Weakaura that saturates when stacks reach a certain level

How to Create a WeakAura That Saturates When Stacks Reach a Certain Level

WeakAuras is one of the most powerful addons available in World of Warcraft (WoW), allowing players to track buffs, debuffs, cooldowns, and other game events through highly customizable visual and auditory alerts. In this article, we will walk you through the process of creating a WeakAura that changes its appearance—specifically saturating its icon—when stacks of a specific buff or debuff reach a designated threshold.

This guide assumes you have some basic familiarity with the WeakAuras addon and World of Warcraft’s UI, but we will cover all the essential steps in detail.

Understanding the Use Case

In many situations, keeping track of stacks of a particular buff or debuff is critical for maximizing your performance or adapting to encounter mechanics. For example:

• A debuff on an enemy might increase in power with stacks, requiring you to respond when it reaches a high level.
• A self-applied buff might grant additional damage or healing, encouraging you to time abilities when the buff is fully stacked.
• A debuff you receive might demand immediate action (e.g., using a defensive cooldown) when stacks hit a dangerous level.

Using WeakAuras to create a visual alert for such scenarios ensures you don’t miss crucial moments during gameplay.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Installing WeakAuras

If you don’t already have WeakAuras installed:

1. Open your preferred addon manager (e.g., CurseForge).
2. Search for “WeakAuras” and install it.
3. Launch World of Warcraft and ensure the addon is enabled in the AddOns menu at the character selection screen.

Step 2: Open WeakAuras

1. Once in the game, type /wa in the chat to open the WeakAuras interface.
2. Click on the “New Aura” button to start creating your custom aura.

Step 3: Select an Aura Type

1. Choose the type of aura you want to create. For this guide, we will use a Texture or Icon type.
2. Name your aura something descriptive, such as “Stack Saturation Alert.”

Step 4: Define the Trigger

1. In the “Trigger” tab, set the following parameters:
   • Trigger Type: Aura.
   • Aura Type: Buff or Debuff (choose based on the effect you want to track).
   • Unit: Player, Target, or another unit relevant to the buff/debuff.
   • Aura Name or ID: Enter the name or spell ID of the buff/debuff.
   • Stack Count: Use the condition to specify the threshold, such as “≥ 5” if you want the effect to trigger at 5 or more stacks.
2. You can optionally use “Exact Match” or “Spell ID” to ensure accuracy.

Step 5: Customize the Display

In the “Display” tab:

1. Texture/Icon: Select the texture or icon you want to use. For buffs, you can often use the default icon of the spell.
2. Size and Position: Adjust the size, position, and anchor point to place the WeakAura on your screen.
3. Saturation: This is the key step. Use the “Color” section to set up the saturation effect. For example, you can:
   • Use a grayscale or desaturated version of the icon as the default state.
   • Increase saturation to full (vivid colors) when the stack threshold is reached.

Step 6: Add Conditions

1. Go to the “Conditions” tab.
2. Click “Add Condition.”
3. Set the condition to activate when stacks reach the desired threshold (e.g., “Stacks ≥ 5”).
4. Define the action to take:
   • Adjust the “Color” property to increase saturation.
   • Change other visual elements like border glow or size if desired.

Step 7: Add Animations (Optional)

Animations can make your alert more noticeable:

1. Go to the “Animations” tab.
2. Set up animations for “On Show,” “Main,” and “On Hide.”
   • For example, use a pulsing effect when the aura activates at the threshold.

Step 8: Test Your WeakAura

1. Use the “Test” button in the WeakAuras interface to simulate the effect.
2. Adjust the trigger, conditions, or display settings if necessary.
3. Enter a combat scenario or use training dummies to confirm the WeakAura works as intended.

Advanced Customization

Using Custom Code

For more control, you can use custom Lua code in the “Custom Trigger” or “Actions” tab:

1. Example: Custom Trigger for Buff Stacks

function()
    local name, _, _, count = UnitBuff("player", "Your Buff Name")
    return count and count >= 5
end

2. Example: Saturation Adjustment in Actions

• In the “Actions” tab, under “On Init” or “On Show,” add a script:

function()
    local region = aura_env.region
    if region then
        region:SetDesaturated(false) -- Full saturation
    end
end

Practical Examples

Example 1: Tracking a Buff on Yourself

Imagine you are playing a class that generates a stacking buff for increased damage (e.g., Combustion stacks for Fire Mages). Set the WeakAura to:

• Show the icon of the buff.
• Saturate the icon when you reach maximum stacks.
• Pulse the icon for added visibility.

Example 2: Tracking a Debuff on an Enemy

If you’re a healer, you might need to track a stacking debuff on a boss that signals an incoming burst of damage. Configure the WeakAura to:

• Display a warning icon above the boss.
• Saturate the icon and add a sound alert when the debuff hits a dangerous level.

Troubleshooting

1. The WeakAura is not triggering: Double-check the spell name or ID in the trigger settings.
2. Stacks are not updating properly: Ensure the “Aura Type” and “Unit” fields match the effect you are tracking.
3. Visual effects are not displaying as expected: Test animations and conditions individually to identify issues.

Conclusion

Creating a WeakAura that saturates when stacks reach a certain level is an excellent way to enhance your gameplay awareness. By following this guide, you can create highly functional and visually distinct alerts tailored to your needs. With practice and experimentation, you’ll be able to build even more complex WeakAuras that improve your performance and enjoyment in World of Warcraft.