WoW Forever: Fire Mage
About the Class
Fire Mage builds its damage around crits, 
Ignite, and instant 
Pyroblast. 
Fire Blast helps you build 
Heating Up, and having several fire effects on the target makes deep Fire talents even more valuable.
This guide uses a build with 
Combustion. It also takes a few Arcane talents, so the rotation includes 
Arcane Blast and 
Arcane Missiles for the matching proc. Its spell order differs from the 
Frostfire Bolt version: use the rotation for the tree you picked.
Strengths
- High damage potential on single targets and packs.
- Instant Pyroblast makes procs a noticeable part of the fight.
- Fire Blast gives you an instant attack and helps build up the buff.
- Combustion amplifies a prepared damage window.
Weaknesses
- Results depend heavily on crit and gear.
- Your safety depends on crowd control and backing off in time.
- You have to keep a debuff on the target and track several effects.
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.
- 1Pyroblast
- 2
Fireball - 3Fire Blast
- Pyroblast — open the fight before the enemy closes in, if you already have the talent
- Fireball — your main repeatable nuke
- Fire Blast — an instant attack on cooldown, if you have enough mana
Frost Nova — to stop a suitable target closing in on you
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?
Fire suits players who are ready to watch their range and procs. Its power grows noticeably with gear and crit; your defense comes from the Mage's core toolkit.
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.
When should I use an instant Pyroblast?
Watch Heating Up. At three stacks, cast Pyroblast to take advantage of the reduced cast time and avoid wasting the next procs.
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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