WoW Forever Mage leveling guide, the talent order from 75,995 builds

This Mage leveling guide is about talents: where each point goes from level 10, read from the builds people plan here; quests and zones are not part of it. 49.5% of Mage leveling builds lead in Frost, 30.5% in Arcane and 20.1% in Fire. That matches level 60, where 41% of Mage builds with 41 or more points lead in Frost too, by count. Each order below is what most builds hold by the end of each level bracket; the share says how many of the builds that got there agree. Every order opens in the Mage calculator, and the most popular Mage builds page shows where they end up at 60.

Counted on 16 Oct 2026 from the builds made between 18 Sep and 16 Oct 2026; recounted after each backup of the counter's day files.

• Frost 49.5%
• Arcane 30.5%
• Fire 20.1%

Frost Mage leveling order 49.5% of Mage leveling builds, 37,584

The order more Mages level in than any other. The order runs to level 49: Improved Frostbolt ×5, Ice Shards ×5, Frostbite ×3, Improved Frost Nova ×2, Ice Lance, Shatter ×3, Ice Block, Permafrost ×3, Arctic Reach ×2, Fingers of Frost ×2, Cold Snap, Piercing Ice ×2, Ice Barrier, Improved Channeling ×5, Arcane Concentration ×4. Since this count, Piercing Ice was taken out of the trees. So the whole order has no calculator link; its first 21 points open at level 30.

What the first points do: At 5/5, Improved Frostbolt: Reduces the casting time of your Frostbolt and Frost Blast spells by 0.5 sec. At 5/5, Ice Shards: Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Frost spells by 100%. (talent text, beta client)

Arcane Mage leveling order 30.5% of Mage leveling builds, 23,150

The order runs to level 39: Improved Channeling ×5, Arcane Concentration ×5, Arcane Blast, Arcane Impact ×3, Arcane Geometry ×2, Arcane Meditation ×3, Missile Barrage, Arcane Mind ×5, Presence of Mind, Arcane Instability ×3, Arcane Focus. Since this count, Arcane Focus was taken out of the trees. So the whole order has no calculator link; its first 21 points open at level 30.

What the first points do: At 5/5, Improved Channeling: Gives your Arcane Missiles spell a 100% chance and your Arcane Blast and Arcane Wrath spells a 70% chance to not lose casting time when you take damage. At 5/5, Arcane Concentration: Gives you a 10% chance of entering a Clearcasting state after any damage spell hits a target. The Clearcasting state reduces the mana cost of your next damage spell by 100%. (talent text, beta client)

Fire Mage leveling order 20.1% of Mage leveling builds, 15,261

The order runs to level 49: Accelerant ×5, Ignite ×5, Flame Throwing, Burning Soul ×3, Pyroblast, Improved Scorch ×3, Heating Up, Master of Elements ×3, Critical Mass ×3, Fire Power ×3, Precision ×5, Ice Shards ×5, Piercing Ice ×2. Since this count, Piercing Ice was taken out of the trees, and Precision has 3 ranks now, not 5. So the whole order has no calculator link; its first 21 points open at level 30.

What the first points do: At 5/5, Accelerant: Reduces the casting time of your Fireball, Frostfire Bolt, and Arcane Wrath spells by 0.5 sec. At 5/5, Ignite: Your critical strikes from Fire damage spells cause the target to burn for an additional 40% of your spell's damage over 4 sec. (talent text, beta client)

Spells a Mage trains on the way to 60

The level each Mage spell is first trained at, from the beta client's spellbook and its spell text (build 70630).

• Lv 1Arcane Intellect, Fireball and Frost Armor
• Lv 4Conjure Water and Frostbolt
• Lv 6Conjure Food and Fire Blast
• Lv 8Arcane Missiles and Polymorph
• Lv 10Frost Nova
• Lv 12Dampen Magic and Slow Fall
• Lv 14Arcane Explosion
• Lv 16Flamestrike
• Lv 18Amplify Magic and Remove Lesser Curse
• Lv 20Arcane Blast (from its talent), Blink, Blizzard, Evocation, Fire Ward, Ice Lance (from its talent), Mana Shield, Pyroblast (from its talent), Teleport: Ironforge, Teleport: Orgrimmar, Teleport: Stormwind and Teleport: Undercity
• Lv 22Frost Ward and Scorch
• Lv 24Counterspell
• Lv 25Arcane Wrath and Ice Block (each from its talent)
• Lv 26Cone of Cold
• Lv 28Conjure Mana Agate
• Lv 30Blast Wave (from its talent), Cold Snap (from its talent), Ice Armor, Presence of Mind (from its talent), Teleport: Darnassus and Teleport: Thunder Bluff
• Lv 34Mage Armor
• Lv 38Conjure Mana Jade
• Lv 40Arcane Power (from its talent), Combustion (from its talent), Frostfire Bolt, Ice Barrier (from its talent), Portal: Ironforge, Portal: Orgrimmar, Portal: Stormwind and Portal: Undercity
• Lv 48Conjure Mana Citrine
• Lv 50Portal: Darnassus, Portal: Thunder Bluff and Teleport: Dalaran
• Lv 56Arcane Brilliance
• Lv 58Conjure Mana Ruby

Beta client spellbook, build 70630. A spell marked with its talent comes with it, at the level its row opens. Every rank's level is in every Mage spell by level.

Changed on the beta for this order

What the beta builds changed in the talents these orders place and in the spells above, from the beta build tracker, newest first.

• Arcane Blast: now Blasts the target with energy, dealing 34 to 38 Arcane damage. Each time you cast Arcane Blast, you gain 12% of your Intellect as Spell Damage and the mana cost of Arcane Blast is increased by 100%. Effect stacks up to 4 times and lasts 18 sec from time of initial application. Was: Blasts 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. (build 70685 hotfixes, 30 Oct 2026)
• Arctic Reach: now Increases the range of your Frostbolt, Frost Blast, Ice Lance, and Blizzard spells and the radius of your Frost Nova and Cone of Cold spells by 10%. Was: Increases the range of your Frostbolt, Frost Blast, and Blizzard spells and the radius of your Frost Nova and Cone of Cold spells by 10%. (build 70685 hotfixes, 30 Oct 2026)
• Ice Barrier: now Shield yourself, absorbing 447 damage and increasing your Frost damage by 15% for 1 min. While shielded, your Frost damage is increased by an additional 5% and you do not lose casting time when you take damage. Was: Shield yourself, absorbing 447 damage and increasing your Frost damage by 3% for 1 min. While shielded, your Frost damage is increased by an additional 3% and you do not lose casting time when you take damage. (build 70685 hotfixes, 30 Oct 2026)
• Ice Lance: now Deals 28 to 32 Frost damage to an enemy target. Deals 300% increased damage to Frozen targets. Was: Deals 28 to 32 Frost damage to an enemy target. Deals 200% increased damage to Frozen targets. (build 70685 hotfixes, 30 Oct 2026)
• Arcane Blast (a spell, not a talent): now Blasts the target with energy, dealing 78 to 90 Arcane damage. Each time you cast Arcane Blast, you gain 12% of your Intellect as Spell Damage and the mana cost of Arcane Blast is increased by 100%. Effect stacks up to 4 times and lasts 18 sec from time of initial application. Was: Blasts the target with energy, dealing 78 to 90 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. (build 70685 hotfixes, 30 Oct 2026)
• Ice Barrier (a spell, not a talent): now Shield yourself, absorbing 561 damage and increasing your Frost damage by 15% for 1 min. While shielded, your Frost damage is increased by an additional 5% and you do not lose casting time when you take damage. Was: Shield yourself, absorbing 561 damage and increasing your Frost damage by 3% for 1 min. While shielded, your Frost damage is increased by an additional 3% and you do not lose casting time when you take damage. (build 70685 hotfixes, 30 Oct 2026)
• Ice Lance (a spell, not a talent): now Deals 34 to 40 Frost damage to an enemy target. Deals 300% increased damage to Frozen targets. Was: Deals 34 to 40 Frost damage to an enemy target. Deals 200% increased damage to Frozen targets. (build 70685 hotfixes, 30 Oct 2026)
• Ice Lance (a spell, not a talent), cost line: now 55 Mana 30 yd range; Instant 8 sec cooldown Was: 55 Mana 30 yd range; Instant (build 70685 hotfixes, 30 Oct 2026)
• Accelerant: now Reduces the casting time of your Fireball, Frostfire Bolt, and Arcane Wrath spells by 0.1 sec. Was: Reduces the casting time of your Fireball and Frostfire Bolt spells by 0.1 sec. (build 70630 hotfixes, 28 Oct 2026)
• Ice Lance, cost line: now 45 Mana | 30 yd range | Instant | 8 sec cooldown Was: 45 Mana | 30 yd range | Instant (build 70630 hotfixes, 28 Oct 2026)
• Precision: now Improves your chance to hit with all spells by 2%. Was: Improves your chance to hit with Frost and Fire spells by 2%. (build 70630 hotfixes, 28 Oct 2026)
• Missile Barrage: now Gives your Arcane Blast spell a 20% chance, and your Arcane Wrath, Fireball, Frostbolt, Frost Blast, and Frostfire Bolt spells a 10% 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. Was: Gives your Arcane Blast spell a 20% chance, your Arcane Missile hits a 5% chance, and your Arcane Wrath, Fireball, Frostbolt, and Frostfire Bolt spells a 10% 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. (build 70425 hotfixes, 20 Oct 2026)
• Ice Barrier: now Shield yourself, absorbing 447 damage and increasing your Frost damage by 3% for 1 min. While shielded, your Frost damage is increased by an additional 3% and you do not lose casting time when you take damage. Was: Instantly shields you, absorbing 447 damage. Lasts 1 min. While the shield holds, your spellcasts will not be interrupted or delayed from taking damage. (build 70425 hotfixes, 20 Oct 2026)
• Ice Barrier (a spell, not a talent): now Shield yourself, absorbing 561 damage and increasing your Frost damage by 3% for 1 min. While shielded, your Frost damage is increased by an additional 3% and you do not lose casting time when you take damage. Was: Instantly shields you, absorbing 561 damage. Lasts 1 min. While the shield holds, your spellcasts will not be interrupted or delayed from taking damage. (build 70425 hotfixes, 20 Oct 2026)
• Arcane Blast: now Blasts 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. Was: Blasts the target with energy, dealing 57 to 65 Arcane damage. Each time you cast Arcane Blast, the damage of all your other spells is increased by 10% and the mana cost of Arcane Blast is increased by 175%. Effect stacks up to 4 times and lasts 8 sec or until any other damage spell is cast. (build 70425, 15 Oct 2026)
• Arcane Blast, cost line: now 15% of base mana | 30 yd range | 1.5 sec cast Was: 15% of base mana | 30 yd range | 2.5 sec cast (build 70425, 15 Oct 2026)
• Improved Channeling: now Gives you a 20% chance to avoid interruption caused by damage while channeling Arcane Missiles and a 14% chance while casting Arcane Blast or Arcane Wrath. Was: Gives you a 20% chance to avoid interruption caused by damage while channeling Arcane Missiles and a 14% chance while casting Arcane Blast. (build 70425, 15 Oct 2026)
• Missile Barrage: now Gives your Arcane Blast spell a 20% chance, your Arcane Missile hits a 5% chance, and your Arcane Wrath, Fireball, Frostbolt, and Frostfire Bolt spells a 10% 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. Was: Gives your Arcane Blast spell a 40% chance, and your Fireball, Frostbolt, 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. (build 70425, 15 Oct 2026)
• Fire Power: now Increases the damage done by your Fire spells by 1% per your Fire effects on the target, up to a maximum increase of 4%. Effects which mix multiple schools of magic do not qualify. Was: Increases the damage done by your Fire spells by 2%. (build 70425, 15 Oct 2026)
• Arctic Reach: now Increases the range of your Frostbolt, Frost Blast, and Blizzard spells and the radius of your Frost Nova and Cone of Cold spells by 10%. Was: Increases the range of your Frostbolt and Blizzard spells and the radius of your Frost Nova and Cone of Cold spells by 10%. (build 70425, 15 Oct 2026)
• Ice Lance: now Deals 28 to 32 Frost damage to an enemy target. Deals 200% increased damage to Frozen targets. Was: Deals 28 to 32 Frost damage to an enemy target. Deals 300% increased damage to Frozen targets. (build 70425, 15 Oct 2026)
• Improved Frostbolt: now Reduces the casting time of your Frostbolt and Frost Blast spells by 0.1 sec. Was: Reduces the casting time of your Frostbolt spell by 0.1 sec. (build 70425, 15 Oct 2026)
• Arcane Blast (a spell, not a talent): now Blasts the target with energy, dealing 78 to 90 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. Was: Blasts the target with energy, dealing 131 to 151 Arcane damage. Each time you cast Arcane Blast, the damage of all your other spells is increased by 10% and the mana cost of Arcane Blast is increased by 175%. Effect stacks up to 4 times and lasts 8 sec or until any other damage spell is cast. (build 70425, 15 Oct 2026)
• Arcane Blast (a spell, not a talent), cost line: now 15% of base mana 30 yd range; 1.5 sec cast Was: 15% of base mana 30 yd range; 2.5 sec cast (build 70425, 15 Oct 2026)
• Cone of Cold (a spell, not a talent): now Targets in a cone in front of the caster take 96 to 106 Frost damage and are slowed by 40% for 6 sec. The first 4 targets hit by this cone are slowed by an additional 10% for an additional 3 sec. Was: Targets in a cone in front of the caster take 96 to 106 Frost damage and are slowed by 40% for 6 sec. (build 70425, 15 Oct 2026)
• Ice Lance (a spell, not a talent): now Deals 34 to 40 Frost damage to an enemy target. Deals 200% increased damage to Frozen targets. Was: Deals 34 to 40 Frost damage to an enemy target. Deals 300% increased damage to Frozen targets. (build 70425, 15 Oct 2026)
• Arcane Missiles (a spell, not a talent): now Launches Arcane Missiles at the enemy, causing 24 Arcane damage each second for 3 sec. Was: Launches Arcane Missiles at the enemy, causing 25 Arcane damage each second for 3 sec. (build 70291, 8 Oct 2026)
• Fireball (a spell, not a talent): now Hurls a fiery ball that causes 14 to 22 Fire damage and an additional 2 Fire damage over 4 sec. Was: Hurls a fiery ball that causes 16 to 24 Fire damage and an additional 2 Fire damage over 4 sec. (build 70291, 8 Oct 2026)
• Frostbolt (a spell, not a talent): now Launches a bolt of frost at the enemy, causing 18 to 20 Frost damage and slowing movement speed by 40% for 5 sec. Was: Launches a bolt of frost at the enemy, causing 20 to 22 Frost damage and slowing movement speed by 40% for 5 sec. (build 70291, 8 Oct 2026)
• Heating Up: now 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. Was: Your non-periodic critical strikes with Fireball, Frostfire Bolt, Fire Blast, and Scorch grant Hot Streak for 20 sec. Hot Streak reduces the cast time of Pyroblast by 25%, stacking up to 3 times. (build 70170, 1 Oct 2026)
• Arcane Blast: now Blasts the target with energy, dealing 57 to 65 Arcane damage. Each time you cast Arcane Blast, the damage of all your other spells is increased by 10% and the mana cost of Arcane Blast is increased by 175%. Effect stacks up to 4 times and lasts 8 sec or until any other damage spell is cast. Was: Blasts the target with energy, dealing 95 to 104 Arcane damage. Each time you cast Arcane Blast, the damage of all your other spells is increased by 10% and the mana cost of Arcane Blast is increased by 175%. Effect stacks up to 4 times and lasts 8 sec or until any other damage spell is cast. (build 69876, 16 Sep 2026)
• Pyroblast: now Hurls an immense fiery boulder that causes 101 to 131 Fire damage and an additional 44 Fire damage over 12 sec. Was: Hurls an immense fiery boulder that causes 155 to 185 Fire damage and an additional 76 Fire damage over 12 sec. (build 69876, 16 Sep 2026)
• Ice Lance: now Deals 28 to 32 Frost damage to an enemy target. Deals 300% increased damage to Frozen targets. Was: Deals 28 to 33 Frost damage to an enemy target. Deals 300% increased damage to Frozen targets. (build 69876, 16 Sep 2026)

Every build's changes are on the beta build tracker.

Questions

Which spec do Mages level as in WoW Forever?

49.5% of the 75,995 Mage builds with a recorded order lead in Frost, 30.5% in Arcane and 20.1% in Fire. That matches level 60, where 41% of Mage builds with 41 or more points lead in Frost too, by count.

What are the first Mage talents to take?

The leading Frost order puts its first points, levels 10 to 19, in Improved Frostbolt and Ice Shards, more than any other ten points: 15% of the 35,241 Frost builds that reach level 19 hold exactly those ten points.

What is the Mage build at level 20 in WoW Forever?

The leading Frost order holds 11 points at level 20: Improved Frostbolt 5/5, Ice Shards 5/5, Frostbite 1/3. 15% of the 35,241 Frost builds that reach level 19 hold its levels 10 to 19; of those that go on, 7.2% hold levels 20 to 29.

What is the Mage build at level 40 in WoW Forever?

The leading Frost order holds 31 points at level 40: Improved Frostbolt 5/5, Ice Shards 5/5, Frostbite 3/3, Improved Frost Nova 2/2, Ice Lance 1/1, Shatter 3/3, Ice Block 1/1, Permafrost 3/3, Arctic Reach 2/2, Fingers of Frost 2/2, Cold Snap 1/1, Piercing Ice 2/3, Ice Barrier 1/1. 15% of the 35,241 Frost builds that reach level 19 hold its levels 10 to 19; of those that go on, 7.2% hold levels 20 to 29, 7.7% hold 30 to 39 and 13.4% hold 40 to 49.

Where does this Mage leveling order come from?

From the builds people make on this site's Mage calculator, which records the order every point was placed in. 75,995 Mage builds with ten or more ordered points, made, shared or saved between 18 Sep and 16 Oct 2026, counted once per visitor per day, no identities. Each bracket is the ten points most builds hold by its last level among the builds that hold the earlier brackets; the order stops where fewer than 25 agree.

Can Mages still AoE level in WoW Forever?

The area spells are all trained: Arcane Explosion at 14, Flamestrike at 16, Blizzard at 20 and Cone of Cold at 26. The slows that made kiting a pack easy are smaller, though. Cone of Cold slows 40% for 6 seconds, down from 50% for 8, though the first 4 targets it hits are slowed an extra 10% for 3 more seconds. Improved Blizzard chills 15%, 25% and 40% by rank, down from 30%, 50% and 65% in Classic. Only one Flamestrike can be active per Mage at a time. Blizzard says most gold bots were Frost Mages kiting dungeons, so the slows were cut to leave a moment when the pack isn't snared (the WoW: Forever Podcast, episode 2, 65:42). This site has no data on farming spots.

When do Mages get Polymorph, Blink and portals?

Polymorph at level 8 and Blink at 20. The teleports come at 20 (Ironforge, Orgrimmar, Stormwind and Undercity), 30 (Darnassus and Thunder Bluff) and 50 (Dalaran), and the portals at 40 (Ironforge, Orgrimmar, Stormwind and Undercity) and 50 (Darnassus and Thunder Bluff). From the beta client's Mage spellbook, build 70630.

Can I follow this Mage order in game?

Yes. The free Talents Forever addon shows a build from this site in the game's talent window and follows it as you level.

Builds whose finished ranks today's trees refuse (a row not open, an arrow not met) are left out. Also for Mages: the most popular builds, every talent in words, what changed since Classic, the abilities, new and changed, the races and their racials, questions answered from the data, and the Mage calculator. Leveling builds for every class.