Introduction to Flanking Strike within World of Warcraft Season of Discovery (SoD)

You’re a Hunter playing in World of Warcraft’s Season of Discovery (SoD), and you’re likely already aware of Flanking Strike. It’s your punchy melee attack that plays flanking strike macro sod so well when you’re close to your target’s face. The thing is, however, performing Flanking Strike manually every time is tiring. That’s why macros exist. And if you’re like most of us, you’re going to want to wring out every last bit of damage, and especially when seconds count. So, this guide’s here to take you through just how to make a macro that uses Flanking Strike first and then follows with Raptor Strike right after. Sounds awesome? Let’s get started.

What Is Flanking Strike?

Flanking Strike is a Hunter special attack that’s been re-added or re-designed in SoD to bring some much-needed melee diversity. It’s not only a looker—it’s one flanking strike macro sod that complements other key melee skills in your rotation seamlessly. It really acts as a kind of power starter—an opener you’ll want to begin with to gain momentum in both PVP and PVE.

Why It Matters in Your Hunter Rotation

Consider Flanking Strike to be the initial domino in your rotation. When you use it as a lead-in, you’re opening up the flow of your combat sequence. Leading with it and following up immediately with heavier or more constant hits like Raptor Strike can create a setup that produces way more consistent DPS in a well-tuned macro and even provides an advantage in battlegrounds or boss kills.

The Power of Macros in WoW: Season of Discovery

Macros are essentially small scripts you can execute within the game to automate a series of abilities. They’re safe, legal, and even supported by Blizzard—if executed flanking strike macro sod within the rules. In SoD, where each GCD (global cooldown) matters, a macro can determine the difference between a spick-and-span rotation and a cluttered one.

What Is a Macro and Why Use One?

Essentially, a macro is merely a line—or lines—of code that you can dedicate to a keybind. Rather than pressing two or three keys, you press one, and it strings them together on conditions of your choice. The intent here is to ensure Flanking Strike triggers first, followed by Raptor Strike—smoothly.

Common Issues with Poor Macro Design

Many people get it wrong by piling too many skills into one macro and not considering GCD or energy/focus expenditures. The end result is underdeveloped macros that do nothing or omit significant moves. That’s not what we want. We want to ensure that the macro honors the cooldowns and runs cleanly.

How to Create a Flanking Strike Macro

Let’s dissect this one step at a time. Here’s the uncomplicated and neat version of the macro to start with:
bash

showtooltip

/astsequence reset=target Flanking Strike, Raptor Strike
This macro instructs the game to cast Flanking Strike initially and then cast Raptor Strike after. It resets if you change targets, which is great for solo play and group play as well.
Using Conditional Logic

showtooltip

/castsequence [combat,exists] reset=target Flanking Strike, Raptor Strike
This ensures you’re in combat and have a valid target before anything happens. It’s cleaner and prevents wasted presses.

Optimizing with Raptor Strike After Flanking Strike

Now let’s discuss why we even go about using Raptor Strike second. First, Raptor Strike comes with synergies with other spells and talents, particularly those that trigger extra attacks or focus regen. Second, Flanking Strike generally benefits from any type of initial burst or opener buffs. Initiating with it provides your Raptor Strike an added sting.

Why Raptor Strike Comes Second

Think of it like a combo in a fighting game—Flanking Strike stuns or surprises the enemy, and Raptor Strike is your follow-up punch. Timing them right means you’re not only maximizing damage but also efficiency in terms of energy and cooldown usage.

Avoiding Macro Pitfalls: What Not to Do

Don’t cram all your abilities into a single macro. I know it’s tempting. Macros should be enhancers, not substitutes for your brain. Keep them specialized. Also, don’t have macros override your movement or pet control if you’re a Hunter. Trust me, you’ll be glad in a bind.

Testing Your Macro in Combat

You don’t simply write a macro and leave it. You have to test it out in live combat. Run over to a practice dummy or get into a fast running dungeon. Observe how the spells fire off. If Raptor Strike is not hitting when it should, review your GCD timing or insert delays manually with /castsequence logic.

Various situations require various macros. In PVE, since the battle is more predictable, you can incorporate additional damage capabilities. In PVP, you might include a getaway skill such as Disengage if health falls to 30% or below. Below is an example for PVP:

PVE Focused Macro Tweaks

For boss battles or raid content, you may want to reset the macro by time instead of by target so that there won’t be rotation problems:

PVP Improvements and Escape Mechanisms

You may include the use of Trinket or Feign Death as a failsafe. Just be aware of the risks though—making a macro too heavy can make it awkward. Keep it lean and mean.

Tools and Add-ons to Make Macros More Efficient

There are a few great add-ons such as GSE (Gnome Sequencer Enhanced) which provide more powerful macro sequences. WeakAuras can also be used to display when each component of your macro is available. Together, these provide maximum visibility and control.

Last Tips for Mastering Flanking Strike Macros

• Test macros in a safe environment before raiding.
  Don’t be unwilling to adjust based on how it “feels.”
• Keep macros straightforward—each should have an obvious goal.
• Use modifiers such as [mod:shift] to provide increased versatility.
• Save a backup of your macros to a text file.

Conclusion

Execute Flanking Strike well in Season of Discovery is about timing and execution—and nothing does more to streamline that than a clever, concentrated macro. By making Flanking Strike priority followed directly by Raptor Strike, you gain access to a smoother, more powerful rotation.

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FAQs

Can I use this Flanking Strike macro in raids?

Yes! It works beautifully in raids, especially when paired with time-based resets for smoother DPS flow.

What if my macro skips Raptor Strike?

Check for energy/focus issues or GCD conflicts. Also ensure you’re not spamming too quickly.

Is it safe to use macros in WoW?

Absolutely. Macros are supported by Blizzard as long as they don’t automate gameplay without input.

Can I include other skills in the macro?

Yes, but don’t be complicated. Too complex and functionality will be broken.

What is a good keybind for this kind of macro?

Place it somewhere convenient—such as your primary rotation keybinds (1-5 or Q/E) to promote muscle memory.