Not sure if this should go in UI/Add Ons, but as it's primarily a PvP question, I figure you guys are the ones to ask.

Currently I've been relying on a quick MA or tab targeting (ugh) for my targeting duties in arena / group pvp. This strategy basically sucks if the opposing team has any of the following: shaman, mage, hunter or warlock. "Sucks" obviously being a relative term.

The problem I have is that I don't have an FPS background so my (in)ability to mouse-click targets is roughly equivalent to Steven Hawking. I'm horrible at it.

So, for you highly rated arena team MA's (or even assist classes), could you please enlighten me as to what mechanics you use for lightning fast target swaps that allow you instantly swap off a BoF'd target, to hit some priest, then as soon as BoF wears off you're right back on the previous guy. Is this simply focus targeting, or is it a function of assists, or is it a mod, or something I'm not thinking of.

I'm hoping the answer isn't focus targets, as I have to save those for pets. I'm also obviously hoping it's not "click faster" either.

Any advice is appreciated.

I've been using an addon called Arena Live Frames lately. It's really good, it creates frames for every enemy player it detects. It gives you a health bar, and you can click on it to target that person. The only caveat, and it's a big one, is that with the new UI changes of 2.0, it can only create clickable frames outside of combat. Once combat starts, it still creates enemy frames, but you cant' click on those ones. This can be trouble with stealthers or when the other team rushes you really fast.

Get a unit frame addon that can color the healthbar or name by class color. This is really helpful. I use Pitbull to do this, but there are lots.

Another tip is to get a good tooltip addon. I use TinyTip. You can display lots of good stuff in there, and have things colored by class.

There's an addon called Nameplates PvP or something like that. You know how when you press V and nameplates show up for people in range? Well you can have that color by class. This can be really useful, since you can just click on the yellow nameplate to pick out their rogue, for example.

I don't understand your use of focus targets for your pet. What's so important that you need to waste your precious focus frame on it? I often use my focus target to pick out my secondary target (for after a BoP or iceblock) when I'm playing my warrior, or the enemy healer (so I can cyclone) on my druid. Focus targets and a good unit frame addon are really powerful here.

Anyways, looking forward to advice from some of the pros, but those are my thoughts on the subject.

You want Arena Master. Look it up on WoW Ace.

Well, the tab targeting (while brutal) is bound to my N52 scroll wheel. So, it only really gets super clumsy when I'm stunned and can't spin around to face the general direction of the person I'm looking to target, or when im in AV.

As far as why I use my focus frame for my pet: I'm a warlock. Between spell lock, seduce, felguard stuns, the focus frame (I also use Ag_uf, so I can see cast bars) is probably one of the best uses of that feature the way I see it.

Oh, you mean you use your focus frame to watch the target you want to use your pet's abilities against? That makes more sense.

I still don't understand. Are you only using your focus frame for your pet so that you can see it's cast bar?

Many unit frames (including ag) will show your pet's casting bar without even setting it as your focus target. Just your regular old pet frame, which you can resize and put anywhere. Just right click on it and turn on the cast bar. That will free up your focus frame.

Yeah. I like to see what that paladin is casting, and if I see my target is at 30% I'm probably going to blow the CS on the paladin to ensure my target goes down. Then again, if my target is at 90% and said pally is casting a big heal, he's screwing with me and it's not worth blowing the CS.

Focus targeting isn't the problem though. I think I'm just trying to determine a more creative way to *immediately* swap targets when my target gets BoF'd, or bubbles, etc. Then to swap right back when said effect expires.

I've mastered the art of Tab Targetting.

Spam that sucker until you catch a glimpse of who you want, stop, then shift-tab (scrolls backwards through your recent targets) to go back to it.

Camera angle help a lot with this. Personally I find it much easier to click as melee, than as ranged, characters become a lot smaller. Zoom in on your character and it'll be easier to click somewhat, and make sure you're at a semi top-down angle.

Also if you keep getting matched against a team you have trouble with don't be too ashamed to make a /target name button for who you're trying to quickly target. Limited in usefulness but can come in handy sometimes.

That's basically how I do it (Not limitied to pvp in usefulness), but I can't help feeling it's not always the most effective use of my time. I'll have to check out the addons recomended here, Perl Classic is kinda stinking it up with arcane bar being bugged, which almost entirely defeats the purpose of a focus frame.