Arcane Mage
Pure arcane power. Watch your mana.
WoW Forever turns Arcane into a real damage spec: the new Arcane Blast, Arcane Wrath and Missile Barrage, then Arcane Power at 40.
Three things to remember
Arcane Blast stacks
Each cast gives you spell damage (up to 4 stacks) but doubles its own mana cost. Do not stack it forever.
Missile Barrage procs
Your spells can make the next Arcane Missiles cheaper and faster. Use the proc.
Arcane Power at 40
Your 31-point talent: a big damage burst for bosses.
What changed for you
Frostfire Bolt
A new trained spell that counts as both Fire and Frost.
Mage Armor is stronger
50% of your mana regeneration keeps going while you cast (was 30%).
Arcane Blast and Arcane Wrath
New spells from talents: Arcane Blast stacks spell damage; Arcane Wrath hits harder the more mana you have.
Missile Barrage
Fast, cheap Arcane Missiles after your other spells.
Low-level tips and what to press as you level
- Fireball to open, Fire Blast to finish. Wand when you run low.
- Frost Nova and step back when something reaches you.
- Conjure food and water before you head out; it saves money.
- Level as Frost or Fire; Arcane gets strong once Arcane Blast and Wrath are in.
- Take Arcane Subtlety and Arcane Concentration (free spells).
- Arcane Missiles (8) on tough mobs.
- Take Missile Barrage, Arcane Blast and Arcane Wrath.
- Take Arcane Meditation for mana, and Presence of Mind.
- Arcane Explosion on packs once you can hold them in a Frost Nova.
- Take Arcane Mind and Arcane Instability.
- Arcane Power (31-point) on bosses.
- Watch your mana: drop Arcane Blast stacks when you are below half.
Your priority
The order the WoW Forever simulator uses for Arcane.
- Arcane Power at the start of the boss (with Presence of Mind).
- Arcane Missiles when Missile Barrage is up.
- Arcane Wrath on cooldown, while your mana is high.
- Fire Blast on cooldown, while moving.
- Arcane Blast to fill, stacking while mana allows.
Talents that matter
| Talent | Tree | Why take it |
|---|---|---|
| Improved Channeling | Arcane | Better Arcane Missiles. |
| Arcane Concentration | Arcane | Free spells after hits. |
| Missile Barrage | Arcane | Fast, cheap Arcane Missiles. |
| Arcane Blast | Arcane | A stacking nuke. |
| Arcane Wrath | Arcane | A nuke that scales with your mana. |
| Arcane Meditation | Arcane | Mana regeneration while casting. |
| Presence of Mind | Arcane | An instant cast. |
| Arcane Mind | Arcane | More mana. |
| Arcane Instability | Arcane | More damage and crit. |
| Arcane Power | Arcane (31) | A damage burst. |
Best race for this spec
Eureka! (more damage, cheaper spells) and +5% mana, the best fit for Arcane.
Berserking gives 15 sec of faster casts. Undead is close.
| Race | Side | Racials |
|---|---|---|
| Human | Alliance | Ruthless: +1% crit. The Human Spirit: +10% Spirit. Will to Survive: break out of a stun. Perception: spot stealthed players. |
| Gnome | Alliance | Eureka!: 10% more damage and cheaper abilities for 8 sec (also boosts Power Word: Shield). Expansive Mind: +5% maximum mana (rage for Warriors, energy for Rogues). Escape Artist: break out of roots and slows. |
| Skyborne (High Order) | Alliance | Wind Blessed: +2% attack and casting speed. Elemental Insight: +5% damage to Elementals. Walk on Air. Read Leyline: +50% mana and health regeneration for 15 sec (+100% while Attuned from a Ley Line; Attuned ends when you enter a raid). Paid race. |
| Orc | Horde | Blood Fury: +10% attack power and spell power for 15 sec, every 2 minutes. Command: +5% damage for Hunter and Warlock pets. Shatter Curse: 5% less magic damage taken for 8 sec. |
| Undead | Horde | Touch of the Grave: your hits can drain health from the target (30% chance for casters, 20% for Paladins, Rogues and Warriors; once every 15 sec). Will of the Forsaken: break fear, charm and sleep. Cannibalize: eat a corpse to heal. |
| Troll | Horde | Berserking: faster attacks and casts for 15 sec. Beast Slaying: +5% damage to Beasts. |
These are small edges, about 1 to 2 percent. Play the race you enjoy and the side your friends are on. Skyborne needs the paid Skyborne Heroic Pack.
Play it better
Reset Arcane Blast
Its cost doubles each stack. Let the stacks drop when your mana gets low.
Wrath on full mana
Arcane Wrath scales with your maximum mana. Gnomes get +5% mana.
Presence of Mind plus Pyroblast
If you dip into Fire, PoM makes a big Pyroblast instant.
Mana gems
Conjure them before the boss and use them during Arcane Power.
When something seems off
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| Out of mana every pull | Drink between pulls, use Mage Armor, use your wand on low-health mobs, and Evocation if you have it. |
| Everything hits me | Frost Nova, then step back. Ice Barrier and Mana Shield buy time. Let the tank build threat in groups. |
| Arcane Blast is too expensive | It doubles its cost per stack. Stop at 2 to 3 stacks on long fights. |
| Missile Barrage never shows | It comes from Arcane Blast, Arcane Wrath, Fireball and Frostbolt hits. |
Let Bonkr Compass+ call your buttons
Compass+ shows your next spell and tracks your own buffs from your casts. Add procs like Missile Barrage to the game's Cooldown Manager so Compass+ can see them. Type /cplus why to see why it picked a spell.