Fire Mage leveling guide
Fire gives a Mage the most damage while leveling through Northrend. 
Hot Streak turns two critical strikes in a row into an instant 
Pyroblast, 
Living Bomb explodes on every enemy it touches, and 
Burnout makes your critical strikes hit even harder. It trades some of Frost’s safety for faster kills.
Strengths and weaknesses
- The highest damage of the Mage specs, both on one enemy and on groups.
- Living Bomb,
Blast Wave, 
Dragon’s Breath and 
Flamestrike handle groups well. - Hot Streak gives frequent instant Pyroblasts.
- Less control than Frost when several enemies reach you, and Burnout costs extra mana.
Talents by level
At level 70
- In Fire:
Improved Fire Blast 2/2, 
Incineration 3/3, 
Improved Fireball 5/5, 
Ignite 5/5, 
World in Flames 3/3, Pyroblast, 
Burning Soul 2/2, 
Master of Elements 3/3, Playing with Fire 3/3, 
Critical Mass 3/3 and Blast Wave. 
Fire Power 5/5, 
Combustion, 
Molten Fury 2/2, Empowered Fire 3/3, Dragon’s Breath, Hot Streak 3/3, Burnout 4/5 and Living Bomb, for 51 points.- In Arcane:
Arcane Subtlety 2/2, 
Arcane Focus 3/3 and 
Arcane Concentration 5/5.
Level 71 to 80
Spell Impact 3/3 and Student of the Mind 3/3.
Focus Magic and 
Arcane Meditation 3/3, for 20 points in Arcane.
Rotation
One enemy
- Living Bomb, then Fireball, or
Frostfire Bolt from level 75. - Pyroblast whenever Hot Streak makes it instant.
- Fire Blast to finish an enemy while you move.
Groups of enemies
- Living Bomb on two or three enemies, then Flamestrike or
Blizzard on the group. - Blast Wave and Dragon’s Breath when they reach you, then step back.
- Combustion for a big pull.
Staying alive
Frost Nova and 
Blink to gain distance, and 
Ice Block as a last resort.
Molten Armor for Crit, or 
Mana Shield when you take hits.
Mirror Image at level 80, and 
Evocation and a mana gem when your mana is empty.
Leveling route
| Level | Alliance | Horde |
|---|---|---|
| 70-72 | Borean Tundra (Valiance Keep), Howling Fjord (Valgarde) | Borean Tundra (Warsong Hold), Howling Fjord (Vengeance Landing) |
| 72-74 | Dragonblight (Wintergarde Keep) | Dragonblight (Agmar’s Hammer) |
| 74-75 | Grizzly Hills (Amberpine Lodge) | Grizzly Hills (Conquest Hold) |
| 75-76 | Zul’Drak (Zim’Torga) | Zul’Drak (Zim’Torga) |
| 76-78 | Sholazar Basin (Nesingwary Base Camp) | Sholazar Basin (Nesingwary Base Camp) |
| 78-80 | The Storm Peaks (K3), Icecrown (Argent Vanguard) | The Storm Peaks (K3), Icecrown (Argent Vanguard) |
Dungeons worth the detour: Utgarde Keep and The Nexus from level 70, Azjol-Nerub and Ahn’kahet: The Old Kingdom around 72, and Drak’Tharon Keep and The Violet Hold from 74.
Stats, weapons and tradeskills
- Spell Power first, then Hit, Crit and Haste.
- A staff, or a one-handed weapon with an off-hand item, with as much Spell Power as possible.
- Enchants: Mighty Spellpower on the weapon, Exceptional Spellpower on the gloves and Superior Spellpower on the bracers.
- Tradeskills: Tailoring for caster cloth and
Lightweave Embroidery, with Enchanting to disenchant what you replace.