Content:
Midnight Add-ons at a Glance
Updated 12 October 2026 for Midnight patch 12.1. Addon versions change weekly; we list addons that have published Midnight versions.
Midnight changed what addons can do. Since the 12.0 pre-patch, combat data such as auras, cooldowns and enemy casts is hidden from addon code as “secret values”: addons may display it, but they can’t read it and act on it. WeakAuras and rotation helpers like Hekili have no Midnight version as a result. Most other addons still work: boss mods, damage meters, nameplates, auction and collection tools. Blizzard added its own damage meter, boss timeline and Cooldown Manager to cover the gap.
| Need | Midnight answer |
|---|---|
| Boss timers | BigWigs or DBM (limited in combat) plus Blizzard’s boss timeline |
| Damage meter | Blizzard’s built-in meter, or Details! (some live data hidden) |
| WeakAuras replacement | Cooldown Manager + Cooldown Manager Centered |
| Nameplates | Plater, Platynator or Threat Plates |
| Rotation helper | Blizzard’s Assisted Highlight; addons can only display it |
| Auction House | Auctionator, CraftSim for crafting |
What Changed for Add-ons in Midnight
Blizzard’s goal was to stop addons from making combat decisions for the player. The rules arrived with the 12.0 pre-patch and were adjusted in later patches.
| Patch | Change for addons |
|---|---|
| 11.1.5 (The War Within) | Blizzard’s Cooldown Manager added to the default interface |
| Midnight beta (December 2025) | Blizzard relaxed some limits before launch: heal prediction and absorbs available again. It also started whitelisting spells addons may track, such as Skyriding, the global cooldown, Maelstrom Weapon, combat resurrections and Devourer Demon Hunter resources |
| 12.0 pre-patch and Midnight launch (early 2026) | “Secret values” go live: aura, cooldown and combat data can be shown but not read by addon code. Midnight adds a built-in damage meter (tracked on the server) and a boss ability timeline with alerts when you are targeted |
| 12.1 | New aura display frames let addons show filtered sets of auras in their own layout without seeing the underlying data. Addons that display auras need updates for it |
In practice: anything that shows information (timers, meters, nameplates, bars) still exists. Anything that decides for you (which spell to press, when a proc is up and what to do about it) is gone or comes from Blizzard’s own interface.
WeakAuras in Midnight
WeakAuras has no version for Midnight retail, and patch 12.1 did not change that. The team announced it during the Midnight alpha in October 2025:
“As it stands, we do not expect to release a WeakAuras version for Midnight.”
Their reason was that the new restrictions were “much more extensive than expected”. Core features such as Conditions, Actions, several triggers in one aura and cloning triggers would become impossible, and a stripped-down port would need months of rework and barely resemble the addon. WeakAuras is still maintained for the Classic versions, where the restrictions don’t apply.
What to use instead
| Option | What it does | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Cooldown Manager (built in) | Tracks your important spells, procs and buffs | Only what Blizzard exposes; layout options are basic |
| Cooldown Manager Centered | Restyles the built-in Cooldown Manager: centered layout, keybinds on icons | Same data as the built-in manager |
| Community aura addons (PopAuras, the Beacon fork) | Simple custom auras under the new rules | Not made by the WeakAuras team; many trigger types are still missing. Reports from 12.1 say custom auras can show your own debuffs on enemies, but not boss debuffs |
| Boss mods | Timers and warnings for raid and dungeon mechanics | Less information during the fight than before Midnight |
Your old WeakAuras strings won’t import into any of these. Rebuild only the few auras you actually need, usually major cooldowns and defensive buffs, in the Cooldown Manager.
Core Gameplay Add-ons (Must-Have)
- BigWigs + LittleWigs, or Deadly Boss Mods. Boss timers and warnings for raids (BigWigs) and dungeons (LittleWigs). Both still work in Midnight, but Blizzard limited what they can read during encounters, so pair them with Blizzard’s boss timeline instead of replacing it.
- Details! Damage Meter. Still the most detailed meter. Some data it used to record live is now hidden. Blizzard’s built-in meter is tracked on the server and is enough for most players; use Details! if you want its breakdowns.
- Plater, Platynator or Threat Plates. Custom enemy nameplates with cast bars and debuffs. Plater is the most configurable, Platynator and Threat Plates are quicker to set up.
- Cooldown Manager Centered. A cleaner look for Blizzard’s Cooldown Manager and the closest thing to a WeakAuras layout in Midnight.
- Angry Keystones. Extra Mythic+ timer details on top of the default keystone frame.
UI & Clarity Add-ons (Make the Game Feel Better)
- Better Blizzard Frames. Improves the default unit frames, nameplates and cast bars without replacing the whole interface. The safest choice if you want a cleaner Blizzard UI, not a new one.
- Mouseover Action Settings. Fades action bars, the minimap, buffs and other frames until you hover over them or a trigger fires, such as entering combat. Updated for all Midnight patches; open it with
/mbarsor/mas. - Account Wide Interface Settings. Copies interface options that are normally per character to all your characters.
- Dialogue UI. Restyles NPC dialogue and quest text for easier reading.
- Titan Panel. An information bar for durability, gold, latency and frame rate.
Utility and Convenience Add-ons
- Auctionator. Price history and faster buying and selling at the Auction House. If you sell anything, install it.
- TomTom. Waypoint arrow for coordinates from guides, including ours.
- HandyNotes with its zone plugins. Marks treasures, rares and collectibles on the map.
- RareScanner. Alerts you when a rare or treasure spawns nearby.
- Leatrix Plus. Small automations: auto-repair, auto-sell junk, hiding the minimap button clutter.
- Pawn. Shows whether an item is an upgrade for your spec. Useful for newer players; experienced players sim instead.
- Plumber and Narcissus. Quality-of-life panels: a better loot window, expansion summary, character and transmog screens.
If you farm gold with these tools, our Midnight solo gold farming guide lists the routes.
Advanced / Niche Add-ons
- BugSack + BugGrabber. Catches Lua errors silently instead of popping them up mid-fight. Many addons still throw errors after the Midnight changes, so this one is worth having.
- CraftSim. Calculates crafting costs and profits for Midnight professions.
- AllTheThings. Tracks every mount, pet, transmog and achievement you are missing, with sources.
- Angleur. Turns fishing into one key: casting, lures and the catch.
- Account Played. Adds up
/playedacross all your characters.
Rotation Helpers in Midnight
Hekili and similar rotation addons stopped working with the Midnight pre-patch, because they can no longer read your buffs and cooldowns. The replacement is Blizzard’s own Assisted Highlight and Single-Button Assistant. Small addons such as Simple Assisted Combat Icon, HekiLight and NextGCD only move Blizzard’s suggestion to a bigger icon near your character; none of them can change the priority list.
How the built-in tools work, their 25% global cooldown penalty on one button and the macros that help: WoW one-button rotation guide.
How to Build the Perfect Add-on Setup
Install in layers and stop when the game feels clear. More addons mean more errors after every patch.
| Layer | Raider / Mythic+ | Casual / solo |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Combat information | BigWigs + LittleWigs, Plater, Cooldown Manager Centered, Angry Keystones | Blizzard boss timeline and Cooldown Manager, no addon needed |
| 2. Meter | Details! | Built-in damage meter |
| 3. Interface | Better Blizzard Frames, Mouseover Action Settings | Better Blizzard Frames |
| 4. Utility | Auctionator, BugSack | Auctionator, TomTom, HandyNotes, RareScanner |
After each major patch, update all addons before you log in, then check BugSack once. If an addon breaks a frame, disable it rather than waiting in a raid. Once your UI is set, gear is the next limit: our Mythic+ bundle covers the fastest route.
Midnight Add-ons FAQ
Does WeakAuras work in Midnight?
No. There is no retail Midnight version, and 12.1 didn’t bring one. WeakAuras still works in the Classic versions.
What replaced WeakAuras?
Blizzard’s Cooldown Manager, usually styled with Cooldown Manager Centered. Community aura addons exist but can do much less.
Does Details! still work?
Yes, with some data hidden in combat. Blizzard’s built-in damage meter is an alternative.
Do BigWigs and DBM still work?
Yes, with less information during encounters. Blizzard’s boss timeline covers the main abilities.
Does Hekili work in Midnight?
No. Use Blizzard’s Assisted Highlight instead.
Why do my addons show errors after a patch?
Blizzard keeps adjusting the addon interface; patch 12.1 alone removed and added dozens of functions. Update everything, install BugSack, and remove addons that haven’t been updated since 12.0.