As someone who plays a lot of Mythic+ exclusively as a healer in pugs, I’ve invested a significant amount of time into tailoring my UI to support my gameplay. My setup isn’t just for aesthetics—it’s built around function and clarity.
Key abilities are placed centrally so I can react quickly. I’ve set up indicators to show cooldown charges and availability of important spells, all driven by a priority system that helps me make fast, informed decisions. But honestly, that’s not even the most crucial part.
My party frames are fully customized to show my HoTs in different colors, because for me, that’s far easier to read than relying on small icons that often look very similar. This customization helps me instantly recognize who has which heal over time effects, and more importantly, who doesn’t.
As a pug healer, I don’t have the luxury of voice comms or a coordinated group. I need to see at a glance who still has their defensives, interrupts, or utility abilities like stuns. If this level of functionality is removed, it would essentially make the game unplayable for me. I also have very little confidence that Blizzard could deliver the same level of customization natively that currently exists through addons.
Another critical example is nameplate customization. Being able to mark or highlight enemies that cast dangerous spells is vital. Without this, Mythic+ becomes incredibly frustrating—if not outright unplayable—at higher levels of difficulty.
I understand that certain WeakAuras have gotten out of hand, especially in raid environments. But to me, the core issue lies in the automation some addons provide—such as dynamically assigning players to tasks mid-fight. If Blizzard restricted addons from reacting to in-combat macro changes or chat input, I believe much of the abuse would be resolved without gutting the entire addon ecosystem.
If the goal is to bring World of Warcraft to consoles, I see no reason why addons shouldn’t also be available there. Blizzard could implement an official addon store, where approved addons can be installed safely—and problematic ones could be moderated or removed.
In the end, addons are not the problem. They are a vital part of how many of us interact with the game—especially in high-end content like M+ pugs. Stripping them away without offering real alternatives would harm more players than it helps.