Shadowlands Mage Leveling Guide & Best Leveling Spec 1-60

By Wowhead Updated: 2022/11/10

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Malon Important Changes to Leveling a Mage in the Shadowlands Pre-Patch

There is a new tab on your spellbook between General and your talent specialization, simply titled "Mage". These are abilities that are now shared by all Mages regardless of any specialization they choose.

New Mages will not begin in a default spec (Frost). Until they are allowed to choose a spec at level 10, their abilities are drawn from the general Mage abilities available to all specializations.

Experienced Mages will notice some talents have been reworked or rearranged, and may require re-acquiring some talents.

AoE (Area of Effect) caps are being introduced in the Shadowlands pre-patch, which places a limit on how many targets the ability can hit at once. This affects some Mage abilities.

Best Mage Leveling Spec in ShadowlandsFrostIce LanceFireFlamestrikeScorchDragon's BreathChoosing a Mage Specialization

Arcane: A range damage spec. Arcane Mages will generate Arcane Charge with Arcane Blast along with the AoE spell Arcane Explosion. Arcane Barrage consumes all Arcane Charges. These Arcane Changes affect the damage and effects of your abilities. Arcane Missiles is a nice way to benefit from high Arcane Charge stacks, and if you are low on mana, you can even use Evocation to quickly replenish your mana.

Fire: A range damage spec. Use Fireball to generate Hot Streak procs. Hot Streak procs make Pyroblast, a powerful Fire spell, instant cast. For more than one enemy use Blast Wave and Living Bomb. Fire Blast is an instant cast and Combustion is a powerful cooldown.

Frost: A range damage spec with immobilization spells and a water elemental pet. Summon a Summon Water Elemental to help you along in your adventures. Your water elemental can also use Frost Nova to help immobilize your enemies. Use Ice Lance as an instant quick burst of damage while your foes are frozen with Frost Nova. When Fingers of Frost procs, Ice Lance deals additional damage. Use Blizzard for AoE. Frost Mages also get Flurry which deals damage and reduces the target's movement speed. Casting Frostbolt has a chance for the next Flurry to proc Winter's Chill, which treats your target as frozen for extra damage.

Choosing a Race for Your Mage in Shadowlands

Default Races are races that are immediately available to be played when you start your WoW account.

Allied Races are races that are locked behind certain requirements that need to be met before you can create characters belonging to that race.

Alliance

Default Races:

Draenei

Horde

Defaults Races:

Blood Elf

Best Mage Leveling Talents in ShadowlandsSuggested Arcane Leveling Talents in ShadowlandsFrost NovaShimmerBlink

Level 15 Talents

Amplification: When clearcast, Arcane Missiles fires 1 additional missile.

Rule of Threes: When you gain your third Arcane Charge , the cost of your next Arcane Blast or Arcane Missiles is reduced by 100%.

Arcane Familiar: Summons a Familiar that passively increases your maximum mana by 10% and attack enemies.

Level 25 Talents

Master of Time: Reduces the cooldown of Alter Time by 30 sec. Alter Time resets the cooldown of Blink when you return to your original location..

Shimmer: Changes Blink into a similar teleport ability that is off the Global Cooldown, can be used while casting and can hold two charges.

Slipstream: Clearcasting allows Arcane Missiles and Evocation to be cast while moving.

Level 30 Talents

Incanter's Flow: Passively increases your damage by 4% to 20% which cycles from the minimum to maximum every 10 seconds.

Focus Magic: Increases the target's chance to critically hit with spells by 5% for 30 minutes. When the target critically hits your chance to critically hit with spells is increased by 5%. Cannot be cast on self. Limit 1 target.

Rune of Power: Places a small rune on the ground that increases damage by 40% when you stand inside it.

Level 35 Talents

Resonance: Makes your Arcane Barrage deal addition damage per target it hits.

Arcane Echo: Direct damage you deal to enemies affected by Touch of the Magi, causes an explosion that deals Arcane damage to 8 nearby enemies.

Nether Tempest: Places a Nether Tempest on the target which deals (17.061% of Spell power) Arcane damage over 12 sec to the target and nearby enemies within 10 yards. Limit 1 target. Deals reduced damage to secondary targets. Damage increased by 60% per Arcane Charge .

Level 40 Talents

Chrono Shift: Causes Arcane Barrage to slow enemies by 50% and increase your own movement speed by 50%.

Ice Ward: Frost Nova now has 2 charges.

Ring of Frost: Drops a ring of frost around an area. If an enemy enters the ring they are incapacitated for 10 seconds.

Level 45 Talents

Reverberate: If Arcane Explosion hits at least 3 targets, it has a 50% chance to generate an extra Arcane Charge .

Arcane Orb: Throws an Arcane Orb forwards and grants and Arcane Charge to each enemy it passes through. Grants 1 Arcane Charge on cast and every time it deals damage.

Supernova: Pulses arcane energy around the target enemy or ally, dealing (30% of Spell power) Arcane damage to all enemies within 8 yards, and knocking them upward. A primary enemy target will take 100% increased damage.

Level 50 Talents

Overpowered: Causes Arcane Power to increase damage by 60% and reduce mana costs by 60%.

Time Anomaly: At any moment, you have a chance to gain Arcane Power for 8 sec, gain Evocation for 1 sec, or gain 4 Arcane Charges.

Enlightened: Arcane damage dealt while above 70% mana is increased by 8%, Mana Regen while below 70% is increased by 20%.

Suggested Fire Leveling Talents in Shadowlands

Level 15 Talents

Firestarter: Makes your Fireball and Pyroblast always crit when the target is above 90% health.

Pyromaniac: This passive ability has a chance to makes Pyroblast and Flamestrike not consume the Hot Streak proc.

Searing Touch: Scorch deals 150% increased damage and is a guaranteed Critical Strike when the target is below 30% health.

Level 25 Talents

Blazing Soul: Using Blink ignites a Blazing Barrier around you.

Shimmer: Changes Blink into a similar teleport ability that is off the Global Cooldown, can be used while casting and can hold two charges.

Blast Wave: Deals damage to all enemies around you and slows them by 70%.

Level 30 Talents

Incanter's Flow: Passively increases your damage by 4% to 20% which cycles from the minimum to maximum every 10 seconds.

Rune of Power: Places a small rune on the ground that increases damage by 40% when you stand inside it.

Level 35 Talents

Flame On: This passive ability reduces your Fire Blast cooldown by 2 seconds, and you can also hold one more charge.

Alexstrasza's Fury: Causes Dragon's Breath to always critically strike and now makes it count towards Hot Streak.

From the Ashes: Increases Mastery by 2% for each charge of Phoenix Flames off cooldown and your direct-damage critical strikes reduce its cooldown by 1 sec.

This tier of talents is well balanced, and any of these three abilities are equally good for leveling. Passives are nice because they're one less button to push, and you have your choice of three good ones here.

Level 40 Talents

Frenetic Speed: Casting Scorch increases your movement speed by 30% for 3 sec.

Ice Ward: Frost Nova now has 2 charges.

Ring of Frost: Drops a ring of frost around an area. If an enemy enters the ring they are incapacitated for 10 seconds.

Level 45 Talents

Flame Patch: This passive ability makes Flamestrike leave behind a patch of fire that burns enemies would remain inside.

Conflagration: Fireball applies Conflagration to the target, dealing light Fire damage over 8 sec. Enemies affected by either Conflagration or Mastery: Ignite have a 10% chance to flare up and deal light Fire damage to nearby enemies.

Living Bomb: Puts a small DoT on a target that when it expires, explodes dealing damage to all nearby targets and places a new DoT on all targets hit. This new DoT will explode upon expiration, but cannot spread any further.

Level 50 Talents

Kindling: Reduces the cooldown of Combustion by 1 second every time Fireball, Fire Blast, Pyroblast critically hits.

Pyroclasm: Consuming Hot Streak has a 15% chance to make your next non-instant Pyroblast cast within 15 sec deal 225% additional damage. Maximum 2 charges.

Meteor: This ability calls down a Meteor on a location that deals damage when the meteor impacts and leaves burning ground in an area dealing bonus damage to enemies who remain within.

Suggested Frost Leveling Talents in ShadowlandsShimmerBlink

Level 15 Talents

Bone Chilling: Whenever you cast a chilling spell, you gain a stack that increases your damage by 0.5%. Maximum 10 stacks.

Lonely Winter: Removes the Summon Water Elemental ability but makes most of your own abilities deal 25% more damage.

Ice Nova: This ability causes a whirl of icy wind around the enemy, dealing moderate Frost damage to the target and light Frost damage to all other enemies within 8 yards, and freezing them in place for 2 sec.

Level 25 Talents

Glacial Insulation: A passive ability that causes Ice Barrier to increase your armor by 200% and you gain a free Ice Barrier after leaving Ice Block.

Shimmer: Changes Blink into a similar teleport ability that is off the Global Cooldown, can be used while casting and can hold two charges.

Ice Floes: A new spell that when used causes your next Mage spell to be able to be cast while moving.

Level 30 Talents

Incanter's Flow: Passively increases your damage by 4% to 20% which cycles from the minimum to maximum every 10 seconds.

Rune of Power: Places a small rune on the ground that increases damage by 40% when you stand inside it.

Level 35 Talents

Frozen Touch: This passive ability increases the chance to gain Fingers of Frost by 20%.

Chain Reaction: Your Ice Lance against frozen targets increase the damage of your Ice Lances by 3% for 10 sec, stacking up to 5 times.

Ebonbolt: This ability launches a bolt of ice at the enemy, dealing heavy Frost damage and granting you Brain Freeze.

Level 40 Talents

Frigid Winds: Makes all your snare effects reduce the target's movement speed by an additional 10%.

Ice Ward: Frost Nova now has 2 charges.

Ring of Frost: Drops a ring of frost around an area. If an enemy enters the ring they are incapacitated for 10 seconds.

Level 45 Talents

Freezing Rain: Frozen Orb makes Blizzard instant cast and increases its damage done by 50% for 12 sec.

Splitting Ice: Your Ice Lance and Mastery: Icicles now deal 5% increased damage, and hit a second nearby target for 80% of their damage.

Comet Storm: This ability calls down a series of 7 icy comets on and around the target that deals moderate Frost damage to all enemies within 6 yds of its impacts.

Level 50 Talents

Thermal Void: Increases the duration of Icy Veins by 10 seconds and causes Ice Lance Shatters to increase the duration of Icy Veins by an additional 1 second.

Ray of Frost: This ability channels an icy beam at the enemy for 5 sec, dealing moderate Frost damage every 1 sec and slowing movement by 60%. Each time Ray of Frost deals damage, its damage and snare increases by 10%. Generates 2 charges of Fingers of Frost over its duration.

Glacial Spike: This ability removes the ability for Ice Lance to fire Mastery: Icicles passively. When 5 Icicles are present, you may cast this ability to deal massive damage to an enemy plus the damage of all your Icicles.

Best Mage Leveling Rotation in ShadowlandsOptimal Ability Use While Leveling - All SpecializationsFrostboltArcane IntellectOptimal Arcane Mage Ability Use While LevelingArcane BlastArcane ChargeSlowFrostboltArcane MissilesClearcastingEvocationElite MobsPrismatic BarrierArcane PowerTouch of the MagiArcane ChargeArcane ChargeArcane BlastEvocationArcane BarrageArcane ChargeLots of small mobsArcane BlastArcane ExplosionArcane ChargeArcane BarrageArcane ChargeOptimal Fire Mage Ability Use While LevelingFireballFire BlastHot StreakPyroblastFlamestrikeScorchFrost NovaBlinkElite MobsBlazing BarrierCombustionHot StreakPyroblastFire BlastLots of small mobsHot StreakPyroblastFlamestrikeDragon's BreathLiving BombOptimal Frost Mage Ability Use While LevelingSummon Water ElementalFreezeFrostboltBlinkShimmerFrost NovaIce LanceShatterFingers of FrostIce LanceBrain FreezeFlurryIce LanceElite MobsIce BarrierIcy VeinsFingers of FrostBrain FreezeFrozen OrbLots of small mobsBlizzardFrozen OrbCone of ColdBlinkIce NovaMage Dungeon Leveling in Shadowlands

Make sure to provide food and drink through your Conjure Refreshment ability and buff the party with Arcane Intellect. You'll also be the most popular player at the end for casting a handy portal if nobody wants to walk back to the beginning!

Mages have spell-affecting abilities such as Counterspell and Spellsteal. Be sure to communicate with your party so you aren't doubling up on spell interrupts.

Mages can also help with crowd control by using the Polymorph ability; again, communicate with your group and follow the puller's direction on picking the best target.

Mages can also Remove Curse, a handy spell when facing demonic enemies in particular. Many Mages use addons such as Healbot to track group players who may need to have a Curse removed.

Above all, good dungeon playing Mages know how to avoid getting aggro (the enemy switches its attention from your tank to you). This is very important because getting accidental aggro on dungeon trash is bad enough, but from a boss, this can be instant death -- and dead mages can't DPS. Mages aren't called "glass cannons" for nothing! You may need a threat meter addon such as Omen to help keep you monitor how high you are getting on the enemy's threat meter, and either moderate your damage output or use an ability such as Invisibility to shed threat. Your tank and your healers will thank you for it.

Best Weapons and Gear for Leveling a Mage in Shadowlands

One-handed weapons Mages can use include Daggers, 1H Swords, and Wands.

Offhand items come in many visual forms, including short staves, books, lanterns, tankards, and fans. They are not used directly in combat but held as a "stat stick".

Mages may use Staves as their only two-handed weapon choice.

Mage Heirlooms in Shadowlands

(2) Set: Rested experience consumed is reduced by 30%.

(3) Set: Increases your out-of-combat regeneration in the outdoors, normal dungeons and battlegrounds.

(4) Set: Gaining a level triggers Burst of Knowledge, dealing Holy damage to nearby enemies and granting you 40% primary stat for 2 minutes. Defeating additional enemies extends this effect, up to 2 additional minutes.

(6) Set: Rested experience consumed is reduced by an additional 30%.

Helm: Tattered Dreadmist Mask

Necklace: Eternal Horizon Choker

Shoulder: Tattered Dreadmist Mantle

Cloak: Ancient Bloodmoon Cloak

Chest: Tattered Dreadmist Robe

Legs: Tattered Dreadmist Leggings

Rings: Signet of the Third Fleet, Dread Pirate Ring

Trinkets: Discerning Eye of the Beast, Swift Hand of Justice, Touch of the Void

2H Weapons: Dignified Headmaster's Charge, Grand Staff of Jordan

Chauffeured ChopperHeirloom HoarderRelics of the Past

Relic of the Past I: Set the Item Level to 23 and the Required Level to 15.

Relic of the Past II: Set the Item Level to 33 and the Required Level to 25.

Relic of the Past III: Set the Item Level to 43 and the Required Level to 35.

Relic of the Past IV: Set the Item Level to 56 and the Required Level to 45.

Relic of the Past V: Set the Item Level to 100 and the Required Level to 50.

Stat Weights while Leveling in ShadowlandsBest Mage Leveling Professions in ShadowlandsHerbalismMiningSkinningHerbalismMiningTailoringEnchantingTailoringAlchemyBest Mage Questing Path in Shadowlands

Levels 1-10: Your race's Starting Area or Exile's Reach

Levels 10-50: Battle for Azeroth zones or other expansion zones via Chromie Time

Levels 50-60: Shadowlands Storyline or Threads of Fate

The original Azeroth continents of Kalimdor and East Kingdoms offer great variety and nostalgia, with many of the base lore stories that serve as the base of the entire series.

Burning Crusade has some of the best dungeons of the expansions, with interesting variety and not a lot of complicated mechanics.

Wrath of the Lich King offers a linear story that provides much of the basis of events that are coming up in Shadowlands.

Cataclysm is more like a series of vignettes, with each of the five zones offering a different but contained story line.

Pandaria's beauty and humor appeal to those who like a good story, but also enjoy the more lighthearted side of things.

Draenor introduces the Garrison, a player-built development with your own choices of buildings. Its tone is overall much more grim and dark.

Legion offers the artifact weapons and Class Halls, which give interesting developments to your character as a class member.

Battle for Azeroth, as the expansion just prior to Shadowlands, gives the immediate story just prior to Shadowlands, so is a good choice for players who may be returning after a long hiatus and need to get caught up on the lore.

Threads of Fate LevelingShadowlands Mage Leveling Gameplay MechanicsMage Mana and Arcane ChargesManaBlinkConjure RefreshmentFrostboltFire BlastFrost NovaEvocationConjure RefreshmentArcane ChargesArcane ChargesArcane BlastArcane ExplosionArcane ChargesArcane ChargesArcane BarrageArcane ChargeArcane ChargesEvocationArcane Charges

Health Bar in Green, Mana Bar in Blueand 3 Arcane Charges.

Mage UtilityBlinkPolymorphInvisibilityIce BlockSpellstealTime WarpConjure RefreshmentMage Teleports and Portals

Teleport Spell

Level Acquired

Portal Spell

Level Acquired

Teleport: Silvermoon (Burning Crusade)

Portal: Silvermoon (Burning Crusade)

Teleport: Thunder Bluff

Portal: Thunder Bluff

Teleport: Undercity

Portal: Undercity

Teleport: Hall of the Guardian

Teleport: Dalaran - Northrend

Portal: Dalaran - Northrend

Teleport: Dalaran - Broken Isles

Portal: Dalaran - Broken Isles

Teleport: Vale of Eternal Blossoms

Portal: Vale of Eternal Blossoms

Teleport: Vale of Eternal Blossoms

Portal: Vale of Eternal Blossoms

Teleport: Stormshield

Shadowlands Mage Class AbilitiesStarting Abilities: Exile's Reach and 1-10 ZonesFrostbolt

At level 2, you learn Fire Blast, an instant-cast blast of fire to the face! Best used after Frostbolt, since your target will be super annoyed after this.

At level 3, you learn Frost Nova, an AoE spell that does frost damage and freezes them in place. Used with great effect when combined with the next available spell, Blink, for putting in distance after they're all stuck to the ground.

At level 4, you learn Blink, which teleports you forward 20 yds or until reaching an obstacle, and frees you from all stuns and bonds. Make sure there is space in front of you that doesn't go into new enemies, into an obstacle, or off a cliff. Can sometimes trip on stairs or small rises in geography. Part 2 of the popular "frost nova and blink" mage kiting method.

At level 5, you learn Conjure Refreshment, which lets you conjure mana food for you and your allies. If casting when you're not in a group, you'll just get a stack for yourself. In a group, it conjures a table, so group members can help themselves!

At level 6, you learn Arcane Explosion, causing an explosion that deals reduced damage to all enemies in 10 yards. Not incredibly powerful, but very good for getting rid of large numbers of little swarming mobs

At level 7, you learn Counterspell, which interrupt's an enemy's spell casting and prevents them from casting another spell from that school of magic for 6 sec.

At level 8, you learn Arcane Intellect, an intellect buff that increases Intellect by 5% for 1 hour. Works for yourself and your entire party or raid.

At level 9, you learn, Slow Fall, which slows falling speed for 30 seconds. Can keep you or your friends from splatting on the ground.

At level 10, you learn Polymorph, which changes enemy beasts, humanoids, and critters into a sheep, which wanders around for 1 minute. Damage breaks this effect. Players who go through Exile's Reach will learn this a bit sooner through a special class quest. Popularly referred to as "sheeping", even though you can learn to Polymorph into many other forms, including cat, turtle, rabbit, etc,

BlinkArcane MomentumArcane MomentumGeneral Mage Class Abilitiesall

Teleport (level 11): Teleports you to a major city.

Ice Block (level 22): Encases you in a block of ice, protecting you from all attacks and damage, but during that time you cannot attack, move, or cast spells. Causes Hypothermia, preventing you from recasting Ice Block for short time.

Portal (level 24): Creates a portal, teleporting group members that use it to a major city.

Remove Curse (level 28): Removes all Curses from a friendly target.

Invisibility (level 34): Turns you invisible, reducing threat each second. While invisible, you are untargetable by enemies. Taking any action cancels the effect (although running away works fine). Good for shedding aggro.

Spellsteal (level 39): Steals a beneficial magic effect from the target. Great fun for stealing beneficial buffs and shields off bosses.

Mirror Image (level 44): Creates 3 copies of you nearby, which cast spells and attack your enemies. While your images are active damage taken is reduced. Taking direct damage will cause one of your images to dissipate.

Time Warp (level 49): Warp the flow of time, increasing Haste by 30% for all party and raid members. Allies will be unable to benefit from Bloodlust, Heroism, or Time Warp again for 10 min. Needs coordination in dungeons and raid groups, due to its long benefit cooldown cycle. Save for the big fights!

Arcane Mage Class AbilitiesArcane

Arcane Barrage (level 10): Launches bolts of arcane energy at the enemy target, causing Arcane damage. For each Arcane Charge , deals additional damage

Arcane Blast (level 10): Blasts the target with energy, dealing Arcane damage. Each Arcane Charge increases damage and mana cost, and reduces cast time.

Mastery: Savant (Passive) (level 10): Increases your Mana regeneration rate and maximum Mana. Arcane Charges increase the damage of Arcane Blast and Arcane Barrage. Increases all other Arcane damage.

Slow (level 12): Reduces the target's movement speed.

Arcane Missiles (level 13): Launches five waves of Arcane Missiles at the enemy, causing Arcane damage.

Clearcasting (Passive) (level 14): When spending mana, you have a small chance to gain Clearcasting, making your next Arcane Missiles or Arcane Explosion free and channel faster.

Conjure Mana Gem (level 17): Conjures a Mana Gem that can be used to instantly restore mana, and holds up to 3 charges. Conjured items disappear if logged out for more than 15 minutes.

Crackling Energy (level 18, Rank 2): Damage increased by 10%.

Alter Time (level 19): Alters the fabric of time, returning you to your current location and health when cast a second time, or after 10 seconds. Effect negated by long distance or death.

Prismatic Barrier (level 21): Shields you with an arcane force, damage and reducing magic damage taken. The duration of harmful Magic effects against you is also reduced.

Clearcasting (level 23, Rank 2): When Clearcast, Arcane Missiles fires 1 additional missile.

Evocation (level 27): Increases your mana regeneration for 6 seconds.

Arcane Power (level 29): Deals more spell damage when active. At higher levels, reduces mana cost.

Arcing Cleave (level 31, Rank 2): For each Arcane Charge, Arcane Barrage hits 1 additional nearby target for 40% damage.

Improved Clearcasting (level 32, Rank 3): Clearcasting can stack up to 2 additional times.

Touch of the Magi (level 33): Applies Touch of the Magi to your current target, accumulating damage you deal to the target, and then exploding for that amount of Arcane damage to the target and reduced damage to all nearby enemies.

Slow (level 38, Rank 2): Reduces the target's movement speed by an additional 10%.

Arcane Power (level 41, Rank 2): Arcane Power reduces your spells cost by 30%.

Presence of Mind (level 42): Causes your next 2 Arcane Blasts to be instant cast. Known commonly just as POM.

Improved Evocation (level 43, Rank 2): Evocation's cooldown is reduced by 50%.

Touch of the Magi (level 46, Rank 2): Touch of the Magi generates 4 Arcane Charges.

Greater Invisibility (level 47): Makes you invisible and untargetable for 20 sec, removing all threat. Any action taken cancels this effect. You take reduced damage while invisible and for 3 sec after reappearing.

Improved Prismatic Barrier (level 48, Rank 2): Reduces magical damage taken by an additional 5% and duration of harmful Magic effects by 10%.

Mana Adept (level 52, Rank 3): Arcane Barrage grants you 2% of your maximum mana per Arcane Charge spent.

Presence of Mind (level 54, Rank 2): Arcane Blast can be cast instantly 1 additional time.

Arcane Power (level 56, Rank 3): Duration increased by 5 sec.

Fire Mage Class AbilitiesFire

Fireball (level 10): Throws a fiery ball that causes Fire damage.

Mastery: Ignite (level 10): Your target burns for an additional damage over 9 sec of the total direct damage caused by your Fireball, Fire Blast, Scorch, Pyroblast, Meteor, Phoenix Flames and Flamestrike. If this effect is reapplied, any remaining damage will be added to the new Ignite. Phoenix Flames causes your Ignites to spread to 8 nearby enemies.

Pyroblast (level 12): Hurls an immense fiery boulder that causes Fire damage.

Scorch (level 13): Scorches an enemy for Fire damage. Castable while moving.

Hot Streak (level 14): Getting two direct-damage critical strikes in a row with Fire spells will make your next Pyroblast or Flamestrike spell instant cast, and cause double the normal Ignite damage.

Flamestrike (level 17): Calls down a pillar of fire, burning all enemies within the area for Fire damage and reducing their movement speed.

Fire Blast (level 18, Rank 2): Fire Blast always deals a critical strike.

Phoenix Flames (level 19): Hurls a Phoenix that deals Fire damage to the target and reduced damage to other nearby enemies.

Blazing Barrier (level 21): Shields you in flame, absorbing damage. Melee attacks against you cause the attacker to take Fire damage.

Critical Mass (level 23): Your spells have an increased chance to deal a critical strike.

Dragon's Breath (level 27): Enemies in a cone in front of you take Fire damage and are disoriented. Damage will cancel the effect.

Combustion (level 29): Engulfs you in flames, increasing your spells' critical strike chance and granting you Mastery. Castable while casting other spells.

Fire Blast (level 32, Rank 3): Fire Blast is now castable while casting other spells.

Pyrotechnics (level 33, Rank 2): Each time your Fireball fails to critically strike a target, it gains a stacking 10% increased critical strike chance. Effect ends when Fireball critically strikes.

Fire Blast (level 37, Rank 4): Fire Blast now has 2 charges.

Dragon's Breath (level 38, Rank 2): Cooldown reduced by 2 sec.

Fireball (level 41, Rank 3): Increases Fireball damage by 15%.

Cauterize (level 42): Fatal damage instead brings you to 35% health and then burns you for 28% of your maximum health over 6 sec. While burning, movement slowing effects are suppressed and your movement speed is increased. This effect cannot occur more than once every 5 min.

Mote of Flame (level 43, Rank 2): Flamestrike cast time is reduced by 0.5 sec.

Call of the Sun King (level 46, Rank 2): Phoenix Flames gains 1 additional charge.

Critical Mass (level 47, Rank 2): Critical Mass increases your Critical Strike stat from all sources by 10%.

Improved Blazing Barrier (level 48, Rank 2): Damage increased by 20%.

(level 52, Rank 3): Damage increased by 15%.

Pyroblast (level 54, Rank 2): Deals additional Fire damage over 6 sec.

Combustion (level 56, Rank 2): Duration increased by 2 sec.

Alter Time (level 58): Alters the fabric of time, returning you to your current location and health when cast a second time, or after 10 seconds. Effect negated by long distance or death.

Frost Mage Class AbilitiesFrost

Ice Lance (level 10): Quickly fling a shard of ice at the target, dealing Frost damage. Damage tripled against frozen targets.

Mastery: Icicles (Passive) (level 10): Casting Frostbolt or Flurry grants you an Icicle. Casting Ice Lance causes all Icicles stored to begin launching at the target, each dealing Frost damage. Up to 5 Icicles can be stored. Any excess Icicles gained will be automatically launched.

Summon Water Elemental (level 12): Summons a Water Elemental to follow and fight for you.

Fingers of Frost (Passive) (level 13): Frostbolt and Frozen Orb damage have a chance of granting a charge of Fingers of Frost. Fingers of Frost causes your next Ice Lance to deal damage as if the target were frozen. Maximum 2 charges.

Blizzard (level 14): Ice shards pelt the target area, dealing Frost damage over and reducing movement speed.

Shatter (Passive) (level 17): Multiplies the critical strike chance of your Frost spells against frozen targets.

Cone of Cold (level 18): Targets in a cone in front of you take Frost damage and have movement slowed.

Flurry (level 19): Unleash a flurry of ice, striking the target 3 times for Frost damage. Each hit reduces the target's movement speed.

Ice Barrier (level 21): Shields you with ice, absorbing damage. Melee attacks against you reduce the attacker's movement speed.

Freeze (Pet Ability) (level 23): Your Water Elemental can now cast Freeze: Blasts enemies with frost, freezing them in place. Damage caused may interrupt the effect.

Shatter (level 27, Rank 2): Shatter increases your chance to deal a critical strike by an additional 25%.

Icy Veins (level 29): Accelerates your spellcasting, granting haste and preventing damage from delaying your spellcasts.

Brain Freeze (level 32): Frostbolt has a chance to empower your next Flurry to be instant cast and deal increased damage. At level 37, it will also apply Winter's Chill, which causes the target to take damage as if frozen.

Ice Lance (level 33, Rank 2): Increases Ice Lance damage by 10%.

Brain Freeze (level 37, Rank 2): Brain Freeze causes your next Flurry to apply Winter's Chill to the target. Winter's Chill causes the target to take damage from your spells as if it were frozen.

Frozen Orb (level 38): Launches an orb of swirling ice which deals Frost damage to 8 enemies it passes through. Grants 1 charge of Fingers of Frost when it first damages an enemy. Enemies damaged by the Frozen Orb are slowed.

Frostbolt (level 41, Rank 2): Increases Frostbolt damage by 15%.

Cold Snap (level 42): Resets the cooldown of your Ice Barrier, Frost Nova, Cone of Cold, and Ice Block.

Cone of Cold (level 43): Cone of Cold reduces movement speed by an additional 20%.

Improved Frost Nova (level 46, Rank 2): Frost Nova duration is increased by 2 sec.

Ice Caller (level 47, Rank 2): Each time Blizzard deals damage, the cooldown of Frozen Orb is reduced by 0.5 sec.

Mastery: Icicles (level 48, Mastery, Rank 2): Increases the damage of Frozen Orb by 15%.

Blizzard (level 52, Rank 3): Damage increased by 15%.

Cold Snap (level 54, Rank 2): Cooldown reduced by 30 sec.

Improved Icy Veins (level 56, Rank 2): Duration increased by 3 sec.

Alter Time (level 58): Alters the fabric of time, returning you to your current location and health when cast a second time, or after 10 seconds. Effect negated by long distance or death.

Shadowlands Mage End-Game GuidesMage DPS Max Level Guides for ShadowlandsArcane Mage GuideFire Mage GuideFrost Mage Guide

Comments

Comment by zagales

Does data support any of the three specs being superior to the others yet? Would love to have an idea in order to level the proper artifact weapon during level cap questing.

Comment by Acynatic

I think it should be mentioned, for suggested ability use for frost, that Frozen Orb should be used for single-target as well, even on random mobs, as it generates Fingers of Frost. Otherwise, great guide!

Comment by scrazzy

Mages are exceptional cloth wearers who can master either shadow or fel abilities, dealing ranged damage in all their specializations.

close, really close :))

Choosing a Race

Night Elf hidden in shadowmeld while author typing this guide?

Comment by Garmheim

Wowhead might want to do some editing. Ebonchill's graphic might better be in the space above the description of Ebonchill rather than Aluneth and, similarly, Aluneth might best be represented above its description rather than the long shot of Teldrassil aflame.

Comment by decree72

Hm you did not mention gnomes Expansive Mind, my arcane mage gnome likes 5% mana +max.

Comment by OmnixGT

I play as an Arcane Mage for a while (10-28) since the patch and all I do is using Arcane Missiles because using Arcane Blast is too slow for me and combining Arcane Missiles + Arcane Barrage does the thing. Is it just me or is Arcane Missiles too good? Probably Blizzard is gonna nerf it, so I would recommend Frost or Arcane. Both are still good to go, even with or without heirlooms.

Comment by Sabinno

Arcane mage leveling talents are broken. Can't see them.

Comment by Cukhu

No Draenei as Mage to select

Comment by Rezzelyn

This guide was useless for me. I'm lv102 and currently sitting in Orgrimmar leafing through guide after guide trying to figure out how to jump into Legion content now that BfA has begun. Am I missing the fact that none of the bridges of how to get to these places are mentioned in a guide for noobs? Seems like a pretty important thing to overlook.

Comment by RaveingWolfie

Portals for Boralus and Teleport are learned at 111 not 110

Comment by Skarro

Just a small update for your guide, teleport is now learned at level 21, not 11. Everything else looks correct. :)

Comment by 3clips3

Fire is amazing in SL used it ill 50 then Arc came out on top... damage like fire but with the slow is a much steadier option. Frost is a little underpowered.

Comment by TheTripleagent

Frost is absolutely -not- the best specialization for leveling until like level 37. I don't know where the guidewriter got that idea. Unless you have really well enchanted gear Fire and Frost fall FAR, FAR, FAR behind arcane until like level 40-ish.

Shadowlands Mage Leveling Guide & Best Leveling Spec 1-60

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