Mage talents

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With Mists of Pandaria, mages can begin choosing their talents beginning at level fifteen.

Current talents

Level	Abilities (choose one)
15	Arcane Familiar Pyromaniac Ray of Frost	Presence of Mind Conflagration (mage talent) Lonely Winter	Words of Power Firestarter (mage talent) Bone Chilling
30	Shimmer	Cauterize	Cold Snap
45	Mirror Image	Rune of Power	Incanter's Flow
60	Supernova Blast Wave Ice Nova	Charged Up Flame On Frozen Touch	Resonance Controlled Burn Splitting Ice
75	Ice Floes	Ring of Frost	Ice Ward
90	Nether Tempest Living Bomb Frost Bomb	Unstable Magic	Erosion Flame Patch Arctic Gale
100	Overpowered (mage talent) Kindling Thermal Void	Quickening (mage talent) Cinderstorm Glacial Spike (mage talent)	Arcane Orb (mage talent) Meteor Comet Storm

Pre-Mists of Pandaria

As with the other original classes, at level 10 a mage can begin spending talent points in order to gain and improve abilities. Mage talents underwent a significant review for patch 1.11, with additional modifications in 2.0.1 and 3.0.2.

Below, each talent has a quoted description of the talent, which was taken from the game. The differences between the various levels of each talent are quoted in brackets. For example, "Reduces the chance that the opponent can resist your Arcane spells by {2/4/6/8/10}%" to describe the 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 point variations of the talent.

Prerequisites are listed for all talents that have them.

All tier N talents require that you spend 5(N-1) talent points in their tree as a prerequisite. For example, to get a Tier 2 Arcane talent, you must first have spent at least 5 points on other Arcane talents, Tier 3 requires 10 points, etc.

The Arcane tree has an emphasis in Utility talents, such as mana restoration mechanics ([Arcane Meditation], [Arcane Concentration]) and resilience talents ([Prismatic Cloak], [Arcane Fortitude]), and gives buffs to spells of all schools, not just its own, in contrast with the other trees ([Spell Power], [Arcane Instability]).

Arcane provides high burst and sustained damage in both PvE and PvP settings through talents such as [Presence of Mind] and [Missile Barrage] while retaining some degree of mobility with its capstone ability [Arcane Barrage].

Icon	Talent	Points	Requirements	Description
	Arcane Concentration	3	None	Gives you a {3/6/10}% chance of entering a Clearcasting state after any damage spell hits a target. The Clearcasting state reduces the mana cost of your next damage spell by 100%
	Improved Counterspell	2	None	Your Counterspell also silences the target for {2/4} sec.
	Netherwind Presence	3	None	Increases your spell haste by {1/2/3}%.
	Torment the Weak	3	Arcane 5	Your Arcane damage spells deal {2/4/6}% more damage to snared or slowed targets.
	Invocation	2	Arcane 5	You gain {5/10}% Damage Bonus for 8 seconds after successfully interupting a spell.
	Improved Arcane Missiles	2	Arcane 5	Increases the number of missiles fired by your Arcane Missiles by {1/2}.
	Improved Blink	2	Arcane 5	Increases your speed by {35/70}% after casting the Blink spell.
	Presence of Mind	1	Arcane 10	When activated, your next Mage spell with a casting time less than 10 sec. becomes an instant cast spell.
	Arcane Flows	2	Arcane 10	Reduces the cooldown of your Presence of Mind, Arcane Power and Invisibility spells by {12/25}% and the cooldown of your Evocation spell by {1/2} min.
	Missile Barrage	2	Arcane 10	Your Arcane Missiles will fire its missiles every {0.6/0.5} sec.
	Prismatic Cloak	3	Arcane 10	Reduces all damage taken by {2/4/6}% and reduces the fade time of your invisibility spell by {1/2/3} sec.
	Improved Polymorph	2	Arcane 15	When a target you've polymorphed is damaged, that target is stunned for {1.5/3} sec. This effect cannot occur more often than once every 10 sec.
	Arcane Tactics	1	Arcane 15	Increases the damage of all party and raid members within 100 yards by 3%.
	Incanter's Absorption	2	Arcane 15	When your Mana Shield or Mage Ward absorbs damage your spell damage is increased by {10/20}% of the amount absorbed for 10 sec. In addition, when your Mana Shield is destroyed, all enemies within 6 yards are knocked back 12 yards.
	Improved Arcane Explosion	2	Arcane 15	Reduces the global cooldown of your Arcane Explosion by {0.25/0.5} sec and reduces the threat generated by {40/80}%.
	Arcane Potency	2	Arcane 20	Increases the critical strike chance of your next two damaging spells by {7/15}% after gaining Clearcasting or Presence of Mind.
	Slow	1	Arcane 20	Reduces target's movement speed by 60%, increases time between ranged attacks by 60%, and increases casting time by 30%. Lasts 15 sec. Slow can only affect one target at a time.
	Nether Vortex	2	Arcane 20	Gives your Arcane Blast spell a {50/100}% chance to apply the slow spell to any target it damages if no target is currently affected by slow.
	Focus Magic	1	Arcane 25	Increases the target's chance to critically hit with spells by 3%. When the target critically hits your chance to critically hit with spells is increased by 3% for 10 sec. Cannot be cast on self.
	Improved Mana Gem	2	Arcane 25	Mana gained from your Mana Gem also increases your spell power by {1/2}% of your maximum mana for 10 seconds.
	Arcane Power	1	Arcane 30	When activated, your spells deal 20% more spell damage but spells cost 10% more mana to cast. This effect lasts 15 sec.

Fire spells are traditionally harder-hitting and burstier in nature, resulting in higher sustained single-target damage. The Fire tree reflects this with its focus on DPS talents such as [Critical Mass] and [Pyromaniac], and while it has good survival abilities ([Blast Wave], for instance), they are not as significant as the other trees' abilities, turning the Mage into the proverbial glass cannon: kill fast and die fast.

Icon	Talent	Points	Requirements	Description
	Improved Fire Blast	2	None	Reduces the cooldown of your Fire Blast spell by {1/2} sec.
	Incineration	3	None	Increases the critical strike chance of your Fire Blast, Scorch, Arcane Blast and Cone of Cold spells by {2/4/6}%.
	Improved Fireball	5	None	Reduces the casting time of your Fireball spell by {0.1/0.2/0.3/0.4/0.5} sec.
	Ignite	5	Fire 5	Your critical strikes from Fire damage spells cause the target to burn for an additional {8/16/24/32/40}% of your spell's damage over 4 sec.
	Burning Determination	2	Fire 5	When Interrupted or Silenced you have a {50/100}% chance to become immune to both mechanics for 10 sec.
	World in Flames	3	Fire 5	Increases the critical strike chance of your Flamestrike, Pyroblast, Blast Wave, Dragon's Breath, Living Bomb, Blizzard and Arcane Explosion spells by {2/4/6}%.
	Flame Throwing	2	Fire 10	Increases the range of your all Fire spells except Frostfire Bolt by {3/6} yards.
	Impact	3	Fire 10	Gives your damaging spells a {4/7/10}% chance to cause the next Fire Blast you cast to stun the target for 2 sec.
	Pyroblast	1	Fire 10	5 sec casting time Casting cost: 22% of base mana Range: 35 yards Hurls an immense fiery boulder that causes X to Y Fire damage and an additional Z Fire damage over 12 sec.
	Burning Soul	2	Fire 10	Reduces the pushback suffered from damaging attacks while casting Fire spells by {35/70}% and reduces threat by caused by your Fire spells by {10/20%}.
	Improved Scorch	3	Fire 15	Increases your chance to critically hit with Scorch, Fireball and Frostfire Bolt by and additional {1/2/3}% and your damaging Scorch spells have a {33/66/100}% chance to cause your target to be vulnerable to spell damage, increasing spell critical strike chance against that target by 1% and lasts 30 sec. Stacks up to 5 times.
	Molten Shields	2	Fire 15	Causes your Fire Ward and Frost Ward spells to have a {15/30}% chance to reflect the warded spell while active. In addition, your Molten Armor has a {50/100}% chance to affect ranged and spell attacks.
	Master of Elements	3	Fire 15	Your spell criticals will refund {10/20/30}% of their base mana cost.
	Playing with Fire	3	Fire 20	Increases all spell damage caused by {1/2/3}% and all spell damage taken by {1/2/3}%.
	Critical Mass	3	Fire 20	Increases the critical strike chance of your Fire spells by {2/4/6}%
	Blast Wave	1	Pyroblast 1 Fire 20	Instant spell 30 second cooldown Casting cost: 7% of base mana A wave of flame radiates outward from the caster, damaging all enemies caught within the blast for X to Y Fire damage, knocking them back and dazing them for 6 sec.
	Blazing Speed	2	Fire 25	Gives you a {5/10}% chance when hit by a melee or ranged attack to increase your movement speed by 50% and dispel all movement impairing effects. This effect lasts 8 sec.
	Fire Power	5	Fire 25	Increases the damage done by your Fire spells by {2/4/6/8/10}%.
	Pyromaniac	3	Fire 30	Increases chance to critically hit by {1/2/3}% and allows {17/33/50}% of your mana regeneration to continue while casting.
	Combustion	1	Critical Mass 3 Fire 30	Instant spell 2 minute cooldown Casting cost: 0 mana When activated, this spell increases your critical strike damage bonus with Fire damage spells by 50%, and causes each of your Fire damage spell hits to increase your critical strike chance with Fire damage spells by 10%. This effect lasts until you have caused 3 non-periodic critical strikes with Fire spells.
	Molten Fury	2	Fire 30	Increases damage of all spells against targets with less than 35% health by {6/12}%.
	Fiery Payback	2	Fire 35	When below 35% health all damage taken is reduced by {10/20}% and your Pyroblast spell's cast time is reduced by {1.75/3.5} secs while the cooldown is increased by {2.5/5} secs. In addition, melee and ranged attacks made against you have a {5/10}% chance to disarm your attacker's main hand and ranged weapons.
	Empowered Fire	3	Fire 35	Increases the damage of your Fireball, Frostfire Bolt and Pyroblast spells by an amount equal to {5/10/15}% of your spell power. In addition, each time your Ignite talent causes damage, you have a {33/67/100}% chance to regain 2% of your base mana.
	Firestarter	2	Dragon's Breath Fire 40	Your damaging Blast Wave and Dragon's Breath spells have a {50/100}% chance to make your next Flamestrike spell instant cast. Lasts 10 sec.
	Dragon's Breath	1	Combustion 1 Fire 40	Instant spell 20 sec. cooldown Casting cost: 7% of base mana Targets in a cone in front of the caster take X to Y Fire damage and are Disoriented for 5 sec. Any direct damaging attack will revive targets. Turns off your attack when used.
	Hot Streak	3	Fire 40	Any time you score 2 non-periodic spell criticals in a row using Fireball, Fire Blast, Scorch, Living Bomb, or Frostfire Bolt, you have a {33/66/100}% chance the next Pyroblast spell cast within 10 sec will be instant cast.
	Burnout	5	Fire 45	Increases your spell critical damage bonus with all spells by {10/20/30/40/50}% but your non-periodic spell criticals cost an additional {1/2/3/4/5}% of the spell's cost.
	Living Bomb	1	Fire 50	Instant spell Casting cost: 22% of base mana Range: 35 yards The target becomes a Living Bomb, taking X Fire damage over 12 sec. After 12 sec or when the spell is dispelled, the target explodes dealing Y Fire damage to all enemies within 10 yards.

The Frost tree has an emphasis in control and survivability talents such as [Permafrost] and [Ice Barrier]. It sacrifices some of its single-target DPS in exchange for powerful snares, the highest Mage AoE damage and higher mana-efficiency than other trees that makes it excel in fights that include multiple adds or are longer than average. Its control and longevity earned it the crown of most recognized PvP Mage tree.

Icon	Talent	Points	Requirements	Description
	Frostbite	3	None	Gives your Chill effects a {5/10/15}% chance to freeze the target for 5 sec.
	Improved Frostbolt	5	None	Reduces the casting time of your Frostbolt spell by {0.1/0.2/0.3/0.4/0.5} sec.
	Ice Floes	3	None	Reduces the cooldown of your Frost Nova, Cone of Cold, Ice Block and Icy Veins spells by {7/14/20}%.
	Ice Shards	3	Frost 5	Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Frost spells by {33/66/100}%.
	Frost Warding	2	Frost 5	Increases the armor and resistances given by your Frost Armor and Ice Armor spells by {25/50}%. In addition, gives your Frost Ward and Fire Ward a {15/30}% chance to negate the warded damage spell and restore mana equal to the damage caused.
	Precision	3	Frost 5	Reduces the mana cost and increase the chance to hit with spells by {1/2/3}%.
	Permafrost	3	Frost 5	Increases the duration of your Chill effects by {1/2/3} sec, reduces the target's speed by an additional {4/7/10}%, and reduces the target's healing received by {7/13/20}%.
	Piercing Ice	3	Frost 10	Increases the damage done by your Frost spells by {2/4/6}%.
	Icy Veins	1	Frost 10	Instant Spell 3 minute cooldown Casting cost: 3% of base mana. Hastens your spellcasting, reducing casting time of all spells by 20% and grants your spells a 100% pushback resistance. Last 20 seconds.
	Improved Blizzard	3	Frost 10	Adds a chill effect to your Blizzard spell. This effect lowers the target's movement speed by {25/40/50}%. Lasts 1.5 sec.
	Arctic Reach	2	Frost 15	Increases the range of your Frostbolt, Ice Lance, Deep Freeze and Blizzard spells and the radius of your Frost Nova and Cone of Cold spells by {10/20}%.
	Frost Channeling	3	Frost 15	Reduces the mana cost of all spells by {4/7/10}% and reduces threat caused by Frost spells by {4/7/10}%.
	Shatter	3	Frost 15	Increases the critical strike chance of all your spells against frozen targets by {17/33/50}%.
	Cold Snap	1	Frost 20	Instant spell 8 minute cooldown Casting cost: 0 mana When activated, this spell finishes the cooldown on all Frost spells you recently cast.
	Improved Cone of Cold	3	Frost 20	Increases the damage dealt by your Cone of Cold spell by {15/25/35}%.
	Frozen Core	3	Frost 20	Reduces the damage taken from all spells by {2/4/6}%.
	Cold as Ice	2	Cold Snap 1 Frost 25	Reduces the cooldown of your Cold Snap, Ice Barrier and Summon Water Elemental spells by {10/20}%.
	Winter's Chill	3	Frost 25	Increases your chance to critically hit with your Frostbolt by an additional {1/2/3}% and gives your Frost damage spells a {33/66/100}% chance to apply the Winter's Chill effect, which increases the chance spells will critically hit the target by 1% for 15 seconds. Stacks up to 5 times.
	Shattered Barrier	2	Ice Barrier 1 Frost 30	Gives your Ice Barrier spell a {50/100}% chance to freeze all enemies within 10 yds for 8 sec when it is destroyed.
	Ice Barrier	1	Cold Snap 1 Frost 30	Instant spell 30 second cooldown Casting cost: 21% of base mana Rank 1: Instantly shields you, absorbing X damage. Lasts 1 min. While the shield holds, spellcasting will not be delayed by damage.
	Arctic Winds	5	Frost 30	Increases all Frost damage you cause by {1/2/3/4/5}% and reduces the chance melee and ranged attacks will hit you by {1/2/3/4/5}%.
	Empowered Frostbolt	2	Frost 35	Increases the damage of your Frostbolt spell by an amount equal to {5/10}% of your spell power and reduces the cast time by {0.1/0.2} sec.
	Fingers of Frost	2	Frost 35	Gives your Chill effects a {7/15}% chance to grant you the Fingers of Frost effect, which treats your next 2 spells cast as if the target were frozen. Lasts 15 secs.
	Brain Freeze	3	Frost 40	Your Frost damage spells with chilling effects have a {5/10/15}% chance to cause your next Fireball or Frostfire Bolt spell to be instant cast and cost no mana.
	Summon Water Elemental	1	Frost 40	Instant spell 3 minute cooldown Casting cost: 16% of base mana Summon a Water Elemental to fight for the caster for 45 sec.
	Enduring Winter	3	Summon Water Elemental 1 Frost 40	Increases the duration of your Summon Water Elemental spell by {5/10/15} sec and your Frostbolt spell has a {33/66/100}% chance to grant the Replenishment effect to up to 10 party or raid members mana regeneration equal to 1% of their maximum mana per 5 sec for 15 sec. This effect cannot occur more often than once every 6 sec.
	Chilled to the Bone	5	Frost 45	Increases the damage caused by your Frostbolt, Frostfire Bolt and Ice Lance spells by {1/2/3/4/5}% and reduces the movement speed of all chilled targets by an additional {2/4/6/8/10}%.
	Deep Freeze	1	Frost 50	Instant spell 30 sec cooldown Casting cost: 9% of base mana Range: 30 yards Stuns the target for 5 sec. Only usable on Frozen targets.

• Arcane Concentration gives you a chance to enter a Clearcasting state, improving your mana efficiency by about 10%. When you proc Clearcasting, take the opportunity to cast a mana expensive spell.
• Pyroblast is the highest single target damage spell available, but is limited by its long casting time.
• Ice Shards, Frostbite and Shatter are the holy trinity of Shatter/critical hit Frost mage build, giving you a 50% bonus to crit a frozen target. They can now all be maxed with only 20 points in Frost. Also, Shatter now affects all your spells, not just Frost spells, giving additional flexibility to Shatter builds.
• Ice Block is a very situational ability with a number of uses. As of patch 2.3.2 Ice Block is trainable to any mage at the level of 30. See main article for details: Ice Block.
• The tier 7 Frost talent Ice Barrier is potentially much more efficient than Mana Shield. In Patch 1.11 its cooldown was reduced to 30 seconds, making it much more useful. Its functionality and mana efficiency are similar to a self-cast version of a priest's Power Word: Shield.

See also

• Mage theorycraft
• Mage talent analysis

External links

WoW Official Game Site (US) Talent Calculator

WoW Official Game Site (EU) Talent Calculator

Wowhead Database ▸ Classes ▸ Mage (Talents tab)

Guides

Icy Veins Arcane, Fire, and Frost Mage Raiding Guides (Mists of Pandaria)