Stat Weighting is simply assigning weights to attributes that are preferable for your character, in order to optimize their effectiveness, in a given role. That being said, stat weighting largely depends on class and build. This guide is a means to explain stat weighting in as basic of a method as possible.

Wowhead has their stat weighting based on AskMrRobot. I find that I prefer looking at items via Wowhead, as I like to see the raw number scores for a given slot, rather than compared against my character. It also gives a holistic view into the items themselves, rather than individually basing it on a slot.

• Start by navigating over to Wowhead and going to Database/Items. You should see a page that looks similar to this:

• Then simply pick out a few traits to filter on, after which you will click apply filter. In this example I am using my hunter, including a level range, the source of the items as quest loot, his talent spec, and uncommon gems or better:

• At which point you should see a list that looks similar to this:

• You can also sort by slot or by level, as seen below:

• Lastly, if you want to fine-tune or get into the nitty-gritty of the stat weights, you can expand the section seen here and assign your own weights, based on your character:

In summary, stat weighting, is by no means an end-all, be-all solution, but can be helpful, when deciding what items might suit your character best. It should be treated no different from the cookie-cutter talent specs. In the end, the player makes the most of how they perform.

I’ll admit it, I’m an addon-a-holic, no if, and, or but about it…. I really feel like they contribute quite a bit to the experience of a MMORPG. I started MMORPG’s, way back when, Ultima Online and Asheron’s Call were in their prime. Asheron’s Call was the first game that exposed me to third-party addons(Decal, Splitpea anyone?). I really feel like they let developers and players contribute more to what they feel the game should contain.

Now that is not to say that some folks have wrote certain plugins or addons, that have a certain ill-intent to them, in order to bot, cheat, etc… Some would argue that any addon, potentially gives the upper hand, in comparison to those not utilizing it. However, majority of plugins or addons are regularly available for the masses, and anyone can go download and utilize them. Some might even argue, Blizzard, has selected some of the best ideas within addons or plugins out there, and implemented them into the game directly.

That all being said, here are a few of my personal favorites for World of Warcraft:

• Auctioneer – This is probably the best of the auction addons, I have ever found. I’ve tried several of the others, however this one I find suits me best, even though it does have a bit of overhead to it.
• Gatherer – Also made by the folks, who make Auctioneer, is another one of my essentials, in being able to track where mines, herbs, and other resources are for future gathering excursions.
• Bagnon – Let’s be honest, the Blizzard default bags are horrible, they take up half of the screen, and all we really want is a nice consolidated method in which to view it. Bagnon does this perfectly in my opinion.
• Bartender4 – I enjoy the default bars for the most part, but I really enjoy being able to place buttons where they make sense to me. Bartender4 makes this process easy to implement.
• Omen Threat Meter – As a individual who has played a tank, not only in World of Warcraft, but several different MMORPG’s, this is probably one of the best ideas for people. If the tank isn’t tanking, then someone is likely dying. By no means, is this an end-all, be-all, but it does help considerably from causing wipes.