Mage leveling guide
Levels 1–60Alliance: Human, Gnome, SkyborneHorde: Orc, Troll, Undead
Alliance: Human, Gnome, Skyborne
Horde: Orc, Troll, UndeadYour plan in game
Open your talent plan in Polestar:
/polestar talentsLevel as Frost (the safest: slows, freezes and Ice Barrier) or Fire (more damage, with Pyroblast openers and Blast Wave). Arcane builds around Arcane Blast and Arcane Power and wants more mana between pulls.
Polestar ships 3 leveling talent plans for Mages (Arcane, Fire and Frost), 10 class quest guides, and Mage steps in 6 leveling guides.
Who can be a Mage
In WoW: Forever Mages are open to 6 races on both sides. Each race starts on its own route and joins its side's shared road; the guides carry the Mage steps for you.
Alliance
- HumanElwynn Forest 1–13Its road: 26 guides to level 60
- GnomeDun Morogh 1–13Its road: 26 guides to level 60
- SkyborneZephras Isle 1–15Its road: 26 guides to level 60
Horde
- OrcDurotar 1–12Its road: 25 guides to level 60
- TrollDurotar 1–12Its road: 25 guides to level 60
- UndeadTirisfal Glades 1–13Its road: 24 guides to level 60
Leveling talent plans
Written for Polestar; a community talent site served only as a reference for Forever's new and changed talents. Every pick is checked against Forever's own Mage talent tree (client 1.60.1.70450). Sources are named on Credits & data sources.
Each plan is written one point a level from 10. Points that come sooner (a Legacy talent can grant them from level 5) bring the picks sooner: in the game the plan follows its order, not the levels.
Arcane
32/0/19 · 51 picks, levels 10–60
| Levels | Talent | Ranks | Tree |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10–14 | Improved ChannelingImproved Channeling first: Arcane Missiles, and later Arcane Blast, keep going when a mob hits you. | 1–5 | Arcane |
| 15–19 | Arcane ConcentrationArcane Concentration gives free casts now and then, and opens Arcane Meditation. | 1–5 | Arcane |
| 20 | Arcane BlastArcane Blast is Forever's Arcane builder: each cast adds spell power for the next. | 1 | Arcane |
| 21–23 | Arcane Impact | 1–3 | Arcane |
| 24 | Missile BarrageMissile Barrage: Arcane Blast, Arcane Wrath, Fireball and Frostbolt can make your next Arcane Missiles faster and cheaper. | 1 | Arcane |
| 25–27 | Arcane MeditationArcane Meditation keeps mana coming back while you cast, so you drink less. | 1–3 | Arcane |
| 28 | Arcane WrathArcane Wrath, opened by Arcane Blast, is a nuke that grows with your maximum mana. Its point does not count toward the Arcane tiers, so the plan spends 32 points in Arcane. | 1 | Arcane |
| 29 | Arcane Subtlety | 1 | Arcane |
| 30 | Missile Barrage | 2 | Arcane |
| 31 | Presence of MindPresence of Mind makes one spell instant: an opener, or a finisher on a runner. | 1 | Arcane |
| 32–36 | Arcane Mind | 1–5 | Arcane |
| 37–39 | Arcane Instability | 1–3 | Arcane |
| 40 | Arcane Subtlety | 2 | Arcane |
| 41 | Arcane PowerArcane Power is the capstone: more damage for more mana, best with Presence of Mind on a tough target. | 1 | Arcane |
| 42–46 | Improved FrostboltThe remaining 19 points go to Frost for a quicker Frostbolt, a shorter Frost Nova cooldown, longer slows and Ice Block. | 1–5 | Frost |
| 47–48 | Improved Frost Nova | 1–2 | Frost |
| 49–51 | Permafrost | 1–3 | Frost |
| 52–54 | Frost Channeling | 1–3 | Frost |
| 55–57 | Piercing Ice | 1–3 | Frost |
| 58 | Ice Block | 1 | Frost |
| 59 | Arctic Reach | 1 | Frost |
| 60 | Ice Lance | 1 | Frost |
Fire
20/31/0 · 51 picks, levels 10–60
| Levels | Talent | Ranks | Tree |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10–14 | Improved FireballImproved Fireball first: a faster Fireball is more damage every fight. | 1–5 | Fire |
| 15–19 | IgniteIgnite adds burn damage to every Fire crit. | 1–5 | Fire |
| 20 | PyroblastPyroblast is a big opener from range; cast it first, then Fireball. | 1 | Fire |
| 21–23 | Incineration | 1–3 | Fire |
| 24 | Impact | 1 | Fire |
| 25–27 | Master of ElementsMaster of Elements gives mana back on crits, so you rest less. | 1–3 | Fire |
| 28 | Heating Up | 1 | Fire |
| 29 | Impact | 2 | Fire |
| 30–32 | Critical MassCritical Mass and Blast Wave: more crits, and an area attack and daze for when two mobs reach you. | 1–3 | Fire |
| 33 | Blast Wave | 1 | Fire |
| 34 | Impact | 3 | Fire |
| 35–36 | Critical Mass | 4–5 | Fire |
| 37–39 | Fire PowerFire Power raises your Fire damage for each of your Fire effects on the target: Ignite, Pyroblast's burn and the like. | 1–3 | Fire |
| 40 | CombustionCombustion is the capstone: a crit cooldown for elites and big pulls. | 1 | Fire |
| 41–42 | Wand SpecializationThe last 20 points go to Arcane: a stronger wand for finishing mobs, then Arcane Concentration's free casts and Arcane Meditation's regen while casting. | 1–2 | Arcane |
| 43–45 | Arcane Focus | 1–3 | Arcane |
| 46–50 | Arcane Concentration | 1–5 | Arcane |
| 51–52 | Arcane Subtlety | 1–2 | Arcane |
| 53–54 | Arcane Resilience | 1–2 | Arcane |
| 55 | Magic Absorption | 1 | Arcane |
| 56–58 | Arcane Meditation | 1–3 | Arcane |
| 59 | Magic Absorption | 2 | Arcane |
| 60 | Arcane Shielding | 1 | Arcane |
Frost
20/0/31 · 51 picks, levels 10–60
| Levels | Talent | Ranks | Tree |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10–14 | Improved FrostboltImproved Frostbolt first: a faster Frostbolt is your main gain for the early levels. | 1–5 | Frost |
| 15–19 | Ice ShardsIce Shards makes Frost crits hit much harder. | 1–5 | Frost |
| 20–22 | Piercing Ice | 1–3 | Frost |
| 23–24 | Improved Frost NovaImproved Frost Nova and Ice Block are your escapes: freeze, step back, keep casting. | 1–2 | Frost |
| 25 | Ice Block | 1 | Frost |
| 26–28 | ShatterShatter adds a large crit chance against frozen targets: Frost Nova, then Frostbolt or Ice Lance. | 1–3 | Frost |
| 29 | Permafrost | 1 | Frost |
| 30 | Cold Snap | 1 | Frost |
| 31–33 | Frost Channeling | 1–3 | Frost |
| 34 | Ice Lance | 1 | Frost |
| 35–39 | Winter's Chill | 1–5 | Frost |
| 40 | Ice BarrierIce Barrier is the capstone: an absorb shield that also stops pushback while you cast. | 1 | Frost |
| 41–42 | Wand SpecializationThe last 20 points go to Arcane: a stronger wand for finishing mobs, then Arcane Concentration's free casts and Arcane Meditation's regen while casting. | 1–2 | Arcane |
| 43–45 | Arcane Focus | 1–3 | Arcane |
| 46–50 | Arcane Concentration | 1–5 | Arcane |
| 51–52 | Arcane Subtlety | 1–2 | Arcane |
| 53–54 | Arcane Resilience | 1–2 | Arcane |
| 55 | Magic Absorption | 1 | Arcane |
| 56–58 | Arcane Meditation | 1–3 | Arcane |
| 59 | Magic Absorption | 2 | Arcane |
| 60 | Arcane Shielding | 1 | Arcane |
Mage class quests
10 class quest guides for Mages, each a guide of its own in Polestar's Class menu.
- Ju-Ju Heaps10–12HordeLey Staff, Ley Orb
- Manaweave Robe15–17AllianceManaweave Robe
- Spellfire Robes15–18HordeLesser Spellfire Robes
- Astral Knot Garment26–30Alliance · Human, GnomeAstral Knot Robe, Astral Knot Blouse
- Nether-lace Garment26–30Horde · Undead, TrollNether-lace Robe, Nether-lace Tunic
- Mage's Wand30–40Both factionsIcefury Wand, Nether Force Wand, Ragefire Wand
- Celestial Orb and Stave35–40Both factionsCelestial Orb, Celestial Stave
- Destroy Morphaz50–54Both factionsExperience
- Conjure Water (Arcane Refreshment)60Both factionsConjure Water, Shen'dralar reputation
- Polymorph: Pig60Both factionsPolymorph: Pig
Mage steps on the leveling routes
Steps the zone guides show only to Mages (a few to one or two other classes as well): class quests on the way and visits to your trainer.
Alliance
- Dun Morogh1–13Dwarf, Gnome
Glyphic Memorandum, Mirror Lake
- Elwynn Forest1–13Human
Glyphic Letter, Speak with Jennea, Mirror Lake
- Zephras Isle1–15Skyborne
A Student of the Arcane, Speak with Belann, Boughs in the Wind, Mirror Lake
Other Mage steps Westfall
Horde
- Durotar1–12Orc, Troll
Glyphic Parchment (Orc), Glyphic Tablet (Troll)
- Tirisfal Glades1–13Undead
Glyphic Scroll, Speak with Anastasia, The Balnir Farmstead
Mage gear
What Polestar's gear advice counts as a Mage's, and how it weighs stats for each spec. It reads your spec from your talent points; before you spend any it uses Frost.
- Armor
- Cloth
- Weapons
- One-handed swords, Staves, Daggers, Wands
| Spec | Stats | Own weights |
|---|---|---|
| Arcane | Intellect 1 · Stamina 0.55 · Spirit 0.55 | To level 39 |
| Fire | Intellect 0.9 · Stamina 0.55 · Spirit 0.5 | To level 39 |
| Frost | Intellect 0.9 · Stamina 0.6 · Spirit 0.6 | To level 39 |
How Polestar helps a Mage level
- One route, your class's steps in it. The guides show the steps for your race and class and skip the rest, so the Mage quests above turn up where they belong on your road, and a waypoint arrow walks you to every goal.
- Your talent plan on the talent frame. Pick a plan (or let Polestar follow your spec): a ring marks the next talent while a point is unspent, each talent shows where it comes in the plan, and a chat line names the next pick when a point is waiting. Nothing is spent for you. Open it with
/polestar talents; the settings are under Options, Questing, Talents. - Gear advice for your spec. Quest rewards and items in your bags that are upgrades for your Mage get a green arrow, and a turn-in names the reward to take.