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MoP Classic Frost Mage — Guide (Phase 5)
by FourenPosted 9 minutes read views
viewsAbout the Class
Frost Mage is a proc-based specialization. Everything revolves around 
Fingers of Frost and 
Brain Freeze, which are fed by 
Freeze from the water elemental and 
Frozen Orb.
The resource is mana, but with 
Evocation and mana gems it is not a problem. In a raid it is a ranged DPS that combines very strong single-target damage with free damage on a second target through the 
Mastery: Icicles mastery and 
Ice Lance, and on top of that brings the best control of all mages.
Strengths
- The best PvE mage specialization in Mists of Pandaria.
- Strong single-target damage that freely cleaves onto a second target through Mastery: Icicles.
- The best control, slows, and roots of all mages.
- High burst in both group and solo play.
- Good survivability:
Ice Barrier, 
Ice Block, Frost Nova. - Very mobile — its proc-based Ice Lance and Frostfire Bolt casts are instant.
Weaknesses
- On top of its own rotation, you also have to manage the water elemental.
- Its excellent raid control often goes unneeded.
- Damage depends on procs: bad luck with Brain Freeze and Fingers of Frost shows up immediately in the logs.
- Requires a great deal of haste to reach its breakpoints.
Stat Priority
Mage Frost Stats Priority
- 1Intellect
- 2Hit and Expertise (up to the 15% cap, which is 5100 rating)
- 3Haste (roughly up to 14242 rating, which gives 50% with raid buffs)
- 4Mastery
- 5Critical Strike rating (preferably no lower than 28%)
In Mists of Pandaria, Expertise also provides Hit, so both stats are interchangeable up to the cap. Draenei need 4760 rating instead of 5100.
Talents
Talents
Rotation (Ability Priority)
Opener
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
Frost Armor - 2
Summon Water Elemental - 3Evocation
- 4
Mirror Image - 5
Potion of the Jade Serpent - 6
Frostbolt - 7
Living Bomb - 8
Icy Veins - 9
Alter Time - 10Frozen Orb
- 11
Frostfire Bolt - 12Ice Lance
Abilities Priority
- Living Bomb — keep it up and refresh it, especially under cooldowns
- Frozen Orb — on cooldown, if no AoE phase is expected soon
- Freeze — the water elemental's ability, for Fingers of Frost
- Frostfire Bolt — instantly on every Brain Freeze proc
- Ice Lance — spend your Fingers of Frost charges, don't let them overcap
- Frostbolt — filler, builds Icicles and generates procs
Key Abilities
Key Abilities
the main damage cooldown; use it together with trinkets and a potion
restores your position, health, mana, and buffs after 6 seconds. Lets you stretch Icy Veins to about 26 seconds
a rolling orb that grants Fingers of Frost and hits well in an area
a small damage cooldown; press it on cooldown
armor; it should always be active
the water elemental's ability: it roots and grants up to 2 stacks of Fingers of Frost
a hard stun that counts as a freeze and hits frozen targets very hard
an instant spend of Fingers of Frost that also dumps Icicles
the main filler
an instant, free hit on a Brain Freeze proc
restores mana and grants 
Invoker's Energy, +15% damage
Invoker's Energy, +15% damage
raid-wide +30% haste for 40 seconds
an absorb shield for personal survivability
Best in Slot (BiS)
Best in Slot (BiS)Slot
Recommended Gear
Source
Head
Ebon Ritual Hood
Garrosh Hellscream (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Neck
Untainted Guardian's Chain
Norushen (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Shoulders
Chronomancer Mantle
Siegemaster Blackfuse (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Back
Xing-Ho, Breath of Yu'lon
Legendary questline of the Black Prince
Chest
Chronomancer Robes
Sha of Pride (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Wrists
Avool's Ancestral Bracers
Spoils of Pandaria (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Hands
Chronomancer Gloves
General Nazgrim (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Waist
Belt of Ominous Trembles
Iron Juggernaut (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Legs
Chronomancer Leggings
Paragons of the Klaxxi (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Feet
Bone-Inlaid Sandals
Galakras (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Ring 1
Extinguished Ember of Galakras
Galakras (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Ring 2
Signet of the Dinomancers
Thok the Bloodthirsty (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Trinket 1
Purified Bindings of Immerseus
Immerseus (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Trinket 2
Kardris' Toxic Totem
Kor'kron Dark Shaman (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Weapon
Rik'kal's Bloody Scalpel
Paragons of the Klaxxi (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Tier 16 Set — Chronomancer Regalia
Tier 16 Set — Chronomancer RegaliaSlot
Recommended Gear
Drops from
Head
Chronomancer Hood
Malkorok (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Shoulders
Chronomancer Mantle
Sha of Pride (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Chest
Chronomancer Robes
Thok the Bloodthirsty (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Hands
Chronomancer Gloves
Norushen (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Legs
Chronomancer Leggings
Spoils of Pandaria (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Enchants, Gems, Consumables
EnchantsShoulders
Greater Crane Wing Inscription
Back
Enchant Cloak - Superior Intellect
Chest
Enchant Chest - Glorious Stats
Wrists
Enchant Bracer - Super Intellect
Hands
Enchant Gloves - Greater Haste
Waist
Living Steel Belt Buckle
Legs
Greater Cerulean Spellthread
Feet
Enchant Boots - Pandaren's Step
Weapon
Enchant Weapon - Jade Spirit
Off-hand
Enchant Off-Hand - Major Intellect
Rings (for enchanters)
Enchant Ring - Greater Intellect
GemsMeta gem
Burning Primal Diamond
Red socket
Reckless Vermilion Onyx
Yellow socket
Quick Sun's Radiance
Blue socket
Lightning Wild Jade
For jewelcrafters
Brilliant Serpent's Eye
and
Quick Serpent's Eye
ConsumablesFlask
Flask of the Warm Sun
Potion (for damage)
Potion of the Jade Serpent
Potion (emergency)
Master Healing Potion
Food
Mogu Fish Stew
Bandages
Heavy Windwool Bandage
Races
Troll
Increases haste by 20% for 10 seconds — a perfect fit under your damage cooldown. 3-minute cooldown.
Increases damage against beasts by 5%.
Reduces the duration of movement-impairing effects by 15%.
Blood Elf
Silences everything within 8 yards and restores mana.
Reduces Arcane damage taken by 1%.
Pandaren
- Epicurean doubles the stat bonus from food, which is about 300 extra Intellect. The best racial choice for a mage.
- Inner Peace makes your rested bonus at inns last twice as long.
Worgen
Increases critical strike rating by 1%.
Increases movement speed by 40% for 10 seconds. 2-minute cooldown.
Draenei
Increases the entire group's hit by 1% — noticeably easing the hit cap.
Heals the target over 5 seconds. 3-minute cooldown.
Human
Removes any crowd-control effect. 3-minute cooldown.
Increases Spirit by 3%.
Best Professions
Tailoring
Lightweave Embroidery on the cloak gives the largest Intellect proc of any profession and stacks with cooldowns.
Engineering
Synapse Springs gives an Intellect burst, and Nitro Boosts cover any mobility concerns.
Jewelcrafting
Two Serpent's Eyes are stronger than regular gems.
Enchanting
Enchant Ring - Greater Intellect on both rings — a boost you can't 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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