One of the things that sets this game apart from other MMOs is that Blizzard actively encourages players to use third party programs with their games. In short, Mods and addons help you legally manipulate the game to your advantage. They can either change the interface so you only have to deal with important information, or help automate and simplify some of the more difficult tasks you’ll encounter. As a general rule, mages don't need nearly as many addons as other classes since their roles are so straightforward and rely more on macros to make themselves more efficient. But there are a few here that are pretty much necessary regardless of class.
To install an addon first download it to your computer. From there you must extract it to your Addons file which can usually be found in /c:program files/World of Warcraft/interface/Addons. From here you will have to log into the game and at the character select screen look for the small Addons button in the lower left side. Click on it to open up the addons menu and put a checkmark on the mod you wish to activate.
CT Raid
http://www.ctmod.net/
This is absolutely mandatory for anyone that wants to raid. It gives you information on all of your raid members including their current HP and any debuffs they may have. It also has several other uses like mail managment and coordinate system for your map.
Cryolysis
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/details/8551/
This is a handy little addon that gives you a movable HUD with several of your most used actions like conjuring and portals.
Quartz
http://www-en.curse-gaming.com/downloads/details/7960/
I find this mod more useful for my melee characters. But it has a nice casting UI that is much easier to read than the in-game one.
Theorycraft
http://wow.curse-gaming.com/en/files/details/5360/theorycraft-2/
This mod changes your tool tips to display how much damage or healing your abilities will do. Its a real lifesaver at showing you how much your spells will actually hit for with all of your damage gear and gives you averages of your spells critical strikes based on your talents.
Omen Threat Meter
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/details/9101/
This is a necessity if you plan on doing large amounts of grouping or raiding. It is a little better than KLHT threat meter in my personal opinion.
Macros
Macros are small user created programs that let you condense several actions into one button. A macro is basically a list of instructions for you computer to complete one after another so you don’t have to click several buttons with your mouse or change your targets. Macros typically follow the following format.
/command [target or option] action1; [target or option] action2; ect.
You can have as many separate actions as you want, but the text field will only hold a set amount of characters so there are limits. You must also be very careful that everything in your macro is spelled correctly or in the right format. The computer can only work if you give it specific instructions and can’t read your mind if you have made a mistake. The command section will usually be either /cast which casts a single spell. /castsequence which will cast a sequence of spells each time you click the button. Or /use which will use an item or special ability from a piece of equipment. Target and option will direct the macro to the person that will be receiving the effect. Option helps narrow down the list of people so you can specify when and on who the macro is used. [combat] will only execute the macro when you are in combat. [harm] will execute when the target is an enemy. The Target part of this section tells the macro specifically which person or enemy to target. [target=player] will target yourself while [target=mouseover] will target the person
that your mouse curser is hovering over. (It must be hovering over their portrait in the party window, not their actual character.) The final part of the macro is the actual action. Type in the name of the ability, spell or item you want to use and it will execute it. If you are using several abilities you need to separate them with a quotation symbol without the quotation marks. If you are trying to separate specific actions from each other you would use “ “ but that is more complicated.
To create a macro type /macro in your chat bar to bring up the macro menu then select “ new“. Next pick the icon that you will click whenever you want to use it and give it a descriptive name. The rest of the creation process requires you to fill in the text box with commands. Here are a few helpful ones for you to copy down.
Focused Polymorph
This lets you polymorph a target and keeps track of it so you won't have to change targets to polymorph it again. This will probably be the most important macro you ever use.
#show Polymorph
/clearfocus [modifier:shift]
/focus [target =focus, noexists]; [target=focus,dead]
/clearfocus [target=focus,help'
/stopcasting
/cast [target=focus,exists,harm] Polymorph; Polymorph
Counterspell
This macro stops whatever spell you are currently casting and uses counterspell on your current target. This way you won't miss stopping them. I usualy just use this to replace my normal counterspell icon.
#showtooltip counterspell
/stopcasting
/cast Counterspell
POM/Pyroblast
This activates Presence of Mind, then instantly uses pyroblast. This version also activates Arcane power for extra damage, but if you don't want that you can just get rid of that line..
#showtooltip Pyroblast
/cast Presence of Mind
/cast Arcane Power
/cast Pyroblast
Decursing Macro
This will help you during those times you need to use Remove Curse on one of your partymates. Simply hold your curser over their portriats on the left of your screen and click.
/cast ptarget=mousover,exists]Remove Lesser Curse
Totem Stomper
This is another macro mostly used in PVP. It instantly uses an icelance to attack any nearby totem a shaman might have thrown down. It does this by checking a list on known totems so you won't have much control over which gets selected. So if you are taking this into PVP you might want to edit the list to only have the more damaging ones.
#showtooltip Ice Lance
/target [exists] Searing Totem
/target [exists] Earthbind Totem
/target [exists] Grounding Totem
/target [exists] Tremor Totem
/cast Ice Lance