GearTools
Every dedicated raider and Mythic+ pusher knows the struggle of theorycrafting. You stare at your character sheet, juggling secondary stats, upgrade tracks, and tier set bonuses, wondering if that new drop is actually an improvement. This is where GearTools changes the game. Instead of manually calculating diminishing returns or guessing which crafted gear combination yields the highest mastery, this addon acts as a read-only planning engine that annotates your entire gameplay experience. Whether you are diving into the latest Retail expansion or revisiting the glory days of WotLK and Cataclysm, having a precise gear planner is essential for maximizing performance without the mental fatigue.
Plan Your Perfect Set Before You Roll
The core strength of GearTools for World of Warcraft lies in its ability to let you plan sets by hand or via automated search. You can select your class, specialization, and a specific preset, then fill sixteen equipment slots using data from the current season's loot table. This includes everything from raid drops and Mythic+ dungeons to world bosses and crafted items. As you assign upgrade tracks and ranks to each piece, the stat table updates in real time, showing you exactly how your primary and secondary stats shift.
What makes this tool truly powerful is its account-wide preset system. You do not need to have an alt character rolled yet to plan their ideal gear loadout. Simply choose the class and spec, define your targets, and save the configuration. When you finally level that new character, your blueprint is ready and waiting. For players navigating complex expansions like MoP or TBC Classic, this feature allows for seamless transition planning between different gear tiers without losing your theoretical benchmarks.
Search by Stats, Not Just Item Level
Sometimes, item level is a liar. A higher ilvl piece might have the wrong secondary stats for your build. GearTools solves this by allowing you to search for specific stat targets. You can input a goal, such as reaching 2,000 mastery or hitting a 30% haste breakpoint, and set a priority order for remaining stats. The addon calculates the optimal set to reach those targets first, then uses your priority list to allocate the rest. If a target is mathematically impossible with current available gear, it tells you exactly how far off you are, rather than providing a misleading close match.
This search function works on two levels: the full seasonal loot table for long-term goals, or the items currently sitting in your bags for immediate upgrades. You can lock slots you are happy with, adjust a target, and re-run the search instantly. For crafted gear, the tool even determines the ideal pair of secondary stats to request from your crafter, removing the guesswork from expensive crafting orders.
Managing multiple addons across different game clients like Retail, Classic, and various expansion eras can be tedious, but streamlining the process makes a huge difference. If you utilize the foxygame.net launcher, you can access a comprehensive addon catalog that features one-click installation for GearTools, ensuring you always have the correct version compatible with your specific game client without manual file shuffling. This integration keeps your interface clean and your tools up to date automatically, letting you focus on the game rather than troubleshooting folder structures.
Instant Loot Recognition and Detailed Comparisons
One of the most frustrating moments in WoW is looting an item and having to alt-tab to a browser to check if it is an upgrade. GearTools eliminates this friction by modifying every item tooltip in the game. Whether you are looking at a bag item, a loot roll, a Great Vault reward, or an Auction House listing, the addon adds a line for every preset that the item belongs to. You might see text like "GT: Warrior / Fury — Raid BiS (Hero 4/6)" directly on the tooltip.
The comparison data is incredibly deep. It displays primary stats, stamina, and all four secondaries as both ratings and percentages, including the difference compared to what you are currently wearing. Crucially, the "current" column reproduces your character sheet exactly, accounting for gems, enchants, class base stats, buffs, and mastery coefficients. This means you can compare numbers directly without doing any mental arithmetic. Furthermore, the addon models diminishing returns accurately. If a stat has passed a breakpoint, the penalty is shown explicitly, and hovering over the value explains which thresholds you have crossed.
Seamless SimulationCraft Integration
While GearTools is a fantastic planner, it openly admits it is not a simulator. It does not model DPS, trinket procs, or complex set bonus interactions. That is where its export feature shines. With a single button click, you can generate a complete, paste-ready SimulationCraft profile in Raidbots format. This profile carries over your exact enchants and gems from the gear you are wearing or the set you have planned. This workflow allows you to use GearTools to narrow down the field of potential upgrades and then use SimulationCraft to settle the final decision with precise DPS modeling.
Getting Started with Your New Planner
Installing and using the addon is straightforward. Once you download GearTools and place it in your Interface folder, or follow the steps on how to install it via your preferred manager, you can access it by clicking the GT button on your minimap or typing /gt in the chat. The window is free-standing, meaning it does not clutter your default character sheet and remembers its position between sessions. The interface is intuitive, with icons along the left edge representing the armor planner and the search magnifier.
Data accuracy is paramount, and the addon ships with generated data files built from published client data, ensuring every rank and upgrade track has the correct item level from the moment you install it. While it supports English and Russian natively, it pulls localized names for classes, items, and instances directly from the game client, ensuring compatibility across all regions. Note that PvP gear is intentionally excluded, as its scaling mechanics in instanced combat do not translate well to static item level comparisons. By combining precise statistical planning with seamless in-game annotations, GearTools remains an indispensable utility for any serious player looking to optimize their character efficiently.
--- **Update Aug 23, 2026:** Added 1 file for version 12.1.0.