The MinMax Life shortlist of addons for WoW: Forever, grouped by what they do. Where two addons do the same job, pick one.
LEVELING AND LAYERS
- AutoLayer (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/netherautolayer): shows your layer and switches you with one click, once every 5 minutes
- What's Training? (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/whats-training): lists available and upcoming trainer spells in the spellbook
- Nova Spell Rank Checker (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/nova-spell-rank-checker): checks for low-rank spells on your bars
- Guidelime (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/guidelime): completely free leveling guide
- RestedXP (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/restedxp-guide): speed-leveling guide (paid)
- Questie (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/questie): not strictly necessary, but tracks quests across the map instead of only nearby
MAPS, LOOT AND GEAR INFO
- Leatrix Maps (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/leatrix-maps): improves and reveals the world map, includes dungeon locations
- Leatrix Plus (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/leatrix-plus): modular all-in-one quality-of-life addon
- OneForAll (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/oneforall-forever): another all-in-one quality-of-life pack
- AtlasLootClassic Continued (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/atlasloot-continued): browse loot for dungeons, raids, professions, factions
- DungeonJournal (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/dungeonjournal): boss drops, quests, rewards and quest locations
- Attune (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/attune): guides you through every attunement
- Pawn (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/pawn): uses stat weights to recommend gear upgrades
- Forever Loot Sparkles (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/forever-loot-sparkles): retail-style sparkles on quest items, ore and herbs
- Better Fishing (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/better-fishing): one-button fishing
INTERFACE
- ClassicUI Forever (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/classicui-forever): brings the Classic UI back, with toggles for the new elements
- Auctionator (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/auctionator): the most popular auction house tool
- Bagnon (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/bagnon): ready-to-use bag addon (or Baganator:
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/baganator, more customizable, needs setup)
- WIM (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/wim-3): puts whispers in their own IM windows
- ForeverAuras (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/foreverauras): WeakAuras replacement for WoW Forever
- Threat Plates (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/tidy-plates-threat-plates): nameplates that show your threat percentage (or Plater:
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/plater-nameplates, many settings)
RAIDING
- Deadly Boss Mods (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/deadly-boss-mods): ready-to-use boss timers and warnings (or BigWigs:
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/bigwigs, more customizable)
- Details! Damage Meter (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/details): damage meter that doubles as a threat meter
- GTFO (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/gtfo): tells you to get out of the fire
- Gargul (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/gargul): streamlines raid loot distribution; everyone should have it
- Nova Raid Companion (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/nova-raid-companion): all-in-one raid and PvE toolkit that tracks healer mana (or Method Raid Tools:
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/method-raid-tools)
- LossOfControlMessages (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/lossofcontrolmessages): tells the group when you are crowd-controlled; great for tanks and healers
HEALERS
- Healbot Continued (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/heal-bot-continued): one-click healing
- Decursive (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/decursive): one-click cleansing
- HealerProtection (
https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/healerprotection): warns the tank when you are out of mana or being attacked
Addon compatibility can change as the game patches, so check each addon's page for the current version. Tell us what is missing or what you would drop in the comments.