Spell Queue Window

The Spell Queue Window is a mechanic in World of Warcraft that allows players to queue up their next ability or spell before the current one has finished casting.

By default this window is set to 400 ms, meaning you can press the next ability up to 400 ms before the current cast ends. This makes sure that your next action is executed immediately after the current one.

Without a Spell Queue Window, you would have large gaps in your rotation causing you to lose throughput unless you continue spamming your keys at a rapid pace which also puts a lot of strain on your hands.

If you want to know your current Spell Queue Window you can check it by typing the following into your chat.

/dump GetCVar("SpellQueueWindow")

• It helps you minimize the impact your latency has on your performance.
• By reducing the delay between abilities, you can increase your overall damage per second or healing per second.
• It's easier to play optimally and improves consistency.

Let's assume you press your keys every 300ms, starting at 200ms into the cast, which is slightly more than 3 times a second. Following, you see two Spell Queue Windows: one set to 400ms and the other set to 100ms. This demonstrates that you would have a 100ms + ping gap in your rotation if your Spell Queue Window was set to 100ms.

You can adjust the Spell Queue Window using console commands. Open the chat and type:

/console SpellQueueWindow X

The letter "X" represents the amount of milliseconds (ms) you need to put in. The range for your Spell Queue Window is 0 - 400 ms.

You can also use the Addon AdvancedInterfaceOptions and find the settings under the "Combat" category.

The minimum setting you should use is 200 ms + your ping but I advise you to just leave it on 400 ms.

Are spells queued up locked in?

Many people think that once you queue up a spell within the Spell Queue Window it's locked in and can't be overridden by another spell.

In reality, the Spell Queue Window recognizes the most recent ability input before the current cast finishes. This means you can change your mind about which ability to cast next, as long as you input the new ability within the queue window.

Example

If your current cast is 1 second long and you press Chaos Bolt at 0.6 seconds into your current cast, but then decide to press Conflagrate at 0.8 seconds, the game casts Conflagrate instead. The most recent input within the queue window takes priority.

Server Timings, Haste, and Ping

The feeling of casting the "wrong" spell often comes down to server timings and the timing of your button presses. If you don't press the new ability in time, the server casts the previously queued spell. This isn't a fault of the system but rather a matter of timing. This feeling is increased by high haste and ping values making your casts harder to react to.

Credits

Written By: Xerwo

Reviewed By: Tenkiei, Wolfdisco, Rycn