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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsRaid Rx: Sometimes you just need to Focus
by Matt Low 
Jan 13th 2010 at 9:00AM
I received a plea for help via email from a discipline priest. Here's the gist of the email:
Well Bizkit, there is something that can help you out. All you need is a little focus!Hi Matt
Basically I use grid and clique. I target my tank and have no issues with this. However, when it comes to dispelling Jaraxxus for example, I need to tab target to find him, and then use raid frames to get my tank back.
Do you know of a way either by another raid frame or macro where I can consistently target the boss and heal the tank? I use buttons for Prayer of Mending, Power Word: Shield and Penance, and the other spells through clique and grid.
Any help you can give would be appreciated
Thanks!
Bizkit
The focus is a feature that came out several years ago and WoW.com has touched on it before in the past. I'd say that there's still a number of players who don't have a firm understanding of what it is or just have yet to realize the potential it has. DPS players frequently make use of focus to keep enemies crowd controlled. Think Polymorph or Banish as examples.
What exactly is the focus?
I'm going to pull a definition from WoWWiki as I can't explain it anymore eloquently:
This is incredibly valuable for healers. It opens up a wide array of stuff we can do while healing. For Priests, we can Shackle targets without risking too much (such as in Halls of Reflection). Shamans can then Wind Shock to interrupt mobs without losing healing time (Lord Jaraxxus and his Fel Fireballs anyone?).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. Furthermore, the user interface supplies full real-time updates for the currently stored focus, including health and mana updates and enemy casting bars. Some user interface addons provide a complete unit frame for the focus.
Those are just some of the applications that can help in raid settings
Some focus commands
/focus - This sets your selected target as your focus. I bound this command to my b key ever since I started using shift + b to open all of them./clearfocus - Removes your focus target. It's blank. Without a focus, your focus macros will skip the focus part.
/target focus - This changes your current target to your focus target.
/target focustarget - Automatically targets the focus target.
Focus addons
Personally, I like to use Pitbull 3 to manage all my unit frame stuff. I'll demonstrate how I handle the focus stuff.
My personal unit frame is on the far left. My target is on the far right (Decaying Colossus). The target being railed on by the Colossus is the fat bad in the middle. The focus is the smaller bar underneath on the left while the focus target is the one beside it.
Anyway, I'm still tweaking with it trying to decide what information I really need and what I don't. But that's the general layout of it. Its in a place that sits square in the middle of my screen where my eyes can trace it easily.
Anyway, I'm still tweaking with it trying to decide what information I really need and what I don't. But that's the general layout of it. Its in a place that sits square in the middle of my screen where my eyes can trace it easily.
Putting it in practice
Now, let's apply this in a standard raid situation. As a priest, my healing targets are going to continue to change. I could jump from rogue to mage to myself if it became necessary. I've been assigned specifically to heal the raid. A common misconception of being assigned to raid is to heal the raid minus the tanks and that is really wrong! Raid healers heal everyone in the raid. Sometimes tank healers need a boost or maybe they get shut down by some ability which neutralizes them for a few seconds.A good healer who realizes the tank is in trouble will simply mouseover them and then use a direct heal of their choice until that tank is back in the green.
A great healer who realizes the tank is in trouble simply presses their heal focus target macro. This saves them the trouble of having to find the tank on their frames, mousing over or selecting them, and then dropping a heal. Using a focus macro immediately causes the healer to simply heal the focus target without losing much time at all.
The Jaraxxus scenario.
Lets go back to how a player in a situation such as Bizkit would apply this against Lord Jaraxxus. In this case, since there does not appear to be a shaman who can Purge or a mage who can Spellsteal, the duty of removing Lord Jaraxxus Nether Power buff can only be removed with the aid of a priest.
How can we ensure that Jaraxxus gets his Nether Power removed while minimizing the risk of the tank falling over?
Step 1: Create a macro which targets your focus and dispels them. Be sure to bind it (I like to use e for Dispel, ctrl + e for Mass Dispel and shift + e for Abolish Disease and alt + e for focused dispels. Your macro should look something like this:
Step 2: Set Lord Jaraxxus as your focus. Target him, and press your focus key (or type /focus with Lord Jaraxxus selected)./cast [target=focus] Dispel Magic
Step 3: Now when Lord J gets powered up, just repeatedly press your new focus macro and it will remove Nether Power. At the same time, you won't lose your primary healing target. For example, the tank will continue to remain your main target.
Now start focusing! Good luck and happy healing! Feel free to get in touch if you have more raid healing-ish questions.
Want some more advice for working with the healers in your guild? Raid Rx has you covered with all there is to know! Need raid or guild healing advice? E-mail me at matticus@wow.com and you could see a future post addressing your question. Looking for less healer-centric raiding advice? Take a look at our raiding column Ready Check. Filed under: Druid, Paladin, Priest, Shaman, Raiding, Raid Rx (Raid Healing)
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
Suggsugg Jan 15th 2010 1:55PM
/agree
I was reading the whole article wondering WHY anyone ever needed to target a tank! Thanks Healbot!
Ilcyra Jan 13th 2010 9:35AM
Healbot allows you to keep the mob targeted while healing anybody in the raid. If you're going to use an add-on anyway, why not skip the whole /focus business?
malohkan Jan 13th 2010 11:59AM
This is my preferred solution as well. I can easily purge immediately and never skip a beat while healing. Similarly, on Faction Champs, I can focus the shadow priest to interrupt, and constantly be purging the raid's main dps target, all while healing as fast as I can on the people with aggro. All you have to do is install Healbot and you have all the functionality you need. I always hear people whining about how difficult it is to set up certain plugins on Grid to get all the functionality that they need in a good way. I can get Healbot running on a new healer in a matter of like 2 minutes and have all that same functionality. In fact, I would argue that functionality is better still. I don't get why it's not way more popular than it is.
wrendil Jan 13th 2010 12:11PM
I don't use healbot, but clique and grid, but they allow me the same freedom. But I still us focus on the tank. Tied in with Power Auras, I can have icons up for BoL, S. Shield, and the Flash of Light Hot, all with timers on each showing when they are gonna fall off. Not to mention I can macro my Judgments to hit the focus target, so I never have to target a mob, and in a pack, JoL is up on the Tank's Target, which, if the DPS is using focus on the tank, then can /assist focus and all will be win.
Along with all that, I now have 3 places on the screen showing my tanks health, I'm usually focused on grid, but I have the focus frame in one area, and the party frames up too, so its just bonus visual aid.
And yes, I can still see even with all that stuff up on my screen!
hyasenwow Jan 13th 2010 12:21PM
I use Healbot too and this is exactly what I was thinking. I also use Decursive for all my party dispels. Yes, I know Healbot can do it, but I prefer to have it in Decursive so that I don't accidentally miss a dispel in the confusion of Healbot.
On Jaraxxus, I generally just keep him targeted and then heal whoever needs healing. Of course, we also generally have a mage who just spellsteals Nether Power instead of me needing to dispel it.
Rainnajax Jan 13th 2010 9:47AM
Easy answer....I use Healbot, used to use Grid and clique, but either way, in Healbot, you can set certain debuffs to come up as custom so that you can immediately see the target that is needed, and also decursive works well too for any class. I use the customer target in healbot for fights like Jaraxxus for Incinerate Flesh where one person needs immediate heals or on Kel'Thuzad where one person is hit with the frost blast and needs immediate healing. It changes my bar on Healbot to a dark purple color which is easily seen versus the normal default green. I know that this can be done with Grid also. For fel Fireball, it comes up on decursive and you just click on the little box and it's gone.
:-)
ZMES_Matt Jan 13th 2010 9:47AM
Would this not work?:
/cast dispel
/cast [@focus] dispel
I would think that if your current target has nothing to dispel then nothing has been done and the macro will continue on to the next line of code which would be to dispel your focus.
crschmidt Jan 13th 2010 11:40AM
The first line will cause an error, and stop the execution of the macro.
Thram Jan 13th 2010 9:52AM
While healbot et al. are useful tools, I've found that a simple unit frame addon (I use xperl, personally), and some mouse-over macros work amazingly well. With this system, you run lighter (less memory used), and you have potentially faster reaction times than those using healing addons.
Example:
#showtooltip Healing Touch
/cast [@mouseover,help,nodead][help][@player] Healing Touch
Enter this in as a macro and then drag it to one of your bound action keys [1,2,3...]. When you press the key you will heal the character under the mouse pointer, or if there is no ally there, heal a friendly that you have targeted, or if there is none heal yourself. You can replace 'Healing Touch' with any helpful spell -- dispell, decurse, cleanse, holy light, etc.
While healing in this way, you are able to mouse turn (use the mouse buttons to move your character) - something that is almost impossible with many healing addons. You are also able to directly target the boss or mob your group is attacking. If you have enemy cast bars enabled, this will let you see when he's winding up a nasty spell or ability and so pre-cast a heavy heal to help deal with the incoming spike damage.
lightningjynx Jan 13th 2010 10:07AM
But aren't you basically doing the same thing with a mouseover macro as you are with grid&clique? Your mouse still needs to be over the frame of the unit, so you are still using your mouse to heal, you are just replacing the click on the mouse with pushing the keystroke. Also, when on my holy paladin, I have it set up where my Beacon of Light and Sacred Shield are cast on my focus with a push of the button, that way I can easily refresh those two without ever having to touch the tank's unit frame. I love using focus, even on my resto druid, so I can watch the HoTs on him and refresh them as needed.
I say to each his own when it comes to healing, especially since when I see people with their main abilities assigned to the top layout I cringe. I like the majority of my abilities on my letters surrounding the W,A,S,D keys. But that's more for my tanks and damage dealers than anything. I also use both grid & clique and VuhDo, it all depends on the character, and I'm not sure which one I like better. Personally, VuhDo is much more user-friendly right out of the box, while Grid takes some configuring and take time. I haven't played around with VuhDo much so I don't know how customizable it is, but I do really like it, just haven't gotten away from Grid & Clique yet.
TLDR: It really shouldn't matter if you are using mouseover macros or focus macros or Healbot or Grid&Clique. Just use what is most comfortable for you and produces the best results. But by all means, try each method out to find which works best.
Thram Jan 14th 2010 9:06AM
@Lightningjinx
The only issue with a focus for beacon/SS target is that on several fights you have tank swaps or might need to beacon on the fly (for example, beacon a person with mark of blood on the Deathbringer Saurfang Jr. encounter in ICC while still healing the tanks).
My point about mouse turning is that if you're using a click to heal you're generally unable to use the mouse (buttons 1+2) to move around -- leading to slower reaction times etc.
I agree that everyone needs to find what works best for them in terms of how they heal, but there are certain indications if you're doing it 'better':
1) your target(s) stay alive and you complete the encounter (baseline for success!)
2) you are able to stay alive while still focused on achieving #1
3) you are able to react to situations that are unexpected quickly and efficiently
Note: nothing in there had ANYTHING to do with topping meters. If there is any focus on meters it should be on the overhealing meter for encounters where someone went OOM. (See #1 above!)
wyzim Jan 13th 2010 9:58AM
My target is generally the boss/add. I heal everyone, including tank(s), through Clique/Grid. I like to know what buffs the boss currently has, what spell he is casting, so that my heals could be more reactive to that.
FireStar Jan 13th 2010 10:14AM
A common misconception of being assigned to raid is to heal the raid minus the tanks and that is really wrong!
^^this. I was my guild's main healer, and i was always on raid healing - which everyone knew that just means i heal whoever is in trouble of top people off if no one is in trouble.
Grul Jan 13th 2010 10:18AM
DPS should be purging/dispelling that off of Jaraxxus...making a healer do it is a pain. =)
Sometimes you don't always have one of those though. Same thing goes for Auriaya (interrupt) in Ulduar or the Confessor (dispel the Renew) and Ambrose (DPS buff) in ToC5. Generally you know which encounters when you'll need to switch to the mob to dispel, I have a macro built for all of them and then bind them to my "5" key and then swap them out when needed. E.g.
/target Auriaya
/cast Wind Shear
It's not as sexy as using Focus, but it's a really simple solution if that's what you want.
curtisrutland Jan 14th 2010 1:53AM
A much better solution than that is
/cast[@Auriaya] Wind Shear
With your way, your target actually shifts to Auriaya. This way, Wind Shear is cast on Auriaya but you keep the target you already have.
But focus is an even better way to handle it, since you don't actually have to have a macro for each fight where you want to interrupt a particular mob. Before the pull, focus the interrupt target, and when you want to interrupt, use
/cast[@focus] Wind Shear
Now you have a one-size-fits-all macro, rather than having to have a new one for every boss you need it for.
I used to make macros for each of my tanks when playing on my rogue for Tricks of the Trade, but I found that to be a real pain having to remake the macro every time (and god help you if the tank has special characters in his name). So i use this now:
/cast[@targettarget] Tricks of the Trade
Since I'm targeting a mob that is targeting the tank, the tank gets my ToT.
madisona Jan 13th 2010 10:23AM
Focus is cool and everything, but there's a new addon that basically works as Grid/Clique/Healbot that is way easier to set up AND lets you target whoever you want while healing any target.
Three cheers for VuhDo. Addon of the year, imo.
chazlander Jan 13th 2010 10:51AM
Focus Frames are great. But if its just tank and spank (which for that healer/tank combo it is) use your 'F' to assist your target.
So when I'm healing the tank on Jarax, and my Boss Mods tell me I need to dispell, I hit 'F' (since I'm healing the tank it will assist him) which will be Jarax. Dispel. And then hit 'F' again (since I'll be assisting Jarax, he's beating on the tank) and I'll be back to where I started.
Started in Vanilla so all these addons/mods/macros seem a bit overkill to me. I heal perfectly well which just some nice raid frames.
The220 Jan 13th 2010 11:07AM
This is what i am trying to learn. i have not downloaded one addon to help me heal, i am going to start playing around with focus and see if that helps me with things.
chazlander Jan 13th 2010 11:42AM
Yes, I usually set the Focus Frame to the raid boss as well, which makes it extremely easy for dispelling stuff, seeing his cast bar, hp, mana, etc...
Obviousman Jan 13th 2010 12:08PM
"/focus - This sets your selected target as your focus. I bound this command to my b key ever since I started using shift + b to open all of them."
Open all what? Methinks you're missing some part of your thoughts here. ;)