Mage PvE guide

Rotations & Guide · PvE guide · PvP guide · Talent builds · Abilities · Talent Calculator · Macros · Changes vs Classic

Other classes: Warrior, Paladin, Hunter, Rogue, Priest, Shaman, Warlock, Druid

Mages are pure ranged casters with strong AoE, crowd control and burst. Forever adds Arcane Blast (an Arcane talent: each cast stacks spell damage from your Intellect), Ice Lance (a Frost talent: 300% more damage on frozen targets) and Frostfire Bolt (a trainer spell at 40: a frost and fire hybrid bolt with a DoT and slow), plus Missile Barrage, Arcane Wrath, Heating Up and Fingers of Frost in the talent trees.

Arcane Mage PvE guide

Arcane is the Forever Mage's Arcane Blast spec, and Arcane Blast is a talent every Arcane build takes at 20. Each Blast gives you spell damage equal to 12% of your Intellect and makes the next Blast cost more, so you build a few stacks, then cast Arcane Missiles while they last. The level 20 dungeon build adds Improved Channeling so damage can't cut your Arcane Missiles short, Arcane Subtlety for lower threat and Arcane Concentration for free spells. It shines on long boss fights, as long as you watch your mana.

Your job in a group

Ranged damage, best on bosses: build Arcane Blast stacks, then cast Arcane Missiles while they last, and use Arcane Explosion on packs the tank gathers near you. Arcane Subtlety cuts the threat of your Arcane spells, so you can push harder than a Fire Mage at this level. Like every Mage you bring Arcane Intellect for the group, conjured food and water between pulls, Polymorph to take a Humanoid or Beast out of a big pull, and Remove Lesser Curse, which clears a Curse or a Bane from the tank or healer. You have no interrupt until Counterspell at 24, so Polymorph dangerous casters instead, and if a mob gets loose, Frost Nova holds it in place until the tank picks it up.

Opener

Arcane Intellect: Before the pull, on yourself and every other mana user in the group.
Frost Armor: Keep it on all run; the Armor and the slow on attackers matter when a loose mob reaches you.
Polymorph: As the pull starts, sheep a dangerous Humanoid or Beast; rank 2 holds it for up to 30 sec.
Arcane Blast: Once the tank has the mob, cast two or three. Each gives you spell damage equal to 12% of your Intellect and raises the next Blast's cost by 100%.
Arcane Missiles: Cast it while the Blast stacks last; rank 2 channels for 4 sec.

Cooldowns

Arcane Concentration: The dungeon build's 3 ranks give a 6% chance of Clearcasting after a damage spell hits, making your next damage spell cost 100% less mana. Spend it on your priciest spell: a stacked Arcane Blast or Arcane Missiles.
Evocation: When you're nearly dry mid-fight: your mana regeneration is active and 1500% higher while you channel for 8 sec. It has a long cooldown, so save it for bosses.
Frost Nova: A mob loose on you or the healer: freeze it for up to 8 sec so the tank can collect it.
Blink: If a mob is on you and Frost Nova is down, Blink 20 yd toward the tank; it also frees you from stuns and immobilizes.

Stats

Hit, Spell Power, Intellect, Critical Strike, Arcane Damage, Spirit, Mana per 5 sec. Hit comes first because dungeon bosses are often above your level and a missed Arcane Blast wastes an expensive cast. Arcane Focus is gone from the current client, so hit comes from gear until the level 50 build takes Precision from the Frost tree. Spell Power and Arcane Damage raise every Blast and Missile. Intellect is your mana pool, stacking Arcane Blast gets expensive fast, and each stack turns 12% of your Intellect into spell damage. Critical Strike matters more from 30, when Arcane Impact adds Arcane crit chance. Spirit and Mana per 5 sec shorten your drinking breaks.

Tips

Arcane Blast's stacks last 18 sec from your first Blast instead of ending at your next spell, so a Frost Nova, Fire Blast or Arcane Explosion in between doesn't cost you them, and their spell damage counts for every spell you cast in that time.
On trash that dies fast, one Blast into Arcane Missiles is enough. Save three or four stacks for bosses, where the extra damage pays for the mana.
Blizzard's patch notes say Arcane Missiles checks line of sight only once, when the channel starts, so a caster that steps behind a pillar mid-channel still takes every missile.
Remove Lesser Curse clears a Curse or a Bane in Forever. Watch the tank and the healer on caster-heavy pulls.
Keep area spells away from a Polymorphed mob: any damage turns it back, and the sheep regenerates very quickly while it's out.
Conjure water and food for the group before the run. Conjured items disappear if you're logged out for more than 15 minutes.

Fire Mage PvE guide

Fire is steady Fireball damage with instant Fire Blasts in between, and every Fire crit leaves an Ignite burn. At level 20 the dungeon build takes a faster Fireball, full Ignite and a first point of Burning Soul, which cuts your Fire threat by 10%. That's the least threat reduction of the three dungeon builds, so Fire needs the most care on pulls.

Your job in a group

Ranged damage: Fireball on the tank's target with Fire Blast whenever it's ready, and Flamestrike on packs the tank has gathered. Burning Soul's first point only cuts your Fire threat by 10% at 20 (the level 30 build takes all three ranks), so let the tank build threat first and stop casting if a mob turns toward you. Like every Mage you bring Arcane Intellect for the group, conjured food and water between pulls, Polymorph to take a Humanoid or Beast out of a big pull, and Remove Lesser Curse, which clears a Curse or a Bane from the tank or healer. You have no interrupt until Counterspell at 24, and Frost Nova handles mobs that get loose.

Opener

Arcane Intellect: Before the pull, on yourself and every other mana user in the group.
Polymorph: As the pull starts, sheep a dangerous Humanoid or Beast; rank 2 holds it for up to 30 sec.
Fireball: Start after the tank has hit the mob a few times; the hit is followed by a burn over 8 sec.
Fire Blast: Instant: weave it in whenever it's ready; its crits feed Ignite.
Flamestrike: On packs the tank has gathered: it burns everything inside for 8 sec, and only one can be active at a time.

Cooldowns

Burning Soul: The build's first point cuts your Fire threat by 10% and gives a 23% chance not to lose casting time when you're hit; the level 30 build takes it to 30%.
Evocation: When you're nearly out of mana mid-fight: your regeneration is active and 1500% higher while you channel for 8 sec. Save it for bosses.
Frost Nova: A mob loose on you or the healer: freeze it for up to 8 sec until the tank takes it back.
Blink: If a mob is on you and Frost Nova is down, Blink 20 yd toward the tank; it also frees you from stuns and immobilizes.

Stats

Hit, Spell Power, Fire Damage, Critical Strike, Intellect, Spirit. Hit first: dungeon bosses are often above your level, and a missed Fireball is a whole cast wasted; the Fire section has no hit talent, so it comes from gear (Precision in the Frost section is the talent option, and the level 50 build takes it). Spell Power and Fire Damage raise every Fireball and every Ignite burn. Critical Strike feeds Ignite now, and at 30 Heating Up and Master of Elements reward crits too. Intellect and Spirit keep you casting between drinks.

Tips

Ignite burns for 40% of a crit's damage over 4 sec. Blizzard's notes say Ignite no longer double-dips on percentage damage increases, so buffs raise it once, not twice.
Fire Blast's range is only 20 yd, shorter than your other spells: step in for it, or save it for a mob that comes to you.
If your tank struggles to hold threat, pause when a mob turns: Burning Soul's first point only takes 10% off, and the level 30 build takes all three ranks for 30%.
Heating Up, called Hot Streak until the 1 October build, keeps its 20 sec window (Blizzard's notes lengthened it from 15). From level 25 each Fireball, Fire Blast or Scorch crit shortens your next Pyroblast, and so does every Fire Blast that hits, which makes it a boss finisher, not only an opener.
Keep Flamestrike and Arcane Explosion away from a Polymorphed mob; any damage turns it back.

Frost Mage PvE guide

Frost is the steadiest dungeon Mage: Frostbolt is your main spell, its slow keeps loose mobs off the healer, and Frost Nova into Ice Lance handles emergencies. At level 20 the dungeon build takes faster Frostbolts, full Precision for hit, 2 points of Ice Shards and the Ice Lance talent. Frost has no threat reduction until the level 30 build adds Frost Channeling, so give the tank a head start.

Your job in a group

Single-target damage with Frostbolt, pack damage with Blizzard, and the group's best emergency control: Frostbolt slows anything that runs at the healer, and Frost Nova freezes it in place until the tank picks it up. Like every Mage you bring Arcane Intellect for the group, conjured food and water between pulls, Polymorph to take a Humanoid or Beast out of a big pull, and Remove Lesser Curse, which clears a Curse or a Bane from the tank or healer. You have no interrupt until Counterspell at 24, and no threat reduction until Frost Channeling in the level 30 build, so start a little after the tank.

Opener

Arcane Intellect: Before the pull, on yourself and every other mana user in the group.
Polymorph: As the pull starts, sheep a dangerous Humanoid or Beast; rank 2 holds it for up to 30 sec.
Frostbolt: Start once the tank has the mob. Rank 4 slows by 40% for 7 sec, so a mob that turns to you takes longer to arrive.
Blizzard: On a pack the tank is holding; it hits everything inside over 8 sec. It's expensive at rank 1, so save it for real packs.

Cooldowns

Frost Nova: A mob loose on you or the healer: freeze it for up to 8 sec so the tank can collect it.
Blink: If a mob is on you and Frost Nova is on cooldown, Blink 20 yd toward the tank; it also frees you from stuns and immobilizes.
Ice Lance: A Frozen mob takes 300% more damage from it; finish a loose mob that's nearly dead instead of waiting for the tank.
Evocation: When you're nearly dry mid-fight: your regeneration is active and 1500% higher while you channel for 8 sec. Save it for bosses.

Stats

Hit, Spell Power, Frost Damage, Critical Strike, Intellect, Spirit. Hit first: dungeon bosses are often above your level, and Precision covers part of the gap. Spell Power and Frost Damage raise Frostbolt, Blizzard and Ice Lance. Critical Strike matters more from 30, when Shatter and Fingers of Frost make Ice Lance crit often. Intellect and Spirit keep Blizzard affordable between drinks.

Tips

Blizzard costs 320 mana at rank 1. On trash that dies fast, Frostbolt the kill target instead and save Blizzard for real packs.
Damage may break Frost Nova's freeze. Throw your Ice Lances before the group's area spells land, or leave the freeze alone so the tank can pick the mob up.
At 30 the dungeon build takes Fingers of Frost: when it procs, your next spell treats the target as Frozen, so throw an Ice Lance. Like Frostbite, it works off Chill effects, and the client doesn't say whether Frostbolt's slow is one, so watch for procs rather than planning around them.
Keep Blizzard away from a Polymorphed mob; any damage turns it back.
Precision now covers all your spells, so Fire Blast finishers on the move and Polymorph get the extra hit too.

Checked against WoW Forever build 1.60.1.70862.

Tips & tricks: what ForeverDB learned

Arcane

Updated 11 November 2026 for build 1.60.1.70888 · From the DPS simulator, the game client

Learning from players: DPS. Collecting comparable fights before publishing observed cast patterns.

Observed cast patterns, not a proven optimal rotation. Gear, buffs, healing assignments and incoming damage can explain performance differences. HPS is effective healing; overhealing does not increase it. HPS counts effective healing, APS counts recorded shield absorption, and EHPS is their combined rate. Shield application sizes and overhealing do not increase EHPS. Healing assignments and incoming damage still limit healer comparisons. Build groups use the version reported by the log; some logs omit the hotfix build number.

Simulator: Use Evocation once your mana drops below 15%. That is the point the simulator triggers it at level 60. (level 60)
Simulator: Presence of Mind has a 3 min cooldown. The simulator uses it right before Arcane Blast at level 60. (level 60)
Simulator: Use Arcane Blast once your mana drops below 25%. That is the point the simulator triggers it at level 60. (level 60)
Simulator: Clearcasting from Arcane Concentration reduces your next damage spell's mana cost by 100%. Cast Arcane Blast within 15 sec before it fades; the simulator sees it come up 4.95 times in a 60 s fight. (level 60)
Simulator: When Missile Barrage procs, cast Arcane Missiles within 15 sec before it fades. The simulator sees it come up 3.03 times in a 60 s fight. (level 60)
Simulator: The best consumable at level 60 is Greater Arcane Elixir (+3% DPS in the simulator), followed by Baked Salmon (+2.4%). (level 60)
Simulator: At level 60 your damage splits as Arcane Missiles 60% and Arcane Blast 39% (simulator: recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (level 60)
Simulator: Your stat values at level 60 (simulator, 1 spell power = 1): haste rating 0.56, crit rating 0.53. (level 60)
Simulator: Use Evocation once your mana drops below 15%. That is the point the simulator triggers it at levels 20-29. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Use Arcane Blast once your mana drops below 25%. That is the point the simulator triggers it at levels 20-29. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Clearcasting from Arcane Concentration reduces your next damage spell's mana cost by 100%. Cast Arcane Blast within 15 sec before it fades; the simulator sees it come up 2.543 times in a 60 s fight. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: The best consumable at levels 20-29 is Greater Arcane Elixir (+2.8% DPS in the simulator), followed by Baked Salmon (+2.2%). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 20-29 your damage splits as Arcane Missiles 63% and Arcane Blast 37% (simulator: recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Use Evocation once your mana drops below 15%. That is the point the simulator triggers it at levels 30-39. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Presence of Mind has a 3 min cooldown. The simulator uses it right before Arcane Blast at levels 30-39. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Use Arcane Blast once your mana drops below 25%. That is the point the simulator triggers it at levels 30-39. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Clearcasting from Arcane Concentration reduces your next damage spell's mana cost by 100%. Cast Arcane Blast within 15 sec before it fades; the simulator sees it come up 4.933 times in a 60 s fight. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: When Missile Barrage procs, cast Arcane Missiles within 15 sec before it fades. The simulator sees it come up 2.947 times in a 60 s fight. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: The best consumable at levels 30-39 is Greater Arcane Elixir (+5.1% DPS in the simulator), followed by Baked Salmon (+4.8%). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: At levels 30-39 your damage splits as Arcane Missiles 60% and Arcane Blast 40% (simulator: recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Use Evocation once your mana drops below 15%. That is the point the simulator triggers it at levels 40-49. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Presence of Mind has a 3 min cooldown. The simulator uses it right before Arcane Blast at levels 40-49. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Use Arcane Blast once your mana drops below 25%. That is the point the simulator triggers it at levels 40-49. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Clearcasting from Arcane Concentration reduces your next damage spell's mana cost by 100%. Cast Arcane Blast within 15 sec before it fades; the simulator sees it come up 4.847 times in a 60 s fight. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: When Missile Barrage procs, cast Arcane Missiles within 15 sec before it fades. The simulator sees it come up 2.943 times in a 60 s fight. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: The best consumable at levels 40-49 is Baked Salmon (+4.5% DPS in the simulator), followed by Greater Arcane Elixir (+4.1%). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: At levels 40-49 your damage splits as Arcane Missiles 63% and Arcane Blast 37% (simulator: recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Use Evocation once your mana drops below 15%. That is the point the simulator triggers it at levels 50-59. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Presence of Mind has a 3 min cooldown. The simulator uses it right before Arcane Blast at levels 50-59. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Use Arcane Blast once your mana drops below 25%. That is the point the simulator triggers it at levels 50-59. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Clearcasting from Arcane Concentration reduces your next damage spell's mana cost by 100%. Cast Arcane Blast within 15 sec before it fades; the simulator sees it come up 4.993 times in a 60 s fight. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: When Missile Barrage procs, cast Arcane Missiles within 15 sec before it fades. The simulator sees it come up 3.1 times in a 60 s fight. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: The best consumable at levels 50-59 is Greater Arcane Elixir (+4.8% DPS in the simulator), followed by Baked Salmon (+3.9%). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: At levels 50-59 your damage splits as Arcane Missiles 60% and Arcane Blast 40% (simulator: recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 50–59)

How to play it at level 60: priority, procs and cooldowns

What to press, in order. Cast the first one that is ready and whose condition holds.

Arcane Missiles: Fill the gaps with it: Your filler: cast it when nothing above is ready; worth 59.2% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Wand: out of mana: Only when you're out of mana (Simulator)

React to:

Under 15% mana: Evocation: The sim uses Evocation when your mana is under 15% (Simulator, Forever client)
Under 25% mana: Arcane Blast: The sim uses Arcane Blast when your mana is under 25% (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
When Clearcasting procs: Arcane Blast within 15 sec: Your next damage spell has its mana cost reduced by 100%. (Simulator, Forever client)
When Missile Barrage procs: Arcane Missiles within 15 sec: Missile Barrage makes Arcane Missiles better: use it before it fades (Simulator, Forever client)

Cooldowns:

Presence of Mind: with:Arcane Blast (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)

Before the pull:

Greater Arcane Elixir (Simulator, Forever client)
Baked Salmon (Simulator, Forever client)

Latest changes:

11 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70862 -> 1.60.1.70888; 50-59: removed Wand; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70888)
8 November 2026: tip wording or values (client build or hotfix rebuild)
7 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70790 -> 1.60.1.70862; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70862)

Fire

Updated 11 November 2026 for build 1.60.1.70888 · From the DPS simulator, the game client

Learning from players: DPS. Collecting comparable fights before publishing observed cast patterns.

Simulator: Use Evocation once your mana drops below 15%. That is the point the simulator triggers it at level 60. (level 60)
Simulator: Clearcasting from Arcane Concentration reduces your next damage spell's mana cost by 100%. Cast Fireball within 15 sec before it fades; the simulator sees it come up 1.383 times in a 60 s fight. (level 60)
Simulator: The best consumable at level 60 is Greater Arcane Elixir (+3.3% DPS in the simulator), followed by Baked Salmon (+2.6%). (level 60)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at level 60 is Arcane Intellect from a Mage: +1.8% DPS in the simulator. (level 60)
Simulator: At level 60 your damage splits as Fireball 52%, Fire Blast 22% and Scorch 15% (simulator: recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (level 60)
Simulator: Scorch is worth 11.5% of your DPS at level 60. Without it, the simulator's fight does that much less damage. (level 60)
Simulator: Fire Blast is worth 8.1% of your DPS at level 60. Without it, the simulator's fight does that much less damage. (level 60)
Simulator: Your stat values at level 60 (simulator, 1 spell power = 1): haste rating 0.75, crit rating 0.69, Intellect 0.69. (level 60)
Simulator: Use Evocation once your mana drops below 15%. That is the point the simulator triggers it at levels 20-29. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: The best consumable at levels 20-29 is Greater Arcane Elixir (+2.6% DPS in the simulator), followed by Baked Salmon (+2.1%). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 20-29 is Blessing of Kings from a Paladin: +1% DPS in the simulator. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 20-29 your damage splits as Fireball 78% and Fire Blast 19% (simulator: recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Use Evocation once your mana drops below 15%. That is the point the simulator triggers it at levels 30-39. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: The best consumable at levels 30-39 is Greater Arcane Elixir (+4.8% DPS in the simulator), followed by Baked Salmon (+4.5%). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: At levels 30-39 your damage splits as Fireball 55%, Scorch 21% and Fire Blast 20% (simulator: recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Scorch is worth 6.3% of your DPS at levels 30-39. Without it, the simulator's fight does that much less damage. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Fire Blast is worth 4.8% of your DPS at levels 30-39. Without it, the simulator's fight does that much less damage. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Use Evocation once your mana drops below 15%. That is the point the simulator triggers it at levels 40-49. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: The best consumable at levels 40-49 is Baked Salmon (+4.8% DPS in the simulator), followed by Greater Arcane Elixir (+4.4%). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: At levels 40-49 your damage splits as Fireball 52%, Scorch 23% and Fire Blast 19% (simulator: recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Scorch is worth 8.5% of your DPS at levels 40-49. Without it, the simulator's fight does that much less damage. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Fire Blast is worth 6.8% of your DPS at levels 40-49. Without it, the simulator's fight does that much less damage. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Use Evocation once your mana drops below 15%. That is the point the simulator triggers it at levels 50-59. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: The best consumable at levels 50-59 is Greater Arcane Elixir (+4.9% DPS in the simulator), followed by Baked Salmon (+3.9%). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: At levels 50-59 your damage splits as Fireball 47%, Fire Blast 25% and Scorch 21% (simulator: recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Fire Blast is worth 11.1% of your DPS at levels 50-59. Without it, the simulator's fight does that much less damage. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Scorch is worth 8.8% of your DPS at levels 50-59. Without it, the simulator's fight does that much less damage. (levels 50–59)

How to play it at level 60: priority, procs and cooldowns

What to press, in order. Cast the first one that is ready and whose condition holds.

Scorch: Whenever it's ready: Cast it when it's ready; worth 11.5% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Fire Blast: Whenever it's ready: Cast it when it's ready (8 s cooldown); worth 8.1% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Fireball: Fill the gaps with it: Your filler: cast it when nothing above is ready; worth 50.4% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)

React to:

Under 15% mana: Evocation: The sim uses Evocation when your mana is under 15% (Simulator, Forever client)
When Clearcasting procs: Fireball within 15 sec: Your next damage spell has its mana cost reduced by 100%. (Simulator, Forever client)

Before the pull:

Greater Arcane Elixir (Simulator, Forever client)
Baked Salmon (Simulator, Forever client)
Arcane Intellect (Simulator, Forever client)
Blessing of Kings (Simulator, Forever client)
Elixir of Greater Intellect (Simulator, Forever client)
Blessing of Wisdom (Simulator, Forever client)
Scroll of Intellect IV (Simulator, Forever client)
Mark of the Wild (Simulator, Forever client)

Latest changes:

11 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70862 -> 1.60.1.70888; 50-59: Fireball worth 38.9% -> 42.6%; 60-60: Fireball worth 44.4% -> 50.4%; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70888)
8 November 2026: 1 tip(s) dropped (client build or hotfix rebuild)
7 November 2026: tip wording or values (client build or hotfix rebuild)

Frost

Updated 11 November 2026 for build 1.60.1.70888 · From the DPS simulator, the game client

Learning from players: DPS. Collecting comparable fights before publishing observed cast patterns.

Simulator: Use Evocation once your mana drops below 15%. That is the point the simulator triggers it at level 60. (level 60)
Simulator: Clearcasting from Arcane Concentration reduces your next damage spell's mana cost by 100%. Cast Frostbolt within 15 sec before it fades; the simulator sees it come up 1.467 times in a 60 s fight. (level 60)
Simulator: When Fingers of Frost procs from Winter's Chill, cast Ice Lance within 15 sec before it fades. The simulator sees it come up 2.153 times in a 60 s fight. (level 60)
Simulator: The best consumable at level 60 is Greater Arcane Elixir (+2.7% DPS in the simulator), followed by Baked Salmon (+2.2%). (level 60)
Simulator: At level 60 your damage splits as Frostbolt 68%, Fire Blast 22% and Ice Lance 10% (simulator: recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (level 60)
Simulator: Ice Lance is worth 4.5% of your DPS at level 60. Without it, the simulator's fight does that much less damage. (level 60)
Simulator: Your stat values at level 60 (simulator, 1 spell power = 1): crit rating 0.73, haste rating 0.73. (level 60)
Simulator: Use Evocation once your mana drops below 15%. That is the point the simulator triggers it at levels 20-29. (levels 20–29)
Speculation: The class guide's rotation card uses Fire Blast here and the simulator disagrees: check it in game before trusting either: Leave Fire Blast out of single-target fights at levels 20-29: the simulator's 60 s fight did 3.8% more damage without it. The class guide disagrees, so treat this as a lead to test. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: The best consumable at levels 20-29 is Greater Arcane Elixir (+2.5% DPS in the simulator), followed by Baked Salmon (+2%). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 20-29 your damage splits as Frostbolt 87% and Fire Blast 13% (simulator: recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Use Evocation once your mana drops below 15%. That is the point the simulator triggers it at levels 30-39. (levels 30–39)
Speculation: The class guide's rotation card uses Fire Blast here and the simulator disagrees: check it in game before trusting either: Leave Fire Blast out of single-target fights at levels 30-39: the simulator's 60 s fight did 5.5% more damage without it. The class guide disagrees, so treat this as a lead to test. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: When Fingers of Frost procs from Winter's Chill, cast Ice Lance within 15 sec before it fades. The simulator sees it come up 2.187 times in a 60 s fight. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: The best consumable at levels 30-39 is Greater Arcane Elixir (+4.3% DPS in the simulator), followed by Baked Salmon (+4%). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: At levels 30-39 your damage splits as Frostbolt 67%, Fire Blast 24% and Ice Lance 9% (simulator: recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Ice Lance is worth 3.3% of your DPS at levels 30-39. Without it, the simulator's fight does that much less damage. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Use Evocation once your mana drops below 15%. That is the point the simulator triggers it at levels 40-49. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Leave Fire Blast out of single-target fights at levels 40-49: the simulator's 60 s fight did 3% more damage without it. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: When Fingers of Frost procs from Winter's Chill, cast Ice Lance within 15 sec before it fades. The simulator sees it come up 2.19 times in a 60 s fight. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: The best consumable at levels 40-49 is Baked Salmon (+4.1% DPS in the simulator), followed by Greater Arcane Elixir (+3.8%). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: At levels 40-49 your damage splits as Frostbolt 69%, Fire Blast 24% and Ice Lance 8% (simulator: recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Use Evocation once your mana drops below 15%. That is the point the simulator triggers it at levels 50-59. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: When Fingers of Frost procs from Winter's Chill, cast Ice Lance within 15 sec before it fades. The simulator sees it come up 2.143 times in a 60 s fight. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: The best consumable at levels 50-59 is Greater Arcane Elixir (+4.2% DPS in the simulator), followed by Baked Salmon (+3.4%). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: At levels 50-59 your damage splits as Frostbolt 66%, Fire Blast 24% and Ice Lance 10% (simulator: recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Ice Lance is worth 5.4% of your DPS at levels 50-59. Without it, the simulator's fight does that much less damage. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Fire Blast is worth 5% of your DPS at levels 50-59. Without it, the simulator's fight does that much less damage. (levels 50–59)

How to play it at level 60: priority, procs and cooldowns

What to press, in order. Cast the first one that is ready and whose condition holds.

Ice Lance: When it procs: Only while Fingers of Frost is up; worth 4.5% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Fire Blast: Whenever it's ready: Cast it when it's ready (8 s cooldown); the sim gains little from it (Simulator, Forever client)
Frostbolt: Fill the gaps with it: Your filler: cast it when nothing above is ready; worth 61.1% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)

React to:

Under 15% mana: Evocation: The sim uses Evocation when your mana is under 15% (Simulator, Forever client)
When Clearcasting procs: Frostbolt within 15 sec: Your next damage spell has its mana cost reduced by 100%. (Simulator, Forever client)
When Fingers of Frost procs: Ice Lance within 15 sec: Fingers of Frost makes Ice Lance better: use it before it fades (Simulator, Forever client)

Before the pull:

Greater Arcane Elixir (Simulator, Forever client)
Baked Salmon (Simulator, Forever client)

Latest changes:

11 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70862 -> 1.60.1.70888; 40-49: removed Fire Blast; 1 new tip(s); 1 tip(s) dropped; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70888)
8 November 2026: 1 new tip(s) (client build or hotfix rebuild)
7 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70790 -> 1.60.1.70862; 1 tip(s) dropped; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70862)

Every spec's latest changes. Re-studied every week and after each new game build.

Best in slot gear at any level: Arcane, Fire, Frost

Mage abilities

Fire Vulnerability
Arcane Intellect (level 1)
Chilled (level 1)
Fireball (level 1)
Frost Armor (level 1)
Conjure Water (level 4, from the Classic class quest Arcane Refreshment (rank 1))
Frostbolt (level 4)
Conjure Food (level 6)
Fire Blast (level 6)
Arcane Missiles (level 8)
Polymorph (level 8)
Frost Nova (level 10)
Dampen Magic (level 12)
Slow Fall (level 12)
Arcane Explosion (level 14)
Flamestrike (level 16)
Amplify Magic (level 18)
Remove Lesser Curse (level 18)
Blink (level 20)
Blizzard (level 20)
Evocation (level 20)
Fire Ward (level 20)
Mana Shield (level 20)
Teleport: Ironforge (level 20)
Teleport: Orgrimmar (level 20)
Teleport: Stormwind (level 20)
Teleport: Undercity (level 20)
Frost Ward (level 22)
Scorch (level 22)
Counterspell (level 24)
Cone of Cold (level 26)
Conjure Mana Agate (level 28)
Ice Armor (level 30)
Teleport: Darnassus (level 30)
Teleport: Thunder Bluff (level 30)
Mage Armor (level 34)
Conjure Mana Jade (level 38)
Frostfire Bolt (level 40)
Portal: Ironforge (level 40)
Portal: Orgrimmar (level 40)
Portal: Stormwind (level 40)
Portal: Undercity (level 40)
Conjure Mana Citrine (level 48)
Portal: Darnassus (level 50)
Portal: Thunder Bluff (level 50)
Teleport: Dalaran (level 50)
Arcane Brilliance (level 56)
Conjure Mana Ruby (level 58)
Felfire (level 60)
Polymorph: Cow (level 60)

No longer trainer abilities in the live client

Common questions

What's the best caster ring for a Mage at level 20?

Speculation: Calling it the best rests on ForeverDB's gear scoring, not Blizzard, and other rings may suit depending on spec and what you can obtain.

A strong caster ring for a level 20 Mage is Lorekeeper's Ring, a rare ring usable from level 18. It gives +2 Stamina, +5 Spell Power and restores 2 mana every 5 seconds.

The +5 Spell Power is the draw: it lifts Fireball, Frostbolt and Arcane Missiles at a level where spell power is hard to come by. See the Mage class page for the rest of a level 20 caster set.

Sources: Lorekeeper's Ring · Mage in WoW Forever · checked on build 1.60.1.70862

The whole FAQ

Data from the WoW Forever client, build 1.60.1.70888, extracted 2026-11-11.