Arcane Mage guide

Rotation and opener

Use the appropriate Mage or Molten Armor for your build. Begin from a safe casting position and align Arcane Power with uninterrupted spell damage.

Combat priority

1. 
   Arcane Blast

   Open after the tank establishes threat, then build the Arcane Blast cycle. Watch both the stack count and your Mana bar; repeating Blast is a deliberate damage-versus-duration decision.

2. 
   Arcane Missiles

   Consume Missile Barrage with Arcane Missiles. Let the channel finish unless movement is necessary to survive; repeatedly clipping it wastes the proc.

3. 
   Frostbolt

   At four Arcane Blast stacks, use Frostbolt as the conservative filler when no Missile Barrage proc is ready. On a short encounter with sufficient Mana, continuing Blast is the aggressive alternative.

4. 
   Arcane Blast

   Return to Blast after the proc or conservation cast. Plan the next cycle around the remaining duration of the fight, rather than emptying your Mana immediately.

Multiple targets and dungeon pulls

For a tanked pack, let the tank gather enemies before moving into Arcane Explosion range. Keep Polymorph away from the pack and avoid hitting the controlled target.

On a spread pack, kill the dangerous caster with your single-target cycle instead of chasing enough targets to make point-blank damage worthwhile. Use Counterspell to bring that caster closer.

Frost Nova creates room when a pack reaches you. Step clear before the root breaks; using another damage spell while surrounded can turn a recoverable pull into a death.

Resources and cooldowns

The mana bar decides how long a burn can last. Plan when to stop spending at full intensity before you reach zero mana. Keep enough for Counterspell or a defensive spell during a dangerous phase.

• Use Arcane Power when a stable casting window begins, with your on-use damage effects. Starting it immediately before a mechanic forces movement wastes the increased damage opportunity.
• Begin Mana recovery early enough to remain active for the fight. Evocation requires a safe channel; arrange it between damage spikes rather than relying on it as a last-second rescue.
• Blink is a positioning tool, not a reason to stand in danger until the last moment. Counterspell is worth using even when it interrupts your damage rhythm.

Specialization mechanics and group play

Missile Barrage is a change of cast choice, not a buff to ignore while finishing an arbitrary number of Blasts. Respond to the proc and then reassess your Mana.

Arcane Concentration can trigger Clearcasting, reducing the Mana cost of your next damage spell by 100%. Use the free cast while continuing your spell priority.

The opener is straightforward: Intellect and armor active, Mana Gem prepared, tank threat established, Arcane Power for a stable window, then the Blast/Missiles cycle.

In PvP, protect your cast window with Polymorph and Counterspell. Keep Blink for a melee connection or dangerous positioning; spending every utility tool to chase a small damage gain leaves no escape.

PvE talent choices

Standard Build 51 points · 31 / 3 / 17

Arcane

0/2Wand Specialization0/2 · PassiveIncreases your damage with Wands by 13%.5/5Arcane Focus5/5 · PassiveIncreases your chance to hit with your Arcane spells by 1%.3/5Improved Channeling3/5 · PassiveGives you a 20% chance to avoid interruption caused by damage while channeling Arcane Missiles and a 14% chance while casting Arcane Blast.0/2Arcane Subtlety0/2 · PassiveReduces your target's resistance to all your spells by 8 and reduces the threat caused by your Arcane spells by 15%.0/2Magic Absorption0/2 · PassiveIncreases all your resistances by 5 and causes all spells you fully resist to restore 1% of your total mana. Cannot trigger more often than 1 time per sec.5/5Arcane Concentration5/5 · PassiveGives you a 10% chance of entering a Clearcasting state after any damage spell hits a target. The Clearcasting state reduces the mana cost of your next damage spell by 100%.0/2Arcane Resilience0/2 · PassiveIncreases your Armor by an amount equal to 25% of your Intellect.0/2Arcane Geometry0/2 · PassiveIncreases the range of your Arcane spells by 3 yards.3/3Arcane Impact3/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike chance of your Arcane spells by 2%.1/1Arcane Blast1/1 · ActiveBlasts the target with energy, dealing 95 to 104 Arcane damage. Each time you cast Arcane Blast, the damage of all your other spells is increased by 10% and the mana cost of Arcane Blast is increased by 175%. Effect stacks up to 4 times and lasts 8 sec or until any other damage spell is cast.0/2Arcane Shielding0/2 · PassiveDecreases the Mana lost per point of damage taken when your Mana Shield spell is active by 17% and increases the resistances granted by your Mage Armor spell by 25%.0/2Improved Counterspell0/2 · PassiveYour Counterspell also Silences the target for 2 sec.3/3Arcane Meditation3/3 · PassiveAllows 17% of your Mana regeneration to continue while casting.Requires Arcane Concentration1/1Missile Barrage1/1 · PassiveGives your Arcane Blast spell a 40% chance, and your Fireball, Frostbolt, and Frostfire Bolt spells a 20% chance to reduce the channeled duration of your next Arcane Missiles spell by 50%, reduce the Mana cost by 100%, and missiles will fire every 0.5 sec.1/1Presence of Mind1/1 · ActiveWhen activated, your next Mage spell with a casting time less than 10 sec becomes an instant cast spell.5/5Arcane Mind5/5 · PassiveIncreases your Intellect by 2% and increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Arcane spells by 20%.3/3Arcane Instability3/3 · PassiveIncreases the damage done by all your spells by 1% and your critical strike chance with all attacks by 1%.1/1Arcane Power1/1 · ActiveFor the next 15 sec, your spells deal 30% more damage while costing 30% more mana to cast.Requires Presence of Mind

Arcane Focus 5/5Improved Channeling 3/5Arcane Concentration 5/5Arcane Impact 3/3Arcane Blast 1/1Arcane Meditation 3/3Missile Barrage 1/1Presence of Mind 1/1Arcane Mind 5/5Arcane Instability 3/3Arcane Power 1/1

Fire

0/2Wake of Fire0/2 · PassiveReduces the cooldown of your Fire Blast spell by 1 sec. Killing a non-trivial target increases the critical strike chance of your next Fire Blast cast within 20 sec by 25%.3/3Incineration3/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike chance of your Fire Blast, Ice Lance, Arcane Blast, and Scorch spells by 2%.0/5Improved Fireball0/5 · PassiveReduces the casting time of your Fireball and Frostfire Bolt spells by 0.1 sec.0/5Ignite0/5 · PassiveYour critical strikes from Fire damage spells cause the target to burn for an additional 8% of your spell's damage over 4 sec.0/2Flame Throwing0/2 · PassiveIncreases the range of your Fire spells by 3 yards.0/3Impact0/3 · PassiveGives your Fire spells a 3% chance to stun the target for 2 sec.0/3Burning Soul0/3 · PassiveGives your Fire spells a 23% chance to not lose casting time when you take damage and reduces the threat caused by your Fire spells by 10%.0/3Improved Flamestrike0/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike chance of your Flamestrike spell by 5%.0/1Pyroblast0/1 · ActiveHurls an immense fiery boulder that causes 155 to 185 Fire damage and an additional 76 Fire damage over 12 sec.0/3Improved Scorch0/3 · PassiveYour Scorch spell has a 33% chance to cause your target to be vulnerable to Fire damage. This vulnerability increases all Fire damage you deal to your target by 3% and lasts 30 sec, stacking up to 5 times.0/2Improved Fire Ward0/2 · PassiveCauses your Fire Ward to have a 10% chance to reflect Fire spells while active.0/1Hot Streak0/1 · PassiveYour non-periodic critical strikes with Fireball, Frostfire Bolt, Fire Blast, and Scorch grant Hot Streak for 15 sec. Hot Streak reduces the cast time of Pyroblast by 25%, stacking up to 3 times.Requires Pyroblast0/3Master of Elements0/3 · PassiveYour Fire and Frost critical strikes will refund 10% of their base mana cost.0/3Critical Mass0/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike chance of your Fire spells by 2%.0/1Blast Wave0/1 · ActiveA wave of flame radiates outward from the caster, damaging all enemies caught within the blast for 160 to 191 Fire damage, and Dazing them for 50% reduced movement speed for 6 sec.0/5Fire Power0/5 · PassiveIncreases the damage done by your Fire spells by 2%.0/1Combustion0/1 · ActiveWhen activated, this spell causes each of your Fire damage spell hits to increase your critical strike chance with Fire damage spells by 10%. This effect lasts until you have caused 4 non-periodic critical strikes with Fire spells.Requires Critical Mass

Incineration 3/3

Frost

0/2Frost Warding0/2 · PassiveIncreases the Armor and resistance given by your Frost Armor and Ice Armor spells by 15%. In addition, gives your Frost Ward a 10% chance to reflect Frost spells and effects while active.5/5Improved Frostbolt5/5 · PassiveReduces the casting time of your Frostbolt spell by 0.5 sec.5/5Elemental Precision5/5 · PassiveIncreases your chance to hit with Frost and Fire spells by 1%.3/5Ice Shards3/5 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike damage bonus of your Frost spells by 60%.0/3Permafrost0/3 · PassiveIncreases the duration of your Chill effects by 11% and reduces the target's speed by an additional 3%.0/2Improved Frost Nova0/2 · PassiveReduces the cooldown of your Frost Nova spell by 2 sec.0/3Frostbite0/3 · PassiveGives your Chill effects a 5% chance to freeze the target for 5 sec.3/3Piercing Ice3/3 · PassiveIncreases the damage done by your Frost spells by 6%.0/3Frost Channeling0/3 · PassiveReduces the mana cost of your Frost spells by 5% and reduces the threat caused by your Frost spells by 10%.0/1Ice Lance0/1 · ActiveDeals 28 to 33 Frost damage to an enemy target. Deals 300% increased damage to Frozen targets.0/3Improved Blizzard0/3 · PassiveAdds a Chill effect to your Blizzard spell. This effect lowers the target's movement speed by 15% for 1.5 sec.0/2Arctic Reach0/2 · PassiveIncreases the range of your Frostbolt and Blizzard spells and the radius of your Frost Nova and Cone of Cold spells by 10%.1/1Ice Block1/1 · ActiveYou become encased in a block of ice, protecting you from all physical attacks and spells for 10 sec, but during that time you cannot attack, move or cast spells.0/3Shatter0/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike chance of all your spells against Frozen targets by 17%.0/3Improved Cone of Cold0/3 · PassiveIncreases the damage dealt by your Cone of Cold spell by 12%.0/1Cold Snap0/1 · ActiveFinishes the remaining cooldown on all your other Frost spells.0/2Fingers of Frost0/2 · PassiveGives your Chill effects a 15% chance to grant you the Fingers of Frost effect, which treats your next 1 spell cast as if the target were Frozen. Lasts 15 sec.Requires Ice Lance0/5Winter's Chill0/5 · PassiveGives your Frost damage spells a 20% chance to apply the Winter's Chill effect, which increases the chance your Ice Lance and Frostbolt spells will critically hit the target by 2% for 15 sec. Stacks up to 1 times.0/1Ice Barrier0/1 · ActiveInstantly shields you, absorbing 431 damage. Lasts 1 min. While the shield holds, your spellcasts will not be interrupted or delayed from taking damage.Requires Cold Snap

Improved Frostbolt 5/5Elemental Precision 5/5Ice Shards 3/5Piercing Ice 3/3Ice Block 1/1

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Build reference · Level-60 allocations are beta plans, not final launch performance rankings.

Level 30 (Beta) 21 points · 19 / 2 / 0

Arcane

0/2Wand Specialization0/2 · PassiveIncreases your damage with Wands by 13%.5/5Arcane Focus5/5 · PassiveIncreases your chance to hit with your Arcane spells by 1%.1/5Improved Channeling1/5 · PassiveGives you a 20% chance to avoid interruption caused by damage while channeling Arcane Missiles and a 14% chance while casting Arcane Blast.0/2Arcane Subtlety0/2 · PassiveReduces your target's resistance to all your spells by 8 and reduces the threat caused by your Arcane spells by 15%.0/2Magic Absorption0/2 · PassiveIncreases all your resistances by 5 and causes all spells you fully resist to restore 1% of your total mana. Cannot trigger more often than 1 time per sec.5/5Arcane Concentration5/5 · PassiveGives you a 10% chance of entering a Clearcasting state after any damage spell hits a target. The Clearcasting state reduces the mana cost of your next damage spell by 100%.0/2Arcane Resilience0/2 · PassiveIncreases your Armor by an amount equal to 25% of your Intellect.0/2Arcane Geometry0/2 · PassiveIncreases the range of your Arcane spells by 3 yards.3/3Arcane Impact3/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike chance of your Arcane spells by 2%.1/1Arcane Blast1/1 · ActiveBlasts the target with energy, dealing 95 to 104 Arcane damage. Each time you cast Arcane Blast, the damage of all your other spells is increased by 10% and the mana cost of Arcane Blast is increased by 175%. Effect stacks up to 4 times and lasts 8 sec or until any other damage spell is cast.0/2Arcane Shielding0/2 · PassiveDecreases the Mana lost per point of damage taken when your Mana Shield spell is active by 17% and increases the resistances granted by your Mage Armor spell by 25%.0/2Improved Counterspell0/2 · PassiveYour Counterspell also Silences the target for 2 sec.3/3Arcane Meditation3/3 · PassiveAllows 17% of your Mana regeneration to continue while casting.Requires Arcane Concentration1/1Missile Barrage1/1 · PassiveGives your Arcane Blast spell a 40% chance, and your Fireball, Frostbolt, and Frostfire Bolt spells a 20% chance to reduce the channeled duration of your next Arcane Missiles spell by 50%, reduce the Mana cost by 100%, and missiles will fire every 0.5 sec.0/1Presence of Mind0/1 · ActiveWhen activated, your next Mage spell with a casting time less than 10 sec becomes an instant cast spell.0/5Arcane Mind0/5 · PassiveIncreases your Intellect by 2% and increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Arcane spells by 20%.0/3Arcane Instability0/3 · PassiveIncreases the damage done by all your spells by 1% and your critical strike chance with all attacks by 1%.0/1Arcane Power0/1 · ActiveFor the next 15 sec, your spells deal 30% more damage while costing 30% more mana to cast.Requires Presence of Mind

Arcane Focus 5/5Improved Channeling 1/5Arcane Concentration 5/5Arcane Impact 3/3Arcane Blast 1/1Arcane Meditation 3/3Missile Barrage 1/1

Fire

0/2Wake of Fire0/2 · PassiveReduces the cooldown of your Fire Blast spell by 1 sec. Killing a non-trivial target increases the critical strike chance of your next Fire Blast cast within 20 sec by 25%.2/3Incineration2/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike chance of your Fire Blast, Ice Lance, Arcane Blast, and Scorch spells by 2%.0/5Improved Fireball0/5 · PassiveReduces the casting time of your Fireball and Frostfire Bolt spells by 0.1 sec.0/5Ignite0/5 · PassiveYour critical strikes from Fire damage spells cause the target to burn for an additional 8% of your spell's damage over 4 sec.0/2Flame Throwing0/2 · PassiveIncreases the range of your Fire spells by 3 yards.0/3Impact0/3 · PassiveGives your Fire spells a 3% chance to stun the target for 2 sec.0/3Burning Soul0/3 · PassiveGives your Fire spells a 23% chance to not lose casting time when you take damage and reduces the threat caused by your Fire spells by 10%.0/3Improved Flamestrike0/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike chance of your Flamestrike spell by 5%.0/1Pyroblast0/1 · ActiveHurls an immense fiery boulder that causes 155 to 185 Fire damage and an additional 76 Fire damage over 12 sec.0/3Improved Scorch0/3 · PassiveYour Scorch spell has a 33% chance to cause your target to be vulnerable to Fire damage. This vulnerability increases all Fire damage you deal to your target by 3% and lasts 30 sec, stacking up to 5 times.0/2Improved Fire Ward0/2 · PassiveCauses your Fire Ward to have a 10% chance to reflect Fire spells while active.0/1Hot Streak0/1 · PassiveYour non-periodic critical strikes with Fireball, Frostfire Bolt, Fire Blast, and Scorch grant Hot Streak for 15 sec. Hot Streak reduces the cast time of Pyroblast by 25%, stacking up to 3 times.Requires Pyroblast0/3Master of Elements0/3 · PassiveYour Fire and Frost critical strikes will refund 10% of their base mana cost.0/3Critical Mass0/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike chance of your Fire spells by 2%.0/1Blast Wave0/1 · ActiveA wave of flame radiates outward from the caster, damaging all enemies caught within the blast for 160 to 191 Fire damage, and Dazing them for 50% reduced movement speed for 6 sec.0/5Fire Power0/5 · PassiveIncreases the damage done by your Fire spells by 2%.0/1Combustion0/1 · ActiveWhen activated, this spell causes each of your Fire damage spell hits to increase your critical strike chance with Fire damage spells by 10%. This effect lasts until you have caused 4 non-periodic critical strikes with Fire spells.Requires Critical Mass

Incineration 2/3

Frost

0/2Frost Warding0/2 · PassiveIncreases the Armor and resistance given by your Frost Armor and Ice Armor spells by 15%. In addition, gives your Frost Ward a 10% chance to reflect Frost spells and effects while active.0/5Improved Frostbolt0/5 · PassiveReduces the casting time of your Frostbolt spell by 0.1 sec.0/5Elemental Precision0/5 · PassiveIncreases your chance to hit with Frost and Fire spells by 1%.0/5Ice Shards0/5 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike damage bonus of your Frost spells by 20%.0/3Permafrost0/3 · PassiveIncreases the duration of your Chill effects by 11% and reduces the target's speed by an additional 3%.0/2Improved Frost Nova0/2 · PassiveReduces the cooldown of your Frost Nova spell by 2 sec.0/3Frostbite0/3 · PassiveGives your Chill effects a 5% chance to freeze the target for 5 sec.0/3Piercing Ice0/3 · PassiveIncreases the damage done by your Frost spells by 2%.0/3Frost Channeling0/3 · PassiveReduces the mana cost of your Frost spells by 5% and reduces the threat caused by your Frost spells by 10%.0/1Ice Lance0/1 · ActiveDeals 28 to 33 Frost damage to an enemy target. Deals 300% increased damage to Frozen targets.0/3Improved Blizzard0/3 · PassiveAdds a Chill effect to your Blizzard spell. This effect lowers the target's movement speed by 15% for 1.5 sec.0/2Arctic Reach0/2 · PassiveIncreases the range of your Frostbolt and Blizzard spells and the radius of your Frost Nova and Cone of Cold spells by 10%.0/1Ice Block0/1 · ActiveYou become encased in a block of ice, protecting you from all physical attacks and spells for 10 sec, but during that time you cannot attack, move or cast spells.0/3Shatter0/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike chance of all your spells against Frozen targets by 17%.0/3Improved Cone of Cold0/3 · PassiveIncreases the damage dealt by your Cone of Cold spell by 12%.0/1Cold Snap0/1 · ActiveFinishes the remaining cooldown on all your other Frost spells.0/2Fingers of Frost0/2 · PassiveGives your Chill effects a 15% chance to grant you the Fingers of Frost effect, which treats your next 1 spell cast as if the target were Frozen. Lasts 15 sec.Requires Ice Lance0/5Winter's Chill0/5 · PassiveGives your Frost damage spells a 20% chance to apply the Winter's Chill effect, which increases the chance your Ice Lance and Frostbolt spells will critically hit the target by 2% for 15 sec. Stacks up to 1 times.0/1Ice Barrier0/1 · ActiveInstantly shields you, absorbing 431 damage. Lasts 1 min. While the shield holds, your spellcasts will not be interrupted or delayed from taking damage.Requires Cold Snap

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Build reference · Level-60 allocations are beta plans, not final launch performance rankings.

Leveling 1-60 51 points · 28 / 0 / 23

Arcane

2/2Wand Specialization2/2 · PassiveIncreases your damage with Wands by 25%.5/5Arcane Focus5/5 · PassiveIncreases your chance to hit with your Arcane spells by 1%.0/5Improved Channeling0/5 · PassiveGives you a 20% chance to avoid interruption caused by damage while channeling Arcane Missiles and a 14% chance while casting Arcane Blast.0/2Arcane Subtlety0/2 · PassiveReduces your target's resistance to all your spells by 8 and reduces the threat caused by your Arcane spells by 15%.0/2Magic Absorption0/2 · PassiveIncreases all your resistances by 5 and causes all spells you fully resist to restore 1% of your total mana. Cannot trigger more often than 1 time per sec.5/5Arcane Concentration5/5 · PassiveGives you a 10% chance of entering a Clearcasting state after any damage spell hits a target. The Clearcasting state reduces the mana cost of your next damage spell by 100%.0/2Arcane Resilience0/2 · PassiveIncreases your Armor by an amount equal to 25% of your Intellect.1/2Arcane Geometry1/2 · PassiveIncreases the range of your Arcane spells by 3 yards.3/3Arcane Impact3/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike chance of your Arcane spells by 2%.0/1Arcane Blast0/1 · ActiveBlasts the target with energy, dealing 95 to 104 Arcane damage. Each time you cast Arcane Blast, the damage of all your other spells is increased by 10% and the mana cost of Arcane Blast is increased by 175%. Effect stacks up to 4 times and lasts 8 sec or until any other damage spell is cast.0/2Arcane Shielding0/2 · PassiveDecreases the Mana lost per point of damage taken when your Mana Shield spell is active by 17% and increases the resistances granted by your Mage Armor spell by 25%.0/2Improved Counterspell0/2 · PassiveYour Counterspell also Silences the target for 2 sec.3/3Arcane Meditation3/3 · PassiveAllows 17% of your Mana regeneration to continue while casting.Requires Arcane Concentration1/1Missile Barrage1/1 · PassiveGives your Arcane Blast spell a 40% chance, and your Fireball, Frostbolt, and Frostfire Bolt spells a 20% chance to reduce the channeled duration of your next Arcane Missiles spell by 50%, reduce the Mana cost by 100%, and missiles will fire every 0.5 sec.1/1Presence of Mind1/1 · ActiveWhen activated, your next Mage spell with a casting time less than 10 sec becomes an instant cast spell.4/5Arcane Mind4/5 · PassiveIncreases your Intellect by 2% and increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Arcane spells by 20%.3/3Arcane Instability3/3 · PassiveIncreases the damage done by all your spells by 1% and your critical strike chance with all attacks by 1%.0/1Arcane Power0/1 · ActiveFor the next 15 sec, your spells deal 30% more damage while costing 30% more mana to cast.Requires Presence of Mind

Wand Specialization 2/2Arcane Focus 5/5Arcane Concentration 5/5Arcane Geometry 1/2Arcane Impact 3/3Arcane Meditation 3/3Missile Barrage 1/1Presence of Mind 1/1Arcane Mind 4/5Arcane Instability 3/3

Fire

0/2Wake of Fire0/2 · PassiveReduces the cooldown of your Fire Blast spell by 1 sec. Killing a non-trivial target increases the critical strike chance of your next Fire Blast cast within 20 sec by 25%.0/3Incineration0/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike chance of your Fire Blast, Ice Lance, Arcane Blast, and Scorch spells by 2%.0/5Improved Fireball0/5 · PassiveReduces the casting time of your Fireball and Frostfire Bolt spells by 0.1 sec.0/5Ignite0/5 · PassiveYour critical strikes from Fire damage spells cause the target to burn for an additional 8% of your spell's damage over 4 sec.0/2Flame Throwing0/2 · PassiveIncreases the range of your Fire spells by 3 yards.0/3Impact0/3 · PassiveGives your Fire spells a 3% chance to stun the target for 2 sec.0/3Burning Soul0/3 · PassiveGives your Fire spells a 23% chance to not lose casting time when you take damage and reduces the threat caused by your Fire spells by 10%.0/3Improved Flamestrike0/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike chance of your Flamestrike spell by 5%.0/1Pyroblast0/1 · ActiveHurls an immense fiery boulder that causes 155 to 185 Fire damage and an additional 76 Fire damage over 12 sec.0/3Improved Scorch0/3 · PassiveYour Scorch spell has a 33% chance to cause your target to be vulnerable to Fire damage. This vulnerability increases all Fire damage you deal to your target by 3% and lasts 30 sec, stacking up to 5 times.0/2Improved Fire Ward0/2 · PassiveCauses your Fire Ward to have a 10% chance to reflect Fire spells while active.0/1Hot Streak0/1 · PassiveYour non-periodic critical strikes with Fireball, Frostfire Bolt, Fire Blast, and Scorch grant Hot Streak for 15 sec. Hot Streak reduces the cast time of Pyroblast by 25%, stacking up to 3 times.Requires Pyroblast0/3Master of Elements0/3 · PassiveYour Fire and Frost critical strikes will refund 10% of their base mana cost.0/3Critical Mass0/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike chance of your Fire spells by 2%.0/1Blast Wave0/1 · ActiveA wave of flame radiates outward from the caster, damaging all enemies caught within the blast for 160 to 191 Fire damage, and Dazing them for 50% reduced movement speed for 6 sec.0/5Fire Power0/5 · PassiveIncreases the damage done by your Fire spells by 2%.0/1Combustion0/1 · ActiveWhen activated, this spell causes each of your Fire damage spell hits to increase your critical strike chance with Fire damage spells by 10%. This effect lasts until you have caused 4 non-periodic critical strikes with Fire spells.Requires Critical Mass

Frost

0/2Frost Warding0/2 · PassiveIncreases the Armor and resistance given by your Frost Armor and Ice Armor spells by 15%. In addition, gives your Frost Ward a 10% chance to reflect Frost spells and effects while active.5/5Improved Frostbolt5/5 · PassiveReduces the casting time of your Frostbolt spell by 0.5 sec.0/5Elemental Precision0/5 · PassiveIncreases your chance to hit with Frost and Fire spells by 1%.1/5Ice Shards1/5 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike damage bonus of your Frost spells by 20%.3/3Permafrost3/3 · PassiveIncreases the duration of your Chill effects by 11% and reduces the target's speed by an additional 3%.0/2Improved Frost Nova0/2 · PassiveReduces the cooldown of your Frost Nova spell by 2 sec.3/3Frostbite3/3 · PassiveGives your Chill effects a 15% chance to freeze the target for 5 sec.3/3Piercing Ice3/3 · PassiveIncreases the damage done by your Frost spells by 6%.0/3Frost Channeling0/3 · PassiveReduces the mana cost of your Frost spells by 5% and reduces the threat caused by your Frost spells by 10%.1/1Ice Lance1/1 · ActiveDeals 28 to 33 Frost damage to an enemy target. Deals 300% increased damage to Frozen targets.0/3Improved Blizzard0/3 · PassiveAdds a Chill effect to your Blizzard spell. This effect lowers the target's movement speed by 15% for 1.5 sec.0/2Arctic Reach0/2 · PassiveIncreases the range of your Frostbolt and Blizzard spells and the radius of your Frost Nova and Cone of Cold spells by 10%.1/1Ice Block1/1 · ActiveYou become encased in a block of ice, protecting you from all physical attacks and spells for 10 sec, but during that time you cannot attack, move or cast spells.3/3Shatter3/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike chance of all your spells against Frozen targets by 17%.0/3Improved Cone of Cold0/3 · PassiveIncreases the damage dealt by your Cone of Cold spell by 12%.1/1Cold Snap1/1 · ActiveFinishes the remaining cooldown on all your other Frost spells.2/2Fingers of Frost2/2 · PassiveGives your Chill effects a 15% chance to grant you the Fingers of Frost effect, which treats your next 1 spell cast as if the target were Frozen. Lasts 15 sec.Requires Ice Lance0/5Winter's Chill0/5 · PassiveGives your Frost damage spells a 20% chance to apply the Winter's Chill effect, which increases the chance your Ice Lance and Frostbolt spells will critically hit the target by 2% for 15 sec. Stacks up to 1 times.0/1Ice Barrier0/1 · ActiveInstantly shields you, absorbing 431 damage. Lasts 1 min. While the shield holds, your spellcasts will not be interrupted or delayed from taking damage.Requires Cold Snap

Improved Frostbolt 5/5Ice Shards 1/5Permafrost 3/3Frostbite 3/3Piercing Ice 3/3Ice Lance 1/1Ice Block 1/1Shatter 3/3Cold Snap 1/1Fingers of Frost 2/2

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Build reference · Level-60 allocations are beta plans, not final launch performance rankings.

Important talent effects

Arcane Concentration

Gives you a 2% chance of entering a Clearcasting state after any damage spell hits a target. The Clearcasting state reduces the mana cost of your next damage spell by 100%.

5 ranks

Arcane Blast

Blasts the target with energy, dealing 95 to 104 Arcane damage. Each time you cast Arcane Blast, the damage of all your other spells is increased by 10% and the mana cost of Arcane Blast is increased by 175%. Effect stacks up to 4 times and lasts 8 sec or until any other damage spell is cast.

1 rank

Arcane Meditation

Allows 17% of your Mana regeneration to continue while casting.

3 ranks · Requires Arcane Concentration

Missile Barrage

Gives your Arcane Blast spell a 40% chance, and your Fireball, Frostbolt, and Frostfire Bolt spells a 20% chance to reduce the channeled duration of your next Arcane Missiles spell by 50%, reduce the Mana cost by 100%, and missiles will fire every 0.5 sec.

1 rank

Presence of Mind

When activated, your next Mage spell with a casting time less than 10 sec becomes an instant cast spell.

1 rank

Arcane Power

For the next 15 sec, your spells deal 30% more damage while costing 30% more mana to cast.

1 rank · Requires Presence of Mind

PvP talent choices and play

Improved Counterspell and Presence of Mind support short control-and-burst windows. Maintain a route to cover, and do not commit your entire mana pool to an enemy who has already broken line of sight.

Recommended gear & upgrades

Forever beta equipment options. Compare level requirements and sources; these are not final launch rankings.

Head

Source / location

Embalmed Shroudcloth · Level 30

Fallen ChampionScarlet Monastery

Enchanter's Cowlcloth · Level 28

TailoringCrafted

Filigreed Pearly Circletcloth · Level 25

TailoringCrafted

Filigreed Pristine Circletcloth · Level 25

TailoringCrafted

Holy Shroudcloth · Level 27

World drop

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Chest

Source / location

Arcane Charged Robescloth · Level 29

Beguiler Robescloth · Level 29

Trash dropScarlet Monastery

Bristle Hills Mystic Robecloth

Ceremonial Gowncloth

Dro'zem's Tuniccloth · Level 20

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Main Hand

Source / location

Clever Expeditionary's Spellbladedagger · Level 28

Theramore Expeditionary Force - ReveredReputation

Darkspear Insurgent's Spellbladedagger · Level 28

Darkspear Raiders - ReveredReputation

Fallen Dragon's Scepterstaff

Stopping the CycleQuest (Alliance)

Glimmering Staffstaff · Level 25

EnchantingCrafted

Mindslicerdagger

Call to ArmsQuest (Horde)

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Off Hand

Source / location

A Lesson in Destruction

Alliance Outrunner Healing RodLevel 21

Hannah BladeleafRare Spawn (Horde)

Eye of Paleth

Cleansing the EyeQuest

Insurgent's ManifestoLevel 28

Theramore Expeditionary Force - ReveredReputation

Omega Orb

Compendium of the FallenQuest (Horde)

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View equipment for every slot

Stats and equipment decisions

Enchanting equipment

For inexpensive leveling preparation, Enchant Bracer - Inferior Stamina and Enchant Chest - Inferior Stamina add survival to equipment you expect to keep. Prioritize an important weapon or role-specific item upgrade before spending heavily on temporary armor.

Consumables and preparation

Lesser Arcane Elixir

Use this sustained Spell Power buff for a dungeon run; short trash pulls rarely justify an expensive burst potion.

Lesser Spellblasting Potion

Save the temporary Spell Power increase for a boss damage window when you can stand still and cast.

Minor Wizard Oil

Apply the temporary weapon enhancement before the run. It supplies Spell Power without requiring a different weapon.

Healing Potion

Reserve for damage that would otherwise kill you. A dead caster loses every remaining cast in the fight.

Mana Agate

Conjure your Mana Gem before combat once the spell is trained; using preparation time for this avoids wasting a damage window.

Briny Seafood Stew

Eat before the pull for its Spell Power food buff, and keep conjured water ready for recovery between pulls.

Useful profession pairings

Engineering offers explosives for gathered enemies and target dummies for a dangerous solo pull. Budget materials and choose moments where an extra tool changes the outcome instead of using it without a plan.

Tailoring turns cloth into usable caster equipment, including the school-specific leveling pieces. Enchanting is an alternative when you want to improve equipment and use surplus drops as materials.

Alchemy with Herbalism provides your own elixirs and recovery consumables. Learn Cooking and First Aid independently for food buffs and recovery; primary profession choices do not prevent those secondary skills.

Tailoring · Enchanting · Herbalism · Alchemy · Recipe database · Camping buffs

Races and racial abilities

Gnome is a practical Alliance choice for a caster who values Escape Artist when rooted or slowed. That escape can preserve a cast window or prevent a melee opponent from reaching you.

Troll brings Berserking for a timed casting window, while Undead offers Will of the Forsaken against fear, charm and sleep. Choose between the active utility you will use rather than treating an unsupported beta damage ranking as settled.

Skyborne access and faction traditions are part of Forever. Choose the faction before comparing racial utility; do not apply a Human melee weapon racial to spell damage.

Leveling and solo play

1. For ordinary quest enemies, shorten the Blast cycle when the next cast would kill them. A full long-encounter conservation plan is unnecessary on a target that dies in seconds.
2. Use Frostbolt to slow an approaching enemy when you need distance, and Polymorph an extra humanoid or beast before starting the pull.
3. At low levels, finish a nearly dead enemy with your wand if another spell would cost more Mana than the damage is worth. Travel between nearby objectives can provide regeneration time.
4. Choose the displayed level-30 build for the beta cap. The 51-point build is an endgame planning build, not an assertion that every spell is already available at level 30.

Leveling routes and preparation · Dungeon entrances and level ranges

Useful macros

#showtooltip Polymorph
/cast [@mouseover,harm,nodead][] Polymorph

#showtooltip Counterspell
/stopcasting
/cast Counterspell

Strengths and weaknesses

Common mistakes

• Ignoring Missile Barrage
• Burning mana before a long phase
• Standing still to finish a cast during a lethal mechanic

Full Arcane talent reference

Exact rank text and prerequisites from the calculator’s existing talent data. Use the interactive tooltip for additional ranks.

View every Arcane talent

Wand Specialization

Passive · Tier 1 · 2 ranks

Increases your damage with Wands by 13%.

Arcane Focus

Passive · Tier 1 · 5 ranks

Increases your chance to hit with your Arcane spells by 1%.

Improved Channeling

Passive · Tier 1 · 5 ranks

Gives you a 20% chance to avoid interruption caused by damage while channeling Arcane Missiles and a 14% chance while casting Arcane Blast.

Arcane Subtlety

Passive · Tier 2 · 2 ranks

Reduces your target's resistance to all your spells by 8 and reduces the threat caused by your Arcane spells by 15%.

Magic Absorption

Passive · Tier 2 · 2 ranks

Increases all your resistances by 5 and causes all spells you fully resist to restore 1% of your total mana. Cannot trigger more often than 1 time per sec.

Arcane Concentration

Passive · Tier 2 · 5 ranks

Gives you a 2% chance of entering a Clearcasting state after any damage spell hits a target. The Clearcasting state reduces the mana cost of your next damage spell by 100%.

Arcane Resilience

Passive · Tier 2 · 2 ranks

Increases your Armor by an amount equal to 25% of your Intellect.

Arcane Geometry

Passive · Tier 3 · 2 ranks

Increases the range of your Arcane spells by 3 yards.

Arcane Impact

Passive · Tier 3 · 3 ranks

Increases the critical strike chance of your Arcane spells by 2%.

Arcane Blast

Active · Tier 3 · 1 ranks

122 Mana | 30 yd range | 2.5 sec cast

Blasts the target with energy, dealing 95 to 104 Arcane damage. Each time you cast Arcane Blast, the damage of all your other spells is increased by 10% and the mana cost of Arcane Blast is increased by 175%. Effect stacks up to 4 times and lasts 8 sec or until any other damage spell is cast.

Arcane Shielding

Passive · Tier 4 · 2 ranks

Decreases the Mana lost per point of damage taken when your Mana Shield spell is active by 17% and increases the resistances granted by your Mage Armor spell by 25%.

Improved Counterspell

Passive · Tier 4 · 2 ranks

Your Counterspell also Silences the target for 2 sec.

Arcane Meditation

Passive · Tier 4 · 3 ranks

Allows 17% of your Mana regeneration to continue while casting.

Requires Arcane Concentration

Missile Barrage

Passive · Tier 4 · 1 ranks

Gives your Arcane Blast spell a 40% chance, and your Fireball, Frostbolt, and Frostfire Bolt spells a 20% chance to reduce the channeled duration of your next Arcane Missiles spell by 50%, reduce the Mana cost by 100%, and missiles will fire every 0.5 sec.

Presence of Mind

Active · Tier 5 · 1 ranks

Instant | 3 min cooldown

When activated, your next Mage spell with a casting time less than 10 sec becomes an instant cast spell.

Arcane Mind

Passive · Tier 5 · 5 ranks

Increases your Intellect by 2% and increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Arcane spells by 20%.

Arcane Instability

Passive · Tier 6 · 3 ranks

Increases the damage done by all your spells by 1% and your critical strike chance with all attacks by 1%.

Arcane Power

Active · Tier 7 · 1 ranks

Instant | 3 min cooldown

For the next 15 sec, your spells deal 30% more damage while costing 30% more mana to cast.

Requires Presence of Mind

Changes from Classic