Blizzard announced it will disable addons that read or react to real-time combat data in World of Warcraft‘s endgame instances when the Midnight expansion launches. The change targets raids and Mythic+ dungeons where tools like Deadly Boss Mods, BigWigs, and combat-reactive WeakAuras have become standard equipment for high-level players.
The restriction only applies to addons that depend on live combat information. UI customization, cosmetic changes, and interface tweaks will still work normally. Combat logs remain available for post-fight analysis but cannot be accessed in real time for guidance during encounters.
Blizzard plans to ship native replacements before Midnight arrives. The developer is building an in-game boss ability tracker that mimics the core functionality of DBM and BigWigs. A new cooldown and buff tracking system will handle the personal monitoring tasks that WeakAuras currently manages. Nameplate improvements will highlight interrupt priorities and other critical information more clearly.
The changes extend beyond the addons themselves. Blizzard stated it will redesign raid and dungeon encounters to work without third-party combat aids. Mechanics will feature longer reaction windows, fewer simultaneous add spawns, and clearer visual telegraphs. The goal is to make fights readable through the base client alone.
Class and spec changes accompany the addon restrictions. Blizzard aims to reduce the intensive proc and buff tracking that pushed players toward WeakAuras in the first place. Simplifying rotation tracking should make specs more accessible with native UI elements.
The decision addresses what Blizzard calls an “arms race” between encounter designers and addon creators. As fights grew more complex, addons became more sophisticated to compensate. Designers then assumed players had these tools and built even tighter mechanics. The cycle raised the skill floor and made third-party software feel mandatory for competitive play.
World of Warcraft has supported Lua-based addons since its 2004 launch. Over two decades, the community built powerful tools that extended the game’s interface far beyond its original design. DBM and BigWigs became fixtures of raiding culture, providing timer bars and audio alerts for boss abilities. WeakAuras allowed players to create custom triggers for virtually any game event.
Blizzard has restricted addon capabilities before when they trivialized content. The company blocked AVR during Wrath of the Lich King after it drew shapes directly on the game world. More recently, Dragonflight brought a major default UI overhaul that incorporated features previously available only through addons.
The technical enforcement works by removing API access to real-time combat data needed for positional assignments, precise timers, and automated callouts. Blizzard previously implemented a delay on external combat log streams to prevent real-time overlays from replicating in-game functionality. That delay sits between 10 and 15 seconds, enough for live logging websites but useless for moment-to-moment combat guidance.
The race to World First gets interesting
Top raiding guilds employ custom WeakAuras and dedicated staff to iterate strategies between pulls. Removing real-time combat access will fundamentally change how the Race to World First operates. Teams will rely more heavily on in-client tools and voice coordination rather than scripted addon responses.
Midnight serves as the second chapter of World of Warcraft‘s Worldsoul Saga following The War Within. The addon changes apply when Midnight launches, likely including its pre-patch systems update. Blizzard has framed the three-expansion saga as an opportunity to standardize encounter design and reduce long-term addon dependency.
