Fire Mage leveling guide

Fire deals the most damage per cast of the three Mage specs in Classic Era. Fireball, Pyroblast and Ignite kill single enemies quickly. The price is safety: Fire has no talent slows, so Frost Nova and distance do all the work when an enemy reaches you.

Strengths and weaknesses

• Enemies die in fewer casts, with Ignite adding damage on every critical strike.
• Pyroblast opens a fight with a large hit before the enemy reaches you.
• Blast Wave from the 30s knocks back and slows a whole group.
• Without Frost talents, fights with several enemies are riskier than with Blizzard.

Talents by level

Level 10 to 30

• Improved Fireball 5/5 for a faster Fireball, then Ignite 5/5.
• Improved Fire Blast 3/3, Pyroblast and Flame Throwing 2/2 for extra range.
• Incinerate 2/2 and Master of Elements 3/3 for mana back from critical strikes.

Level 31 to 40

• Critical Mass 3/3 and Blast Wave.
• Fire Power 5/5, then Combustion at level 40.

Level 41 to 60

• Impact 5/5, Burning Soul 2/2 and Improved Scorch 3/3, for 41 points in Fire.
• In Arcane: Arcane Subtlety 2/2 and Arcane Focus 3/3, then Arcane Concentration 5/5 for free spells.

Rotation

One enemy

• Open with Pyroblast at maximum range, then Fireball while the enemy walks toward you.
• Fire Blast when it gets close, Frost Nova, step back and finish with Fireball.
• Finish enemies with low health with a wand to save mana.

Groups of enemies

• Frost Nova, step back, then Blast Wave and Arcane Explosion while the group is rooted.
• Flamestrike on groups that stand still, for example while they attack a tank in a dungeon.
• Keep pulls small: two or three enemies at a time.

Staying alive

• Frost Nova and Blink when an enemy reaches you.
• Mana Shield absorbs damage when you cannot get away.
• Polymorph a second enemy, and use Evocation when your mana runs out.

Leveling route

Level	Alliance	Horde
1-12	Elwynn Forest, Dun Morogh, Teldrassil	Durotar, Mulgore, Tirisfal Glades
12-20	Westfall, Loch Modan, Darkshore	The Barrens, Silverpine Forest
20-30	Redridge Mountains, Duskwood, Wetlands	The Barrens, Hillsbrad Foothills, Thousand Needles
30-40	Stranglethorn Vale, Arathi Highlands, Desolace	Stranglethorn Vale, Arathi Highlands, Desolace
40-50	Tanaris, Feralas, The Hinterlands	Tanaris, Feralas, The Hinterlands
50-60	Un’Goro Crater, Felwood, Western Plaguelands, Winterspring	Un’Goro Crater, Felwood, Western Plaguelands, Winterspring

Dungeons worth the detour: Scarlet Monastery from level 30 to 40, Zul’Farrak around 45 and Blackrock Depths from 52.

Stats, weapons and tradeskills

• Intellect and Stamina while leveling, and Spirit for less drinking. Crit feeds Ignite and Master of Elements.
• The wand is the most important weapon slot while leveling.
• Enchants: Mana or Stats on the chest and Intellect on the bracers.
• Tradeskills: Tailoring for cloth armor and bags, with Enchanting to craft your own wands.