WoW Forever: Arcane Mage
About the Class
Arcane Mage combines a strong damage window with mana management and several procs. The chosen build uses Arcane and Fire spells: 
Arcane Blast, 
Arcane Wrath, 
Arcane Missiles, plus 
Fire Blast and 
Pyroblast.
Your main job is to keep the buff from Arcane Blast up, use 
Missile Barrage on time, and spend 
Heating Up on an instant Pyroblast. 
Arcane Power gives a big burst of damage, but you need to have mana ready for it in advance. Frequent movement interrupts long casts, so a safe position matters as much as your button order.
Where does Arcane Mage rank? See the WoW Forever tier list
Strengths
- Strong damage boost from Arcane Power.
- Flexible mix of two schools of magic and the ability to react to procs.
- Access to crowd control, an interrupt, water, and portals.
- Talents help you regain mana while casting.
Weaknesses
- High demands on your mana pool.
- You have to track several buffs at once.
- Damage is harder to sustain when you move a lot.
Stat Priority
- 1Spell Hit
- 2Spell Power
- 3Critical Strike
- 4Intellect
- 5Spirit
- 6Mana per 5
Against a raid boss, aim for 17% total spell hit. Three points in 
Precision give 6%, so gear has to cover the remaining 11% if you have no other sources. Check the talents you actually picked, not just the number on your gear.
Spell Power increases damage; bonuses to a single school apply only to matching spells. Intellect increases your mana and spell crit chance. Spirit and mana regeneration help you keep up the pace in long fights. Their value depends on your armor, talents, and how many pauses you get to recover.
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
Frostbolt - 2Arcane Missiles
- 3Fire Blast
- Frostbolt — open from range and slow down a suitable enemy
- Arcane Missiles — use the rank you have learned as your main damage
- Fire Blast — an instant attack for when the enemy is already close or you need to move
Frost Nova — root a suitable target and open up distance- Missile Barrage — if you already have the talent, use the proc when it is available
When you are low on mana, finish off nearly dead enemies with your wand and recover between fights.
Important Abilities
Ability | When it helps |
|---|---|
 Blink | Quick repositioning and escaping certain crowd control |
 Counterspell | Ranged interrupt of a dangerous spell |
 Polymorph | Crowd control on a suitable enemy before or during a fight |
| Frost Nova | Stopping approaching enemies that can be frozen |
 Evocation | Restoring mana during a safe window |
 Conjure Water | Making water to recover between fights |
Conjure water and any available mana gems ahead of time. 
Mana Ruby has a cooldown separate from potions and helps you keep fighting when you run low. Coordinate crowd control with your group: a rooted enemy can still attack the nearest ally if the tank has moved away.
Best in Slot (BiS)
Best in Slot (BiS)Enchants, Gems, Consumables
Enchants and Enhancements
ConsumablesBest Race
Eureka! temporarily empowers your spells and lowers their cost. This racial pairs well with a short burst window.
Berserking speeds up your casting and is useful in a window when you can attack nonstop. When picking a race, consider not only short fights but also how handy its defensive abilities are.
Wind Blessed gives 2% movement speed, and 
Read Leyline helps you regain resources. It is a solid choice for long fights and solo play.
Best Professions
Tailoring lets you craft cloth gear, and 
Enchanting lets you enhance items and disenchant unneeded gear. This pair is handy for gearing your character on your own and crafting some of your pre-raid gear.
Herbalism supplies herbs, and 
Alchemy lets you brew potions and elixirs for damage, resource regeneration, and survival. It is a practical choice if you use consumables regularly.
Engineering suits players who like extra gadgets and PvP. Among secondary professions, 
First Aid is useful for bandages and 
Cooking for buff food.
FAQ
Is this spec good for a first Mage?
Arcane demands more attention to your mana pool and several buffs. For a first Mage, it is a viable but more demanding option.
What weapon types can a Mage use?
Daggers, one-handed swords, staves, and wands. You can learn missing weapon skills from weapon masters; for regular spellcasting, the stats on your gear matter most.
Do I need to buy water before every outing?
A Mage can conjure water ahead of time. Carry a supply suited to your level so you can recover between fights and skip the vendor stop before every dungeon.
What should I do when I'm almost out of mana?
Use an available mana gem and plan a safe window for Evocation in advance. While leveling, your wand helps finish off an enemy at no extra cost; don't waste an expensive spell on a sliver of health.
Why can't I stack Arcane Blast forever?
Repeated casts of Arcane Blast increase its cost. Plan the buff around your mana pool and fight length, use suitable procs, and don't run yourself completely dry.
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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