ShaguValue, ShaguMount, MapCoords, EQCompare, URL Copy, oGlow, ColorSocialFrame, ShaguClock, Metamap, CMap (Square Minimap), MobHealth2, ShaguTooltips, ShaguStance
Also it’s a (weaker) alternative to Chronometer and Antagonist
oCB3 – A great cast bar addon, similar with Quartz.
type “/ocb” to bring up the OCB menu and click on the “Lock” option to lock the castbar on the screen. Then “Casting Bar” -> “Width” to set your prefered width for the cast bar – in my case, I prefer 250
This version of OCB includes an enemy castbar, making Antagonist pretty much useless.
Alternatively, you can use Punschrulle which is also quite a very good castbar addon.
Chronometer – Chronometer tracks spell effects (HoTs, DoTs, buffs, debuffs, etc.) that you cast. You can see exactly how long is left on your spells so that you know when they’re fading so that you can recast.
Use “/chron” to bring up the menu. “Bar” -> “Anchor” to move the frame location on screen.
“Fubar plugin” -> “Hide plugin” to remove the minimap button.
Antagonist – This is an enemy cast bar addon.
Use “/antagonist lock” in order to move the enemy castbar location on screen. Then type “/antagonist lock” again to lock it.
Alternatively, you can use Natur Enemy Castbar. Also, ShaguTweaks has an option for Enemy Castbar.
Decursive – It helps a class that can remove debuffs. A player using Decursive will always dispel faster than other players.
Use /dcrshow to show the Decursive frame in case you close it and need it back.
CharactersViewer – View the equipment and inventory and the bank content of all your characters.
ImprovedErrorFrame – Display errors in scrollable/selecting frame and it allows you to copy error messages.
Tip: you can type “/console scriptErrors 0” to hide errors
The console command will work even between sessions, it will write it to your config file natively
To make the errors visible again, use /console scriptErrors 1
MinimapButtonBag – Cleans up your Minimap and relocates the buttons in a menu bar. You can still access them through a single minimap button. If you want to reattach any button to the minimap just use Ctrl + Right click on it. Do that for the most used minimap buttons, like for example Atlas. Use Ctrl + Right click again on the button to put it back into the bar.
Master Control Program (MCP) – Addon loading control after login. Much better than alternatives, you can save and load profiles.
ModifiedPowerAuras – Show icons and auras on screen when certain conditions are met, IE buff or debuff present, ability is on cooldown and so on.
Type in /mpowa to open the configuration frame
TargetFrameBuff – Shows up to 16 buffs & debuffs on a target in the default UI. Mirror of CurseForge project
MobHealth2 – Displays the current and maximum health (in numbers) of your target on top of the target frame.
Better alternative: ShaguTweaks
Gatherer – Collects and tracks herbs, mines, fishing pools and treasure chests. It will plot their locations on the map and on the minimap.
If you have any issue with Gatherer, then get the old version – 2.2.3.1 – you can find it in the crazypoultry addon package.
Useful commands:
/gather mining on
/gather herbs off
/gather treasure toggle
Better alternative: use “/db mines” – “/db herbs” – and “/db chests” in pfQuest
OmniCC – Cooldown count. IMPORTANT: AddOn folder name must be “!OmniCC”
Alternatively, you can use ShaguTweaks (option: Cooldown Numbers in the General options)
ShaguScore – A Vanilla version of GearScore.
oGlow – Creates a glowing border on Item Icons both equipped and in bags according to Rarity. Green for Uncommon – Blue for Rare – and Purple for Epic allowing you to more easily see at a glace how valuable an Item is.
WhoList_Fix – A fix for Elysium and Darrowshire servers Who List that always says “50 people displayed”
MapNotes3 – Adds a note system to the WorldMap
Use “/qnote 1 Vultros” to set a note on the worldmap, at your current location
BestBuff – Casts the best rank of a buff for target’s level.
Unfortunately, it is not enabled by default. To make it work, type “/bestbuff” [Enter]
then check “Enable”.
As an alternative, check this macro
Omnibus – Notepad addon. Very well made.
If you want to enable syntax highlighting then uncomment the line 27 in Omnibus.toc (remove the “– ” that precedes “libs\FAIAP.lua”)
ShaguClock – Draws a simple movable clock on the screen.
Better alternative: ShaguTweaks
RingMenu – Adds a circular ActionBar that can be summoned with a hotkey. Very useful for mages, for putting all the teleport/portal and conjuring spells. Also useful for hunters and any other players who do not have enough space on the actionbars. Make sure you set a hotkey for opening the ring menu (edit key bindings and go to the end).
Make sure you download version 1 as the latest version (2) is for Classic WoW and not for Vanilla WoW.
If you want a more sophisticated alternative then get Sprocket
Ghost – Creates 25 buttons bar under mouse pointer (hidden). Set the hotkey for showing it in Key bindings menu.
crafty – Adds a name search to the default profession frames. Search results update on the fly and the first result (best match) is selected automatically.
Important: If you right-click on an item, it will apply a filter so you can only see that item in the trade window. In order to get rid of the filter, right-click again on that item.
Master Trade Skills v1.12 – It shows recipes where the selected ingredient is used in.
It requires ReagentData.
Use “/mts show” to see a full list of recipes that use the selected reagent. Better make a macro for it and use with a hotkey.
BookEnchants – Adds additional tooltip infos for Librams or Zul’Gurub enchants. Very useful.
SpellAlert – Warns the player of the spell being casting from the hostile units.
Type “/spellalert” and then go to “Alert 1” tab and push “Unlock” in order to be able to move the SpellAlert frame
AuldLangSyne – Combines the functions of CT_PlayerNotes and FriendsFacts. You can write notes about your friends, so you better remeber who they are, where and when you meet them, etc.
Sentry – Alerts you of nearby enemies which it detects through the combat log or active scanning.
Retarget – Retargets Hunters after Feign Death and all units after disappearing.
ShaguJunk – Automatically deletes specified items. Use the following commands:
/sjunk delete [Tough Jerky]
/sjunk ls
/sjunk rm 1
FocusFrame – Provides focus targeting & frame support for original vanilla World of Warcraft.
I find it useful especially for escort quests, helping to check the health of the escorted NPC.
Focus current target or by name: /focus
Focus current mouseover target: /mfocus
More commands at https://github.com/wardz/FocusFrame/wiki/Commands
Vanilla-Farmer – This is not an addon but it’s a collection of useful files. The most important file is “bindings-cache.wtf” – which contains a very good selection of hotkeys
BigWigs – BigWigs is a boss encounter AddOn, that provides alert messages and timer bars for specific raid bosses and other raid and instance events.
Type “/bw detachTooltip” to move the BigWigs frame and then type that again to lock the frame. Alternative: LVBM, CTRaidAssist, oRA2
CThunWarner – Helps you in fights against C’Thun but also against Ragnaros. It will show a green sphere if you are well positioned or a red sphere if you are not positioned well
Type /ctw to activate the addon
Alternative: Salad Cthun
XPerl UnitFrames – A complete replacement for Blizzard’s default unit frames, including raid frames and raid tools
ZGLoot – Automate looting in ZG, AQ 20 and AQ 40
Better alternative: LazyPig
BuffWatch – Keeps track of buffs on party members in a small window and highlights them if they have run out.
Make sure you set a hotkey for showing/hiding the BuffWatch window – I am using “Ctrl + L” for example.
DPSMate – A combat analyzation tool – DPS Meter.
Alternative: SW Stats
Interruptor – Interrupt announcer. Use “/itr active” – or the minimap button to enable it
SaySapped_Extended – Says “Sapped!” to alert those around you whenever a rogue saps you. Also works for many other CCs.
Type “/saysapped” for options in game.
AutoBuff – Auto buff yourself. Useful for Palladin, Druid, Mage, Priest.
This is a MUST for Palladins and Druids, useful for short duration buffs like Blessings and Thorns.
TopMeOff – Will automatically top you off on reagents when you talk to a reagent vendor. Alternative: VendorAutoBuy
RogueFocus – Compact Combo/Energy/Tick display
RoguePack – It contains PoisonPouch and BuyPoisons.
PoisonPouch will help you to apply poisons on your weapons.
BuyPoisons will help you when buying reagents for potions. Also very useful for resupplying Flash Powder.
Use “/bp rfp 20”
WarriorHUD – Displays all important Cooldowns, your Rage and Alert you in certain Situations.
Use /whud to open options menu
A simpler, similar addon: BSAlert – BattleShout checker
VF_WarriorAddon – Announces the following in party and raid chat:
* Last Stand
* Shield Wall
* Challenging Shout
* Resisted Challenging Shout
* Missed Mocking Blow
* Resisted Taunt
Samuel – Slam/swing timer
Type “/sam activate” to enable the addon
RageTracker – Shows a rage bar, use /rt lock to unlock the bar and to drag it
Other warrior addons: WarriorTank, Fury, IWIN
Make Guns Sound Like Bows – Some hunters find the gun sounds too loud and distracting, this mod replaces the gun sounds with the bow sounds. It only affects how the shooter hears things. There are no lua or XML files, only the audio files (from the original game) which get extracted to different filenames to override the other sounds.
BetterSkinningSound – Replaces the skinning sound – which can be really irritating to some players – with the cooking sound
Mechanostrider Silencer – Silences the annoying sound of the gnome mount.
DruidManaBar – Displays a mana bar when shapeshifted.
Enchantrix – Display information in item tooltips pertaining to the results of disenchanting said item.
It requires EnhTooltip and Stubby, which can be found in the Auctioneer Pack
Type “/enchantrix load” or “/enchantrix load always” to load it
Alternative: Gazmik Fizzwidget’s Disenchant Predictor.
ShaguTweaks-mods – Adds many custom mods to the ShaguTweaks addon
I am only using it for the Chat Timestamps
Edit the file ShaguTweaks-mods.toc and under the line “# ShaguTweaks-Mods”, delete the names of the mods you don’t need. I am only using the line “mods\chat-timestamps.lua”
ChatTimestamps – Adds a customizable timestamp (defaulted to [HH:MM:SS] format) to every chat window.
Better alternative: ShaguTweaks-mods
URL Copy – It will allow you to copy the URLs posted in chat.
Better alternative: ShaguTweaks
LevelRange – Shows the zone level range on the World Map.
ChatCopy – Allows you to copy text from the chat frame.
AuctionSearchTimer – A timer that shows when you can refresh the search button at the Auction House
Outfitter – Equipment management addon which gives you fast access to multiple outfits to optimize your abilities in PvE and PvP, automated equip and unequip for convenience doing a variety of activities, or to enhance role-playing.
TheoryCraft – Shows the spell power and critical hit chance you casters have
Usage: /tc – then check the “Vitals” tab (last tab)
There is a version for Turtle WoW too
EQCompare – When you shop for items at a vendor or the Auction House and you hover over an item, you get a comparison tooltip showing the “currently equipped” item too.
Better alternative: ShaguTweaks
ColorSocialFrame – Class Color for Friends, Guild and Who List.
Better alternative: ShaguTweaks
SpecialTalentUI – Improved Talent Frame. You can see and interact with all three talent trees at once. Summary of your learned and planned talent points at the top. Plan your alts’ templates.
Requires SpecialTalent
SuperInspect – Inspect your target as long as you can target them.
Continue inspecting even if you’ve lost your target.
Show bonuses awarded to your target by the items they have equiped
Colored borders for displayed items that indicate their quality
linkmend – Converts CLINK links into regular ones and localizes and fixes regular ones if possible
AutoDing – Dings automatically when you level – to party and guild
Tpe “/ad config” to open the configuration window
Corpse Info – Tells you the class, faction and online status of the corpses you encounter.
CharacterMap – Provides a virtual keyboard of higher-ASCII and Unicode characters which can be inserted into chat boxes.
Type /cm to show the Character Map.
guildbank – AddOn for posting bags and bank items to forum (BBCODE).
Use /gbank for options
Alternative – InventorySale
ChatLog – Gives you the ability to view or copy/paste any chat logs. There is a version on GitHub but it doesn’t really work well – ChatLog on GitHub
QuestHistory – An in-game history of accepted quests. It will add the quest level number at quest giver, just as EQL3.
KillLog – A log of the mobs you killed.
RecipeRadar – Assists players in finding recipes. It knows about vendors who sell recipes in the current region or by profession. It has a number of filtering options and can even locate vendors on the world map.
ShaguNotify – Shows achievement-alike notifications for several events
ShaguKill – Displays the count of remaining kills or other experience – giving events that are required to gain the next levelup.
GryphonsRemover – (DL) – It removes the gryphon decoration from the actionbars. Better alternative: ShaguTweaks
unitscan – Automatically scans for any targetable units of your choice by name and alerts you upon finding one.
QuestAnnouncer – Sends a party message as you advance in a quest. By default, it only sends notifications to those who are using this addon. Use the minimap button in order to set it to send notifications to party chat.
Alkitron_HonorTab – Replaces standard Honor Tab with an Enhanced version
WhoFavorites – Store and Replay /who queries.
Must install ACE library to make it work
LootLink Enhanced – Disable tooltip: Open LootLink -> Options -> uncheck “Show extra tooltip info”
Use LootLink Database Adder if you want a complete database with all items in Vanilla WoW. Activate this addon only once, Lootlink will load all the data from this addon. After that, you can delete it.
Chat Keys – Allows you to bind hotkeys to start message on all standard channels. I am using Alt + I for /say and Alt + O for /party.
MoveAnything – Allows you to move UI components, like Spellbook, Character sheet, Tradeskill window etc. Also you can move your portrait and your target’s portrait.
ToggleGather – Toggle between Find Herbs and Find Minerals with a single hotkey
NotesUNeed – Notes Manager that allows you to track Friends, Ignores, Guild members, Quests, Items and generic notes.
Has an issue with MapNotes though. You can’t delete MapNotes notes if NotesUNeed is activated.
But if you only need a notepad addon then use Omnibus
EVTCalendar – Event Calendar AddOn for WoW 1.12.1
TimeManager – Time Management features from patch 2.4.3+. These features include an alarm clock, stopwatch, and viewing your computer’s local time.
Niagara – Makes a list of all your Ace2 Addons that use AceConsole using Waterfall Lib so you have a GUI for configuration.
CritLine – Every time you hit a new record with a spell or ability, it will show the new record and plays a fitting sound.
WhoList_Fix – Fixes the Who-List Display in WoW 1.12.1
Automaton – Reduces interface tedium by doing the little things for you. It sells the gray items (junk), auto dismounts, etc. Make sure you disable Attack, Gossip and Filter though. Attack will make your targets sticky in combat, and you won’t be able to target your party members in order to heal them. With Gossip enabled, you can not set your HearthStone to an innkeeper as it will take you directly to vendoring items. Filter will not allow you to see, at class or profession trainer, the spells/abilities that are unavailable yet.
KLHThreatMeter – Adds a small threat indicator to your target frame that will also change color depending on your current threat.
Classic-Snowfall – Accelerates key bindings so that they are activated by key press rather than key release
modui – Complete vanilla UI (Clean but modern!)
pfUI – Aims to be a full replacement for the original interface.
LunaUnitFrames – Lightweight Unit Frames with a modern look
Nice addons that I wish they worked:
reagentCounter, EquipColor, Accountant
Nice addons that I wish they existed on Vanilla WoW:
Ackis Recipe List
More AddOns Packs:
ericraio – crazypoultry – beren12 – kidaa – laytya –
Road-block – KasVital – rootedCF – steathy – vanillamage.com
Addon configuration info:
Download this file: Omnibus.lua and copy it into C:\WoW\WTF\Account\MYUSER\SavedVariables\Omnibus.lua
(Post updated at 2025-10-24)
Vanilla WoW 