Arcane Mage Guide for Season 1

Aug 25, 2024

Arcane Mage Guide for The War Within Season 1

Overview

  • Arcane mages utilize their own mana and arcane arts to deal explosive damage.
  • This guide is suitable for both beginners and veterans.

Stat Priorities

  • Primary Stat: Intellect
    • Increase by obtaining higher item level gear.
  • Secondary Stats Priority: (General guideline for item comparison)
    • Haste: Increases attack speed and spell casting speed.
    • Critical Strike: Extra chance to deal increased damage.
    • Versatility: Increases damage and healing done; reduces damage taken.
    • Mastery (Savant): Enhances mana regeneration and maximum mana.

Arcane Charges

  • Increase damage of Arcane Blast and Arcane Barrage, and all arcane damage.

Set Bonus for Season 1

  • Two Set Bonus: Increases damage of Arcane Blast and Arcane Barrage.
  • Four Set Bonus: 5% chance to increase damage of next Arcane Barrage and generate full four Arcane charges.

Core Utilities and Defensives

Offensive Utilities

  • Polymorph: Incapacitates target for 1 minute.
  • Frost Nova: Freezes enemies in place for 6 seconds (damage may interrupt).
  • Slow: Reduces target's movement speed by 50% for 15 seconds.
  • Ring of Frost: Incapacitates enemies entering the ring for 10 seconds and slows them afterward.
  • Counterspell: Interrupts enemy spellcasting.

Defensive Utilities

  • Ice Block: Incapacitates self in ice, preventing all damage for 30 seconds.
  • Mass Barrier: Reduces magic damage taken by 25% for 1 minute.
  • Greater Invisibility: Makes you invisible, reduces damage taken by 60% for 20 seconds.
  • Arcane Intellect: Increases intellect of yourself and allies by 5%.
  • Time Warp: Increases haste of all party and raid members by 30% for 40 seconds.

Rotation Overview

Key Spells

  • Arcane Surge: Expend all current mana to deal damage and grant Clear Casting.
  • Touch of the Magi: Accumulates damage dealt and explodes for arcane damage.
  • Arcane Blast: Core damage spell, increases damage with each Arcane charge.
  • Arcane Barrage: Consumes all Arcane charges and hits multiple enemies.
  • Arcane Missiles: Cast when Clear Casting is active.

Opener Rotation

  1. Pre-Pull: Cast Evocation.
  2. Cast Arcane Missiles.
  3. Use Arcane Surge.
  4. Use Touch of the Magi.
  5. Cast Arcane Blast multiple times to generate Arcane charges.
  6. Use Arcane Missiles (with Clear Casting).
  7. Continue with Arcane Blast and Arcane Barrage.

General Rotation Priority

  • Use Arcane Missiles if you have 3 stacks of Clear Casting.
  • Use Arcane Orb if you have less than 2 Arcane charges.
  • Use Arcane Blast and then Arcane Barrage.

Mythic Plus Rotation Differences

  • Arcane Orb becomes more important due to AoE damage.
  • Maintain similar priority list as raid rotation.

Hero Talents Overview

  • Spellfire Spheres: Increase spell power and stack up to five times.
  • Mana Cascade: Grants haste when casting Arcane spells.
  • Invocations: Summons an Arcane Phoenix to aid in battle.
  • Burden of Power: Increases damage of next Arcane spells.

Consumables and Enchants

  • Sockets: Add to head, wrist, waist, neck, and rings.
  • Enchants: Focus on enhancing primary stats, avoidance, and haste.
  • Flasks: Flask of Alchemical Chaos or Tempered Versatility recommended.
  • Potions: Algari Healing Potion for healing, and Algari Mana Oil for increased critical strike and haste.

Conclusion

  • This guide provides a comprehensive overview of playing Arcane Mage in The War Within Season 1.
  • Further questions can be directed to the creator's Patreon for more resources, including macros and UI profiles.