World of Warcraft: Forever · class guide
Frost Mage
Ranged damage and control
Frostbolt until something freezes, then 
Ice Lance for 200% more damage. The safe levelling and kiting spec, with the strongest defensive toolkit.
Frost chills with Frostbolt, and every Chill has a chance to Freeze the target (Frostbite) or to grant Fingers of Frost, which makes your next one or two spells treat it as Frozen. Ice Lance does 200% more damage to a Frozen target, and Shatter adds 50% crit against it; Ice Shards doubles your Frost crit bonus. Winter's Chill no longer adds crit: your Frostbolt, Frost Blast and Fingers of Frost Ice Lances stack it on the target, and your next Cone of Cold deals more for it. Ice Block, Cold Snap and, from 40, Ice Barrier keep you alive. Frost does less damage than Arcane and Fire on early tier lists, but it is the most comfortable spec to level and the easiest to keep safe.
Strengths and weaknesses
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| The most comfortable spec to level and the easiest to keep safe | Less damage than Arcane and Fire on early tier lists |
| Ice Block, Cold Snap and Ice Barrier from 40 give the strongest defensive toolkit | Ice Barrier is a 31-point talent, so it waits for level 40 |
| Frostbolt chills and freezes, so kiting is easy | Any damage breaks a freeze, including your own Ice Lance |
| Ice Lance does 200% more damage to a Frozen target, and Shatter adds 50% crit | Winter's Chill only boosts your own Cone of Cold |
| Fingers of Frost can be saved for a stretch where you must move | AoE kiting is weaker on purpose, as Cone of Cold and Improved Blizzard slow less |
Stat priority
- Hit
- Spell power
- Crit
- Spirit
- Intellect
- Stamina
Hit to the cap, then spell and Frost damage, then crit (Ice Shards doubles its value), Spirit, Intellect and Stamina. Alternatively, put spell power first and haste above crit, or Frost damage and spell power, then Intellect. Elemental Precision gives up to 5% hit for Frost and Fire.
Do this
- Ice Lance snapshots the freeze when it leaves your hands, so Lance a frozen target from range.
- Any damage can break a freeze, including your own Ice Lance; be ready to Frostbolt again.
- Fingers of Frost rank 2 gives two charges: you can save one for a stretch where you must move.
- Frost Channeling cuts Frost costs by 15% and Frost threat by 30%; take it before 40 if you drink often.
Watch out for
- Ice Barrier is the 31-point talent, so level 40: guides that tell a level-30 Frost Mage to use it are ahead of the cap.
- A Rank 1 Frostbolt at high level procs no Frostbite (Blizzard's own example).
- Winter's Chill is a Cone of Cold booster now, not a crit debuff; it helps only your own Cone of Cold and is spent by it.
- Arctic Reach doesn't extend Ice Lance, and Incineration adds crit to Ice Lance but not Frostbolt.
- Classic AoE kiting is weaker on purpose: Cone of Cold and Improved Blizzard slow less, and Blizzard said it was deliberate.