Frost Mage Beginner's Guide

This is intended to be a simple guide to the basic rotation and dynamics of the spec that gets you up and running without requiring more advanced optimization.

Information on hero talents will be coming soon, but in general know that overall they add a minor layer on top of how each spec plays, and most of what’s here should be applicable regardless.

Talent Build #

This is a simplified talent build designed to avoid complex interactions and skip unnecessary abilities. While not optimal in all cases, it should be a great way to get started learning the spec and should work reasonably well in world content, delves, dungeons, and raids. Abilities and talents not chosen in this build are not described here, and the rotation information assumes you’ll be using the build.

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Wowhead Link

Resources #

Frost mages have a mana bar but generaly don’t need to think too actively about it.

Core Abilities #

Frostbolt – Short cast to do frost damage and slow the target. Has a chance to either line up an Ice Lance cast with Fingers of Frost or a Flurry cast with Brain Freeze.

Flurry – Instant cast frost damage. Gains an additional charge with Perpetual Winter. Applies two stacks of a Winter’s Chill debuff that makes the next attacks treat the target as frozen, setting up two Ice Lance casts.

Blizzard – 6s cooldown. Medium length cast that does frost damage over time in the targeted area.

Ice Lance – Instant cast frost damage that’s substantially enhanced if the target is frozen, or otherwise treated as frozen via Fingers of Frost or Winter’s Chill. Hits a second nearby target for slightly reduced damage with Splitting Ice.

Cooldowns #

Icy Veins — 2min cooldown. Grants haste to speed up casting and summons a water elemental that increases your damage. Thermal Void will extend Icy Vein’s duration with each Ice Lance you cast so try to fit as many in as possible. Frostbolts cast during Icy Veins will do AoE damage thanks to Fractured Frost.

Frozen Orb – 1min cooldown. Grants several Fingers of Frost procs with Freezing Winds

Shifting Power — 1m cooldown. Channels for 4s to do AoE damage and reduce other cooldowns by 12s. Most useful to get Icy Veins back off cooldown, especially when also waiting for Frozen Orb.

Effects #

These are some of the more notable effects, interactions, and passive talents that you should be aware of. It’s not covering effects (even if they’re very strong) that provide flat bonuses or that don’t require much thought to use, and it only includes those used in our recommended build.

Mastery: Icicles – Accumulates icicles as you cast Frostbolt and Flurry, then launches them at the target when you cast Ice Lance. They do increasing damage with more mastery points. Also increases frost damage generally. You shouldn’t need to think too actively about this, it will just naturally increase your damage as you do your rotation.

Freezing Rain and Ice Caller – Frozen Orb makes your next Blizzard instant cast and hit harder, and Blizzard then reduces Frozen Orb’s cooldown when used, creating a natural synergy in your AoE rotation. Mainly just remember to use Blizzard as close to on cooldown as you can.

Rotation Overview #

This is an overview of the core rotation. It’s not a strict priority order but rather an outline of how the different abilities interact and are used. It assumes you’re using the recommended talent build above.

Single Target:

• Frostbolt to try and get Brain Freeze or Fingers of Frost
• Flurry if you have Brain Freeze
• Frozen Orb on cooldown to gain a bunch of Fingers of Frost procs - but try to line it up so that it’s available for Icy Veins if needed
• Ice Lance if the target is frozen or treated like it’s frozen, which can happen in a few ways:
  • you’ll get two stacks of the Winter’s Chill effect from Flurry - so you’ll usually follow a Flurry cast with two casts of Ice Lance
  • you have a Fingers of Frost proc from Frostbolt or Frozen Orb
• If the target is expected to live a while:
  • Icy Veins to speed up casts and increase damage
  • Frozen Orb
  • Continue with the normal rotation

AoE:

• Frozen Orb on cooldown to gain a bunch of Fingers of Frost procs - but try to line it up so that it’s available for Icy Veins if needed
• Blizzard on cooldown
• Ice Lance as described in single target, but you’ll more often get it from Frozen Orb
• Frostbolt and Flurry as in single target it none of the above is availale
• If the targets are expected to live a while:
  • Icy Veins to speed up casts and increase damage
  • Proceed with normal AoE rotation

Defensives #

Ice Barrier - Applies a 1min shield and increases your armor.

Mirror Image - Creates decoys that distract enemies and grants a 20% damage reduction.

Ice Block - Negates all damage and effects for 10s, but prevents you from moving or acting.

Crowd Control #

Interrupt Counterspell - Interrupts the target’s cast.

Snare Cone of Cold - Slows targets in front of you

Incapacitate Polymorph - Incapacitates for 1min, but target regenerates health. Damage breaks the effect.

Root Frost Nova - Roots enemies in a ring around you.

Mobility #

Blink — Teleport forwards a short distance.

Ice Floes — Allows moving while casting for your next cast, can be used mid-cast.

Utility #

Buff Arcane Intellect — Grants intellect to you and your party.

Lust Time Warp — Bloodlust-alike.

Slow Fall - Reduces your or an ally’s falling speed for 30s, making falls non-lethal.

Invisibility — Takes 3s to make you undetectible and untargetable by enemies for 20s.

Purge Spellsteal — Removes a buff from an enemy and gives it you.

Alter Time — Cast once to “remember” your location and health level. Return to that location and health level when cast again or after 10s.

Quality of Life #

Teleport and Portal — Transports you or your party to a major city.

Conjure Refreshment — Creates food/drink for you and your party.