Map Markers
Objective locations appear as colored pins directly on your zone map and minimap. Each pin is labeled with the mob name or item name so you know what you are looking for.
pfQuest — The Quest Helper for Vanilla WoW 1.12
pfQuest is the go-to quest helper addon for World of Warcraft 1.12.1 and TBC 2.4.3. It adds quest objective markers to your map and minimap, shows you where to find quest mobs and items, and provides a directional arrow that guides you to your current objective.
Originally created by shagu and maintained at github.com/shagu/pfQuest, pfQuest is widely considered the most complete and polished quest helper available for the 1.12.1 Vanilla client. It is also fully compatible with Burning Crusade 2.4.3 clients and is included in the Fólkvangr client package by default.
This guide covers everything: installation, every slash command, the settings panel, arrow configuration, database updates, and common troubleshooting questions.
1.12
Vanilla Client
2.4.3
TBC Client
Free
Open Source
shagu
Author
What Is pfQuest?
In Vanilla WoW 1.12.1, the default UI gives you almost no information about where to go for quests. Quest text describes objectives in general terms, but the map shows nothing. Players either remembered everything from experience, relied on external websites, or spent time running around aimlessly. pfQuest solves this.
When you pick up a quest, pfQuest reads its objectives and draws markers on your world map and minimap showing where to find the required mobs, items, or NPCs. A small arrow in your field of view points toward your active objective.
Unlike the quest helper built into modern WoW, pfQuest is designed to integrate seamlessly with the classic 1.12 UI. It does not feel out of place, and it does not override the original game's look. It is a careful addition, not a replacement.
Waypoint Arrow
An optional directional arrow floats on screen and points toward your nearest quest objective. You can move it, resize it, or disable it entirely in settings.
NPC Dialogue
When you talk to a quest NPC, pfQuest can automatically focus on the relevant objective and update your waypoint without any manual input required.
How to Install pfQuest on WoW 1.12.1
Installation takes about two minutes. You only need to download one file, extract it, and place it in the correct folder. There is no installer or launcher required.
Note: If you downloaded the Fólkvangr client package, pfQuest is already installed. Skip to Settings or Commands.
1
Download pfQuest
Go to the pfQuest releases page on GitHub and download the latest
pfQuest.zip file.
Make sure you are downloading the main pfQuest addon,
not an unrelated fork.
2
Extract the Zip File
Extract the downloaded zip. You should get a folder named
pfQuest
(or pfQuest-main if downloaded as a zip from GitHub directly).
If the folder is named pfQuest-main,
rename it to just pfQuest
before proceeding. WoW reads the folder name as the addon name.
3
Place the Folder in Interface\AddOns
Navigate to your WoW installation directory and open the
Interface\AddOns
folder. If the AddOns folder does not exist, create it.
Copy or move the pfQuest
folder inside.
World of Warcraft\Interface\AddOns\pfQuest\
4
Enable pfQuest at the Character Select Screen
Launch WoW and at the character selection screen, click AddOns in the bottom-left corner. Make sure pfQuest is checked and enabled. If you do not see it in the list, double-check the folder name and path from step 3.
You may need to check "Load out of date AddOns" if the client reports a version mismatch. pfQuest works fine even if flagged as out of date.
5
Log In and Accept a Quest
Enter the world and pick up any quest. Open your map and you should see objective markers already placed. The waypoint arrow will appear near the center of your screen pointing toward the closest objective. pfQuest is now working.
pfQuest Slash Commands
All pfQuest commands start with /pfquest
or the shorter alias /pq.
Type any command into your chat window.
| Command | What It Does |
|---|---|
/pq |
Opens pfQuest help and shows available commands in chat. |
/pq show |
Shows the pfQuest frame / panel if it is hidden. |
/pq hide |
Hides the pfQuest frame / panel. |
/pq reset |
Resets all pfQuest settings back to default and repositions the frame. |
/pq config |
Opens the configuration panel (same as right-clicking the minimap button). |
/pq scan |
Re-scans your current quest log and refreshes all markers on the map. |
/pq search <text> |
Searches the pfQuest database for a mob, NPC, or object by name and shows its location on the map. |
/pq spawn <name> |
Looks up spawn locations for any named mob or NPC and places a marker on the map. |
/pq target |
Sets a manual waypoint on your current target's location. |
/pq arrow |
Toggles the waypoint arrow on or off. |
/pq arrow reset |
Moves the arrow back to its default screen position if you have dragged it off-screen. |
Tip: /pq search Hogger is a quick way to pin the location of any named mob
onto your map without having an active quest for it. Useful for leveling research or helping guildmates.
Settings Panel
Open the pfQuest settings panel by right-clicking the pfQuest minimap button
(a small circular icon on the edge of your minimap), or by typing
/pq config
in chat.
Map Pins
Toggle whether objective markers appear on the world map, the minimap, or both. You can also adjust the size and opacity of the pins if they feel too prominent.
Waypoint Arrow
Enable or disable the directional arrow. Adjust its size, transparency, and on-screen position. You can lock it in place so it cannot be accidentally dragged.
Auto-focus Objective
When enabled, pfQuest automatically selects the nearest incomplete quest objective as your active waypoint when you enter a zone or accept a new quest.
Database Scope
Choose whether pfQuest draws data from the full pfQuest-db extended database or only the core built-in data. The extended database adds many more spawn locations and is recommended.
Quest Log Integration
pfQuest can add small map buttons directly inside the quest log window, letting you jump directly to an objective marker with a single click.
Objective Notifications
Optional text notifications appear when you move close to a quest objective location. Useful when you want map feedback without looking at the map constantly.
The Waypoint Arrow — Setup, Move, and Disable
The pfQuest arrow is a floating directional indicator that rotates to point toward your nearest active quest objective. Many players love it; others find it distracting and prefer clean map pins only. Both preferences are fully supported.
Moving the Arrow
The arrow can be dragged to any position on screen. Hold down the
Shift key and left-click drag the arrow to reposition it.
Release and it locks in place. If you cannot see the arrow, type
/pq arrow reset
to return it to the default center-screen position.
Disabling the Arrow
There are two ways to disable the arrow:
- Type
/pq arrowto toggle it off immediately. - Open the settings panel (
/pq config) and uncheck the Arrow option to disable it permanently.
Arrow Resizing
In the settings panel, drag the Arrow Size slider to make the arrow larger or smaller. A larger arrow is easier to glance at during fast-paced movement. A smaller one is less intrusive when playing casters or in raids where screen space matters.
pfQuest-db — Extended Location Database
pfQuest ships with a built-in database of mob spawn locations and quest object coordinates. For many quests this is sufficient. However, the separate pfQuest-db addon significantly expands this coverage, adding thousands of additional spawn points sourced from real server data.
Why Install pfQuest-db
Without pfQuest-db, some quest objectives — particularly rare spawns, obscure items, and mobs in less-popular zones — may not have map markers. pfQuest-db fills these gaps and provides more precise coordinate data overall.
How to Install
Download pfQuest-db from its
GitHub releases page
and install it the same way as pfQuest itself: extract the
pfQuest-db folder into
Interface\AddOns\.
Enable it at the character select screen.
Both pfQuest and pfQuest-db are included in the Fólkvangr client download package.
Compatibility — Which WoW Clients Does pfQuest Support?
pfQuest is specifically built for the older WoW client versions used on private servers. It does not work on the modern retail client.
| WoW Version | Client | pfQuest Support | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.12.1 | Vanilla WoW | Full support | Primary target. All features work. |
| 2.4.3 | Burning Crusade (TBC) | Full support | Works on Fólkvangr. Use the TBC-compatible release branch. |
| 3.3.5a | Wrath of the Lich King | Partial / community fork | Separate forks exist but are not officially supported by shagu. |
| Retail / Modern | Live WoW | Not supported | Use Questie or the built-in quest tracker instead. |
Fólkvangr runs on the Burning Crusade 2.4.3 client. pfQuest works fully on this version and is bundled in the official Fólkvangr client download. You do not need to source or configure it separately.
Pairing pfQuest with Other Addons
pfQuest works well alongside other popular 1.12 and TBC addons. These combinations are commonly used together on Fólkvangr. See the full WoW 1.12 addons guide for every addon category.
Vanilla Tweaks
Patch your WoW.exe for widescreen support, extended render distance, the LAA memory fix, and more. Included in the Fólkvangr client alongside pfQuest.
Vanilla Tweaks Guide →pfUI
Also by shagu, pfUI replaces the default WoW interface with a cleaner layout. It is designed to complement pfQuest perfectly since both share the same author, code philosophy, and visual language.
Auctioneer
Auctioneer scans the Auction House and suggests prices for items you pick up during questing. Combined with pfQuest's objective tracking, you can plan gather quests around profitable drops.
AtlasLoot
AtlasLoot shows dungeon and raid loot tables. Useful when pfQuest sends you into an instance — you can check the boss drops before committing to a full run.
FAQ & Troubleshooting
pfQuest is not showing in my AddOns list
Make sure the folder inside Interface\AddOns\
is named exactly pfQuest,
not pfQuest-main or
pfQuest-1.2.3.
WoW uses the folder name to identify addons. Also confirm that a
pfQuest.toc
file exists directly inside that folder.
The map shows no markers even though I have quests in my log
Try typing /pq scan
to force a re-read of your quest log. If markers still do not appear,
the quest may not have coordinates in the built-in database —
install pfQuest-db
to expand coverage significantly.
I cannot find or see the arrow on screen
Type /pq arrow reset
to bring the arrow back to the default position. If the arrow is disabled,
type /pq arrow
to toggle it back on.
How do I disable the arrow permanently?
Open the configuration panel with /pq config
and uncheck the arrow option. This setting persists between sessions.
Alternatively, type /pq arrow
to toggle it off for the current session.
WoW says pfQuest is "out of date" — does it still work?
Yes. The "out of date" warning in WoW refers to the interface version number declared in the
.toc file,
not actual functionality. Check the Load out of date AddOns checkbox at the character
select screen and pfQuest will load and work normally.
Does pfQuest work on TBC (2.4.3) servers like Fólkvangr?
Yes. pfQuest fully supports the Burning Crusade 2.4.3 client and is included in the Fólkvangr client package. All quest markers, the waypoint arrow, and the slash commands function exactly the same as on 1.12.1.
Is pfQuest the same as ShaguQuest?
ShaguQuest was an earlier quest helper by the same author (shagu) that predates pfQuest. pfQuest is the successor and replaces ShaguQuest entirely. ShaguQuest is no longer maintained. Use pfQuest instead.
Where can I report a bug or request a spawn location?
File issues directly on the pfQuest GitHub issues page. For missing spawn data, the pfQuest-db repository accepts contributions.
Ready to Play with pfQuest?
Join Fólkvangr — a Burning Crusade 2.4.3 private server where pfQuest and pfQuest-db are already included in the client download. Create your account, download the client, and start questing with full map markers and waypoints from your very first login.