LibSpellDB

A shared spell database library for World of Warcraft addon developers, featuring a composable tagging system for granular spell queries.

Overview

LibSpellDB was originally built to power VeevHUD but is designed as a generic, reusable library that any addon can leverage. It provides a centralized, curated repository of spell data including:

Cooldowns and durations
Buff/debuff associations (when the applied aura uses a different spellId than the ability)
Spell ranks (mapping all ranks to a canonical spell ID)
Proc information
Spec relevance
Extensive tagging for categorization

The Composable Tagging Approach

Rather than rigid categories, LibSpellDB uses a composable tag system that allows granular, flexible queries. Each spell can have multiple tags that describe different aspects of what it does and how it's used.

Role Tags

Define what type of throughput the ability provides:

DPS — Deals or increases damage
HEAL — Heals or increases healing output
TANK — Tank-specific ability

Usage Pattern Tags

Describe how/when you use the ability:

ROTATIONAL — Core rotation, used on cooldown
MAINTENANCE — Buff/debuff to keep active
MINOR — Short cooldown (<60s), tactical usage
MAJOR — Long cooldown (60s+), save for key moments
AOE — AoE-focused ability

Defensive Tags

DEFENSIVE — Reduces damage taken
PERSONAL_DEFENSIVE — Self-survival cooldowns
EXTERNAL_DEFENSIVE — Defensives castable on others
IMMUNITY — Full immunity effects
DAMAGE_REDUCTION — Flat damage reduction

Movement Tags

MOVEMENT — General movement abilities
MOVEMENT_GAP_CLOSE — Charges, blinks, leaps
MOVEMENT_ESCAPE — Disengages, vanishes

Utility Tags

DISPEL_MAGIC, DISPEL_CURSE, DISPEL_POISON, DISPEL_DISEASE — Dispel types
PURGE — Offensive dispel (removes enemy buffs)
TAUNT — Threat/taunt abilities
RESOURCE — Resource generation/management
UTILITY — General utility

Pet Tags

PET_SUMMON — Summons a permanent pet
PET_SUMMON_TEMP — Summons a temporary pet
PET_CONTROL — Pet management (dismiss, passive, etc.)
REQUIRES_PET — Spell requires an alive pet to function

Mechanic Tags

REACTIVE — Conditional abilities (Overpower, Execute, Revenge)
PROC — Proc-based buffs to track
FINISHER — Combo point/resource spenders
HAS_BUFF, HAS_DEBUFF, HAS_DOT, HAS_HOT — Describes what the spell applies
RESURRECT, BATTLE_REZ — Resurrection abilities

Query Examples

local LibSpellDB = LibStub("LibSpellDB-1.0")

-- Get all warrior spells
local warriorSpells = LibSpellDB:GetSpellsByClass("WARRIOR")

-- Get all interrupts
local interrupts = LibSpellDB:GetSpellsByTag("INTERRUPT")

-- Get warrior interrupts specifically
local warriorInterrupts = LibSpellDB:GetSpellsByClassAndTag("WARRIOR", "INTERRUPT")

-- Get spells matching ANY of these tags (union)
local ccAbilities = LibSpellDB:GetSpellsByTags({"CC_HARD", "CC_SOFT", "INTERRUPT"})

-- Get spells matching ALL of these tags (intersection)
local rotationalDps = LibSpellDB:GetSpellsByAllTags({"ROTATIONAL", "DPS"})

-- Check if a spell has a specific tag
if LibSpellDB:HasTag(6552, "INTERRUPT") then
    -- Pummel is an interrupt
end

Spell Data Structure

Each spell entry supports the following fields:

{
    spellID = 12345,           -- Required: Primary spell ID
    class = "WARRIOR",         -- Required: Class token (or "SHARED" for racials)
    tags = {"DPS", "ROTATIONAL"},  -- Required: Category tags
    cooldown = 10,             -- Optional: Base cooldown in seconds
    duration = 5,              -- Optional: Buff/effect duration
    priority = 1,              -- Optional: Sort priority within rows
    talent = true,             -- Optional: Requires talent
    ranks = {100, 101, 102},   -- Optional: All rank spell IDs (low to high)
    specs = {"ARMS", "FURY"},  -- Optional: Which specs use this (nil = all)
    race = "Orc",              -- Optional: Race restriction for racials
    auraTarget = "self",       -- Optional: Where buff appears ("self", "ally", "pet", "none")
    cooldownPriority = true,   -- Optional: Show cooldown/prediction first, then aura when ready
    singleTarget = true,       -- Optional: Only one instance can be active at a time
    triggersAuras = {...},     -- Optional: Auras this spell triggers (with different IDs)
    appliesBuff = {8076, 8162},-- Optional: Buff spell IDs applied (when different from cast ID)
    cooldownItemIDs = {5232},  -- Optional: Item IDs for item-based cooldowns (e.g., Soulstone)
    itemCooldown = 120,        -- Optional: Duration when a created item is consumed
    buffGroup = "WARRIOR_SHOUTS", -- Optional: BuffGroup this spell belongs to
    targetLockoutDebuff = 6788,-- Optional: Debuff that blocks re-casting (e.g., Weakened Soul)
    sharedCooldownGroup = "...",  -- Optional: Shared CD group name
}

The `auraTarget` Field

Controls where consumers should look for this spell's buff/debuff:

"self" — Buff appears on caster only (Barkskin, Evasion, Ice Block)
"ally" — Can target other players (Renew, BoP, Power Word: Shield)
"pet" — Targets pet (Mend Pet)
"none" — No unit to track (AoE, totems, placed objects)

When auraTarget is nil, it's inferred from tags — spells with HEAL_SINGLE, HOT, HAS_HOT, HEAL_AOE, or EXTERNAL_DEFENSIVE default to "ally"; all others default to "self".

BuffGroup System

LibSpellDB groups related buff spells for features like buff reminders. Two relationship types:

Equivalent — Different spells providing the same buff (Fortitude / Prayer of Fortitude). Any one satisfies the requirement.
Exclusive — Only one from the group can be active at a time (Paladin Blessings, Mage Armors, Warrior Shouts).

-- Check if a spell belongs to a buff group
if LibSpellDB:IsInBuffGroup(1243) then
    local groupName, info = LibSpellDB:GetBuffGroup(1243)
    -- groupName = "PRIEST_FORTITUDE"
    -- info.relationship = "equivalent"
    -- info.spells = {1243, 21562}
end

Current Coverage

LibSpellDB includes comprehensive spell data for all classes across Classic Era and TBC (Anniversary). Each class includes rotational abilities, cooldowns, utility, CC, defensives, and more — all properly tagged for flexible querying. The same dataset serves both versions: spells that don't exist in the running client are skipped automatically (see below).

For Addon Developers

LibSpellDB is distributed as a standalone library. To use it in your addon:

Include LibSpellDB as a dependency or embed it
Access via LibStub: local LibSpellDB = LibStub("LibSpellDB-1.0")
Query spells using the API methods above

The library handles spell validation automatically — spells that don't exist in the current game version are silently skipped.

Feedback & Bug Reports

Join the Veev Addons Discord for feedback, suggestions, and bug reports: https://discord.gg/HuSXTa5XNq