What the 8 October build restored

Blizzard's 8 October notes say players can once again swap multiple weapons within the same GCD, and give the use case directly: a macro that swaps from a two-handed weapon to a sword and shield. The words once again suggest earlier Forever builds did not allow it, so older reports of swaps failing may describe a build that has since changed.

The same notes fixed a bug where character-specific macros were showing general macros. A weapon macro names items only one character owns, so keep it on that character's specific tab.

Hand-inked illustration of a wooden rack where a two-handed hammer has tipped down and out while a sword and shield on one shared bar stand upright, their pivots joined by a gold link.
Both hands can change on one press again; the macro text is yours to check.

Who gains most from a shield swap

Warriors have the clearest reason. Blizzard's Priest and Warrior deep dive makes several Protection talents depend on a shield: Defiance only raises threat in Defensive Stance with a shield equipped, Bastion increases damage while you carry one, and Master of Defense grants Rage from dodges and parries with a shield on. A Warrior questing with a two-hander can move to sword and shield when a pull goes wrong, then swap back once it is under control.

Any character that carries both a two-hander and a one-hand-and-shield set can use the same idea. The change is about how many items move in one global cooldown, not about any one class.

Why this guide prints no macro yet

No source we have read prints Forever's macro commands or explains how a swap behaves in combat. Classic players built these macros from equip commands, and Blizzard's example points the same way, but we have not seen Forever's syntax confirmed, so we are not publishing one.

If you write your own, check three things before you rely on it in a dungeon: that both hands change on a single press, that it still works in combat, and which item it picks when two in your bags share a name.

Still to come

Not yet settled by our sources or tested in game:

  • The exact macro commands Forever accepts for equipping by item name or by slot.
  • Whether a swap in combat triggers its own global cooldown or resets your swing timer.
  • How the client chooses between two identically named weapons in your bags.

Sources

Beta notes are dated because Forever is still changing.