MoP Classic Arcane Mage Guide (Phase 5)
viewsAbout the Class
Arcane Mage is a pure single-target specialist. The entire playstyle is built around stacking 
Arcane Charge and skillfully dumping a large mana pool during burst windows.
The resource here is unusual: mana is also a damage stat. The mastery 
Mastery: Mana Adept works so that the more mana you have banked, the harder your spells hit. In a raid it is a stationary DPS that shines on bosses without movement and brings the standard mage toolkit: 
Arcane Brilliance, 
Time Warp and curse removal.
Strengths
- Very high single-target damage on fights without movement.
- A clear rotational core built around
Arcane Blast. - Mana management is a full-fledged part of the rotation.
- On-demand burst:
Arcane Power together with 
Alter Time. - Scales excellently with intellect and with intellect proc effects.
- A full mage utility kit: Arcane Brilliance, Time Warp, curse removal and spellsteal.
Weaknesses
- High damage only while standing still.
- Mana must be planned around fight phases so it is full at the right moment.
- Struggles on bosses with constant movement, which is most of them.
- Weak and very mana-hungry AoE damage compared to Fire and Frost.
- Any forced downtime resets both your ramp and your mana pool.
Stat Priority
- 1Intellect
- 2Hit and expertise (up to the 15% cap, which is 5100 rating)
- 3Mastery
- 4Haste
- 5Critical strike rating
In Mists of Pandaria expertise also grants hit, so both stats are interchangeable up to the cap. Draenei need 4760 rating instead of 5100.
Talents
Rotation (Ability Priority)
The opener is a set sequence of abilities you use as you engage an enemy. Memorising it helps initiate your rotation in the most optimal way possible.
- 1
Rune of Power - 2
Mirror Image - 3
Potion of the Jade Serpent - 4Arcane Blast
- 5
Living Bomb - 6Arcane Blast
- 7Arcane Power
- 8Alter Time
- 9Arcane Blast
- 10
Arcane Missiles - 11
Arcane Barrage - 12
Evocation
- Living Bomb — keep it up and refresh before it expires
- Arcane Missiles — only at 4 stacks of Arcane Charge
- Arcane Barrage — at 4 charges if you have no missiles proc and
Profound Magic is below 2 - Arcane Blast — main damage and charge builder
Key Abilities
Best in Slot (BiS)
Best in Slot (BiS)Tier 16 Set — Chronomancer Regalia
Tier 16 Set — Chronomancer RegaliaEnchants, Gems, Consumables
Enchants
Gems
ConsumablesRaces
- Epicurean doubles the bonus from food, which is about 300 extra intellect. The best racial choice for a mage.
- Inner Peace grants twice the rested bonus in inns.
Best Professions
Lightweave Embroidery on the cloak gives the largest intellect proc of any profession and stacks with cooldowns.
Synapse Springs give an intellect burst, and Nitro Boosts solve any mobility issues.
Two serpent's eyes are stronger than regular gems.
Enchant Ring - Greater Intellect on both rings — an increase you cannot get anywhere else.
Author
Fouren
Fouren has been playing World of Warcraft for over 15 years. He is an active player with 12 Cutting Edge achievements under his belt, and has reached the top 1% and 0.1% multiple times on various classes. His main classes are healers, particularly Holy Paladin.
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