Macro Anatomy: Polymorphing with the Focus Target
by Sean Forsgren 
Apr 13th 2008 at 2:00PM
Using your focus target has been the topic of much discussion in the past few days here at WoW Insider. Mike mentioned his interest in using macros to utilize the focus functionality built into the default UI. Tekkub's Control Freak was profiled, which basically automates the process of using crowd control abilities through the use of macros.WoW Insider reader Aaron provided a very good macro for those of you wanting to make use of your focus target to maintain Polymorph on a focus target.
Here's the macro, ready to be copied and pasted into your macro interface:
#show Polymorph
/clearfocus [modifier:shift]
/focus [target=focus,noexists]; [target=focus,dead]
/clearfocus [target=focus,help]
/stopcasting
/cast [target=focus,exists,harm] Polymorph; Polymorph
Come on back after the break for an explanation of what this macro does.
I spent some time thinking about how to explain this one, and settled on quoting Aaron rather than paraphrasing his very functional description. Here it is in his words:
"Clicking this button (macro) sets your target as your focus, and starts to sheep them if in range (I usually set them when they're out of range, and hit the button again when they come in range after the tank pulls). You can now target a different mob and wack away, and when you're sheep pops, just hit this button again (no need to change your target). Shift-clicking will clear the focus (if no new enemy target is selected), or set your current target as your new focus. When your target is dead, hitting this button again clears your focus."
I'll take you all on a journey into the land of conditionals in the coming weeks of Macro Anatomy. For now, I'll let this description do the job, as it does it quite well. Until then (finals are my nemesis) enjoy sheeping those pesky rogues.
Every week Macro Anatomy takes you on a magic carpet ride through the world of macros. Sometimes you will encounter existing macros that you can use off the shelf. We'll break them down and figure out how they work. Other times we'll just talk about the different parts of a macro and how you can use them to create your own. You can always stop by the shop if you want to catch up or get started with macros.Filed under: Mage, Analysis / Opinion, Tips, Tricks, How-tos, Macro Anatomy
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tyranor Apr 13th 2008 2:18PM
I actually prefer this one, which I found on wowiki:
#showtooltip
/focus [button:1]
/cast [button: 1]Polymorph
/cast [button: 2,target=focus]Polymorph
What it does is poly and focus on first click, and then sheep the target of your focus whenever you right click the button. I'm not a big fan of shiftclicking.
Farrell Apr 13th 2008 2:43PM
the shift clicking thing is for those that prefer to use hot-keys instead of clicking buttons.
Be warned, some camps will ridicule you for being a "clicker".
[I couldn't care, as long as you're playing well and having fun]
Nick S Apr 13th 2008 3:36PM
i raid with 5 full action bars on my mage, and i use probably all but 2 or 3 of those buttons in any given raid.
i COULD use super-complex button setups, but i find it's extremely (as in, i rarely lose time between cast-end and cast-start) fast to combine buttons on the left hand with mouse clicks. polymorph is in the "click" zone, just because if i need it i can usually hover my mouse over it, ready for action. and if i don't, well, i don't want to rearrange my action bars every time i enter karazhan.
"clickers" to me are people who activate ALL of their actions with the mouse alone - that's probably not going to be very fast.
Tyranor Apr 13th 2008 3:36PM
clicking for the initial sheep would indeed be slow as hell, and cause a bunch of wipes. Clicking for a resheep...meh.
Farrell Apr 13th 2008 2:39PM
I'd also put #showtooltip in below the #show line [you could also remove the 'Polymorph' from that line, as it'll automagically take the icon for polymorph since it's the only /cast in there], and it'll give the icon the polymorph tooltip too
Havitech Apr 13th 2008 3:02PM
I had to remove the /stopcasting line to prevent constant "Interrupted" errors caused by scrolling up on my mouse wheel (where I have Polymorph hot keyed to).
Farrell Apr 13th 2008 3:15PM
wasn't the need for /stopcasting removed in 2.4?
Drale Apr 13th 2008 4:41PM
Unless I'm mistaken the /stopcasting here is so that if you need to resheep something you do it right away instead of waiting to finish casting that fireball.
The removing of /stopcasting in 2.3 referred to chain casting where you can now start a cast before your client thinks it's done casting and by the time the server gets the message, you are done reducing latency. Previously the message wouldn't be sent to the server unless you told your client to cancel the spell you were in the middle of casting. Now the message gets send whether you are casting or not as long as you aren't in global cooldown.
Aigarius Apr 13th 2008 4:57PM
I also prefer to remove the /stopcasting for one reason - it also interrupts casting of the Polymorph itself. There is a bunch of mobs that need to be chain-polymorphed (either because of their nasty abilities or because somone is dispelling it) nd it is *highly* useful to be able to spam the polymorph macro to achieve that. If you have /stopcasting in your poly macro and start spamming it faster than 1 click per 1.5s, then you polymorph will never complete making you useless.
Aikiwoce Apr 13th 2008 3:02PM
I prefer this one:
#showtooltip
/clearfocus [mod:shift] [target=focus,dead] [target=focus,noexists] [target=focus,noharm]
/focus [target=focus,noexists]
/cast [target=focus] Polymorph(Rank 1: Pig)
/stopmacro [nobtn:2]
/script SetRaidTargetIcon("focus", 4)
Nick S Apr 13th 2008 3:38PM
great column. breakfast topic idea - "share with us your most novel, incredibly useful macro"
Wired Apr 13th 2008 4:21PM
PoM Poly FTW :)
/castsequence Presence of Mind, Polymorph
S?hrtogg Apr 13th 2008 7:14PM
that could be simplified to a 1-click macro:
/cast Presence of Mind
/cast Polymorph
(idd no /stopcasting needed here since 2.3)
I personally use the following two macros on my mage:
macro 1:
/focus
macro 2:
#showtooltip Polymorph
/stopcasting
/focus [target=focus, noexists] [target=focus, dead] [target=focus, noharm]
/cast [modifier:alt] Presence of Mind
/cast [target=focus, exists] Polymorph
macro 1 focuses your target
macro 2 focuses your target if you have no focus yet, then sheeps your focus (1-click) or PoM sheeps your focus (hold alt)
The separate focusing macro 1 allows you to set your focus before the pull and get rid of it after the pull (target nothing, then focus target) Spam the second macro to resheep.
Zarzuur Apr 13th 2008 8:24PM
Continuing the macro spam :), here's mine, part-assembled from WoWwiki.com ..
#showtooltip Polymorph
/stopcasting
/clearfocus [button:2]
/clearfocus [button:1,target=focus,dead]
/focus [target=focus,noexists,button:1]
/cast [target=focus,exists,harm,button:1] Polymorph
It is basically the same as the rest but I added a focus clearing bit on the right-click.
So left-click poly, right-click clear.
Zarzuur Apr 13th 2008 8:42PM
Note on the clear -- in this macro you would only use it if switching targets while the first sheep is still alive. (This should be a rare event)
moink Apr 14th 2008 7:52AM
For priests, replace "Polymorph" with "Shackle Undead" and you can keep your tank targeted all through Moroes.
Download the focusframe addon as well.
Aaron Apr 14th 2008 11:48AM
Aaron here-
Just to reiterate Marzuur's statement, I only use the modifer "shift" to change my focus targets, lets say if someone takes up my sheep and I need to CC a diff mob, or if I mistakely sheep the wrong target. It's not something you use much, but it's helpful when you need it ;). I'm a hot-key kinda guy, since I find 'clicking' a bit slow when things get crazy. A guildy of mine has set the clear focus to a different button (like Zarzuur has) and he likes it. You can change it to how every you want, but it's still my favorite macro.
Erika Apr 15th 2008 8:28PM
Can i request you do one on using cast random and certain bag slots. I have a lot of non combat pets and not enough space in the macro.