Rarescanner for Hardcore WoW Classic

Hardcore Wow requires careful planning, full awareness of mobs around, and maximum efforts to ensure survivability. One way to help with this is to use an addon called RareScanner.

What is RareScanner

Rarescanner is an add-on for WoW Hardcore Classic to help identify, track, and learn what specific mobs drop via an interface overlay on the map/ minimap.

In Hardcore, it can be used as a death prevention tool, giving you an advanced notice as it gives you an ample amount of time to avoid nearby elites/ Dangerous Mobs. 

By default, RareScanner is not optimized for Hardcore Classic. Follow this guide to configure it for the best results and prevent dying to elites.

RareScanner Features

Alerts – Notifications for nearby NPCs

This is the main feature of RareScanner.

The Rarescanner addon displays a display in the middle of the screen with information about a dangerous entity detected nearby. Around the button, information related to the entity is displayed, such as a miniature (in the case of an NPC), the name of the entity, and the loot that you may obtain after killing the NPC.

This addon is handy as in Hardcore, an unexpected Elite can be fatal and cause the death of your character, for instance:

In Silverpine Forest, the Son of Arugal is an overleveled elite who is the death of many characters. This add-on would alert you when he is within render distance and give you a fair amount of time to avoid him. 

In Duskwood, Mor’Ladim is a roaming elite for the ‘Totem of Infliction‘ quest. He is much higher than the surrounding mobs, making him either a danger or a primary objective for overleveled characters in the area.

Other elites are lesser known in the area, such as Morbent Fel in Duskwood, who is a level 32 elite in a typically roughly level 26/27 mob area, as well as Lord Malathrom, who is a level 31 rare, or the infamously known and dangerous Mor’laddim, the second most deadly in the zone of Duskwood despite his rarity.

They are given a symbol above their heads for easy identification and usually help you steer clear of their path / general area.

In Elwynn Forest, Hogger is an elite that patrols a campsite who looks somewhat similar to surrounding NPC Riverpaw Gnolls. In Dun Morogh is an Ice Troll who lives in a cave, both of which are commonly hunted for Questing but may result in deaths if unprepared.

The rarescanner addon can target the NPC with a clickable Nameplate or automatically target the named mob. 

World Map Boss Icons

Rare Mobs are marked on the world map with a skull. Hovering over an icon reveals:

The mob’s Name, Potential Loot drops, and roughly their Spawn Location which would be indicated by a coloured cloud requiring a left-click to reveal it. The ways you can interact with it are: Holding Alt Shift and Left-clicking it which deletes this entity meaning this command removes the named mob from the map, hovering over the icon shows loot of the highlighted NPC.

Minimap Icons

• Non-interactive, displaying only the name when hovered over.
• If Removed from the addon settings or from the world map, the information isn’t displayed on the minimap anymore.

Difference between Retail and Hardcore RareScanner

In Hardcore WoW Classic, RareScanner does not:

• Provide waypoints, to do this you could use TomTom with provided Coords (Read my guide on TomTom here)
• Show resource nodes (Use Gathermate2 and Routes for this.)
• Mark treasure chest locations (Use Gathermate2 and Routes for this.)

RareScanner Commands

/rarescanner tmi - This command toggles the world map skull icons on the world map

/rarescanner tt - Void in Hardcore as treasures aren’t shown - This command toggles treasure on the world map

/rarescanner tr - This command toggles icons of rare NPCs on the world map

/rarescanner ta - This command toggles alerts as a whole, Don’t recommend turning this off

/rarescanner tta - Void in Hardcore as treasures aren’t shown - This command toggles alerts for treasures

/rarescanner tra - This command toggles alerts for marked NPCs

/rs import string - Allows for importing of Custom NPCs - Used to import all elites in classic Hardcore.

How to add elites to RareScanner for WoW Classic Hardcore

Import Elites guide – By default RareScanner only tracks named mobs of interest, however in Hardcore every elite is considered an interest as they could kill you and make you delete your character.

https://github.com/maqjav/rarescanner-import-lists For the import text files to find the appropriate mobs for the correct class.

1. Right-click the RareScanner minimap icon.
2. Navigate to the Custom NPCs Tab.
3. Create a New Group (e.g., “Elites”) and select OK.
4. Switch to the newly created group.
5. Click Import NPCs and delete the existing text.
6. Copy & paste the appropriate list:
   • Alliance players → Alliance Enemy Elites.txt
   • Horde players → Horde Enemy Elites.txt
7. Select OK. Your game may briefly lag, but it will resume normally.

Text Files Available for Import:

1. Alliance Enemy Elites.txt
2. Horde Enemy Elites.txt
3. Fel Portals.txt
4. Mysterious Camel Figurine.txt

Using the same group for multiple imports can create duplicates, making tracking harder. Create separate groups for each import.

Adding NPCs Manually

Use /rs import string to add a custom NPC.

Find NPC IDs on WoWHead.

Recommended Settings for Hardcore

General Settings:

✔ Increase the timer to 1 minute. → Ensures frequent reminders of nearby roaming elites.
✔ Enable the Scanner in Instances → recommended for Dungeon safety.
✔ Enable Search for NPCs in Target Range (/target NPC) → Increases detection accuracy.

Custom NPC Settings:

✔ Import all Elites. → Ensures all dangerous mobs are tracked.
✔ Separate groups for different imports → Prevents duplicates and clutter.

Common RareScanner Issues & Fixes

Common Rarescanner Questions

Hardcore-Specific Questions

General Usage Questions