How to set up WoW party frames (2026): Edit Mode, then Raid Frames options

Can’t tell who’s dying in your group? Time to fix your party frames. Party frames are the bars for the other people in your group. A dungeon or a delve uses party frames. A raid uses raid frames. By default, party frames show health, a role, and a name, and they stay that way until you show them as raid-style frames.

I play Devastation Evoker as Tingyoudied on EU-Ravencrest, 2849 Blitz, RBG main. As an Evoker DPS I mostly watch enemy nameplates, but I still need to see who’s dying. More in my Evoker PvP guide.

Turn them into raid-style frames

1. Press Escape.
2. Open Edit Mode.
3. Check Party Frames, then click the frames.
4. At the top of that box, check Use Raid-Style Party Frames.
5. Drag the stack to where you already look. I keep UI clear of the left-hand Naga pad and the centre of the node.
6. Click Save.

Layout, top left, can store a second arrangement — one for a five-person dungeon, one for a raid. Use it. Save a separate layout for raids.

Choose what the bars tell you

Press Escape → Options → Gameplay → Interface → Raid Frames.

Wowhead’s hub lists incoming heals, power bars, class colors, pets, debuffs, big defensives, a dispellable-debuff indicator, and health text.

Class colors, debuffs, the dispellable indicator, and health text are the ones that change a pull. Incoming heals and power bars are healer tools. I don’t main a healer, so for a full healer frame setup, look for a guide from someone who does.

Raid frames are a second block

Raid frames are their own block in Edit Mode. The party checkbox does not move them. If you raid, place that block and save too.

Blitz and RBGs are 10-man messy fights. The default raid-style party / raid block is enough to see a name and a health bar.

Party frames vs nameplates vs addons

• Party / raid frames — people on your side.
• Nameplates — the enemy. Plater is the usual named addon if the default plate is unreadable. PvP addons.
• An addon that redraws the group — VuhDo, Grid, ElvUI unit frames. They exist. If one is on, Edit Mode may be editing frames you are not seeing. Disable the extra, or commit to the addon and stop clicking the default stack.

Best WoW addons is Details, one boss-mod family, WeakAuras, Plater. Party frames are the default job those four do not replace.

Where to put your party frames

I move on UHJK, trinket and interrupt on the scroll wheel, consumables on a Naga Left-Handed 12-grid. The party frames can’t sit over the middle of the screen where I aim Fire Breath. Put it where a glance works — typically the side you already look for “who is dead.”

If an imported WeakAura pack also draws party health, turn one of them off. Two health bars for one paladin is how you miss the kick.

After a patch

Edit Mode layouts sometimes reset. Re-check Use Raid-Style Party Frames after a Midnight point release. Then a city, a dummy, a skirmish, then Blitz. Same order as the addon manager.

Related: WoW guides, How to keybind an MMO, left-handed mouse, keyboard guides, Midnight 12.1.5 news.

Common questions

How do I enable raid-style party frames in WoW?

Press Escape, open Edit Mode, check Party Frames, click the frames, and tick Use Raid-Style Party Frames. Then click Save.

How do I show class colors on WoW raid frames?

Go to Options, the Interface tab, then Raid Frames, and turn on class colors. It applies once your party frames are raid-style.

Do I need an addon for party frames?

No. The default Edit Mode and Raid Frame options cover most needs. Use an addon only if you want something the default frames can't show.