Mage specs for leveling
From AJS.COM
Mage specs can be very hard to figure out. Each of the trees fits into a rough category of playstyle, but even within the trees, there are dozens of variations. I've played other classes, but only mage has been this much of a headache, so I feel I should help out the other struggling mages, out there.
Contents |
Overview
- Arcane
- A very technical build that requires that you really know what you want out of it, and why you expect to get that. For PVE instances, arcane can be an excellent utility spec.
- Fire
- High damage, but very little utility. Overall, probably the best leveling spec for players who aren't technical enough to get the most out of frost. For PVE raiding and instances, fire and fire/arcane specs tend to be very powerful.
- Frost
- A powerhouse PVP spec, and the fastest leveling spec in the game, but you have to be a highly skilled AOE puller to make this spec work for you.
Fire
For the new user, fire is going to work out best. Start simple, and learn to kill one thing at a time. If you really want to get crazy, try out other specs around level 40-50.
Leveling
- Up to level 16[1]
- Start with Improved Fireball.
- Up to level 26[2]
- Notice that we work our way down to Pyroblast and Improved Scorch as fast as possible. This gives us the all-powerful "Pyro-Scorch-Scorch-Fire Blast" pulling technique that lets us get mobs down to a fraction of their health or dead by the time they reach us, and speed any further damage from fireball, should we need it.
- Up to level 36[3]
- Now we go back for the stun effect to further ensure a quick kill with minimal damage to ourselves.
- Up to level 46[4]
- Now that mobs are getting tougher, we pump more power into fireball so that you can use it to finish them off.
- Level 70[5]
- The full 10/48/3 deep fire build with Clearcasting.
PVP
PoM/Pyro AKA the three minute mage is just one of the many ways to tune fire to PVP.
Arcane
Deep arcane typically isn't the most powerful spec. It has some great utility, but damage tends to be lacking in raid and PVP situations.
A great PVE instancing spec is Arcane Overload as described on WoWWiki.[6].
Frost
Frost is dominating PVP these days. That might change, but for now, it's certainly the king of the arena. Frost/arcane or a frost/fire hybrid is typically in use in PVP these days.
PVP
One of the most popular PVP builds for the arena is a hybrid of Arcane and Frost: [7]
Hybrid
However, the elementalist is also quite popular for PVP and PVE: [8] and [9]
2.3
Patch 2.3 is bringing some major changes. Nerfs to frost survivability in arenas may make other specs more popular (increasing hypothermia duration). Also, Arcane Meditation is being buffed, which will improve the attractiveness of Arcane to raiding mages who need more mana, finally making spirit-based mana regen viable for a raiding mage.
For more information on 2.3, see 2.3 and You.
External links
- Mage builds on WoWWiki
- Cendro's talent spec guide on the official Mage forums
