Fireball

Fireball
Fireball 35 yd range 8%-19% of base mana 1.5-3.5 seconds cast Hurls a fiery ball that causes X Fire damage and an additional Y Fire damage over Z sec.
Usable by
Class	Mage
Properties
Type	Offensive
School	Fire
Casting time	1.5-3.5 seconds cast
Cooldown	None/Global Cooldown
Talents
Improvement talents	Improved Fireball, Impact, Ignite, Flame Throwing, Burning Soul, Critical Mass, Fire Power, Empowered Fire, Pyromaniac, Precision, Arcane Instability, Spell Power, Playing with Fire, Molten Fury, Shatter
Other information
Ranks	16
Related debuff
Fireball X Fire damage every 2 seconds. Duration: Z seconds

• Fireball
• 35 yd range
• 8%-19% of base mana
• 1.5-3.5 seconds cast
• Hurls a fiery ball that causes X Fire damage and an additional Y Fire damage over Z sec.

Fireball is a mage spell that deals direct damage with a small DoT. It is one of the primary damage spells for fire mages.

Background

Fireball was originally a warlock spell before mages started learning how to use a version of it.

The basic fire spell which all followers of the Orcish cults (the underworld) first learn. It channels the flames of Hades through the caster’s body, allowing the wielder to direct it as a missile at anyone he chooses. It is a dangerous magic to employ, but the effects seem to delight even the lowest circle of Warlock to no end. ^{(W1Man #?)}

Magics involving the cardinal elements of the universe are favorites of the Mages. The Fireball is launched from the palms of the Mage and streaks like a comet blazing across the battlefield - slamming its fiery bulk into whatever stands in its path. ^{(W2Man #?)}

Table

Level	Mana Cost	Cast Time	Damage	Damage over time
1	7%	1.5 sec	27	0
2	7%	1.55 s	29	0
3	7%	1.61 s	32	0
4	6%	1.66 s	34	0
5	6%	1.71 s	35	0
6	4%	1.76 s	37	0
7	4%	1.81 s	38	0

Improvements

Improved Fireball will lower the cast time of Fireball by up to .5 seconds at max rank. Empowered Fireball will increase the amount of fire spell damage that applies to the spell by 15% at max rank.

Flame Throwing extends the range of Fireball to 41 yards at max rank.

Fireball deals fire damage, and thus gains the benefit of the talents Impact, Ignite, Burning Soul, Master of Elements, Critical Mass, Fire Power, Pyromaniac, and Precision.

As with all mage spells capable of critical hits Arcane Instability, Spell Power, Molten Fury, Playing with Fire and Shatter can increase the effective damage output of this spell.

Glyph of Fireball reduces Fireball's cast time by .15 seconds, but will remove the damage over time effect.

Notes

The duration of the DoT stacks with the same Rank version of itself: casting Fireball(Rank 1) two seconds after they are hit with the same rank Fireball(Rank 1) will extend the duration of the DoT, damaging the enemy for an additional 6 seconds (8 total). Higher rank Fireballs will overwrite the DoTs of lower rank Fireballs.

The DoT effect stacks with the secondary DoT from Pyroblast.

Tips and tactics

A gnome mage casting Fireball.

The DoT effect will bring a Rogue using Vanish back out of stealth. If you suspect he's trying to get away, hit him with one of the lower ranks, which cast very fast.

Patch changes

• Patch 3.2.0 (04-Aug-2009): Periodic damage from this spell can no longer trigger Combustion.
  
• / Patch 2.0.1 (05-Dec-2006): Rank 12 can now be purchased from trainers at level 62.
  
• Patch 1.4.0 (2005-05-05): Pyroblast and Fireball damage over time will now stack together.
  

External links

• Wowhead
• Thottbot
• WoWDB