Frost Mage
Slow them. Shatter them.
The control mage: Frostbolt, Frost Nova and Shatter, with WoW Forever's Ice Lance and Fingers of Frost. The safest mage to level.
Three things to remember
Frozen means shatter
Ice Lance does 300% more to frozen targets. Freeze, then Lance.
Fingers of Frost
Your chills can make the next spell treat the target as frozen, even a boss.
Ice Barrier at 40
Your 31-point talent: an absorb shield that keeps you casting.
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%).
Orc mages
Orcs can be mages now, alongside Undead, Trolls, Humans and Gnomes.
Ice Lance
A quick Frost nuke, huge on frozen targets.
Fingers of Frost
Chill effects can make your next spell act as if the target is frozen.
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.
- Take Improved Frostbolt and Frostbite.
- Frostbolt, Frost Nova, step back, Frostbolt.
- Cone of Cold (26) when they reach you.
- Take Ice Shards, Permafrost and Ice Lance.
- Take Shatter: Frost Nova then Ice Lance hits very hard.
- Blizzard with Improved Blizzard to farm packs.
- Take Fingers of Frost, Cold Snap and Winter's Chill.
- Ice Barrier (31-point) before every pull.
- Ice Block when you are about to die.
Your priority
The order the WoW Forever simulator uses for Frost.
- Ice Lance when Fingers of Frost is up or the target is frozen.
- Cold Snap to reset Frost cooldowns.
- Winter's Chill keep it on the boss.
- Frostbolt to fill.
- Ice Barrier whenever it is ready.
Talents that matter
| Talent | Tree | Why take it |
|---|---|---|
| Improved Frostbolt | Frost | Faster Frostbolt. |
| Precision | Frost | More hit. |
| Ice Shards | Frost | Bigger frost crits. |
| Frostbite | Frost | Chills can freeze. |
| Permafrost | Frost | Longer chills. |
| Ice Lance | Frost | Huge on frozen targets. |
| Shatter | Frost | +17% crit on frozen targets. |
| Ice Block | Frost | Immune for a while. |
| Cold Snap | Frost | Resets Frost cooldowns. |
| Fingers of Frost | Frost | Treat targets as frozen. |
| Winter's Chill | Frost | More frost crit on the target. |
| Ice Barrier | Frost (31) | An absorb shield. |
Best race for this spec
Eureka! and +5% mana. Human is a fine second.
Touch of the Grave procs often on fast Frostbolts. Troll 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
Nova, then Lance
Frost Nova, step back, Ice Lance: the fastest way to finish a mob.
AoE farming
Blizzard plus Frost Nova clears packs fast once you have Improved Blizzard.
Ice Barrier first
Cast it before you pull so your first casts are not pushed back.
Bosses cannot be frozen
Fingers of Frost is how you shatter a boss.
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. |
| Ice Lance hits for little | It is weak unless the target is frozen or Fingers of Frost is up. |
| Mobs break free fast | Damage breaks Frost Nova. Step back first, then cast. |
Let Bonkr Compass+ call your buttons
Compass+ shows your next spell. Add Fingers of Frost to the game's Cooldown Manager so Compass+ can see it in combat. Type /cplus why to see why it picked a spell.