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Arcane Mage · Ranged DPS

Arcane Mage guide

Complete guideData-drivenMediumPatch 12.1.0
751Updated

More Arcane Mage guides

This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.

Overview

Arcane Mage is a ranged dps specialization of the Mage in World of Warcraft. It is S tier on our ladder: 46% presence in the top Mythic+ groups (average key +15.5) and 50.4% of Solo Shuffle rounds won. Manipulates raw Arcane magic, destroying enemies with overwhelming power. Preferred Weapon: Staff, Wand, Dagger, Sword

Strengths

  • Very present in top keys: 46% of the top Mythic+ groups we read bring one, up to +22.
  • Wins 50.4% of its Solo Shuffle rounds across 3905 rated players.
  • Most played in Murder Row, where it shows up in 49.1% of the top runs.
  • Top players stack Haste (33.3% of their secondary stats).

Build cheat sheet

Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.

Builds

Arcane Mage · Mythic+

BalancedMythic+
Open build

When to use it

What the 15 top Mythic+ players we read are using, with the Sunfury hero tree (100%). Average item level 331. The talent code is the one 6.7% of them use exactly.

Mythic+ build

15 top profilesAverage item level 331Hero tree: Sunfury (100%)

Talent code to import in-game (Talents → Import). Used exactly by 7% of the sample.

C4DAche08tHz49KSVf7iKFnyuNzwYZmZmFMDamZGAAAGAwMz0sssMzMzMLLzMxGAAbwMzwmlZMzyMGzMzMDLMzMzMDAwAAAMzsgZGgBADzMD

Talent trees

Mage talents

Prismatic BarrierInspired IntellectArcane Warding2/2Charm of MedivhIce BlockCharm of AegwynnAlter TimeEnergized BarriersTome of AntonidasTome of RhoninGreater InvisibilitySpatial ManipulationImproved Prismatic BarrierQuick WittedFlow of TimeBrainstormBarrier DiffusionMaster of Time80Master of EscapeTime WalkSpellsteal47Remove Curse27Winter's Protection2/2Permafrost BaubleMass Invisibility47Supernova87Ring of FrostMass Polymorph7Improved CounterspellOverflowing EnergyTime ManipulationFreezing ColdIce NovaShimmerMirror ImageImproved SpellstealImproved WardingIce ColdImproved Frost NovaIce WardImproved Conjuration2/2Captured Thoughts60Incantation of Swiftness47Frost ConditioningMana Confluence27Improved Remove Curse
Spellfire Spheres

Sunfury100%

Memory of Al'arCodex of the SunstridersRondurmancyPyrocosmMana CascadeInvocation: Arcane PhoenixBurden of PowerAshes of InspirationGlorious IncandescenceSpellfire SalvoLessons in Debilitation80Savor the MomentMerely a Setback
Splintering Sorcery

Spellslinger

Infused SplintersControlled InstinctsSignature SpellReactive BarrierPhantasmal ImageSplintering OrbsAugury AboundsForce of WillPolished FocusArchmage's WrathSpellfrost TeachingsSplinterstormSlippery SlingingLook AgainAttuned FamiliarShifting Shards

Arcane talents

Arcing CleaveConcentrated PowerHigh VoltageSlipstreamArcane MissilesArcane Singularity2/2EurekaProdigious Savant2/2EnlightenedAegwynn's TechniqueAether Attunement2/2Expanded MindTouch of the MagiAmplificationIntuitionCharged OrbArcane OrbArcane SurgeRefractive ImagesImproved ClearcastingArcane SalvoOverpowered MissilesResonanceFocusing CrystalOrb BarrageArcane TempoConsortium's Bauble80Arcane FamiliarOrb MasteryIlluminated ThoughtsMana Bomb13Energized FamiliarImpetus7Overflowing InsightEvocationMana AdeptArcane PulseReverberate

Apex

Prismatic Bolt
Most picked PvP talentsChrono Shift47Ethereal Blink33Overpowered Barrier33Master Shepherd27Arcanosphere20Kleptomania20Improved Mass Invisibility13

Gold means more than half of the top picks it; the number is the share that takes it when it isn't nearly everyone. Lines show which node unlocks which.

Secondary stat split

  1. 1. Haste 33%
  2. 2. Critical Strike 26%
  3. 3. Versatility 22%
  4. 4. Mastery 18%

Most socketed gems

  • 153%Flawless Versatile Peridot+16 Haste & +7 Versatility
  • 93%Indecipherable Eversong Diamond+32 Primary Stat
  • 60%Flawless Quick Lapis+16 Versatility & +7 Haste
  • 60%Flawless Masterful Garnet+16 Critical Strike & +7 Mastery
  • 40%Flawless Versatile Garnet+16 Critical Strike & +7 Versatility
  • 33%Flawless Deadly Peridot+16 Haste & +7 Critical Strike

Gear by slot

  • Main hand

    • Aln'hara Caneilvl 331 · 33%
    • Jan'thrazet, the Soul Fangilvl 337 · 27%
    • Venomancer's Winged Channelerilvl 334 · 20%

    ✦ Rite of the Hash'ey (93%)

  • Off hand

    • Aln'hara Lanternilvl 331 · 27%
    • Spine of the Hissing Abyssilvl 334 · 13%
    • Frostscale's Mystic Frondilvl 334 · 7%

  • Trinket

    • Gebbo's Bottomless Bagilvl 334 · 87%
    • Freightrunner's Flaskilvl 325 · 73%
    • Hex Lord's Dooming Idolilvl 344 · 27%

  • Head

    • Crown of the Primal Leywardenilvl 334 · 87%
    • Venomkeeper's Horrific Cowlilvl 328 · 13%

    ✦ Enchant Helm - Empowered Rune of Avoidance (87%)

  • Neck

    • Aqirbane Reliquaryilvl 332 · 100%

  • Shoulders

    • Primal Leywarden's Manafluxilvl 332 · 87%
    • Martyr's Mantleilvl 331 · 7%
    • Venom Rite Mantleilvl 334 · 7%

    ✦ Enchant Shoulders - Amirdrassil's Grace (93%)

  • Back

    • Silken Voodoo Drapeilvl 338 · 27%
    • Adherent's Silken Shroudilvl 331 · 20%
    • Fireproof Drapeilvl 321 · 20%

  • Chest

    • Crest of the Primal Leywardenilvl 331 · 80%
    • Martyr's Vestmentsilvl 331 · 20%

    ✦ Enchant Chest - Mark of the Worldsoul (100%)

  • Wrists

    • Martyr's Bindingsilvl 331 · 60%
    • Nibbling Armbandsilvl 321 · 20%
    • Venom-Singed Cuffsilvl 334 · 13%

  • Hands

    • Primal Leywarden's Manashapersilvl 329 · 87%
    • Martyr's Glovesilvl 331 · 13%

  • Waist

    • Cincture of the Abyssal Grottoilvl 331 · 40%
    • Martyr's Waistwrapilvl 331 · 27%
    • Caustic Chain-Wrapped Sashilvl 334 · 20%

  • Legs

    • Primal Leywarden's Tailored Legwrapsilvl 332 · 93%
    • Initiate's Sacrificial Tightsilvl 334 · 7%

    ✦ +41 Intellect & +115 Stamina (73%)

  • Feet

    • Slippers of the Hissing Cultilvl 334 · 47%
    • Cackling Soultreadsilvl 339 · 33%
    • Battleboots of the Primal Leywardenilvl 328 · 13%

    ✦ Enchant Boots - Lynx's Dexterity (80%)

  • Ring

    • Alluring Bubblebandilvl 332 · 60%
    • Masterwork Sin'dorei Bandilvl 331 · 47%
    • Pilfered Precious Bandilvl 321 · 40%

    ✦ Enchant Ring - Eyes of the Eagle (200%)

Abilities

  • Arcane Missiles4,500 Mana mpRequires Clearcasting Launches 5 waves of Arcane Missiles at the enemy over 2.2 sec, causing a total of 2,262 Arcane damage.4,500 Mana
  • Arcane Pulse15 sec cooldowns3,000 Mana mpA pulse of Arcane magic erupts from underneath your target, dealing 2,567 Arcane damage to all enemies within 8 yds. Damage reduced beyond 5 targets. Generates 1 Arcane Charge for each enemy struck.Cooldown 15 sec cooldown · 3,000 Mana
  • Arcane Surge1.5 min cooldowns1 to 40,007 Mana mpExpend all of your current mana to annihilate your enemy target and nearby enemies for up to 3,844 Arcane damage based on Mana spent. Deals reduced damage beyond 8 targets. For the next 15 sec, your Mana regeneration is increased by 425% and spell damage is increased by 35%. Generates Clearcasting.Cooldown 1.5 min cooldown · 1 to 40,007 Mana
  • Arcane Orb300 Mana mpLaunches an Arcane Orb forward from your position, traveling up to 40 yds, dealing 1,251 Arcane damage to enemies it passes through. Grants 1 Arcane Charge when cast and every time it deals damage.300 Mana
  • Presence of Mind45 sec cooldownsCauses your next 2 Arcane Blasts to be instant cast.Cooldown 45 sec cooldown
  • Touch of the Magi0.5 sec cooldowns1,500 Mana mpApplies Touch of the Magi to your current target, accumulating 20% of the damage you deal to the target for 12 sec, and then exploding for that amount of Arcane damage to the target and reduced damage to all nearby enemies. Generates 4 Arcane Charges.Cooldown 0.5 sec cooldown · 1,500 Mana
  • EvocationIncreases your mana regeneration by 1,500% for 2.7 sec.Core ability of the specialization.
  • Concentrated PowerPassiveArcane Missiles channels 20% faster.Core ability of the specialization.

Strategy

1Your job in the group

As a ranged dps, your job is to deal damage from range while handling mechanics that target spread players.

  • Pre-position before each pull where you can hit the whole pack and still be in range of your healer.
  • Keep casting while moving as much as your kit allows: a ranged player who stops casting stops dealing damage.
  • Save your major cooldowns for the damage-amplification windows of the boss and for the biggest pulls of the route.

2Talents

The build below is the most common among the 15 top Mythic+ players we read. 100% of them pick the Sunfury hero tree.

  • Supernova — 86.7% of the top players
  • Consortium's Bauble — 80% of the top players
  • Lessons in Debilitation — 80% of the top players
  • Master of Time — 80% of the top players
  • Captured Thoughts — 60% of the top players
  • Spellsteal — 46.7% of the top players

3Stats and gear

Secondary stat split of the top players: Haste 33.3% > Critical Strike 26.3% > Versatility 22.2% > Mastery 18.3%.

  • Main hand: Aln'hara Cane (33.3%, item level 331) · Rite of the Hash'ey
  • Off hand: Aln'hara Lantern (26.7%, item level 331)
  • Trinket: Gebbo's Bottomless Bag (86.7%, item level 334)
  • Head: Crown of the Primal Leywarden (86.7%, item level 334) · Enchant Helm - Empowered Rune of Avoidance
  • Neck: Aqirbane Reliquary (100%, item level 332)
  • Shoulders: Primal Leywarden's Manaflux (86.7%, item level 332) · Enchant Shoulders - Amirdrassil's Grace

4Where it is played

Share of the top runs of each Mythic+ dungeon this week that include Arcane Mage.

  • Murder Row: in 49.1% of the top runs (9069 runs)
  • Voidscar Arena: in 46.8% of the top runs (8562 runs)
  • Kings' Rest: in 46% of the top runs (8378 runs)
  • Den of Nalorakk: in 46.4% of the top runs (8365 runs)
  • Ruby Life Pools: in 46% of the top runs (8294 runs)
  • The Blinding Vale: in 45.9% of the top runs (8267 runs)
  • Temple of Sethraliss: in 44.1% of the top runs (8003 runs)
  • Altar of Fangs: in 43.4% of the top runs (7994 runs)

5Common mistakes

  • Standing too far from the group and out of the healer's range.
  • Standing in avoidable damage: in high keys and raid bosses, avoidable damage is what wipes groups, not the healer.
  • Holding personal defensives until it is too late: use one the moment a big hit is announced.
  • Ignoring the interrupt rotation: every uninterrupted dangerous cast is damage your healer has to fix.

Tips

  • Use pillars and corners to pull casters to the tank.
  • Know which spells you can cast while moving: it is the difference between good and great ranged damage.
  • Import the talent code of this guide in-game (Talents → Import) and adjust only the rows the fight asks for.

Matchups

Works well with

Changelog

  1. Guide created for patch 12.1.0.

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