Raidbots have reshaped how World of Warcraft players optimize their characters by making performance testing much faster. Players can simulate 10,000 five-minute fights through Raidbots in seconds. The same tests on a target dummy would take over 800 hours of gameplay. This cloud service gives you results in minutes, not hours, making it crucial in a game where every damage point counts.
Raidbots gives World of Warcraft players easy access to SimulationCraft that has changed how characters improve. You can find gear upgrades by loading your character’s information through an addon. Target dummy tests can show more than 5% variation even after many attempts. Raidbots sim gives you a complete performance analysis that accounts for all in-game spell interactions and mechanics, including RNG. The platform’s specialized tools are great ways to make smart choices about your character’s growth. Raidbots top gear helps select the best equipment, and raidbots gear compare evaluates items you haven’t gotten yet. This piece will show you how to become skilled at Raidbots, from setup to advanced simulation techniques, all within an hour.
What is Raidbots and How It Works with SimulationCraft
SimulationCraft powers character optimization in World of Warcraft. This open-source project has been around for nearly a decade. It works as a WoW simulator that models all abilities and their interactions by reading the game’s actual spell data. Players can simulate raid and dungeon encounters thousands of times within seconds and learn about things they couldn’t discover through in-game testing alone.
Understanding SimulationCraft backend
SimC (short for SimulationCraft) creates an exact copy of the in-game environment. Theorycrafters and guide writers use this tool to test gameplay elements from stats and rotations to trinkets and legendaries. The simulation draws conclusions from thousands of simulated fights, giving statistical data that real testing can’t match. Running 10,000 five-minute fights takes seconds in SimC, while target dummy testing would need over 800 hours to get the same data.
The software processes character data in a specific format. Character details like current gear, talents, and items get processed first. SimC then runs thousands of combat simulations based on pre-programmed action priority lists (APLs) that copy optimal gameplay. Results show detailed breakdowns of damage sources, ability usage, and overall performance metrics.
Why Raidbots is easier than SimC
SimulationCraft’s analysis capabilities are powerful, but its interface can be tough for regular players. Seriallos created Raidbots—a web-based service that makes SimC’s complex features available to everyone.
Raidbots is SimulationCraft, but with these great advantages:
- Processing power: Raidbots uses powerful dedicated servers instead of your computer, so WoW runs smoothly
- User interface: You can configure everything through a simple graphical interface, not complex text commands
- No downloads required: Raidbots works right in your web browser, unlike SimC which needs installation
- Shareable results: You get links to share your simulations with others
Raidbots also keeps both stable and nightly (development) versions of SimulationCraft updated automatically. Players can focus on reading results rather than setting up software.
Common use cases for raidbots sim
Raidbots gives you specialized tools for different optimization needs:
- Top Gear: Players use this tool the most to find the best combinations of gear, trinkets, enchants, gems, and talents. It compares equipped items with those in bags.
- Droptimizer: This tool simulates potential drops from raids or dungeons at different difficulty levels to find the biggest upgrades. High-end guilds use it to distribute loot better during farm content.
- Gear Compare: Players can test items they don’t own yet and assess potential upgrades. The tool lets you try “what-if” scenarios and test full gear setups.
- Quick Sim: This gives fast performance checks with enough iterations for solid results. The interface excels at showing damage breakdowns and buff uptimes.
- Stat Weights: Though not as current as direct gear comparison, this tool creates personalized stat values for characters.
Players usually start by installing the SimulationCraft addon to collect character information in-game. The /simc command creates a text string with all character data that goes into Raidbots. This addon gets more current and complete information than Blizzard’s Armory API, including bag items, unlocked conduits, and Great Vault options.
Raidbots gives accurate results for most DPS specializations. Tank simulations are limited, and healer specializations aren’t supported yet. Still, Raidbots remains the quickest way for most players to optimize their characters through simulation.
Importing Your Character into Raidbots
Image Source: Wowhead
Players must import their character data into Raidbots each time they need to run a new simulation. The SimulationCraft addon method stands out as the best option among the two main ways to import character information. Most players should choose this over the Armory import option.
Using the SimulationCraft addon with /simc
SimulationCraft addon connects your World of Warcraft character to raidbots sim. This lightweight tool gets detailed character information straight from the game client. Here’s how to use it:
- Install and enable the SimulationCraft addon through your preferred addon manager
- Log into your character with the latest gear and talents you want to simulate
- Open your chat window and type the command /simc
- A window will appear containing all your character data in text format
- Press Ctrl+C (or Command+C on Mac) to copy this information
- Open raidbots in your web browser and select your desired simulation type
- Paste the copied text into the “Load from SimC Addon” field
- Configure any additional simulation settings and run your sim
The addon highlights all text automatically when the window appears, so you can copy it right away. Your character’s current state updates automatically with the /simc command after any changes to gear, talents, or other aspects—no need to log out.
Importing via WoW Armory: pros and cons
The SimC addon remains the preferred method, but Raidbots lets you import character data through the Blizzard Armory API too. This method needs only your character’s name, realm, and region.
Pros:
- Available when you’re away from your gaming computer
- Works with the Raidbots Discord bot
- Doesn’t need addon installation
Cons:
- API updates lag behind character changes, leading to outdated information
- Missing details about items in bags, bank, or Great Vault rewards
- Can’t detect certain character customizations like Disk belt effect choices
- Top Gear simulations don’t work well because it can’t see unequipped items
The Armory API sets certain item effects to preset options, regardless of your in-game choices. The Durable Information Securing Container will always use the Charged Bolts effect in simulations.
How to include Great Vault items in your sim
Great Vault gives weekly reward choices for endgame activity participants. You can make better decisions by simulating these potential rewards before picking them. Here’s how to add Great Vault items to your simulation:
- Log into your character after the weekly reset
- Open your Great Vault interface in-game
- With the Great Vault open, type /simc in your chat window
- Copy the generated text and paste it into raidbots top gear
- Look for items with the “GV” tag in your simulation options
The addon automatically adds all available reward options to your exported character data when you run /simc with the Great Vault open. These items show up with a special “GV” tag.
Raidbots handles these items smartly by including only one Great Vault item at a time in each gear set. This matches the ground limitation of selecting just one reward from your vault.
Top Gear simulations help you evaluate Great Vault rewards alongside your current gear by testing every possible combination. This helps you pick the reward that gives your character the biggest performance boost.
Mastering the Core Tools: Top Gear, Droptimizer, and Gear Compare
Raidbots gives you three main simulation tools that are the life-blood of character optimization. Each tool helps you make smart choices about your gear in its own way.
Using Raidbots Top Gear to find best gear and talents
Top Gear is the most important tool Raidbots offers. Players who want the best performance from their characters use it more than anything else. This powerful feature tests every possible combination of items you pick to find your character’s best setup.
Here’s how to run Top Gear effectively:
- Import your character data via the SimulationCraft addon
- Select items from your bags you want to compare (don’t pick everything)
- Make sure your talents and configuration settings are right
- Click “Find Top Gear” and wait for results
Results show a margin of error – usually around ±75 DPS – that indicates statistical variation. Any combinations within double this margin (about 150 DPS total) are basically equal in performance. This helps you avoid chasing tiny upgrades that don’t matter much.
Top Gear shines at talent optimization too. You can copy your current build, use “generate combinations” for automatic options, or create custom builds to compare. Right-clicking talents you don’t want removes them from the mix, which cuts down the number of tests needed.
Running Droptimizer to find best dungeon or raid upgrades
Droptimizer works as your personal loot advisor. It shows which potential drops would give your character the biggest performance boost. You just pick your content source (raids, dungeons, professions, or PvP) and difficulty level. Then Raidbots checks every possible item against your current gear.
The results page shows these key metrics:
- Expected Value: Average DPS increase from item groups, calculated by adding all possible upgrades and dividing by total items
- Best Drop: The highest DPS improvement you could get from available items
- Priority: A score that combines expected value and upgrade chances
Droptimizer looks at items one at a time, not in combinations. For dual-wielding classes, it tests weapons in both slots. The same goes for rings and trinkets in their slots. This helps you figure out which dungeons or raid bosses should be your priority.
Using Raidbots Gear Compare for items you don’t own
Gear Compare lets you check out items you don’t have yet. While it has fewer features than Top Gear, it’s still useful in specific cases:
- Building “what-if” gear setups
- Comparing embellishments across different slots
- Checking items before you chase them
Gear Compare works by making multiple copies of your character profile with different gear setups. Unlike Top Gear, it won’t check if setups are valid – you might end up with too many embellishments or unique-equipped items.
Top Gear has mostly replaced Gear Compare because it does more. Raidbots says “Top Gear is way better and faster for running Great Vault sims or for items in your bag”. Top Gear’s item search also has better features, making it the go-to choice for most sims.
These tools work together to give you everything you need to optimize your character’s performance in all types of content.
Exploring Simulation Types: Quick Sim, Stat Weights, and More
Image Source: Epiccarry
Raidbots gives players more than just basic optimization tools. The platform features specialized simulation types that help optimize characters in different ways. Each simulation type teaches something unique and serves a specific purpose.
Quick Sim’s role in rapid DPS checks
Quick Sim stands out as the fastest way to check character performance without comparing gear or talents. This simple tool quickly shows your current damage potential and works great for rapid performance assessments.
Quick Sim’s analysis interface makes it really valuable. Players can see:
- A breakdown of how much damage each ability does
- Detailed stats on buff uptimes
- Sample ability logs that show exact rotation sequences
The Sample Ability Log feature shows you the simulated rotation and active buffs at any moment. Players who want to learn a new specialization will find this log helpful alongside written guides. Remember though – this rotation should be a guide rather than a strict rule.
Quick Sim lets you pick a “High Precision” option that doubles accuracy but takes four times longer. This comes in handy if you need to spot tiny changes that might get lost in regular tests.
The truth about Stat Weights and better alternatives
Stat Weights used to be the go-to method for evaluating gear. Now Raidbots strongly advises against using them, calling them “an outdated tool” that “often result in sub-optimal results”. Let’s learn about what makes them problematic.
The Stat Weights tool runs six different simulations:
- One baseline with no changes
- Five more tests adding 595 points to each stat type (Primary, Mastery, Crit, Versatility, Haste)
The tool calculates how much DPS each stat point gives. This creates several big issues:
- Tests use large stat chunks (+595) while real gear choices involve smaller amounts
- Only tests adding stats, not taking them away
- Misses how stats work together
- Stats become less effective as you stack more
These days, simulating gear directly through Top Gear or Droptimizer works better in almost every case. These tools simulate actual gear combinations and include everything from trinket procs to set bonuses and enchants.
Stat Weights still help as a quick in-game reference to spot potential upgrades – just remember their limitations.
Making the most of Gear Compare for trinkets, rings, and embellishments
Raidbots labels it a “legacy tool”, but Gear Compare still has its uses, especially for items you don’t own yet.
Here’s the best way to compare trinkets and rings:
- Start by comparing one slot
- Hit the “Duplicate Gearset” button
- Change the duplicate to test against your second slot
This method tests against both equipped trinkets/rings since different combinations might work differently based on your character’s stats and abilities.
Gear Compare works better than Top Gear’s automatic combinations for embellishments. You can test each embellishment individually in different slots to find the perfect spot.
The dropdown menu lets you pick which ring or trinket slot to compare. This removes any confusion about which equipped item gets replaced in the simulation.
While Gear Compare works well for specific cases, Top Gear usually does a better job overall. Raidbots states that “Top Gear is far better and faster for running Great Vault sims or for items in your bag”. Plus, Gear Compare can’t check if gear combinations work – it allows impossible setups like too many embellishments or multiple unique-equipped items.
Advanced Mode: Custom Buffs, Fight Styles, and Profilesets
Raidbots’ Advanced Mode works like a sandbox where players can adjust parameters beyond regular options. This feature lets you tap into the full potential of customization when you need specific testing scenarios.
Setting fight length and number of bosses
The duration of fights and number of enemies substantially affect simulation results. Raidbots runs 5-minute Patchwerk-style encounters against a single boss by default. You can modify these parameters based on your encounter needs:
- Fight Length: Set with max_time=300 (for 5 minutes in seconds)
- Fight Variation: Control randomness with vary_combat_length=0.1 (10% variance)
- Fixed Time: Eliminate variation entirely with fixed_time=1
The enemycount parameter helps you modify the number of targets, which works great for AOE-focused specializations. You can also pick different fight styles: Patchwerk (static target), DungeonSlice (mythic+ simulation), TargetDummy, ExecutePatchwerk, LightMovement, HeavyMovement, HecticAddCleave, and CastingPatchwerk.
Simulating Power Infusion and external buffs
Advanced Mode lets you simulate buffs that other players usually provide:
external_buffs.power_infusion=0/120/240
external_buffs.blessing_of_summer=0/120/240
external_buffs.blessing_of_autumn=0/120/240
external_buffs.blessing_of_winter=0/120/240
external_buffs.blessing_of_spring=0/120/240
external_buffs.rallying_cry=0/120/240
These numbers show when these abilities activate during the simulation (in seconds). This feature is a great way to get insights for raid planning and see how external cooldowns affect performance at different times.
Using profilesets to compare races or builds
Profilesets are the quickest way to compare multiple character setups at once. They inherit your imported character’s attributes automatically and run faster than manual copies.
You can use the “Convert to ProfileSets” button to change custom configurations into profileset format automatically. Profilesets let you test different race options, covenant combinations, talent builds, or legendary effects without creating separate simulations for each.
Advanced Mode rewards players who learn its syntax with testing capabilities that weren’t available before. High-end raiders and theorycrafters can now control their simulations with precision.
Expert Mode and HTML Report Analysis
Expert Mode builds upon Advanced Mode’s capabilities and gives experienced users more control over their simulations. Players can insert custom SimulationCraft options at specific points in Raidbots-generated input to handle complex scenarios.
How to read the Sample Sequence Table
The HTML report’s Action Priority List section contains the Sample Sequence Table. This table shows a single simulation iteration and details the rotation, buffs, resources, and spell usage for each global cooldown. The table’s main components are:
- Time – The spell usage timing (Pre means before combat)
- List – The active APL section
- # – Each APL line’s address
- Target – The spell’s target enemy
- Resources – Available resources before casting
- Buffs – Active buffs during spell casting
Understanding the Action Priority List (APL)
APLs are the foundations of all simulations because they set rotation rules. The computer evaluates each spell’s conditions from top to bottom. Here’s a simple example:
actions=/moonfire,if=!dot.moonfire.ticking
actions+=/celestial_alignment
The simulation first checks if Moonfire’s condition is met (dot not active). If not, it moves to evaluate Celestial Alignment. This priority system reflects optimal gameplay decisions.
Using HTML report to analyze uptime and rotation
The HTML report provides players with detailed graphs, charts, and analytical breakdowns of average performance across iterations. Players can analyze:
- Buff uptimes
- DoT uptimes
- Damage breakdowns
- Rotation efficiency
Advanced users will find the Sample Ability Log particularly useful. It displays a single iteration’s ability sequence with timestamps, targets, and active buffs. This helps answer a vital question: “What did the sim actually do?”
Conclusion
Raidbots changes how players optimize their World of Warcraft characters through informed decisions. Players who use this tool have clear advantages over those who only test in-game. This piece shows how Raidbots uses SimulationCraft’s complex system with an easy-to-use interface that works for players of all skill levels.
The main tools form a complete optimization package. Top Gear finds the best combinations from your current gear. Droptimizer shows which upgrades to chase from specific content, and Gear Compare helps you assess gear you haven’t found yet. These features take the guesswork out of gear choices and save you countless hours you’d spend testing manually.
Power users can do even more with Advanced and Expert modes. These settings let you fine-tune simulations by adjusting fight length, enemy numbers, external buffs, and special encounters. The HTML reports help you learn about rotation efficiency, buff uptimes, and overall performance stats.
One hour learning these tools saves hundreds of hours during character growth. Running thousands of simulated fights gives better results than any amount of target dummy testing could. Players who use Raidbots make choices based on complete data instead of just gut feeling.
SimulationCraft was around for years before Raidbots made it available to everyone. Now casual players can optimize their characters just like dedicated theorycrafters did before. This wider access to character optimization has raised performance standards across WoW’s community.
The trip from beginner to Raidbots expert takes little time compared to its benefits. Players who master these simulation tools make better gear choices and ended up performing better in every raid, dungeon, or PvP encounter.
FAQs
1. What is Raidbots and why is it useful for World of Warcraft players?
Raidbots is a web-based service that provides easy access to SimulationCraft, allowing players to optimize their characters by simulating thousands of combat scenarios in seconds. It’s useful for finding the best gear combinations, evaluating potential upgrades, and analyzing performance without extensive in-game testing.
2. How do I import my character data into Raidbots?
The recommended method is to use the SimulationCraft addon. Install the addon, type “/simc” in-game to generate your character data, copy the text, and paste it into Raidbots. Alternatively, you can import via the WoW Armory, but this method may provide less current or comprehensive information.
3. What are the main simulation tools offered by Raidbots?
Raidbots offers three core tools: Top Gear for finding the best combination of current gear and talents, Droptimizer for identifying potential upgrades from specific content, and Gear Compare for evaluating items you don’t yet possess.
4. Is the Stat Weights tool in Raidbots still relevant?
While Stat Weights were once the primary method for evaluating gear, they are now considered outdated. Raidbots advises against using them as they often result in sub-optimal choices. Instead, direct gear simulation through Top Gear or Droptimizer is recommended for more accurate results.
5. How can I customize my simulations for specific scenarios?
Raidbots offers Advanced and Expert modes that allow you to fine-tune parameters such as fight length, number of bosses, external buffs, and fight styles. You can also use profilesets to compare different character configurations simultaneously, such as race options or talent builds.