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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: 200% more damage on frozen targets), Frost Blast (a trainer spell at 24: a quick, cheap slow) 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 15% 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 full Arcane Focus for hit, 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 15% of your Intellect and raises the next Blast's cost by 175%.
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 covers part of it. 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 15% 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 15 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 (Elemental Precision in the Frost section is the talent option). 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 Elemental 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 200% 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 Elemental 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.
Elemental Precision covers Fire spells too, so Fire Blast finishers on the move get the extra hit.

Checked against WoW Forever beta build 1.60.1.70658.

Tips & tricks: what ForeverDB learned

Arcane

Updated 31 October 2026 for build 1.60.1.70707 · 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 when your mana drops under 15%: that is where the simulator uses it at levels 30-39. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Presence of Mind (3 min cooldown): the simulator uses it right before Arcane Blast at levels 30-39. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Use Arcane Blast when your mana drops under 25%: that is where the simulator uses it at levels 30-39. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Clearcasting (from Arcane Concentration): Your next damage spell has its mana cost reduced by 100%. Cast Arcane Blast within 15 sec, before it fades. In the simulator it comes 4.413 times a 60 s fight. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 30-39: Lesser Arcane Elixir (+5.1% DPS in the simulator); then Briny Seafood Stew (+4.8%). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 30-39 is Blessing of Kings from a Paladin: +2.1% DPS in the simulator. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 30-39: Arcane Missiles 61%, Arcane Blast 39% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Stat values at level 30 (simulator, 1 spell power = 1): Intellect 0.31, hit rating 0.23, haste rating 0.14. (level 30)
Simulator: Use Evocation when your mana drops under 15%. The simulator uses it at that point at levels 20-29. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Use Arcane Blast when your mana drops under 25%. The simulator uses it at that point at levels 20-29. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Clearcasting (from Arcane Concentration): Your next damage spell has its mana cost reduced by 100%. Cast Arcane Blast within 15 sec, before it fades. In the simulator it comes 2.543 times a 60 s fight. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 20-29: Lesser Arcane Elixir (+2.8% DPS in the simulator); then Briny Seafood Stew (+2.2%). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 20-29, your damage comes from Arcane Missiles (63%) and Arcane Blast (37%). This is from the simulator using the recommended build and best gear in a 60 s single-target fight. (levels 20–29)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Use Evocation when your mana drops under 15%: that is where the simulator uses it at levels 40-49. (levels 40–49)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Presence of Mind (3 min cooldown): the simulator uses it right before Arcane Blast at levels 40-49. (levels 40–49)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Use Arcane Blast when your mana drops under 25%: that is where the simulator uses it at levels 40-49. (levels 40–49)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Clearcasting (from Arcane Concentration): Your next damage spell has its mana cost reduced by 100%. Cast Arcane Blast within 15 sec, before it fades. In the simulator it comes 4.35 times a 60 s fight. (levels 40–49)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Best consumable at levels 40-49: Lesser Arcane Elixir (+3% DPS in the simulator); then Briny Seafood Stew (+2.8%). (levels 40–49)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Where your damage comes from at levels 40-49: Arcane Missiles 64%, Arcane Blast 36% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 40–49)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Use Evocation when your mana drops under 15%: that is where the simulator uses it at levels 50-59. (levels 50–59)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Presence of Mind (3 min cooldown): the simulator uses it right before Arcane Blast at levels 50-59. (levels 50–59)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Use Arcane Blast when your mana drops under 25%: that is where the simulator uses it at levels 50-59. (levels 50–59)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Clearcasting (from Arcane Concentration): Your next damage spell has its mana cost reduced by 100%. Cast Arcane Blast within 15 sec, before it fades. In the simulator it comes 4.45 times a 60 s fight. (levels 50–59)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Best consumable at levels 50-59: Lesser Arcane Elixir (+2.4% DPS in the simulator); then Briny Seafood Stew (+2.2%). (levels 50–59)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Where your damage comes from at levels 50-59: Arcane Missiles 60%, Arcane Blast 40% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 50–59)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Use Evocation when your mana drops under 15%: that is where the simulator uses it at level 60. (level 60)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Presence of Mind (3 min cooldown): the simulator uses it right before Arcane Blast at level 60. (level 60)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Use Arcane Blast when your mana drops under 25%: that is where the simulator uses it at level 60. (level 60)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Clearcasting (from Arcane Concentration): Your next damage spell has its mana cost reduced by 100%. Cast Arcane Blast within 15 sec, before it fades. In the simulator it comes 5.303 times a 60 s fight. (level 60)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Missile Barrage: Cast Arcane Missiles within 15 sec, before it fades. In the simulator it comes 3.253 times a 60 s fight. (level 60)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Best consumable at level 60: Lesser Arcane Elixir (+1.1% DPS in the simulator); then Briny Seafood Stew (+1%). (level 60)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Where your damage comes from at level 60: Arcane Missiles 60%, Arcane Blast 39% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (level 60)

How to play it at levels 30–39: 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 35.5% 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)
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)

Cooldowns:

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

Before the pull:

Lesser Arcane Elixir (Simulator, Forever client)
Briny Seafood Stew (Simulator, Forever client)
Blessing of Kings (Simulator, Forever client)
Arcane Intellect (Simulator, Forever client)
Blessing of Wisdom (Simulator, Forever client)
Mark of the Wild (Simulator, Forever client)

Latest changes:

31 October 2026: client build 1.60.1.70658 -> 1.60.1.70707; 30-39: Arcane Missiles worth 42.5% -> 35.5%; 40-49: removed Wand; 40-49: Arcane Missiles worth 55.9% -> 50%; 50-59: removed Wand; 50-59: Arcane Missiles worth 56.7% -> 51.8% (new client build 1.60.1.70707)
29 October 2026: tip wording or values (the simulator or the site's data changed)
29 October 2026: tip wording or values (DPS/HPS observation limits and bounded addon learning data)

Fire

Updated 31 October 2026 for build 1.60.1.70707 · From the DPS simulator, the game client

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

Simulator: Use Evocation when your mana drops under 15%: that is where the simulator uses it at levels 30-39. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 30-39: Lesser Arcane Elixir (+4.8% DPS in the simulator); then Briny Seafood Stew (+4.5%). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 30-39: Fireball 56%, Scorch 21%, Fire Blast 20% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Scorch is worth 6.2% of your DPS at levels 30-39: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Fire Blast is worth 4.7% of your DPS at levels 30-39: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Stat values at level 30 (simulator, 1 spell power = 1): hit rating 0.22, crit rating 0.21, haste rating 0.21. (level 30)
Simulator: Use Evocation when your mana drops under 15%. The simulator uses it at that point at levels 20-29. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 20-29: Lesser Arcane Elixir (+2.6% DPS in the simulator); then Briny Seafood Stew (+2.1%). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 20-29 is Blessing of Kings from a Paladin, worth +1% DPS in the simulator. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 20-29, your damage comes mainly from Fireball (78%) and Fire Blast (19%). This is from the simulator using the recommended build and best gear in a 60 s single-target fight. (levels 20–29)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Use Evocation when your mana drops under 15%: that is where the simulator uses it at levels 40-49. (levels 40–49)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Best consumable at levels 40-49: Lesser Arcane Elixir (+3.2% DPS in the simulator); then Briny Seafood Stew (+3%). (levels 40–49)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Where your damage comes from at levels 40-49: Fireball 52%, Scorch 23%, Fire Blast 20% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 40–49)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Scorch is worth 9.2% of your DPS at levels 40-49: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 40–49)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Fire Blast is worth 6.2% of your DPS at levels 40-49: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 40–49)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Use Evocation when your mana drops under 15%: that is where the simulator uses it at levels 50-59. (levels 50–59)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Best consumable at levels 50-59: Lesser Arcane Elixir (+2.5% DPS in the simulator); then Briny Seafood Stew (+2.3%). (levels 50–59)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Where your damage comes from at levels 50-59: Fireball 46%, Fire Blast 26%, Scorch 20% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 50–59)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Fire Blast is worth 11.4% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 50–59)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Scorch is worth 7.4% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 50–59)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Use Evocation when your mana drops under 15%: that is where the simulator uses it at level 60. (level 60)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Clearcasting (from Arcane Concentration): Your next damage spell has its mana cost reduced by 100%. Cast Fireball within 15 sec, before it fades. In the simulator it comes 2.52 times a 60 s fight. (level 60)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Best consumable at level 60: Lesser Arcane Elixir (+1.2% DPS in the simulator); then Briny Seafood Stew (+1.1%). (level 60)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: The party buff that helps you most at level 60 is Arcane Intellect from a Mage: +1.7% DPS in the simulator. (level 60)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Where your damage comes from at level 60: Fireball 60%, Fire Blast 16%, Scorch 13% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (level 60)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Scorch is worth 9% of your DPS at level 60: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (level 60)

How to play it at levels 30–39: 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 6.2% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Fire Blast: Whenever it's ready: Cast it when it's ready (8 s cooldown); worth 4.7% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Fireball: Fill the gaps with it: Your filler: cast it when nothing above is ready; worth 35.1% 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)

Before the pull:

Lesser Arcane Elixir (Simulator, Forever client)
Briny Seafood Stew (Simulator, Forever client)

Latest changes:

31 October 2026: client build 1.60.1.70658 -> 1.60.1.70707; 1 tip(s) dropped; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70707)
29 October 2026: tip wording or values (the simulator or the site's data changed)
29 October 2026: tip wording or values (DPS/HPS observation limits and bounded addon learning data)

Frost

Updated 31 October 2026 for build 1.60.1.70707 · From the DPS simulator, the game client

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

Simulator: Use Evocation when your mana drops under 15%: that is where the simulator uses 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: Fingers of Frost (from Winter's Chill): Cast Ice Lance within 15 sec, before it fades. In the simulator it comes 2.187 times a 60 s fight. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 30-39: Lesser Arcane Elixir (+4.3% DPS in the simulator); then Briny Seafood Stew (+4%). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 30-39: Frostbolt 67%, Fire Blast 24%, Ice Lance 9% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Ice Lance is worth 3.3% of your DPS at levels 30-39: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Stat values at level 30 (simulator, 1 spell power = 1): crit rating 0.17. (level 30)
Simulator: Use Evocation when your mana drops under 15%. The simulator uses it at that point 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: Best consumable at levels 20-29: Lesser Arcane Elixir (+2.5% DPS in the simulator); then Briny Seafood Stew (+2%). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 20-29, your damage comes mainly from Frostbolt (87%) and Fire Blast (13%). This is from the simulator using the recommended build and best gear in a 60 s single-target fight. (levels 20–29)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Use Evocation when your mana drops under 15%: that is where the simulator uses it at levels 40-49. (levels 40–49)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Fingers of Frost (from Winter's Chill): Cast Ice Lance within 15 sec, before it fades. In the simulator it comes 2.173 times a 60 s fight. (levels 40–49)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Best consumable at levels 40-49: Lesser Arcane Elixir (+2.7% DPS in the simulator); then Briny Seafood Stew (+2.6%). (levels 40–49)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: The party buff that helps you most at levels 40-49 is Arcane Intellect from a Mage: +1.2% DPS in the simulator. (levels 40–49)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Where your damage comes from at levels 40-49: Frostbolt 69%, Fire Blast 24%, Ice Lance 8% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 40–49)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Fire Blast is worth 5.6% of your DPS at levels 40-49: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 40–49)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Use Evocation when your mana drops under 15%: that is where the simulator uses it at levels 50-59. (levels 50–59)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Fingers of Frost (from Winter's Chill): Cast Ice Lance within 15 sec, before it fades. In the simulator it comes 2.203 times a 60 s fight. (levels 50–59)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Best consumable at levels 50-59: Lesser Arcane Elixir (+2% DPS in the simulator); then Briny Seafood Stew (+1.9%). (levels 50–59)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: The party buff that helps you most at levels 50-59 is Arcane Intellect from a Mage: +1.2% DPS in the simulator. (levels 50–59)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Where your damage comes from at levels 50-59: Frostbolt 66%, Fire Blast 22%, Ice Lance 11% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 50–59)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Ice Lance is worth 6.1% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 50–59)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Fire Blast is worth 4.6% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 50–59)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Use Evocation when your mana drops under 15%: that is where the simulator uses it at level 60. (level 60)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Leave Fire Blast out of single-target fights at level 60: the simulator's 60 s fight did 2% more damage without it. (level 60)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Clearcasting (from Arcane Concentration): Your next damage spell has its mana cost reduced by 100%. Cast Frostbolt within 15 sec, before it fades. In the simulator it comes 2.65 times a 60 s fight. (level 60)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Fingers of Frost (from Winter's Chill): Cast Ice Lance within 15 sec, before it fades. In the simulator it comes 2.763 times a 60 s fight. (level 60)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Best consumable at level 60: Lesser Arcane Elixir (+1% DPS in the simulator). (level 60)
Speculation: Above the level cap (30): the client has these levels, but nobody can play them yet: Where your damage comes from at level 60: Frostbolt 75%, Fire Blast 17%, Ice Lance 8% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (level 60)

How to play it at levels 30–39: 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 3.3% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Frostbolt: Fill the gaps with it: Your filler: cast it when nothing above is ready; worth 50.5% 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 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:

Lesser Arcane Elixir (Simulator, Forever client)
Briny Seafood Stew (Simulator, Forever client)

Avoid:

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. (Simulator)

Latest changes:

31 October 2026: client build 1.60.1.70658 -> 1.60.1.70707; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70707)
29 October 2026: tip wording or values (the simulator or the site's data changed)
29 October 2026: tip wording or values (DPS/HPS observation limits and bounded addon learning data)

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)
Clearcasting (level 10)
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 1.60.1.70532

The whole FAQ