Arcane Mage guide

Ranged DPSMage · WoW Forever

Beta guide, level 30. The WoW Forever beta stops at level 30, so this guide and its build cover levels 1 to 30. We update it for level 60 after launch on November 4.

Forever rebuilds Arcane around procs. Arcane Blast stacks up spell damage each time you cast it (and gets more expensive), Missile Barrage turns Arcane Missiles into a free, faster proc, and Arcane Wrath is a heavy new nuke. Arcane Concentration's Clearcasting keeps the mana bill under control.

Strengths

Big single target damage as Arcane Blast stacks
Missile Barrage gives free, fast Arcane Missiles
Arcane Intellect, conjured food and water, portals and Polymorph for the group.

Weaknesses

Arcane Blast gets expensive fast: mana is the whole game
Damage swings with Clearcasting and Missile Barrage procs
No Ice Block, so it's fragile

Talent build (level 30) 21/0/0

Arcane 21 points

Arcane Focus3/5
Improved Channeling2/5
Missile Barrage2/2
Arcane Concentration5/5
Arcane Impact3/3
Arcane Blast1/1
Arcane Meditation3/3
Arcane Wrath1/1
Presence of Mind1/1

21 points in Arcane: Missile Barrage, Arcane Focus for hit, Improved Channeling, Arcane Concentration and Arcane Meditation for mana, Arcane Impact for crit, Arcane Blast, Arcane Wrath and Presence of Mind at 30. Arcane Mind and Arcane Power come after launch.

Open this build in the talent calculator

Key talents

Arcane Blast: New in Forever: each cast adds spell damage, and its cost climbs.
Missile Barrage: New in Forever: your spells can make the next Arcane Missiles faster and free.
Arcane Wrath: New in Forever: a heavy arcane nuke.
Arcane Concentration: 10% chance for a free next spell (Clearcasting).
Arcane Meditation: 50% of your mana regeneration keeps going while you cast.

New in Forever: Arcane talents

Missile BarrageGives your Arcane Blast spell a 40% chance, and your Arcane Wrath, Fireball, Frostbolt, Frost Blast, and Frostfire Bolt spells a 20% chance to reduce the channeled duration of your next Arcane Missiles spell by 50%, reduce the Mana cost by 100%, and missiles fire every 0.5 sec.
Arcane GeometryIncreases the range of your Arcane spells by 6 yards.
Arcane BlastBlasts the target with energy, dealing 34 to 38 Arcane damage. Each time you cast Arcane Blast, you gain 15% of your Intellect as Spell Damage and the mana cost of Arcane Blast is increased by 175%. Effect stacks up to 4 times and lasts 15 sec from time of initial application.
Arcane WrathLaunches a projectile of pure Arcane energy at the enemy target, causing 122 to 146 Arcane damage. This spell gains additional Spell Damage equal to 5% of your maximum Mana.

Rotation

Arcane Blast, and spend Clearcasting procs on it.
Arcane Missiles whenever Missile Barrage procs.
Arcane Wrath and Fire Blast at 3 to 4 Arcane Blast stacks.
While Arcane Wrath is on cooldown, Fireball or Frostbolt to fish for procs, or save mana.

Several enemies

Arcane Explosion when it's safe to stand close.
Frost Nova first to keep the pack off you.

Cooldowns

Presence of Mind: An instant cast: burst or an instant Polymorph.
Evocation: Get your mana back in long fights.
Mana gems and potions: Extra mana for bosses.

Stats

Spell power first, then Intellect (it powers Arcane Blast), then crit and hit. Spirit and mana per 5 seconds help through Arcane Meditation.

Best races

Alliance

Human: Ruthless (+1% spell crit) and The Human Spirit (+10% Spirit).
Skyborne (High Order): Wind Blessed (+2% haste) and Read Leyline for faster mana regeneration.
Gnome: Expansive Mind (+5% mana) and Escape Artist.

Horde

Orc: Blood Fury: +10% Spell Power for 15 sec.
Troll: Berserking (+10% casting speed) and Rapid Regeneration to survive.
Undead: Will of the Forsaken breaks fear: the PvP pick.

Professions

Tailoring and Enchanting, the classic Mage pair (cloth gear and your own wands). Engineering if you want more damage.

Leveling

Arcane is a strong level 30 dungeon spec but hungry for mana while questing. Frost is the easier way to level.