This document provides an overview of playing a mage in World of Warcraft, including: - Mages do a lot of damage from a distance but have low armor so they need to stay at range. - They have useful utility abilities like teleporting groups, turning enemies into sheep, and increasing spell power for groups. - Arcane specialization focuses on sustained spell damage, fire emphasizes AoE and mobility, and frost prioritizes survivability with a water elemental pet. - As a mage, players should stay at maximum range, use crowd control like polymorph, and kite enemies by slowing them to stay safe in combat.

1. Intro to Mages
Inevitable Betrayal

2. Glass Cannon?

3. Glass Cannon?
Idea that they do a lot of damage but
are easily killed.

4. It’s all about spellcasting
Not about melee
Weapon is for stats and look

5. Perks
• Create food/water
– Personal – Conjure Refreshment (Lvl 38)
– Group – Conjure Refreshment Table (lvl 47)
• Teleport (single) / Portal (group) to major
cities
– Gain access to cities at certain levels

6. Oh.. Taxi?
• Teleportation and Portals
– You will get asked, nagged, accosted, and
sometimes tipped
– Gain Teleport at Level 24
• Can teleport yourself to the major cities of your faction
– Gain Portal at Level 42
• Can teleport all members of your group to the major
cities of your faction

7. Perks
• Polymorph
– Turns enemies into sheep
– Can glyph to turn into Bear cub, Monkey, Penguin,
and Porcupine
• Arcane Brilliance – Lvl 58
– Increases spell power by 10% and critical strike by
5%

8. Mage Specs
• Arcane
– Considered the heaviest hitter
– Sit and cast one to two spells all the time
– Think Heavy Artillery

10. Mage Specs
• Fire
– AOE options as you get bigger (30+)
– Highly mobile (get speed buffs) and lots of moving
– Think Air Force

12. Mage Specs
• Frost
– Survivability and Water Elemental Pet
– You get a Pet made of water
• You’ll never go thirsty again
– Best for staying at range
– Lots of defensive cool downs at higher levels

14. So Far Away From Me
• Mage should be AT RANGE!
– Cloth only armor, which = no armor
– When you get hit, it delays your casting
• You want to be a MAX range
– Must be situational aware (what is around you?)

15. When Mobs Attack!
• Mage should be at Max Range
• If more than one – Polymorph one of them
– Mob will heal while they are in Polymorph
• If Mob gets close and hurts you
– Frost Nova to freeze them in place
– Blink Away

16. When Mobs Attack!
• Things to remember:
– You can run faster running forward or to one side
than backwards
– Space is your friend
• Your frost spells slow down mob, so you can kite

17. What is this “Kiting” you speak of?
• Kiting
– Standard tactic for casters and ranged dps when
fighting melee enemies
– Continually hit enemy with slow movement spells
to stay at range
– Wear them down; but don’t pull other mobs

18. Ahem… About your Health
• Mage Health
– Not considered a priority stat; but you get Sta with
all gear
– Take potions and be prepared to self medicate
• Healers may be new, or may be focused on tank
• Low DPS is considered the most expendable, so don’t
be that person…. Or wear a red shirt. :D

19. Your Mana and You
• Mage Mana
– Intellect is your priority Stat
• Increases Spell Power
• Increases Critical Strike (Crit)
– Looking for gear that is called:
• Of the Eagle
• Of Intellect
• Of Spell Power (if nothing else)

20. Your Mana and You
• Have Mana will …
– Key is to be efficient with spells
– Start being cognizant of mana cost
– Always carry Mana Potions (Blue potions are
usually mana) and put them on your action bars!

21. Instructional Aids
• Fun places to read about Mage-y goodness
– Beginner’s Guide to Being a Mage
• From Joystiq.com and the Arcane Brilliance Weekly
column
• http://wow.joystiq.com/2011/07/09/arcane-brilliance-
beginners-guide-to-being-a-mage/

22. Fun with Spells
• Level 1 – 10
– Frostfire Bolt – Lvl 1
– Frost Nova – Lvl 3
– Fire Blast – Lvl 5
– Blink – Lvl 7
– Counterspell – Lvl 8

23. Fun with Spells
• Level 11 – 20
– Polymorph – Lvl 14
– Arcane Explosion – Lvl 18

24. Fun with Spells
• Level 21 – 30
– Ice Lance – Lvl 22
– Ice Block – Lvl 26
– Cone of Cold – Lvl 28
– Remove Curse – Lvl 29
– Slow Fall – Lvl 32
• Added it cause it’s so cool! :D

25. Talents
• Are either
– Passive bonuses
• Automatically occurs
OR
– Active ability
• Gain a spell or buff that you have to click on to activate

26. Talents
• 6 Tiers of Talents with 3 options

27. Ice Barrier
• Talent at Level 30
– Lasts 60 seconds
– Absorbs all types of damage (Physical and Magic)
– Can still cast while in it and casting will not be
delayed

28. Glyphs
• As you level you get
– 3 Major Glyphs
• Levels 25, 50 and 75
– 3 Minor Glyphs
• Levels 25, 50, and 75

29. What if I don’t like my Talent or Glyph?
• From Lvl 25 to 80
– Use Vanishing Powder
• Costs 2 silver
• Look for it in the Guild Bank
• If not in bank, go to the Inscription Trainer and buy
from Inscription Supplies person

30. What if I don’t like my Specialization?
• Talk to your Mage Trainer
– Cost to change spec will increase each time you
change it.
– Starts at 22 silver
• Dual Spec at lvl 30 if you wish
– Purchase for 10 gold from your Class Trainer

31. M.A.G.E.

32. M.A.G.E.
http://www.youtube.com/watc
h?v=ov07yLusCKs