How to Create a Weapon Swap Macro in WoW: Forever

In World of Warcraft: Forever, use /equipslot 16 for a main-hand weapon and /equipslot 17 for a shield or other eligible off-hand item. Make separate buttons for each setup and use them before combat. Check both slots after a swap, especially if you are changing between a two-hander and a shield.

Build the shield setup

1. Keep the one-handed weapon and shield in your bags. Confirm that the character can equip both.
2. Open /macro and create a character macro with a clear name such as Shield Setup.
3. Enter the following commands and replace the placeholders with the exact item names. Remove the angle brackets.
4. Drag the macro to your bar and press it while out of combat. Open the character panel and verify both weapon slots.

/equipslot 16 <one-handed weapon>
/equipslot 17 <shield>

Start with the main-hand command. That gives you a clear sequence when replacing a two-handed weapon that occupies the weapon setup. If you have several similar items, check the name in the bags rather than copying one from a tooltip on another character.

Make room in the bags for the equipment that will be removed. A shield and one-hander can displace a two-hander, and the return swap may need room for two items. Test with empty space available so you can distinguish a capacity problem from a command problem.

Add the return button

Make another macro for the equipment you want to return to. If you normally use a two-hander, the following is enough for the example:

/equipslot 16 <two-handed weapon>

A valid two-hander takes over the weapon setup and clears the off hand. Check the result in the Character panel. If your normal setup uses two one-handed items instead, use one command for each appropriate slot and verify that the off-hand item can be equipped there.

Keep the buttons visually distinct. Test switching to the shield and then back to your normal setup before joining a group. Check the result both ways. A macro that succeeds in one direction can still fail in the other if you mistyped an item name or left a required item in the bank.

Use equipment sets for broader changes

Forever also has an Equipment Manager. Use that interface if you want to save an entire role's equipment, including armor and trinkets. A short weapon macro is convenient for a small switch and leaves the rest of your gear alone. Decide whether you need the whole loadout or only the weapon slots before setting up a button.

For example, if your damage and shield setups use the same armor, a weapon macro keeps the change narrow. If you need to change several pieces for tanking, use a saved set and inspect the whole result. Test the method with the gear you will actually carry.

Swap before the pull. This guide focuses on out-of-combat use, where you can verify the items and fix a problem before an ability depends on the new weapon. Don't assume that a successful swap in town promises the same timing in combat. If the group is already fighting, use the options available to the setup you're wearing.

Fix a button that changes only one item

Check the exact item names, bag space, and equipment requirements. If the first line works but the second doesn't, test the off-hand item manually. Confirm that the main-hand item equipped and that the off hand is free to accept the shield. Read the client error before changing the macro.

If the swap starts pointing at an old item after an upgrade, edit that line and test both directions again. Update any equipment sets that also depended on the old weapon. If a key no longer calls the macro, check which bar is active before rebuilding the commands.

Before entering a dungeon, equip the setup you intend to start with and confirm it in the character panel. Keep the other button for a deliberate switch during the next safe break. That gives you a clear way to swap without guessing which equipment actually changed.

If you often swap after leaving a dungeon, put both buttons on a utility bar that stays visible across forms or stances. Test the bars after changing stance so the expected swap is still in the same place.