Add-ons are useful programs you can install that will add functionality or modifications to the default WoW interface. For example, you can load an add-on that will display map coordinates on your minimap.

There are many sites that allow you to download add-ons. Some of my favorites are WoWAce via the WoWAceUpdater (see detail below), Curse Gaming and WoW Interface.

Always be sure to keep your add-ons updated. This is especially important when Blizzard releases game patches.

Here’s a screenshot of my user interface:

My Add-Ons

Here is a list of the add-ons I use as well as a brief description of each. I have separated the list to distinguish Ace and non-Ace add-ons. Ace is an add-on development system. It allows different add-ons to use a common set of tools. Ace add-ons may be loaded via the WoWAceUpdater (see below).

Ace Add-Ons

• AckisRecipeList – displays a list of missing recipes for your profession or skills
• AtlasLoot – works with Atlas to display possible loot from instance bosses
• AutoProfitX – automatically sells gray items to vendors
• Bartender3 – action bar replacement and modification
• Cartographer – map replacement (can also display additional information such as mining and herb locations, notes, treasure, etc.)
• Chinchilla – minimap replacement and customization
• ClosetGnome – allows you to create sets of armor or equipment that can be easily swapped with a hotkey (i.e. weapons, trinkets, healing gear, etc.)
• CloseUp – allows you to zoom in and move your character dressing room view
• CowTip – tooltip replacement
• cyCircled – changes the appearance of your action buttons
• eePanels2 – creates customizable panels for your interface
• eeShards – soul shard management for your warlock
• FishingAce – right-click to cast while fishing
• FuBar – creates panels on the top and/or bottom of the screen that additional FuBar modules can plug into
• FuBar_AmmoFu – keeps track of your ammo (bullets/arrows/thrown)
• FuBar_ClockFu – displays the server or local time
• FuBar_DurabilityFu – displays your durability and can be set to auto-repair when you visit a vendor that can repair
• FuBar_ExerienceFu – keeps track of your experience
• FuBar_FactionItemsFu – keeps track of Reputation/Faction items
• FuBar_FactionsFu – displays your standings with factions
• FuBar_FriendsFu – displays online friends
• FuBar_GuildFu – displays online guildmates
• FuBar_HonorFu – tracks your honor and PvP statistics
• FuBar_LocationFu – displays your current location
• FuBar_MailFu – in-game mail alert
• FuBar_MoneyFu – keeps track of your money, including gains and losses
• FuBar_PerformanceFu – displays system information such as frame rate, latency, and memory usage
• FuBar_ProfessionsFu – displays your professions and their skill level
• FuBar_RestFu – tracks rested status, experience and play time for all your characters
• FuBar_TopScoreFu – keeps track of your highest hits, heals, crits, etc.
• FuBar_TrackerFu – allows you to select your current tacking mode
• LittleWigs – boss warnings for 5-man instances
• nQuestLog – displays number of current quests and displays on-screen quest tracker
• Omen – threat meter
• Prat – customizable replacement chat frame
• Quartz – casting bar
• RatingBuster – item stat analysis and comparison
• Violation – damage/healing meter
• XLoot – replacement loot frame

Non-Ace Add-Ons

• Atlas – instance maps with boss locations
• Auctioneer – I use the “Classic Suite” (Auctioneer, EnhTooltip, Informant and Stubby modules) – allows you to scan the auction house to determine the average selling price for items – can automatically price posted auctions for you
• Bagnon – consolidates all your bags into one – allows you to view items in your bank and on your other characters
• Deadly Boss Mods – boss warnings for raids
• DoubleWide – reformats your quest log for side-by-side viewing
• Feed-O-Matic – for hunters – allows you to feed your pet easily and quickly using a hotkey
• Hunter’s Helper – for hunters – displays tamed abilities for beasts
• Levelator – displays quest levels in the quest log
• LightHeaded – displays quest tips and coordinate from WoWHead in your quest log
• MetaHUD – adds a heads-up-display to your screen – displays character and target health, mana, etc.
• MikScrollingBattleText – displays scrolling combat text
• MobInfo-2 – adds additional mob information to the standard tooltip
• OmniCC – displays a numeric cooldown on buttons
• Power Auras – allows you to set visual warnings for buffs, debuffs, etc.
• QuestHelper – compiles a list of waypoints for your quests and displays them on the map and minimap
• TomTom – click on a set of coordinates in LightHeaded and TomTom will add a waypoint to your map and minimap
• X-Perl UnitFrames – replacement for the default unit frames – features animated character portraits, debuff highlighting, range indicator, etc.

Installing Add-Ons
Add-ons are stored in the Interface folder. For Windows users, the default location is C:\Program Files\World of Warcraft\Interface\AddOns. For Mac users, the default location is /Applications/World of Warcraft/Interface/Addons/.

Most add-ons are distributed in zip files. To install them you simply unzip the contents of the zip file to the above-mentioned folders. When you log in to WoW for the first time after installation, press the AddOns button in the lower-left corner of the character selection screen and make sure the “Load out of date AddOns” box is checked.

WoWAce provides an automated way to quickly and easily add, remove and update your Ace add-ons using the WoWAceUpdater.

WowAceUpdater: