(Written by Karch) (Write for us!)
For mages looking to improve their DPS, there are 3 basic questions you should ask:
1) Are you spec’d right?
2) Are you geared/gemmed/enchanted right?
3) Are you using the right rotation?
Today we’re dealing with the first of those questions. While there are a handful of proper PvE builds and mages can debate which one is best for them, a few misplaced talent points can sabotage even skilled mages.
So, let’s list the “acceptable” talent builds for raiding mages, explain why these are the most popular (and best), and identify some places where new raiding mages get tripped up. Note that recommended glyphs are also included.
Frostfire
(0/53/18): http://www.wowhead.com/?talent#oZfVcbRhIhVubhctbIccoc:IiLo0m
Explanation: The basic Frostfire build that’s been around since the launch of Wrath of the Lich King. Note that you have the ability here to stack the scorch debuff, but the glyph setup assumes that you’re not regularly being asked to do so. If you are, then you should replace either the living bomb or molten armor glyph with the glyph of improved scorch. If you know you are not going to ever need to stack scorch, you can always move those three points over to Improved Blizzard in the frost tree.
Where people get tripped up: The fire talents are pretty straightforward, but I’ve seen a fair share of frostfire mages with their frost trees messed up. It’s important to remember that the talents Piercing Ice and Ice Shards both affect your frostfire bolt, and therefore are absolutely crucial talents to frostfire mages. You are not, as some people believe, just trying to get to Icy Veins here. Additionally, the mana cost reduction from Frost Channeling is a big reason why frostfire mages are so mana efficient.
Deep Fire
(19/52/0): http://www.wowhead.com/?talent#of0Vck0sZ0EcbRhIhVhbhct:ViLo0m
Explanation: With deep fire (unlike frostfire and arcane), you’ve got a few talent points that can be moved around depending on your preference – there are perfectly acceptable 18/53/0 and 20/51/0 deep fire builds as well. Specifically, the single points in Student of the Mind and Arcane Meditation could be moved to Magic Absorption if you so desire. You could also use one for Combustion in the fire tree if your crit is a little low (although well-geared deep fire mages don’t need Combustion). As with frostfire, you are capable of stacking the scorch debuff with this spec, although if you are asked to do so regularly you should really get the scorch glyph.
Where people get tripped up: This spec is a little complicated (primarily because you have to spend 5 talent points on useless talents in the first level of the arcane tree), and you could go a lot of different ways with it. Just remember that any deep fire spec absolutely requires Spell Impact, Focus Magic, and Torment of the Weak in the arcane tree, and no points whatsoever in the frost tree.
Arcane
(57/3/11): http://www.wowhead.com/?talent#ofhVsz0IzxGuMxedcZbGc0o
Explanation: You can switch a few points around, but if you’re seriously playing arcane, you’re going to have a 57/3/11 point distribution. The main source of moveable points is the first row of the arcane tree (you can mix and match those talents based on preference, hit rating, threat sensitivity, etc.), Magic Attunement, and Student of the Mind. The rest of the talents are basically required.
Note that there is a viable Magic Absorption build that really works well on some Ulduar fights, but since I’m writing for mages that are relatively new to raiding, I’m not going to confuse anyone with a situational build that relies heavily upon priests putting shields on you and you intentionally taking damage.
Where people get tripped up: I can’t stress enough how important the 3 points in fire and 11 in frost are. The arcane tree has a ton of interesting talents and it’s tempting to leech some points from the other trees to get them, but you really don’t want to do this. The fire tree gives you 6% crit on your main nuke – uh, yes please. The frost tree not only lowers your hit cap, but gives you Icy Veins, which is vital to a spec that relies heavily on burst damage.
Popularity: 30% [?]
Great tips, but don’t forget that the “Deep fire” build need more chance to hit (you don’t have the “Precision” talent from the frost tree).
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For this build Deep Fire (19/52/0), Do we need 446 spell hit to reach hit cap ? Since I assume Arcane Focus will only affect arcane spell. It's really hard to get 446 spell hit cap with current T9 gear.
why are there no glyphs listed for the arcane tree?
why did u put points in torment the weak if your not gonna have slow??
all tanks have an ability that procs torment of the week. warriors = thunderclap, druids = infected wounds. dk's = icy touch. paladins i can't remember what its called
For the deep fire spec, I don’t see any reason why you would not get Combustion no matter how high you crit is 50% increased dmg for its duration is amazing.