Gnome is a clear winner on the Alliance side. His Intellect Racial is very strong as it provides additional Mana and Spell Critical Strike Chance. Escape Artist, while regarded as a PvP Racial, finds surprisingly many uses in the PvE environment as well. On top of that, Engineering Specialization is better than you might think because Engi is your go-to End-Game PvE profession. If you can't stand Gnomes for some reason, pick a Human, the difference is not that big; you will still be competitive (and much taller).

1. Spell Hit Chance - Increases your chance to hit with all your offensive Spells. You need a total of 16% Hit Rating and you already get some of it from Talents. Getting Hit-Capped should be your top priority.

2. Spell Critical Chance - Gives you a chance to do additional (Critical) Damage with your offensive Spells. This statistic has more value for Fire Mages, but Arcane Power Mages benefit from it as well.

3. Spell Damage - Increases your Damage done with Spells. The damage bonus from Spell Damage is calculated differently for different Spells and their Ranks, but in general, this stat is one of the best for Mages.

4. Intellect - Increases your total Mana Pool and provides you with additional Spell Critical Chance (59,5 Int = 1% Spell Critical Strike Chance).

5. Spirit - Increases your Health and Mana regeneration rate. Your Mana will regenerate in combat if you don't cast any spells for 5 seconds (the 5-second rule). Arcane Meditation Talent increases the value of Spirit by a tiny bit. Mage's Sustain is rather good and various consumables can be used to regenerate Mana, so Spirit should no be your priority.

Statistic Priority for different Mage Builds:

• Arcane Power Mage:Spell Hit Cap⇒Spell Damage ⇒Crit Chance⇒Intellect⇒Spirit
• Fire Mage: Spell Hit Cap⇒Crit Chance ⇒Spell Damage⇒Intellect⇒ Spirit

Arcane Power Mage PvE DPS Build

Arcane Tree:

• 2/2Arcane Subtlety - Resistances are very powerful in Classic and Talents that reduce them even more so.
• 3/5Arcane Focus - 3/5 is enough to achieve Arcane Spell Hit cap against enemies two levels higher than you (level 63 Boss has a 17% chance to resist your spells, so putting more points here is counterproductive).
• 4/5Magic Absorption - Resistances are needed in many Classic Boss encounters, which makes this Talent much better than it looks. Also, there is no better place to put your points up to this point.
• 5/5Arcane Concentration - Clearcasting is one of the most powerful effects in Classic and this Talent gives you a 10% chance to get it after you damage an enemy with your spell.
• 3/3 Improved Arcane Explosion - Fun fact: Arcane Explosion spam is the strongest AoE DPS rotation in Classic (but it drains Mage's mana very quickly).
• 1/1 Arcane Resilience - This is underwhelming and will not save your life, but it is also necessary if you want Arcane Mind, and you do.
• 3/3 Arcane Meditation - Helps with your Sustain by quite a bit.
• 1/1 Presence of Mind - Part of the infamous 3-Minute-Mage Instant Pyroblast Combo, also solid in PvE.
• 5/5 Arcane Mind.
• 3/3 Arcane Instability
• 1/1 Arcane Power - Very powerful Cooldown that gives you great Burst Damage potential when combined with Clear Casting procs and Presence of Mind.

Frost Tree:

• 5/5Improved Frostbolt
• 3/3Elemental Precision- This gives you 6% Frost Spell Hit Chance, which is enough aginst enemies 2 levels higher than you.
• 5/5Ice Shards - Very strong offensive Talent that also greatly increases the value of Critical Chance statistic.
• 3/3Piercing Ice - Flat Damage increase for all your Frost spells.
• 1/2 Arctic Reach - Extra Range comes in handy during many encounters as it gives you some freedom of movement.
• 3/3 Frost Channeling - Helps with both Sustain and Aggro management; it doesn't get better than that.

Fire Mage PvE DPS Build

Arcane Tree:

• 2/2Arcane Subtlety
• 3/5Arcane Focus
• 5/5Magic Absorption
• 5/5Arcane Concentration

Fire Tree:

• 5/5Improved Fireball
• 5/5Ignite - The reason why Fire Mage overtakes other Mage Builds when better gear becomes available. This Talent greatly increases Mage's DPS and is definitely one of the best in the entire game. On top of that, its effect resets and grows after each Fire Spell Critical Strike made by a Mage that has this Talent, which makes it just insane (the more Fire Mages in a Raid, the crazier this Talent becomes).
• 2/2Flame Throwing - Additional 6 yards range on all your Fire Spells. This generally reduces your downtime by a bit when you are forced to move.
• 2/2Incinerate - 4% extra Critical Chance with your Fire Blast and Scorch. Speaking of Ignite synergy...
• 2/2 Burning Soul - The Threat Reduction part makes this Talent a must-have for PvE.
• 3/3 Improved Scorch - With this Talent, your Scorch also applies a stackable debuff that increases Fire Damage taken by your Target by 15% (if stacked 5 times).
• 3/3Master of Elements - This helps with your sustain and synergizes with your Spell Critical Chance, which is convenient.
• 3/3Critical Mass - More Crit = even better Ignite synergy.
• 5/5Fire Power
• 1/1 Combustion - Very strong Burst Damage Cooldown, irreplaceable during enrage phases of Boss fights. And it also synergizes with Ignite.

Frost Tree:

• 3/3Elemental Precision

• Pre-Raid - Demon Blade (BoE World Drop; can be purchased on AH)
• Phase 1 - Azuresong Mageblade (drop from Golemagg the Incinerator, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - TBA
• Phase 3 - TBA
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Drakestone of Frozen Wrath (Drop from Weaver, Dreamscythe, and Hazzas, Sunken Temple; note: The item has a Random Enchantment)
• Phase 1 - Drakestone of Frozen Wrath
• Phase 2 - TBA
• Phase 3 - TBA
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Lunar Wand of Frozen Wrath (BoE World Drop; can be purchased on AH; note: The item has a Random Enchantment)
• Phase 1 - Lunar Wand
• Phase 2 - TBA
• Phase 3 - TBA
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Briarwood Reed (Drop from Jed Runewatcher, Upper Blackrock Spire)
• Phase 1 - Briarwood Reed
• Phase 2 - TBA
• Phase 3 - TBA
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Eye of the Beast (Quest Reward from 'For the Horde!' / 'General Drakkisath's Demise', Upper Blackrock Spire)
• Phase 1 - Talisman of Ephemeral Power (drop from Baron Geddon, Gaar, Golemagg the Incinerator, and Magmadar, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - TBA
• Phase 3 - TBA
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Star of Mystaria (Drop from Balnazzar, Stratcholme)
• Phase 1 - Choker of the Fire Lord (drop from Ragnaros, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - TBA
• Phase 3 - TBA
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Freezing Band (BoE World Drop; can be purchased on AH) / Songstone of Ironforge (Quest Reward from 'The Princess's Surprise', Blackrock Depths)
• Phase 1 - Ring of Spell Power (drop from Shazzrah, Lucifron, Gehennas, and Sulfuron Harbinger, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - TBA
• Phase 3 - TBA
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Freezing Band / Maiden's Circle (BoE World Drop; can be purchased on AH)
• Phase 1 - Ring of Spell Power (drop from Shazzrah, Lucifron, Gehennas, and Sulfuron Harbinger, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - TBA
• Phase 3 - TBA
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Master's Hat of Frozen Wrath (BoE World Drop; can be purchased on AH; note: The item has a Random Enchantment) / Crimson Felt Hat (Drop from Magistrate Barthilas, Stratcholme)
• Phase 1 - Arcanist Crown (drop from Garr, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - TBA
• Phase 3 - TBA
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Robe of the Archmage (Tailoring Recipe that drops from Firebrand Pyromancer, Lower Blackrock Spire; note: the robe is Bind on Pickup, which means that you have to craft it yourself. It does not require Tailoring Skill to use, however) / Freezing Lich Robes (drop from Ras Frostwhisper, Scholomance)
• Phase 1 - Robe of the Archmage / Robe of Volatile Power (drop from Lucifron, Shazzrah, Sulfuron Harbinger, and Gehennas, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - TBA
• Phase 3 - TBA
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Skyshroud Leggings (drop from Highlord Omokk, Lower Blackrock Spire)
• Phase 1 - Netherwind Pants (drop from Ragnaros, Molten Core) / Arcanist Leggins ( drop from Magmadar, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - TBA
• Phase 3 - TBA
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Hands of Power (drop from Quartermaster Zigris, Lower Blackrock Spire)
• Phase 1 - Hands of Power
• Phase 2 - TBA
• Phase 3 - TBA
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Master's Boots of Frozen Wrath (BoE World Drop; can be purchased on AH; note: The item has a Random Enchantment) / Omnicast Boots (drop from Golem Lord Ardelmach, Blackrock Depths)
• Phase 1 - Arcanist Boots (drop from Lucifron, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - TBA
• Phase 3 - TBA
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Boreal Mantle (drop from Warder Stilgis, Blackrock Depths)
• Phase 1 - Boreal Mantle
• Phase 2 - TBA
• Phase 3 - TBA
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Flameweave Cuffs of Frozen Wrath (drop from Lord Incendius, Blackrock Depths; note: The item has a Random Enchantment)
• Phase 1 - Arcanist Bindings (BoE Epic Drop, Trash Mobs in Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - TBA
• Phase 3 - TBA
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Ban'thok Sash (drop from Ok'thor the Breaker, Blackrock Depths)
• Phase 1 - Mana Igniting Cord (drop from Golemagg the Incinerator, Garr, Baron Geddon, and Magmadar, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - TBA
• Phase 3 - TBA
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Archivist Cape of Frozen Wrath (drop from Archivist Galford, Stratcholme; note: The item has a Random Enchantment) / Spritecaster Cape (drop from High Interrogator Gerstahn, Blackrock Depths)
• Phase 1 - Archivist Cape of Frozen Wrath / Sapphiron Drape (drop from Onyxia, Onyxia's Lair)
• Phase 2 - TBA
• Phase 3 - TBA
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

1. Fireblast during burn phases to maximize DPS at the cost of mana efficiency (use this to finish of enemies)

2. Arcane Explosion during burn phases to maximize DPS at the cost of mana efficiency (use this to finish of enemies)

3. Maintain Winter's Chill (if Frost) / Improved Scorch (if Fire) stacks on primary Target (after the effect runs out, stack it back to 5)

4. Frostbolt (if Frost) / Fireball (if Fire) as a main Damage source

1. Arcane Explosion to finish of enemies

2. Cone of Cold if Targets are in range

3. Blizzard

1. Arcane Explosion to finish of enemies

2. Blast Wave on Cooldown

3. Maintain Flamestrike's ground effect

1. If you want to deal more Damage and stand out from your Raid competition, Stack Consumables. Spending some additional Gold or a few extra hours grinding might secure you a spot in a Raid, as Raid leaders prefer dedicated and well-prepared players.

2. Proper Mana management is paramount for your success in Raids. Learn to judge how long a fight will be and try to time the end of it with you running out of resources (if fight is about to end and you have spare mana, maximize your DPS with cost-ineffective but heavily-damaging spells, like Arcane Explosion). If you tend to run out of mana before combat ends, obey the 5-second rule and regenerate some of your resources by not casting for a while (use your Wand instead - you will lose out on DPS, but the net loss will be much lower than if you just tried to spam your spells as soon as you regen enough mana for a single cast). You can (and should) also use mana-regenerating consumables mentioned in the 'the best consumables' section.

3. Taking advantage of your defensive abilities is the key to your survival in Raids. As a mage, you don't have armor or health that will protect you. Use Blink, Ice Block and everything else in your toolkit to avoid being hit as getting hit often results in instant death.

4. Always try to improve. Get an addon that tracks your performance and try to optimize your equipment and rotation.

END NOTE

This Guide should help you to prepare yourself for that legendary Vanilla Raiding Experience and allow you to progress through Raid Tiers efficiently and with a good amount of fun.

We hope that you have found this guide useful and informative. If we have missed a piece of information that is important to you, please let us know!

Please do note that this is an early version of our guide, and we will be happy to receive constructive criticism, that will help us improve it, so leave your suggestions in the comments section below.