Mage talents

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As with the other original classes, at level 10 a mage can begin spending talent points in order to gain and improve abilities. Mage talents underwent a significant review for patch 1.11, with additional modifications in 2.0.1.

Below, each talent has a quoted description of the talent, which was taken from the game. The differences between the various levels of each talent are quoted in brackets. For example, "Reduces the chance that the opponent can resist your Arcane spells by {2/4/6/8/10}%" to describe the 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 point variations of the talent.

Prerequisites are listed for all talents that have them.

All tier N talents require that you spend 5(N-1) talent points in their tree as a prerequisite. For example, to get a Tier 2 Arcane talent, you must first have spent at least 5 points on other Arcane talents, Tier 3 requires 10 points, etc.

Arcane

The Arcane tree has an emphasis in Utility talents, such as mana restoration mechanics (Arcane Meditation, Arcane Concentration) and resilience talents (Prismatic Cloak, Arcane Fortitude), and gives buffs to spells of all schools, not just its own, in contrast with the other trees (Spell Power, Arcane Instability).

It provides high mobility and burst damage in both PvE and PvP settings through talents such as Presence of Mind, Missile Barrage and its core ability and main nuke Arcane Barrage.

Talent	Points	Requirements	Description
Arcane Subtlety	2	None	Reduces the chance your spells will be dispelled by {15%/30%} and all of your Arcane spells cause {20/40}% less threat
Arcane Focus	3	None	Increases your chance to hit and reduces the mana cost of your Arcane spells by {1/2/3}%
Arcane Stability	5	None	Reduces the pushback suffered from damaging attacks while casting Arcane Missiles and Arcane Blast by {20/40/60/80/100}%.
Arcane Fortitude	3	Arcane 5	Increases your armor by {50/100/150}%.
Magic Absorption	2	Arcane 5	Increases all resistances by {.5/1}% per level and causes all spells you resist to restore {1/2}% of your maximum mana. 1s cooldown.
Arcane Concentration	5	Arcane 5	Gives you a {2/4/6/8/10}% 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%
Magic Attunement	2	Arcane 10	Increases the range of your Arcane spells by {3/6} yards. Increases the effect of your Amplify Magic and Dampen Magic spells by {25/50}%.
Spell Impact	3	Arcane 10	Increases the damage of your Arcane Explosion, Arcane Blast, Blast Wave, Fire Blast, Scorch, Fireball, Ice Lance, and Cone of Cold spells by an additional {2/4/6}%
Student of the Mind	3	Arcane 10	Increases your total Spirit by {4/7/10}%.
Focus Magic	1	Arcane 10	Increases the target's chance to crittcally hit with spells by 3%. When the target crittically hits the spell caster's chance to critically hit with spells is increased by 3% for 10 sec. Cannot be cast on self.
Arcane Shielding	2	Arcane 15	Decreases the mana lost per point of damage taken while Mana Shield is active by {17/33}% and increases the resistances granted by Mage Armor by {25/50}%
Improved Counterspell	2	Arcane 15	Your Counterspell also silences the target for {2/4} sec.
Arcane Meditation	3	Arcane 15	Allows {10/20/30}% of your Mana regeneration to continue while casting.
Torment the Weak	3	Arcane 15	Your Frostbolt, Fireball, Frostfire Bolt, Arcane Missiles, Arcane Blast and Arcane Barrage abilities deal {4/8/12}% more damage to snared or slowed targets.
Improved Blink	2	Arcane 20	Reduces the mana cost of Blink by {25/50}% and for 4 sec after casting your chance to be hit by all attacks and spells is reduced by {15/30}%
Presence of Mind	1	Arcane 20	Instant spell 3 minute cooldown Casting cost: 0 mana When activated, your next Mage spell with a casting time less than 10 sec. becomes an instant cast spell.
Arcane Mind	5	Arcane 20	Increases your total intellect by {3/6/9/12/15}%.
Prismatic Cloak	3	Arcane 25	Reduces all damage taken by {2/4/6}% and reduces the fade time of your invisibility spell by {1/2/3} sec.
Arcane Instability	3	Presence of Mind 1 Arcane 25	Increases your spell damage and critical strike chance by {1/2/3}%.
Arcane Potency	2	Presence of Mind Arcane 25	Increases the critical strike chance of your next damaging by {15/30}% after gaining Clearcasting or Presence of Mind.
Arcane Empowerment	3	Arcane 30	Increases the damage of your Arcane Missiles spell by an amount equal to {15/30/45}% of your spell power and the damage of your Arcane Blast by {3/6/9}% of your spell power.
Arcane Power	1	Arcane Instability 3 Arcane 30	Instant spell 3 minute cooldown Casting cost: 0 mana When activated, your spells deal 30% more damage while costing 30% more mana to cast. This effect lasts 15 sec.
Incanter's Absorption	3	Arcane 30	When you absorb damage your spell damage is increased by {5/10/15}% of the amount absorbed for 10 sec.
Arcane Flows	2	Arcane Power Arcane 35	Reduces the cooldown of your Presence of Mind, Arcane Power and Invisibility spells by {30/60} secs and the cooldown of your Evocation spell by {1/2} min.
Mind Mastery	5	Arcane 35	Increases spell power by up to {3/6/9/12/15}% of your total intellect.
Slow	1	Arcane 40	Instant spell No cooldown Casting cost: 20% of base mana Reduces target's movement speed by 50%, increases time between ranged attacks by 50%, and increases casting time by 50%. Lasts 15 seconds. Slow can only affect one target at a time.
Missile Barrage	5	Arcane 40	Gives your Arcane Blast, Arcane Barrage, Fireball, Frostbolt, Frostfire Bolt spells a {4/8/12/16/20}% chance to reduce the channeled duration of the next Arcane Missiles spell by 2.5 secs and missiles will fire every .5 secs.
Netherwind Presence	3	Arcane 45	Increases your spell haste by {2/4/6}%.
Spell Power	2	Arcane 45	Increase critical strike damage bonus of all spells by {25/50}%.
Arcane Barrage	1	Arcane 50	Instant spell 3 sec cooldown Casting cost: 27% of base mana Range: 30 yards Rank 1: Launches several missiles at the enemy target, causing 386 to 470 arcane damage.

Fire

Fire spells are traditionally harder-hitting and burstier in nature, resulting in higher sustained single-target damage. The Fire tree reflects this with its focus on DPS talents such as Critical Mass and Pyromaniac, and while it has good survival abilities (Blast Wave, for instance), they are not as significant as the other trees' abilities, turning the Mage into the proverbial glass cannon: kill fast and die fast.

Talent	Points	Requirements	Description
Improved Fireball	5	None	Reduces the casting time of your Fireball spell by {0.1/0.2/0.3/0.4/0.5} sec. Reduces the bonus damage from items by {2/4/6/8/10}%. Changed in 2.0.6; doesn't appear on the tooltip. The reduction of bonus damage from items has removed in 2.3.0.
Impact	5	None	Gives your Fire spells {2/4/6/8/10}% chance to stun the target for 2 sec.
Ignite	5	Fire 5	Your critical strikes from Fire damage spells cause the target to burn for an additional {8/16/24/32/40}% of your spell's damage over 4 sec.
Flame Throwing	2	Fire 5	Increases the range of your fire spells by {3/6} yards.
Improved Fire Blast	3	Fire 5	Reduces the cooldown of your Fire Blast spell by {0.5/1/1.5} sec.
Incineration	2	Fire 10	Increases the critical strike chance of your Fire Blast and Scorch spells by {2/4}%.
Improved Flamestrike	3	Fire 10	Increases the critical strike chance of your Flamestrike spell by {5/10/15}%.
Pyroblast	1	Fire 10	6-sec. cast spell Casting cost: 125 mana Range: 35 yards Rank 1: Hurls an immense fiery boulder that causes 148 to 195 Fire damage and an additional 56 Fire damage over 12 sec. (See Pyroblast for other ranks.)
Burning Soul	2	Fire 10	Gives your Fire spells a {35/70}% chance to not lose casting time when you take damage and reduces threat by {5/10%}.
Improved Scorch	3	Fire 15	Your Scorch spells have a {20/40/60/80/100}% chance to cause your target to be vulnerable to Fire damage. This vulnerability increases the Fire damage dealt to your target by 2% and lasts 15 sec. Stacks up to 5 times.
Molten Shields	2	Fire 15	Causes your Fire Ward to have a {10/20}% chance to reflect Fire spells while active. In addition, your Molten Armor spell has a {50/100}% chance to affect ranged and spell attacks.
Master of Elements	3	Fire 15	Your Fire and Frost spell criticals will refund {10/20/30}% of their base mana cost.
Playing with Fire	3	Fire 20	Increases all spell damage caused by {1/2/3}% and all spell damage taken by {1/2/3}%.
Critical Mass	3	Fire 20	Increases the critical strike chance of your fire spells by {2/4/6}%
Blast Wave	1	Pyroblast 1 Fire 20	Instant spell 45 second cooldown Casting cost: 215 mana A wave of flame radiates outward from the caster, damaging all enemies caught within the blast for 160 to 192 Fire damage, and dazing them for 6 sec.
Blazing Speed	2	Fire 25	Gives you a {5/10}% chance when hit by a melee or ranged attack to increase your movement speed by 50% and remove all movement impairing effects. This effect lasts 8 sec.
Fire Power	5	Fire 25	Increases the damage done by your Fire spells by {2/4/6/8/10}%.
Pyromaniac	3	Fire 30	Increases the chance to critically hit and reduces the mana cost of all Fire spells by an additional {1/2/3}%.
Combustion	1	Critical Mass 3 Fire 30	Instant spell 3 minute cooldown Casting cost: 0 mana When activated, this spell causes each Fire damage spell you cast to increase your critical strike chance with Fire damage spells by 10%. This effect lasts until you have caused 3 critical strikes with Fire spells.
Molten Fury	2	Fire 30	Increases damage of all spells against targets with less than 20% health by {10/20}%.
Empowered Fire	3	Fire 35	Increases the damage of your Fireball and Frostfire Bolt spells by an amount equal to 5/10/15% of your spell power.
Dragon's Breath	1	Combustion 1 Fire 40	Instant spell 20 sec. cooldown Casting cost: 475 mana Rank 1: Targets in a cone in front of the caster take 370 to 430 Fire damage and are Disoriented for 3 sec. Shares cooldown with Cone of Cold

Frost

The Frost tree has an emphasis in control and survivability talents such as Permafrost and Ice Barrier. It sacrifices some of its single-target DPS in exchange for powerful snares, the highest Mage AoE damage and higher mana-efficiency than other trees that makes it excel in fights that include multiple adds or are longer than average. Its control and longevity earned it the crown of most recognized PvP Mage tree.

Talent	Points	Requirements	Description
Frost Warding	2	None	Increases the armor and resistances given by your Frost Armor and Ice Armor spells by {15/30}%. In addition, gives your Frost Ward a {10/20}% chance to reflect Frost spells and effects while active.
Improved Frostbolt	5	None	Reduces the casting time of your Frostbolt spell by {0.1/0.2/0.3/0.4/0.5} sec. Reduces the bonus damage from items by {2/4/6/8/10}%. Changed in 2.0.6; doesn't appear on the tooltip. The reduction of bonus damage from items has removed in 2.3.0.
Precision	3	None	Reduces the mana cost and increase the chance to hit with spells by {1/2/3}%.
Ice Shards	5	Frost 5	Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Frost spells by {20/40/60/80/100}%.
Frostbite	3	Frost 5	Gives your Chill effects a {5/10/15}% chance to freeze the target for 5 sec.
Improved Frost Nova	2	Frost 5	Reduces the cooldown of your Frost Nova spell by {2/4} sec.
Permafrost	3	Frost 5	Increases the duration of your Chill effects by {1/2/3} sec and reduces the target's speed by an additional {4/7/10}%.
Piercing Ice	3	Frost 10	Increases the damage done by your Frost spells by {2/4/6}%.
Icy Veins	1	Frost 10	Instant Spell 3 minute cooldown Casting cost: 3% of base mana. Hastens your spellcasting, reducing casting time of all spells by 20% and grants your spells a 100% pushback resistance. Last 20 seconds.
Improved Blizzard	3	Frost 10	Adds a chill effect to your Blizzard spell. This effect lowers the target's movement speed by {25/40/50}% of normal. Lasts 1.5 sec.
Arctic Reach	2	Frost 15	Increases the range of your Frostbolt spell and the radius of your Frost Nova and Cone of Cold spells by {10/20}%.
Frost Channeling	3	Frost 15	Reduces the mana cost of your frost spells by {5/10/15}% and reduces threat caused by Frost spells by {4/7/10}%.
Shatter	5	Improved Frost Nova 2 Frost 15	Increases the critical strike chance of all your spells against frozen targets by {10/20/30/40/50}%.
Frozen Core	3	Frost 20	Reduces the damage taken by Frost and Fire effects by {2/4/6}%
Cold Snap	1	Frost 20	Instant spell 8 minute cooldown Casting cost: 0 mana When activated, this spell finishes the cooldown on all of your Frost spells.
Improved Cone of Cold	3	Frost 20	Increases the damage dealt by your Cone of Cold spell by {15/25/35}%.
Ice Floes	2	Frost 25	Reduces the cooldown of your Cone of Cold, Cold Snap, Ice Barrier, and Ice Block spells by {10/20}%
Winter's Chill	5	Frost 25	Gives your Frost damage spells a {20/40/60/80/100}% chance to apply the Winter's Chill effect, which increases the chance a Frost spell will critically hit the target by 2% for 15 seconds. Stacks up to 5 times.
Ice Barrier	1	Cold Snap 1 Frost 30	Instant spell 30 second cooldown Casting cost: 305 mana Rank 1: Instantly shields you, absorbing 438 damage. Lasts 1 min. While the shield holds, spells will not be interrupted.
Arctic Winds	5	Frost 30	Reduces the chance melee and ranged attacks will hit you by {1/2/3/4/5}% Increases all frost damage caused by {1/2/3/4/5}%
Empowered Frostbolt	5	Frost 35	Your Frostbolt spell gains an additional {2/4/6/8/10}% of your bonus spell damage effects and an additional {1/2/3/4/5}% chance to critically strike.
Fingers of Frost	1	Frost 35	Gives your chill effects a 7% chance to grant you the fingers of frost effect, which treats your next two spells cast as if the target were frozen. Lasts 15 secs.
Summon Water Elemental	5	Frost 40	Instant spell 3 minute cooldown Casting cost: 16% of base mana Summon a Water Elemental to fight for the caster for 45 sec.

Notable talents

Arcane Concentration gives you a chance to enter a Clearcasting state, improving your mana efficiency by about 10%. When you proc Clearcasting, take the opportunity to cast a mana expensive spell.
Pyroblast is the highest single target damage spell available, but is limited by its long casting time.
Ice Shards, Frostbite and Shatter are the holy trinity of Shatter/critical hit Frost mage build, giving you a 50% bonus to crit a frozen target. They can now all be maxed with only 20 points in Frost. Also, Shatter now affects all your spells, not just Frost spells, giving additional flexibility to Shatter builds.
Ice Block is a very situational ability with a number of uses. As of patch 2.3.2 Ice Block is trainable to any mage at the level of 30. See main article for details: Ice Block.
The tier 7 Frost talent Ice Barrier is potentially much more efficient than Mana Shield. In Patch 1.11 its cooldown was reduced to 30 seconds, making it much more useful. Its functionality and mana efficiency are similar to a self-cast version of a priest's Power Word: Shield.