Frost Mage leveling guide

Frost is the most common way to level a Mage in Classic Era. Frostbolt slows every enemy it hits, and Frost Nova keeps melee enemies away. From the mid-20s, Improved Blizzard lets a Mage pull and kill whole groups of weaker enemies.

Strengths and weaknesses

• Slows and roots keep most enemies from ever landing a hit.
• Blizzard with Improved Blizzard kills groups of lower-level enemies quickly.
• Mana runs out fast, so you drink after most fights.
• Cloth armor punishes a pull that goes wrong.

Talents by level

Level 10 to 30

• Improved Frostbolt 5/5 for a faster Frostbolt, and Elemental Precision 3/3 for fewer resists.
• Permafrost 3/3 and Improved Blizzard 3/3, the core of leveling with Blizzard.
• Ice Shards 5/5 for bigger critical strikes with Frost spells.

Level 31 to 40

• Piercing Ice 3/3, Frost Channeling 3/3 and Arctic Reach 2/2.
• Cold Snap, Ice Block and one point in Improved Cone of Cold, then Ice Barrier at level 40.

Level 41 to 60

• Improved Cone of Cold 3/3, Shatter 5/5 and Frostbite 3/3, for 41 points in Frost.
• In Arcane: Arcane Subtlety 2/2 and Arcane Focus 3/3, then Arcane Concentration 5/5 for free spells.

Rotation

One enemy

• Open with Frostbolt at maximum range and cast a second one while the enemy walks toward you.
• Frost Nova when it reaches you, step back and finish with Frostbolt or Fire Blast.
• Finish enemies with low health with a wand to save mana.

Groups of enemies

• Pull the group, cast Frost Nova, move away and cast Blizzard. Cone of Cold on anything that gets close.
• Improved Blizzard slows the enemies inside the storm. Cold Snap resets Frost Nova for a second root.
• Pull only as many enemies as your mana can kill, and pick groups a few levels below you.

Staying alive

• Ice Barrier and Ice Block when things go wrong, and Blink to gain distance.
• Polymorph a second enemy that joins the fight.
• Conjure Water and Conjure Food save gold, and Evocation restores mana when you run 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. Spell Damage and Crit matter more at level 60.
• 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.