Best Mage leveling build for WoW Forever (levels 1 to 20)
Level a WoW Forever Mage as Frost: Improved Frostbolt 5/5 first for a half-second faster Frostbolt, Permafrost for longer slows, two points in Ice Shards for crit damage, and Ice Lance at 20, the new 11-point talent that deals 300% more damage to Frozen targets after a Frost Nova.
Reported Five independent guides agree on Frost and four on Improved Frostbolt first; the middle points and the timing of Ice Lance are disputed and this page takes the majority. Talent rows are cross-checked against three beta client datamines. Talent effects come from the beta client, so numbers can change with each build. Open the Mage talent calculator.
Why Frost for leveling a Mage in WoW Forever
- Five guides agree on Frost for the beta and four on Improved Frostbolt 5/5 by 14. Frostbolt, Frost Nova and kiting is the safest way to level a Mage, and Frost Nova now feeds Ice Lance.
- Ice Lance is new: an instant 26 to 33 Frost damage for 45 mana, multiplied by four against a Frozen target. Frost Nova, Frostbite procs and later Fingers of Frost all set it up.
- Fire is slightly slower solo under 20 because crit is too low for Ignite to matter, and Arcane Blast's escalating mana cost makes Arcane a dungeon spec.
- Points 15 to 19 are the only split: Permafrost 3/3 is common to most guides; the other two points go to Ice Shards here, or Frostbite if you prefer more Freeze procs.
Alternative: Fire, if you group a lot and want Pyroblast openers: Improved Fireball 5, Wake of Fire 2, Ignite 3, Pyroblast at 20. Solo under 20 it is slightly slower because crit is too low to make Ignite pay.
Mage talent order, levels 10 to 20
| Level | Talent | Rank | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Improved Frostbolt | 1 | 0.1 second faster per rank. |
| 11 | Improved Frostbolt | 2 | |
| 12 | Improved Frostbolt | 3 | |
| 13 | Improved Frostbolt | 4 | |
| 14 | Improved Frostbolt | 5 | |
| 15 | Permafrost | 1 | Longer and stronger chills. |
| 16 | Permafrost | 2 | |
| 17 | Permafrost | 3 | |
| 18 | Ice Shards | 1 | 20% more Frost crit damage per rank. Frostbite is the alternative. |
| 19 | Ice Shards | 2 | |
| 20 | Ice Lance | 1 | New 11-point milestone: instant, 300% more damage against Frozen targets. |
Levels 21 to 30: Finish Ice Shards or Frostbite, Piercing Ice 3/3 for 6% Frost damage, Improved Frost Nova 2/2, then head for Shatter (now 3 ranks at 17%, 33% and 50% with no Improved Frost Nova prerequisite) and Fingers of Frost at 30. Guides agree on the destination and differ on the order.
Mage abilities to train, levels 1 to 20
| Level | Ability | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fireball, Frost Armor, Arcane Intellect | Arcane Intellect now lasts an hour. |
| 4 | Frostbolt, Conjure Water | Frostbolt every rank; it is your only spell that matters. |
| 6 | Fire Blast, Conjure Food | Fire Blast finishes runners. Skip later Fireball ranks on a Frost route. |
| 8 | Arcane Missiles, Polymorph | Polymorph the second mob. |
| 10 | Frost Nova | The core of the rotation from here. |
| 12 | Dampen Magic, Slow Fall | Both can wait. |
| 14 | Arcane Explosion, Fire Blast rank 2 | Arcane Explosion for packs in a dungeon. |
| 18 | Remove Lesser Curse, Amplify Magic | Remove Lesser Curse now also removes Banes. |
| 20 | Blink, Evocation, Mana Shield, Blizzard, Teleports | Blink and Evocation change everything. Counterspell is 24. |
Mage leveling rotation in WoW Forever
- Frostbolt from maximum range. Frost Nova when the mob reaches you, step back and keep casting.
- From 20, Ice Lance whenever the target is Frozen by Frost Nova or a Frostbite proc. Never fire it unfrozen if you could cast Frostbolt instead.
- Fire Blast to finish. Wand when mana is low: a good wand is the biggest caster tip in the beta.
- Blizzard on three or more mobs from 20. Polymorph the extra one before that.
- Keep Arcane Intellect and Frost Armor up, and drink conjured water between pulls.
Best race for a leveling Mage
| Faction | Race | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Alliance | Gnome | Expansive Mind for 5% mana, Eureka for three cheaper and stronger spells, and Escape Artist. Three guides agree. |
| Alliance | Skyborne | Wind Blessed haste and Read Ley Line, though one guide rates Skyborne among the weaker picks. Needs the Skyborne Heroic Pack. |
| Horde | Troll | Berserking for 10% cast speed and Regeneration. Two guides pick it. |
| Horde | Orc (new combination) or Undead | Orc for Blood Fury's 10% spell power; Undead for Cannibalize, which now restores mana as well as health. |
Every racial is on the WoW Forever racials page, and the class list per race on the race and class table.
Professions and camping for a Mage
Tailoring and Enchanting: cloth for yourself, wands you can make (Lesser and Greater Magic Wand) and enchants from disenchanting. For camping, the Tailor's Faction Banner gives Spirit and the Herbalist's Incense Candle gives Intellect. See how Camping works for every camp object.
Gear and stats under level 20
- Spell power and Intellect, then Spirit for downtime, with hit later. Guides disagree on the exact order, but a wand upgrade every few levels beats all of it.
- Hall of Thanes drops reported for casters include Robes of the Disgraced Thane, Aetherwisp Bracers and Golemheart Stave. Ruins of Lordaeron includes Wispcloth Leggings, Coldspire Staff and Mirror of Rath'mael. Stats are not published yet.
- Every dungeon boss drop is rare quality in Forever.
Mage leveling questions
Is Frost or Fire better for leveling a Mage in WoW Forever?
Reported Frost. Five guides agree, and Ice Lance at 20 gives Frost a burst it never had in Classic. Fire is a little slower solo under 20.
What is Ice Lance in WoW Forever?
Reported The 11-point Frost talent: an instant 26 to 33 Frost damage for 45 mana that deals 300% more damage to Frozen targets, so it pairs with Frost Nova and Frostbite.
When does a Mage get Blink in WoW Forever?
Reported Level 20, along with Evocation, Mana Shield, Blizzard and the first teleports.
What is the best race for a Mage in WoW Forever?
Reported Gnome on Alliance. On Horde, Troll for cast speed, or the new Orc Mage for Blood Fury.
Sources
6 independent reports
Reported means independent guides and the beta client agree but Blizzard has not published the build. Class changes with sources are on Mage in WoW Forever.
Other WoW Forever leveling builds
Priest (Shadow (wand leveling)), Shaman (Enhancement), Druid (Feral), Warrior (Fury (first 11 points)), Paladin (Retribution), Hunter (Beast Mastery), Rogue (Combat (swords)), Warlock (Affliction (Voidwalker))