MoP classic
Character:Leuce -Pagle - dwarf hunter
Since the patch and edit mode was added boss frames are gone from MoP with the stock UI. I even did a full UI reset (deleting cache, interface and wtf folders) just to be sure it wasn’t a corrupted UI on my end.
Had to edit to add, as I could not reply.
This really bugged, so did some testing…
Boss Frame Issue – MoP Classic
This was tested after a full UI reset (deleted Interface, WTF, and Cache folders; no addons installed after).
Testing was performed during combat on Stone Guard (10-player Mogu’shan Vaults).
In combat
/run print(UnitExists("boss1"))
Result: true
/run print(Boss1TargetFrame.unit)
Result: boss1
/run print(Boss1TargetFrame:IsShown())
Result: false
/run print(Boss1TargetFrame:IsVisible())
Result: false
Meaning: frame exists and is correctly assigned but never becomes visible during combat.
/target boss1
Result: successfully targeted one of the Stone Guardians
Meaning: boss unit is fully functional and interactable.
/run Boss1TargetFrame:Show()
Result: ADDON_ACTION_BLOCKED (in combat)
Meaning: frame cannot be forced visible due to combat lockdown.
Out of combat
/run print(Boss1TargetFrame:GetScale())
Result: 1
/run print(Boss1TargetFrame:GetAlpha())
Result: 1
/run print(Boss1TargetFrame:GetParent():GetName())
Result: UIParent
/run UIParentLoadAddOn("Blizzard_BossFrames")
Result: Couldn’t load Blizzard_BossFrames: Missing
Additional system state
/run print(C_EncounterJournal and "C_EJ loaded")
Result: C_EJ loaded
/run print(EncounterJournal and "EJ loaded")
Result: nil
Summary
Boss units and targeting function correctly, and the boss frame is properly created and bound to boss1. However, the frame never becomes visible in combat despite valid alpha, scale, and parent values.
This suggests a failure in the boss frame visibility/activation logic rather than a unit or frame-binding issue.
Given that the Classic UI Edit Mode system was first introduced for TBC Anniversary (which does not include boss frames), it got me thinking that MoP Classic may have inherited an Edit Mode implementation that does not properly initialize or toggle boss frame visibility, even though the underlying boss unit system is functioning normally?