Frost Mage

Ranged damage and control

Frostbolt until something freezes, then Ice Lance for 200% more damage. The safe levelling and kiting spec, with the strongest defensive toolkit.

Frost chills with Frostbolt, and every Chill has a chance to Freeze the target (Frostbite) or to grant Fingers of Frost, which makes your next one or two spells treat it as Frozen. Ice Lance does 200% more damage to a Frozen target, and Shatter adds 50% crit against it; Ice Shards doubles your Frost crit bonus. Winter's Chill no longer adds crit: your Frostbolt, Frost Blast and Fingers of Frost Ice Lances stack it on the target, and your next Cone of Cold deals more for it. Ice Block, Cold Snap and, from 40, Ice Barrier keep you alive. Frost does less damage than Arcane and Fire on early tier lists, but it is the most comfortable spec to level and the easiest to keep safe.

Strengths and weaknesses

Frost strengths and weaknesses

Strengths	Weaknesses
The most comfortable spec to level and the easiest to keep safe	Less damage than Arcane and Fire on early tier lists
Ice Block, Cold Snap and Ice Barrier from 40 give the strongest defensive toolkit	Ice Barrier is a 31-point talent, so it waits for level 40
Frostbolt chills and freezes, so kiting is easy	Any damage breaks a freeze, including your own Ice Lance
Ice Lance does 200% more damage to a Frozen target, and Shatter adds 50% crit	Winter's Chill only boosts your own Cone of Cold
Fingers of Frost can be saved for a stretch where you must move	AoE kiting is weaker on purpose, as Cone of Cold and Improved Blizzard slow less

Stat priority

1. Hit
2. Spell power
3. Crit
4. Spirit
5. Intellect
6. Stamina

Hit to the cap, then spell and Frost damage, then crit (Ice Shards doubles its value), Spirit, Intellect and Stamina. Alternatively, put spell power first and haste above crit, or Frost damage and spell power, then Intellect. Elemental Precision gives up to 5% hit for Frost and Fire.