WoW Forever DB

World of Warcraft: Forever · class guide

Arcane Mage: Leveling

Client build 1.60.1.70425 · updated

Level as Frost: it is the safe, steady levelling spec.

How this works

Pull with Frostbolt, spend Frostbite freezes and Fingers of Frost procs on Ice Lance, and Frost Nova anything that reaches you. Use a wand to finish mobs and save mana, and drink between pulls; you will drink more than any other class. The XP curve is Classic's, but dungeon quests still pay about 2.2 times Classic's XP, so run the dungeons on your quest log. The spells and ranks in each band below come straight from the client's trainer data.

How Arcane fights is on its rotation page.

Level by level

Your race

Other bands: Classic routing on Forever zone levels

1–10Frostbolt at 4

First spells and a wand

Fireball and Frost Armor from 1, Frostbolt and Conjure Water at 4, Fire Blast, Conjure Food and Comprehension at 6, Arcane Missiles and Polymorph at 8, Frost Nova at 10. Talents start at 10.

Where
Human: Northshire Abbey, then Elwynn Forest from Goldshire (5–10).
Gnome: Coldridge Valley, then Dun Morogh from Kharanos (5–12).
Skyborne (High Order): Zephras Isle (1–12). A Student of the Arcane (level 2) takes you to the trainer Dorii Brightwhisper in Thendal Grove. At 10, Speak with Belann and Boughs in the Wind in Valanaar give the Windbough Wand.
Orc: Valley of Trials, then Razor Hill in Durotar. Orc Mages are new: a level-1 Glyphic Parchment sends you to the trainer Mai'ah.
Undead: Deathknell, then Brill in Tirisfal Glades.
Troll: Valley of Trials (trainer Mai'ah), then Razor Hill and Sen'jin Village in Durotar.
New spells
Arcane Intellect 1 Fireball 1 Frost Armor 1 Conjure Water 4 Frostbolt 4 Conjure Food 6 Fire Blast 6 Comprehend Scroll 6 Study 6 Arcane Missiles 8 Polymorph 8 Frost Nova 10
New ranks
Fireball 2 6Comprehend Scroll 2 6Comprehend Scroll 3 6Comprehend Scroll 4 6Comprehend Scroll 5 6Frostbolt 2 8Conjure Water 2 10Frost Armor 2 10
Talents
Wand Specialization 2/2 10–11
Tips
  • Frost Armor and Arcane Intellect on, always.
  • Buy a Lesser Magic Wand at 5 from an Enchanter or the auction house; early on the wand rivals your spells and costs no mana. You must stand still for 0.5 s before a wand shoots.
  • Comprehend Scroll from 6: read the untranslated scrolls that drop, for a free Intellect familiar or a staff imbue.
11–20Ice Lance at 20

Arcane Explosion, Blink and Ice Lance

Arcane Explosion at 14 and Flamestrike at 16 are the big AoE spikes; Remove Lesser Curse at 18. At 20: Blink, Evocation, Mana Shield, Blizzard, Fire Ward and your first two teleports. Improved Frostbolt first with your talents, then Frostbite, and Ice Lance with your 11th point at 20.

Where
Human: Westfall (9–18) or Loch Modan (10–18); Redridge from about 15.
Gnome: Loch Modan (10–18), then Westfall or Darkshore.
Skyborne (High Order): Finish Zephras Isle to 12, then take the skyship from Valanaar's south-east dock to Dalaran and the Violet Citadel portal to Stormwind. Then Westfall or Loch Modan.
Orc: The Barrens from the Crossroads (10–20), with Stonetalon Mountains from about 15.
Undead: Silverpine Forest (10–20) or the Barrens.
Troll: The Barrens from the Crossroads (10–20), with Stonetalon Mountains from about 15.
Dungeons

Alliance: Hall of Thanes 13–18 (new, under Ironforge) · Wailing Caverns 17–24 · Deadmines 17–26

Horde: Ruins of Lordaeron 15–20 (new, in the Undercity) · Ragefire Chasm 13–18 · Wailing Caverns 17–24 · Deadmines 17–26

New spells
Dampen Magic 12 Slow Fall 12 Arcane Explosion 14 Flamestrike 16 Amplify Magic 18 Remove Lesser Curse 18 Blink 20 Evocation 20 Mana Shield 20 Teleport: Ironforge 20 Teleport: Orgrimmar 20 Teleport: Stormwind 20 Teleport: Undercity 20 Fire Ward 20 Blizzard 20
New ranks
Conjure Food 2 12Fireball 3 12Arcane Intellect 2 14Fire Blast 2 14Frostbolt 3 14Arcane Missiles 2 16Fireball 4 18Conjure Water 3 20Polymorph 2 20Frost Armor 3 20Frostbolt 4 20
Talents
Wand Specialization 2/2 10–11 Improved Frostbolt 5/5 12–16 Frostbite 3/3 17–19 Permafrost 2/3 20–21
Tips
  • Greater Magic Wand at 13 is cheap on the auction house.
  • Arcane Explosion and Flamestrike shine with a partner on two or more mobs; Flamestrike first while the tank has threat, Arcane Explosion once you have it.
  • Learn Research Access from Garion Wendell in Stormwind or Owen Thadd in the Undercity (bring a library book) to unlock Study.
21–30Beta cap

Counterspell, Cone of Cold and the beta cap

Scorch and Frost Ward at 22, Counterspell at 24, Cone of Cold at 26, Conjure Mana Agate at 28, Ice Armor and your third teleport at 30. Levels 20–30 cost 331,800 XP, twice all of 1–20. Frost reaches Shatter at 25 and Fingers of Frost with the 21st point at 30.

Where
Human: Redridge (20–22) → Wetlands from Menethil (22–24) → Duskwood (24–28) → Ashenvale from Astranaar (28–30).
Gnome: As Human: Redridge → Wetlands → Duskwood → Ashenvale.
Skyborne (High Order): As Human: Redridge → Wetlands → Duskwood → Ashenvale.
Orc: The Barrens from Camp Taurajo (20–22) → Hillsbrad from Tarren Mill (22–24) → Ashenvale from Splintertree (24–27) → Thousand Needles (27–30).
Undead: As Orc: Barrens → Hillsbrad → Ashenvale → Thousand Needles.
Troll: As Orc: Barrens → Hillsbrad → Ashenvale → Thousand Needles.
Dungeons

Alliance: Shadowfang Keep 22–30 (the Blade of Silverlaine for the Coldflame Saber) · Blackfathom Deeps · Stockade (Alliance) · Excavation Site: Wetlands 26–31 (new) · Gnomeregan · Razorfen Kraul · Scarlet Monastery Graveyard · City of Dalaran 28–33 (later beta update)

Horde: Shadowfang Keep 22–30 (the Blade of Silverlaine for the Coldflame Saber) · Blackfathom Deeps · Excavation Site: Wetlands 26–31 (new) · Gnomeregan · Razorfen Kraul · Scarlet Monastery Graveyard · City of Dalaran 28–33 (later beta update)

New spells
Scorch 22 Frost Ward 22 Counterspell 24 Frost Blast 24 Cone of Cold 26 Conjure Mana Agate 28 Teleport: Darnassus 30 Teleport: Thunder Bluff 30 Ice Armor 30
New ranks
Conjure Food 3 22Arcane Explosion 2 22Fire Blast 3 22Arcane Missiles 3 24Dampen Magic 2 24Fireball 5 24Flamestrike 2 24Frostbolt 5 26Frost Nova 2 26Arcane Intellect 3 28Mana Shield 2 28Scorch 2 28Blizzard 2 28Conjure Water 4 30Arcane Explosion 3 30Amplify Magic 2 30Fireball 6 30Fire Blast 4 30Fire Ward 2 30
Talents
Permafrost 2/3 20–21 Ice Lance 1/1 22 Permafrost 3/3 23 Piercing Ice 3/3 24–26 Ice Block 1/1 27 Shatter 3/3 28–30
Tips
  • Ice Lance a frozen target after your Frostbolt lands; don't cancel a Frostbolt to do it.
  • The Coldflame Saber (from 21) is +32 spell power, if your Comprehension scrolls give you the Scroll of the Saber and your group lets you loot the Blade of Silverlaine.
  • Respawns are raised in Hillsbrad, Ashenvale, Wetlands, Duskwood and Thousand Needles.
31–40Ice Barrier at 40

Thirties: Mage Armor, portals and Ice Barrier

Mage Armor at 34 (50% regeneration while casting), Conjure Mana Jade at 38, and at 40 your portals, Frostfire Bolt and the Frost 31-point talent Ice Barrier. Mounts also come at 40.

Where
Arathi Highlands (30–40), Stranglethorn Vale (30–44), Desolace (30–39), Alterac (27–39), then Dustwallow Marsh, Badlands and Swamp of Sorrows (36–45). Riverglades (36–44) is a new contested zone (announced).
Dungeons
Scarlet Monastery wings · Razorfen Downs 37–46 · The Drowned City 35–40 (new) · Uldaman
New spells
Mage Armor 34 Conjure Mana Jade 38 Portal: Ironforge 40 Portal: Orgrimmar 40 Portal: Stormwind 40 Portal: Undercity 40 Frostfire Bolt 40
New ranks
Conjure Food 4 32Arcane Missiles 4 32Flamestrike 3 32Frostbolt 6 32Frost Ward 2 32Scorch 3 34Cone of Cold 2 34Dampen Magic 3 36Mana Shield 3 36Fireball 7 36Blizzard 3 36Frost Blast 2 36Arcane Explosion 4 38Fire Blast 5 38Frostbolt 7 38Conjure Water 5 40Arcane Missiles 5 40Polymorph 3 40Flamestrike 4 40Fire Ward 3 40Scorch 4 40Frost Nova 3 40Ice Armor 2 40
Talents
Ice Shards 1/5 31 Fingers of Frost 2/2 32–33 Arcane Focus 3/5 34–36 Arcane Concentration 5/5 37–41
Tips
  • Frost Channeling 3/3 cuts your Frost costs by 15%: take it early in the thirties.
  • Use Mage Armor when nothing is hitting you, Ice Armor when something is.
41–50Dalaran at 50

Forties: mana gems and Dalaran

New ranks of everything, Conjure Mana Citrine at 48, and at 50 the last two portals and, for Alliance, Teleport: Dalaran.

Where
Tanaris, Feralas, the Hinterlands, Searing Gorge, Swamp of Sorrows and Azshara.
Dungeons
Krol'dok Stronghold 40–45 (new) · Uldaman · Zul'Farrak · Maraudon · Alcaz Prison 48–53 (new)
New spells
Conjure Mana Citrine 48 Portal: Darnassus 50 Portal: Thunder Bluff 50 Teleport: Dalaran 50
New ranks
Arcane Intellect 4 42Conjure Food 5 42Amplify Magic 3 42Fireball 8 42Frost Ward 3 42Cone of Cold 3 42Mana Shield 4 44Frostbolt 8 44Blizzard 4 44Arcane Explosion 5 46Mage Armor 2 46Fire Blast 6 46Scorch 5 46Arcane Missiles 6 48Dampen Magic 4 48Fireball 9 48Flamestrike 5 48Frost Blast 3 48Conjure Water 6 50Fire Ward 4 50Frostfire Bolt 2 50Frostbolt 9 50Cone of Cold 4 50Ice Armor 3 50
Talents
Arcane Concentration 5/5 37–41 Arcane Impact 3/3 42–44 Arcane Focus 5/5 45–46 Missile Barrage 1/2 47 Arcane Meditation 3/3 48–50
51–60Arcane Brilliance at 56

Fifties: Arcane Brilliance and the last ranks

Arcane Brilliance at 56, Conjure Mana Ruby at 58, Polymorph: Cow and the top ranks at 60. Comprehension's highest scrolls (skill 175, level 46) include the Scroll of Wit for Scholomance's Witchblade.

Where
Un'Goro Crater, Felwood, Burning Steppes, Western and Eastern Plaguelands, Winterspring and Silithus.
Dungeons
Sunken Temple · Blackrock Depths · Dire Maul · Blackmaw Hold 55–60 (new) · Lower Blackrock Spire · Scholomance · Stratholme · Shaper's Terrace 58–60 (new)
New spells
Arcane Brilliance 56 Conjure Mana Ruby 58 Polymorph: Cow 60 Felfire 60
New ranks
Conjure Food 6 52Mana Shield 5 52Scorch 6 52Blizzard 5 52Frost Ward 4 52Arcane Explosion 6 54Amplify Magic 4 54Fireball 10 54Fire Blast 7 54Frost Nova 4 54Arcane Intellect 5 56Arcane Missiles 7 56Arcane Missiles 8 56Flamestrike 6 56Frostbolt 10 56Mage Armor 3 58Scorch 7 58Cone of Cold 5 58Conjure Water 7 60Conjure Food 7 60Polymorph 4 60Dampen Magic 5 60Mana Shield 6 60Fireball 11 60Fireball 12 60Fire Ward 5 60Frostfire Bolt 3 60Frostbolt 11 60Blizzard 6 60Frost Ward 5 60Ice Armor 4 60
Talents
Cold Snap 1/1 51 Arcane Geometry 1/2 52 Presence of Mind 1/1 53 Arcane Mind 4/5 54–57 Arcane Instability 3/3 58–60

Talents above follow the Arcane leveling order. With the Talented legacy perk every step comes up to five levels sooner. Guide's pick, untested Step through it in the talent trees.

Class quests and mounts

  • Level 1–10, new starts: Orc Mages get Glyphic Parchment to Mai'ah in the Valley of Trials; Skyborne (High Order) get A Student of the Arcane (level 2, Dorii Brightwhisper in Thendal Grove) and at 10 Speak with Belann and Boughs in the Wind in Valanaar, which reward the Windbough Wand and Elixirs of Minor Spirit. The other races keep their Classic glyphic letters. Live in beta
  • Research Access (new, any level, Mage only): bring a library book to Garion Wendell in Stormwind or Owen Thadd in the Undercity to unlock Study, which makes a Bundle of Scrolls once an hour in a library for a Light Feather. Known issue: learning Research can lock you out of it. Live in beta
  • Levels 10–16: Speak with Jennea (Alliance) or Speak with Anastasia (Horde) lead to the level-15 robe quests (Manaweave Robe, Spellfire Robes) and the level-16 investigations (Investigate the Blue Recluse, Investigate the Alchemist Shop). In Forever's quest data; Classic rewards unless the beta shows otherwise. Classic
  • Level 26: Nether-lace Garment and Astral Knot Garment robe chains, with Waters of Xavian, Pristine Spider Silk and Laughing Sisters. Classic
  • Levels 30–40: the Hidden Secrets and Mage's Wand chain (Celestial Power, Items of Power, Rituals of Power in a dungeon) for a staff, an orb or a wand. Classic
  • Level 60: Warlord Krellian and Fragmented Magic for Archmage Xylem in Azshara; 6,600 XP, as in Classic. Magecraft and Destroy Morphaz at 52 are in the data as in Classic. Live in beta
  • Travel: teleports from Portal trainers at 20 and 30 (a Rune of Teleportation each cast), portals at 40 and 50, Teleport: Dalaran at 50 for Alliance races only. Mounts at 40 as for every class. Classic

Weapons on the way

  • 5 and 13: Lesser and Greater Magic Wand, made by Enchanters and cheap on the auction house. Wands don't gain spell power in Forever. Live in beta
  • 10, Skyborne: Windbough Wand from Boughs in the Wind on Zephras Isle. Live in beta
  • 15–20: Sizzle Stick wand (Deviate Eradication, Wailing Caverns) and Gravestone Scepter wand (Blackfathom Villainy, both factions, from 18). Live in beta
  • 21: the Coldflame Saber: Comprehension's Scroll of the Saber on the Blade of Silverlaine (Shadowfang Keep, both bind on pickup). +32 spell power, +7 Intellect, and 98 Fire damage on melee hits against Frozen targets. One player needed 119 scrolls and 12 runs. Live in beta
  • 25–30: Swinetusk Shank (Agathelos, Razorfen Kraul) and an Orb of Mystic Insight (Enchanting 140) head the level-30 list; Dancing Flame is the Horde wand from a ten-quest Thousand Needles chain. Live in beta
  • 40–55: the Mage's Wand quest chain, then dungeon staves. Forever's beta can't reach these yet. Classic

How to level well

  • Drink while you travel, not after the pull: passive regeneration while you walk to the next mob saves the sit.
  • Wand the last 20% of a mob's health to save mana, and Frostbolt from range so it arrives slowed.
  • Don't downrank Frostbolt to save mana: a rank far below your level gets less spell power and, at Rank 1 at 60, a 0% chance to proc Frostbite. Keep Rank 1 only for a quick slow.
  • Pull one or two at a time. AoE grinding was cut on purpose (Cone of Cold 40% for 6 s, Improved Blizzard 40%), so large kite pulls are riskier than in Classic.
  • Conjure food and water while you walk with spare mana, and keep some cooked food for the well-fed buff.
  • XP extras: the Cozy Sleeping Bag (+3% for 2 hours), Sagefish Delight (+5% kill XP and 7 spell damage), and the Well Rested and Talented legacy perks.
  • Professions: Tailoring and Enchanting (bind-on-pickup Silky gear, staves, off-hands and wands) are every guide's pick; Engineering if you want explosives.
  • Arcane or Fire instead? Arcane levels well with Arcane Meditation and Missile Barrage; Fire only uses Pyroblast in combat after Heating Up at 25.