diff --git a/data/core/macros/items.cfg b/data/core/macros/items.cfg
index 99eeb3ceaa4..3c72e103039 100644
--- a/data/core/macros/items.cfg
+++ b/data/core/macros/items.cfg
@@ -508,34 +508,36 @@
 #enddef
 
 #wmllint: markcheck off
-#define STORM_TRIDENT_LIGHTNING DIRECTION_NUMBER
-            [effect]
-                apply_to=new_animation
-                name="storm trident"
-                [attack_anim]
-                    [filter_attack]
-                        name="storm trident"
-                    [/filter_attack]
-			        {LIGHTNING_BOLT {DIRECTION_NUMBER} }
-                    [if]
-                        hits=no
-                        [frame]
-                            begin=-200
-                            end=0
-                            sound=lightning-miss.ogg
-                        [/frame]
-                    [/if]
-                    [else]
-                        hits=yes
-                        [frame]
-                            begin=-200
-                            end=0
-                            sound=lightning.ogg
-                        [/frame]
-                    [/else]
-                [/attack_anim]
-            [/effect]
+#define LIGHTNING_ANIMATION NAME_STRING DIRECTION_NUMBER
+    "Effect generating a new animation that throws lightning in a specified direction."
+    [effect]
+        apply_to=new_animation
+        name={NAME_STRING}
+        [attack_anim]
+            [filter_attack]
+                name={NAME_STRING}
+            [/filter_attack]
+            {LIGHTNING_BOLT {DIRECTION_NUMBER}}
+            [if]
+                hits=no
+                [frame]
+                    begin=-200
+                    end=0
+                    sound=lightning-miss.ogg
+                [/frame]
+            [/if]
+            [else]
+                hits=yes
+                [frame]
+                    begin=-200
+                    end=0
+                    sound=lightning.ogg
+                [/frame]
+            [/else]
+        [/attack_anim]
+    [/effect]
 #enddef
+
 #define OBJ_TRIDENT_STORM X Y ID
     {PICKUPPABLE_ITEM {ID} {X} {Y} race=merman items/storm-trident.png _"Should $unit.name pick up the trident?" _"Only the mermen can use this item!" (
         [object]
@@ -557,9 +559,9 @@
                 number=2
             [/effect]
 
-			{STORM_TRIDENT_LIGHTNING 1}
-			{STORM_TRIDENT_LIGHTNING 2}
-			{STORM_TRIDENT_LIGHTNING 3}
+            {LIGHTNING_ANIMATION "storm trident" 1}
+	    {LIGHTNING_ANIMATION "storm trident" 2}
+	    {LIGHTNING_ANIMATION "storm trident" 3}
         [/object]
     )}
 #enddef