Mage spec guide

Fire Mage

Everything for Fire Mage on one page: role, talent order by level, Fire abilities and recommended gear for each level range. Talent and gear picks are calculated from the tooltip values in official game data plus the assumptions Forever Tool states below.

All Mage abilities Open the level 60 build in the calculator

Gear focus: Spell DPS
Talent calculation: Fire
Level 60 build: 12/36/3
Estimated DPS: +97.4%

Fire Mage at a glance

Summarized from Blizzard's class deep-dive articles. They were published during the beta, so live numbers and talents may differ.

Mage as the developers describe it

Mages are about choosing the right spell for the moment. Arcane empowers follow-up casts, Fire rewards critical strikes and timing, and Frost keeps its control strengths while gaining links to the other schools.[1]

Mages are among the most powerful and resourceful damage dealers, with the strongest and most varied ranged area damage of any class. But they're extremely fragile and die easily if caught in melee.

Fire talents in Forever

Heating Up (new row 4 talent): critical strikes with Fireball and similar spells reduce the cast time of your next Pyroblast by 25%, stacking up to 3 times.
Ignite is now a separate debuff for each Mage, which fixes problems with threat and damage attribution.
Incineration moves up to row 1 and also increases the critical strike chance of Ice Lance and Arcane Blast.
Improved Fireball now also reduces the cast time of Frostfire Bolt.

Fire talent build

One point per level from level 10, 51 points at level 60. The Fire tree is filled to 31 points first, and the remaining points go where they raise estimated DPS the most in the other trees.

The level 60 build uses the same method as the calculator's "Recommended build" (estimated DPS from tooltip values + judgment weights for talents the math can't capture, such as rage, energy and mana talents), with the extra rule "Fire tree to 31 points first". The order picks, one point at a time, the talent that raises the score the most on the way to that build. Estimated DPS is a rough "compared with no talents" figure and leaves out the damage of newly learned abilities. Talent point rules (starting at level 10) follow classic, since nothing has been announced officially.

Builds by level

Level	Points	Tree split	Est. DPS	Calculator
Level 20	11 points	0/11/0	+22.8%	Open
Level 30	21 points	0/21/0	+61.5%	Open
Level 40	31 points	0/31/0	+84.1%	Open
Level 50	41 points	2/36/3	+97.4%	Open
Level 60	51 points	12/36/3	+97.4%	Open

Talent order by level

Consecutive levels spent on the same talent are grouped on one line.

Levels 10–14Accelerant1→5/5
Levels 15–19Ignite1→5/5
Level 20Pyroblast1/1
Levels 21–22Improved Fire Blast1→2/2
Levels 23–24Incineration1→2/5
Level 25Improved Scorch1/3
Level 26Heating Up1/1
Levels 27–29Master of Elements1→3/3
Level 30Blast Wave1/1
Levels 31–33Critical Mass1→3/3
Level 34Incineration3/5
Levels 35–37Fire Power1→3/3
Levels 38–39Incineration4→5/5
Level 40Combustion1/1
Levels 41–43PrecisionFrost1→3/3
Levels 44–46Burning Soul1→3/3
Level 47Improved Scorch2/3
Level 48Improved Fire Ward1/2
Levels 49–50Improved ChannelingArcane1→2/5
Levels 51–53Arcane ResilienceArcane1→3/3
Levels 54–55Arcane SubtletyArcane1→2/2
Levels 56–60Arcane ConcentrationArcane1→5/5

Key talents of the level 60 build

Talents with a large share of estimated DPS, plus talents that grant abilities or handle resources. Descriptions are the tooltip at the rank taken.

Arcane Concentration5/5 · Arcane
Resource / utility
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%.
Accelerant5/5 · Fire
Est. DPS +9.9%
Reduces the casting time of your Fireball, Frostfire Bolt, and Arcane Wrath spells by 0.5 sec.
Ignite5/5 · Fire
Est. DPS +10.0%
Your critical strikes from Fire damage spells cause the target to burn for an additional 40% of your spell's damage over 4 sec.
Pyroblast1/1 · Fire
Ability
Hurls an immense fiery boulder that causes 405 to 456 Fire damage and an additional 236 Fire damage over 12 sec.
Improved Fire Blast2/2 · Fire
Est. DPS +1.8%
Reduces the cooldown of your Fire Blast spell by 2 sec and increases its range by 15 yards.
Improved Scorch2/3 · Fire
Est. DPS +13.5%
Your Scorch spell has a 67% chance to cause your target to be vulnerable to Fire damage. This vulnerability increases all Fire damage you deal to your target by 3% and lasts 30 sec, stacking up to 5 times.
Heating Up1/1 · Fire
Est. DPS +13.0%
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.
Master of Elements3/3 · Fire
Resource / utility
Your Fire and Frost critical strikes will refund 30% of their base mana cost.
Critical Mass3/3 · Fire
Est. DPS +2.8%
Increases the critical strike chance of your Fire spells by 6%.
Blast Wave1/1 · Fire
Ability
A wave of flame radiates outward from the caster, damaging all enemies caught within the blast for 192 to 230 Fire damage, and Dazing them for 50% reduced movement speed for 6 sec.
Fire Power3/3 · Fire
Est. DPS +9.0%
Increases the damage done by your Fire spells by 3% per your Fire effects on the target, up to a maximum increase of 12%. Effects which mix multiple schools of magic do not qualify.
Combustion1/1 · Fire
Ability
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.
Precision3/3 · Frost
Est. DPS +7.2%
Improves your chance to hit with all spells by 6%.

Fire abilities

Fire abilities in the order you first learn them. The numbers are the levels at which each rank is learned; the description is rank 1 without gear or stats.

Fire Mage gear by level

The 3 highest-scoring items for each slot in every level range. Only items whose required level falls inside the range are compared.

How were these picked?

The score is the sum of the item's tooltip lines from official game data (Strength, Stamina, Spell Power, damage per second and so on) multiplied by the weights below. There is no official formula, so the weights are Forever Tool's rough estimates (assumptions). Compare scores only within the same slot.
Equip, use and chance-on-hit effects, set bonuses and resistances are not scored. Items without fixed stats (only armor in the tooltip) are left out.
Only Uncommon and Rare items, plus craftable Epic items, of item level 65 or lower are included (no raid loot). Items that require a profession to use and crafts that need raid materials are left out.
Items without a required level count as item level minus 5. Only armor types a Mage wears are included, with mail and plate counted from level 40 (classic rules, since nothing has been announced).
Sources list only crafting (professions) and quest rewards. Dungeon drops are being collected from player reports; check the item page.

Fire weights (assumed)

Stat	Score per point
Wand damage per second	2
Spell Power	1
Spell Damage	1
Fire Damage	0.9
Hit	0.8
Critical Strike	0.6
Haste	0.5
Mana Regeneration per 5 sec	0.5
Intellect	0.4
Stamina	0.2
Spell Piercing	0.2
Spirit	0.1

Levels 1–20

Hall of Thanes 13–18 Ruins of Lordaeron 15–20 Level 1–10 quest zones Level 11–20 quest zones

Head

Flame CircletScore 11.9
Req. 20 · Fire Damage +11 · Stamina +10
Crafted: Tailoring
Pristine CircletScore 8.0
Req. 20 · Spell Damage +6 · Stamina +10
Crafted: Tailoring
Silky CircletScore 2.0
Req. 20 · Stamina +10
Crafted: Tailoring

Neck

Scholarly PendantScore 0.8
Item level 23 · Stamina +3 · Spirit +2
Erudite's AmuletScore 0.6
Item level 23 · Stamina +3
Scout's MedallionScore 0.4
Req. 18 · Stamina +2
Same stats: Sentinel's Medallion

Shoulder

Reinforced Woolen ShouldersScore 6.6
Req. 19 · Spell Power +5 · Intellect +4
Crafted: Tailoring
Double-Stitched Woolen ShouldersScore 4.8
Req. 17 · Spell Power +4 · Stamina +4
Crafted: Tailoring

Back

Heavy Woolen CloakScore 4.4
Req. 16 · Spell Power +4 · Spirit +4
Crafted: Tailoring
Battle Healer's CloakScore 4.0
Req. 18 · Spell Damage +3 · Stamina +4 · Spirit +2
Same stats: Caretaker's Cape
Pearl-clasped CloakScore 3.2
Req. 14 · Spell Power +2 · Intellect +3
Crafted: Tailoring

Chest

Filigreed Flame GownScore 11.2
Req. 15 · Fire Damage +9 · Intellect +5 · Stamina +4 · Spirit +3
Crafted: Tailoring
High Robe of the AdjudicatorScore 8.8
Item level 24 · Spell Power +8 · Intellect +2
Quest: Assault on Fenris Isle (Silverpine Forest)
Filigreed Pristine GownScore 8.1
Req. 15 · Spell Damage +5 · Intellect +5 · Stamina +4 · Spirit +3
Crafted: Tailoring

Wrist

Tabitha's CuffsScore 3.8
Item level 24 · Spell Power +3 · Stamina +4
Quest: A Frightened Request (Ruins of Lordaeron)
Owlbeard BracersScore 2.0
Item level 20 · Spell Power +1 · Intellect +2 · Stamina +1
Quest: Earthen Arise (Stonetalon Mountains)
Windsong BanglesScore 1.0
Item level 13 · Spell Power +1
Quest: Breaking the Breaker (Zephras Isle)

Hands

Flame GlovesScore 8.3
Req. 15 · Fire Damage +7 · Intellect +3 · Stamina +4
Crafted: Tailoring
Phoenix GlovesScore 8.1
Req. 20 · Fire Damage +9
Crafted: Tailoring
Pristine GlovesScore 6.0
Req. 15 · Spell Damage +4 · Intellect +3 · Stamina +4
Crafted: Tailoring

Waist

Flame SashScore 8.9
Req. 17 · Fire Damage +7 · Intellect +4 · Stamina +5
Crafted: Tailoring
Pristine SashScore 6.6
Req. 17 · Spell Damage +4 · Intellect +4 · Stamina +5
Crafted: Tailoring
Novice Arcanist's SashScore 5.8
Req. 10 · Spell Power +4 · Intellect +3 · Stamina +3
Crafted: Tailoring

Legs

Filigreed Flame LeggingsScore 13.7
Req. 20 · Fire Damage +11 · Intellect +6 · Stamina +5 · Spirit +4
Crafted: Tailoring
Phoenix PantsScore 10.6
Req. 20 · Fire Damage +10 · Intellect +4
Crafted: Tailoring
Filigreed Pristine LeggingsScore 9.8
Req. 20 · Spell Damage +6 · Intellect +6 · Stamina +5 · Spirit +4
Crafted: Tailoring

Feet

Spidersilk BootsScore 9.4
Req. 20 · Spell Power +7 · Intellect +4 · Stamina +4
Crafted: Tailoring
Flame BootsScore 7.4
Req. 12 · Fire Damage +6 · Intellect +3 · Stamina +4
Crafted: Tailoring
Pristine BootsScore 5.0
Req. 12 · Spell Damage +3 · Intellect +3 · Stamina +4
Crafted: Tailoring

Finger

Advisor's RingScore 6.4
Req. 18 · Spell Power +5 · Mana Regeneration per 5 sec +2 · Stamina +2
Same stats: Lorekeeper's Ring
Minor Channeling RingScore 5.8
Item level 24 · Spell Power +5 · Intellect +2
Quest: WANTED: Chok'sul (Loch Modan)
Sacred BandScore 2.4
Item level 25 · Spell Power +2 · Spirit +4
Quest: The Den (Stonetalon Mountains)

Trinket

Rune of PerfectionScore 0.8
Req. 20 · Stamina +4
Same stats: Rune of Duty

Two-hand

Advisor's Gnarled StaffScore 4.7
Req. 18 · Damage per second 19.7 · Intellect +4 · Stamina +8 · Mana Regeneration per 5 sec +3
Same stats: Lorekeeper's Staff
Polished Walking StaffScore 3.4
Item level 24 · Damage per second 11.7 · Intellect +7 · Stamina +3
Quest: Torek's Assault (Ashenvale)
Clear Crystal RodScore 2.8
Item level 21 · Damage per second 10.2 · Intellect +5 · Stamina +4
Quest: Arachnophobia (Stonetalon Mountains)

Main hand

Royal DaggerScore 1.6
Item level 25 · Damage per second 8.5 · Intellect +4
Quest: A Friend of the Family (Stormwind City)
Quilboar ToothpickScore 1.0
Item level 24 · Damage per second 8.1 · Intellect +2 · Spirit +2
Quest: Chol'aruk the Ravener (The Barrens), Quest: Chol'aruk the Ravener (The Barrens)
Night Watch ShortswordScore 0.8
Req. 15 · Damage per second 13.5 · Stamina +4

Held in off-hand

Mathystra Channeling OrbScore 2.6
Item level 21 · Intellect +5 · Stamina +3
Quest: Baron Marinous (Darkshore)
Defective SamophlangeScore 2.5
Req. 20 · Intellect +5 · Spirit +5
Reputation required
Tear of GriefScore 1.7
Item level 16 · Intellect +5 · Spirit +-3
Quest: For Love Eternal (Darkshore)

Wand

Restored WandScore 89.4
Item level 1 · Damage per second 44.7
Greater Magic WandScore 37.0
Req. 13 · Damage per second 17.5 · Spell Power +2
Crafted: Enchanting
Torchlight WandScore 33.6
Item level 21 · Damage per second 15.8 · Spell Power +2
Quest: The Coastal Menace (Westfall)

Levels 21–40

Excavation Site 24–29 City of Dalaran 28–33 The Drowned City 35–40 Krol'dok Stronghold 40–45 Level 21–30 quest zones Level 31–40 quest zones

Head

Twilight Mine LightScore 15.4
Item level 45 · Spell Power +13 · Stamina +12
Quest: A Miner Problem (Riverglades)
Filigreed Flame CircletScore 15.0
Req. 25 · Fire Damage +14 · Stamina +12
Crafted: Tailoring
Blackwater CapScore 12.8
Item level 45 · Intellect +17 · Spell Power +6
Quest: The Bloodsail Buccaneers (Stranglethorn Vale)

Neck

Scorn's Icy ChokerScore 10.4
Req. 30 · Spell Power +7 · Intellect +6 · Stamina +5
Seal of the ExpeditionScore 5.0
Req. 38 · Intellect +7 · Stamina +11
Reputation required
Same stats: Darkspear Warding Pendant
Amulet of ForgivenessScore 4.7
Item level 43 · Spell Damage +4 · Spirit +7
Quest: Forlorn Necklace (Shen'dralas)