World of Warcraft: Forever · class guide

Arcane Mage: Talents

Client build 1.60.1.70425 · updated 2026-10-16

Every Arcane build and leveling order, on all three Mage trees from the Forever beta client (build 1.60.1.70425). Pick a build and move the level slider to see where its points are at that level.

You get one talent point per level from 10. A tier opens after 5 points in the tiers above it in the same tree, and a talent joined by a line to one above it needs that one maxed first.

Build Your level60 Talented perk (+5 points)

51 points spent

Shown: Arcane leveling order at level 60.

Arcane 28

2/2
Wand SpecializationRank 2/2
Arcane talent, tier 1, level 10+
Moved
5/5
Arcane FocusRank 5/5
Arcane talent, tier 1, level 10+
Changed Reworked: it was a resist reduction in Classic, and now gives +1% hit to Arcane spells per rank, 5% at 5/5. Arcane at 60, Fire and Frost level-60 builds take all five as spell hit.
0/5
Improved ChannelingRank 0/5
Arcane talent, tier 1, level 10+
Changed Renamed from Improved Arcane Missiles. It gives a 100% chance to avoid damage interruption while channeling Arcane Missiles, and now also 70% while casting Arcane Blast. The Arcane builds take it.
1/2
Missile BarrageRank 1/2
Arcane talent, tier 1, level 10+
New Row 1 and 2 points; Arcane Missiles hits can now trigger it too. Procs from Arcane Blast (40%) and Fireball, Frostbolt and Frostfire Bolt (20%), so Frost and Fire builds take it too.
0/2
Arcane SubtletyRank 0/2
Requires 5 points in Arcane Talents
Arcane talent, tier 2, level 15+
Changed
0/2
Magic AbsorptionRank 0/2
Requires 5 points in Arcane Talents
Arcane talent, tier 2, level 15+
Changed Cut to 2 ranks (Classic: 5). It gives +10 to all resistances at 2/2, and a fully resisted spell restores 2% of your mana, at most once a second. Fire and Frost level-60 builds take both ranks.
5/5
Arcane ConcentrationRank 5/5
Requires 5 points in Arcane Talents
Arcane talent, tier 2, level 15+
0/2
Arcane ResilienceRank 0/2
Requires 5 points in Arcane Talents
Arcane talent, tier 2, level 15+
Changed
1/2
Arcane GeometryRank 1/2
Requires 10 points in Arcane Talents
Arcane talent, tier 3, level 20+
Changed Replaces Magic Attunement: +3 yards per rank to Arcane spells.
3/3
Arcane ImpactRank 3/3
Requires 10 points in Arcane Talents
Arcane talent, tier 3, level 20+
Changed Renamed from Improved Arcane Explosion. It now adds 6% crit chance to all your Arcane spells, not just Arcane Explosion. Arcane, Fire and Frost level-60 builds all take all three ranks.
0/1
Arcane BlastRank 0/1
15% of base mana30 yd range
1.5 sec cast
Requires 10 points in Arcane Talents
Blasts the target with energy, dealing 218 to 254 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 talent, tier 3, level 20+
New Gives you spell damage from your Intellect, and its own cost still climbs.
0/2
Arcane ShieldingRank 0/2
Requires 15 points in Arcane Talents
Arcane talent, tier 4, level 25+
Changed
0/2
Improved CounterspellRank 0/2
Requires 15 points in Arcane Talents
Arcane talent, tier 4, level 25+
Changed Now a guaranteed silence, 2 s at rank 1 and 4 s at rank 2 (was a 50/100% chance of 4 s).
3/3
Arcane MeditationRank 3/3
Requires 15 points in Arcane Talents
Requires 5 points in Arcane Concentration
Arcane talent, tier 4, level 25+
Changed Was 5/10/15%. Requires Arcane Concentration 5/5.
0/1
Arcane WrathRank 0/1
395 Mana30 yd range
3.5 sec cast6 sec cooldown
Requires 15 points in Arcane Talents
Requires 1 point in Arcane Blast
Launches a projectile of pure Arcane energy at the enemy target, causing 406 to 496 Arcane damage. This spell gains additional Spell Damage equal to 5% of your maximum Mana.
Arcane talent, tier 4, level 25+
New
1/1
Presence of MindRank 1/1
Instant3 min cooldown
Requires 20 points in Arcane Talents
When activated, your next Mage spell with a casting time less than 10 sec becomes an instant cast spell.
Arcane talent, tier 5, level 30+
4/5
Arcane MindRank 4/5
Requires 20 points in Arcane Talents
Arcane talent, tier 5, level 30+
Changed Now +10% Intellect and +100% Arcane crit damage bonus at 5/5 (was +10% mana).
3/3
Arcane InstabilityRank 3/3
Requires 25 points in Arcane Talents
Arcane talent, tier 6, level 35+
Changed Moved from column 2 to column 3, and no longer requires Presence of Mind. It adds 3% spell damage and 3% crit at 3/3. The level-60 Arcane build takes all three.
0/1
Arcane PowerRank 0/1
Instant3 min cooldown
Requires 30 points in Arcane Talents
Requires 1 point in Presence of Mind
For the next 15 sec, your spells deal 30% more damage while costing 30% more mana to cast.
Arcane talent, tier 7, level 40+
Changed Requires Presence of Mind (was Arcane Instability). Can't share a build with Fingers of Frost.

Fire 0

0/2
Improved Fire BlastRank 0/2
Fire talent, tier 1, level 10+
Changed 2 ranks, Fire Blast cooldown -1/-2 s and range +8/+15 yards, no kill bonus.
0/3
IncinerationRank 0/3
Fire talent, tier 1, level 10+
Changed Moved to the top row: crit for Fire Blast, Scorch, Ice Lance and Arcane Blast, so every spec can use it.
0/5
Improved FireballRank 0/5
Fire talent, tier 1, level 10+
Changed Moved from column 2 to column 3. It cuts Fireball and Frostfire Bolt cast times by 0.5 sec at 5/5. All Fire builds and the Frostfire build take all five ranks.
0/5
IgniteRank 0/5
Requires 5 points in Fire Talents
Fire talent, tier 2, level 15+
No longer double-dips on percentage damage bonuses.
0/2
Flame ThrowingRank 0/2
Requires 5 points in Fire Talents
Fire talent, tier 2, level 15+
0/3
ImpactRank 0/3
Requires 5 points in Fire Talents
Fire talent, tier 2, level 15+
Changed
0/3
Burning SoulRank 0/3
Requires 10 points in Fire Talents
Fire talent, tier 3, level 20+
Changed Now 3 ranks (Classic: 2), and moved from column 4 to column 1. Fire spells have a 70% chance not to lose cast time when hit and cause 30% less threat. Fire and Frostfire builds take all three.
0/3
Improved FlamestrikeRank 0/3
Requires 10 points in Fire Talents
Fire talent, tier 3, level 20+
0/1
PyroblastRank 0/1
440 Mana35 yd range
6 sec cast
Requires 10 points in Fire Talents
Hurls an immense fiery boulder that causes 520 to 646 Fire damage and an additional 212 Fire damage over 12 sec.
Fire talent, tier 3, level 20+
Changed The tooltip was reworded to the Forever numbers: 101 to 131 Fire damage plus 44 over 12 sec. Fire and Frostfire builds take it as the opener.
0/3
Improved ScorchRank 0/3
Requires 15 points in Fire Talents
Fire talent, tier 4, level 25+
Changed Personal. The vulnerability can't be resisted once Scorch hits.
0/2
Improved Fire WardRank 0/2
Requires 15 points in Fire Talents
Fire talent, tier 4, level 25+
0/1
Heating UpRank 0/1
Requires 15 points in Fire Talents
Requires 1 point in Pyroblast
Non-periodic critical strikes with Fireball, Frostfire Bolt, Fire Blast, and Scorch reduce the cast time of your next Pyroblast cast within 20 sec by 25%, stacking up to 3 times. Fire Blast grants an additional stack every time it deals damage.
Fire talent, tier 4, level 25+
New 25% faster Pyroblast per crit, 3 stacks, 20 s. Every Fire Blast cast adds a stack, and a Presence of Mind Pyroblast doesn't use them up.
0/3
Master of ElementsRank 0/3
Requires 15 points in Fire Talents
Fire talent, tier 4, level 25+
Changed Wording only changed: Fire and Frost crits refund 30% of base mana cost at 3/3, as in Classic. The Frostfire and Fire level-60 builds take one point.
0/5
Critical MassRank 0/5
Requires 20 points in Fire Talents
Fire talent, tier 5, level 30+
Changed
0/1
Blast WaveRank 0/1
545 Mana
Instant45 sec cooldown
Requires 20 points in Fire Talents
A wave of flame radiates outward from the caster, damaging all enemies caught within the blast for 453 to 533 Fire damage, and Dazing them for 50% reduced movement speed for 6 sec.
Fire talent, tier 5, level 30+
Changed No longer requires Pyroblast. It does 154 to 184 Fire damage to all enemies nearby and Dazes them, slowing by 50% for 6 sec. The level-30 Fire build takes it for crowd control.
0/3
Fire PowerRank 0/3
Requires 25 points in Fire Talents
Fire talent, tier 6, level 35+
Changed
0/1
CombustionRank 0/1
Instant3 min cooldown
Requires 30 points in Fire Talents
Requires 5 points in Critical Mass
When activated, this spell 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.
Fire talent, tier 7, level 40+
Changed 3 crits.

Frost 23

0/2
Frost WardingRank 0/2
Frost talent, tier 1, level 10+
Changed
5/5
Improved FrostboltRank 5/5
Frost talent, tier 1, level 10+
Changed
0/5
Elemental PrecisionRank 0/5
Frost talent, tier 1, level 10+
Changed Now 5 ranks of +1% Fire and Frost hit.
1/5
Ice ShardsRank 1/5
Requires 5 points in Frost Talents
Frost talent, tier 2, level 15+
3/3
FrostbiteRank 3/3
Requires 5 points in Frost Talents
Frost talent, tier 2, level 15+
Low spell ranks proc it less; Rank 1 Frostbolt at 60 never does.
0/2
Improved Frost NovaRank 0/2
Requires 5 points in Frost Talents
Frost talent, tier 2, level 15+
3/3
PermafrostRank 3/3
Requires 5 points in Frost Talents
Frost talent, tier 2, level 15+
Changed Moved from column 4 to column 2. It now extends your Chill effects by 33% and slows the target by an additional 10% at 3/3, where Classic gave a flat time. The levelling order takes it.
3/3
Piercing IceRank 3/3
Requires 10 points in Frost Talents
Frost talent, tier 3, level 20+
0/3
Frost ChannelingRank 0/3
Requires 10 points in Frost Talents
Frost talent, tier 3, level 20+
Moved Moved from tier 4 to tier 3; the effect is unchanged. Frost spells cost 15% less mana at 3/3, with 30% less threat. The Frostfire build takes two points and the levelling order takes it.
1/1
Ice LanceRank 1/1
160 Mana30 yd range
Instant
Requires 10 points in Frost Talents
Deals 137 to 161 Frost damage to an enemy target. Deals 200% increased damage to Frozen targets.
Frost talent, tier 3, level 20+
New New in Forever. It does 28 to 32 Frost damage, with 200% more damage against Frozen targets. Every Frost-leaning build and the levelling order take it, since it is the Frost signature spell.
0/3
Improved BlizzardRank 0/3
Requires 10 points in Frost Talents
Frost talent, tier 3, level 20+
Changed 15/25/40% slow (was 30/50/65%).
0/2
Arctic ReachRank 0/2
Requires 15 points in Frost Talents
Frost talent, tier 4, level 25+
Changed
1/1
Ice BlockRank 1/1
15 Mana
Instant5 min cooldown
Requires 15 points in Frost Talents
You become encased in a block of ice, protecting you from all physical attacks and spells for 10 sec, but during that time you cannot attack, move, or cast spells.
Frost talent, tier 4, level 25+
Moved Moved from tier 5 to tier 4. It still protects you from all physical attacks and spells for 10 sec, but you cannot act. Every Frost build, the Arcane level-60 build and the levelling order take it as the panic button.
3/3
ShatterRank 3/3
Requires 15 points in Frost Talents
Frost talent, tier 4, level 25+
Changed Now 3 ranks for the same 50% crit against Frozen targets; no longer needs Improved Frost Nova.
0/3
Improved Cone of ColdRank 0/3
Requires 20 points in Frost Talents
Frost talent, tier 5, level 30+
Changed
1/1
Cold SnapRank 1/1
Instant10 min cooldown
Requires 20 points in Frost Talents
Finishes the remaining cooldown on all your other Frost spells.
Frost talent, tier 5, level 30+
Changed Moved down to the 21-point row; it opens Ice Barrier.
2/2
Fingers of FrostRank 2/2
Requires 20 points in Frost Talents
Requires 1 point in Ice Lance
Frost talent, tier 5, level 30+
New 15% chance on any Chill, one charge per rank. Requires Ice Lance.
0/5
Winter's ChillRank 0/5
Requires 25 points in Frost Talents
Frost talent, tier 6, level 35+
Changed Personal. No crit now; Frostbolt, Frost Blast and Fingers of Frost Ice Lances have a 20% to 100% chance (by rank) to stack it, up to 5, and it boosts your next Cone of Cold. Can't be resisted.
0/1
Ice BarrierRank 0/1
480 Mana
Instant30 sec cooldown
Requires 30 points in Frost Talents
Requires 1 point in Cold Snap
Instantly shields you, absorbing 819 damage. Lasts 1 min. While the shield holds, your spellcasts will not be interrupted or delayed from taking damage.
Frost talent, tier 7, level 40+
Changed Requires Cold Snap (was Ice Block).

Arcane builds and leveling order

Arcane leveling order 28/0/23 Guide's pick, untested

Arcane: Wand Specialization 2, Arcane Focus 5, Missile Barrage 1, Arcane Concentration 5, Arcane Geometry 1, Arcane Impact 3, Arcane Meditation 3, Presence of Mind 1, Arcane Mind 4, Arcane Instability 3

Frost: Improved Frostbolt 5, Ice Shards 1, Frostbite 3, Permafrost 3, Piercing Ice 3, Ice Lance 1, Ice Block 1, Shatter 3, Cold Snap 1, Fingers of Frost 2

With the Talented legacy perk every step comes up to five levels sooner.

Arcane, level 30 21/0/0 Tested in beta

Arcane: Arcane Focus 2, Improved Channeling 5, Missile Barrage 1, Arcane Concentration 5, Arcane Impact 3, Arcane Blast 1, Arcane Meditation 3, Presence of Mind 1

Level-30 Arcane build: Arcane Blast, Missile Barrage and Arcane Meditation, with Presence of Mind as the 21st point. Alternatively, for solo play take Arcane Focus 3, Arcane Impact 2 and Arcane Mind 1 instead of Presence of Mind, or stop at Missile Barrage and put 2 points in Fire's Incineration. Order: the Arcane levelling order, keeping this build's talents; Improved Channeling and Arcane Blast, which that order skips, go in where the tree allows.

Arcane, level 60 (projected) 31/3/17 Guide's pick, untested

Arcane: Arcane Focus 5, Improved Channeling 3, Missile Barrage 1, Arcane Concentration 5, Arcane Impact 3, Arcane Blast 1, Arcane Meditation 3, Presence of Mind 1, Arcane Mind 5, Arcane Instability 3, Arcane Power 1

Fire: Incineration 3

Frost: Improved Frostbolt 5, Elemental Precision 5, Ice Shards 3, Piercing Ice 3, Ice Block 1

Standard 31/3/17: Arcane Power on top of Arcane Blast and Missile Barrage, with Frost for Elemental Precision's hit and Ice Block. It can't also take Fingers of Frost (that would need 52 points). Beta theorycraft. Order: the Arcane levelling order, keeping this build's talents; Improved Channeling, Arcane Blast, Arcane Mind, Arcane Power, Elemental Precision, Ice Shards and Incineration, which that order skips, go in where the tree allows.

How the trees work

Tier 1: 0 points in the tree, level 10
Tier 2: 5 points in the tree, level 15
Tier 3: 10 points in the tree, level 20
Tier 4: 15 points in the tree, level 25
Tier 5: 20 points in the tree, level 30
Tier 6: 25 points in the tree, level 35
Tier 7: 30 points in the tree, level 40