If you think any improvements can be made, please message me on Discord at Glynny#0001.
The guide is still currently under construction. Things to add:
- Link spell names to WoW Head links
- Better graphics to make it look more presentable.
- Introduction
- Spell Summary
- Talents
- Rotations & Builds
- Azerite
- Essences
- Gems, Enchants & Consumables
- Macros, Addons & Weak Auras
In this guide I hope to cover everything you will need to know about raiding as a Frost Mage. This guide will include the standard rotation and the recent niche rotations that came to light with the additions of Azerite i.e. No https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lance and https://www.wowhead.com/spell=84714/frozen-orb builds
Frost has always been a good spec for sustaining a good level of damage. However, with the recent discoveries of the No https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lance and https://www.wowhead.com/spell=84714/frozen-orb Builds, it now has an option for very high single target burst or sustained two target DPS as well has good sustained damage.
Like all Mage specifications, Frost has excellent movement capabilities with spells such as Simmer & Ice Floes and a good selection of instant cast spells for short movement.
Spell Summary
Frost has a range of offensive, defensive and utility based spells all of which will be covered below. Including procs (Programmed Random Occurrence). Below is a list of commons spells as well as a description.
Before I go in to more detail about the abilities, I should mention a key mechanic all Frost Mage's should be aware of and is frozen enemies and shatter.
Enemies who are frozen or treated as frozen benefit from shatter. An enemy can be frozen multiple ways, either by being rooted using some Frost specific spells such as Frost Nova or treated as frozen by certain spells and passives such as https://www.wowhead.com/spell=228358/winters-chill.
Shatter increases the critical strike chance of frost spells by (character crit * 1.5) + 50% for example if a player had 10% crit chance it would be (10*1.5)+50 = 65
Abilities
https://www.wowhead.com/spell=190356/blizzard drops Ice shards that pelt the target area, dealing Frost damage over 8 sec and reducing movement speed by 50% for 3 sec. Each time https://www.wowhead.com/spell=190356/blizzard hits an enemy, the cooldown of https://www.wowhead.com/spell=84714/frozen-orb is reduced by 0,5 seconds.
https://www.wowhead.com/spell=235219/cold-snap resets the cooldown of your https://www.wowhead.com/spell=11426/ice-barrier, Frost Nova, https://www.wowhead.com/spell=120/cone-of-cold, and Ice Block.
https://www.wowhead.com/spell=120/cone-of-cold targets in a cone in front of you take Frost damage and have movement slowed by 70% for 5 seconds.
https://www.wowhead.com/spell=44614/htt ... 614/flurry unleash a https://www.wowhead.com/spell=44614/flurry of ice, striking the target 3 times for a total of Frost damage. Each hit reduces the target's movement speed by 70% for 1 sec. While the passive https://www.wowhead.com/spell=231584/brain-freeze is active, https://www.wowhead.com/spell=44614/flurry applies https://www.wowhead.com/spell=228358/winters-chill, causing your target to take damage from your spells as if it were frozen.
https://www.wowhead.com/spell=116/https ... /frostbolt launches a bolt of frost at a enemy, causing Frost damage and slowing movement by 50% for 8 seconds.
https://www.wowhead.com/spell=84714/frozen-orb launches an orb of swirling ice up to 40 yards forward which deals up to Frost damage to all enemies it passes through. Grants 1 charge of https://www.wowhead.com/spell=112965/fingers-of-frost when it first damages an enemy. Enemies damaged by the https://www.wowhead.com/spell=84714/frozen-orb are slowed by 30% for 3 sec.
https://www.wowhead.com/spell=11426/ice-barrier Shields you with ice, absorbing damage for 1 min. Melee attacks against you reduce the attacker's movement speed by 50%.
https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lance quickly flings a shard of ice at the target, dealing Frost damage. https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lance damage is tripled when the target is frozen.
https://www.wowhead.com/spell=12472/icy-veins accelerates your spellcasting for 20 sec, granting 30% haste and preventing damage from delaying your spellcasts.
https://www.wowhead.com/spell=66/invisibility turns you invisible over 3 sec, reducing threat each second. While invisible, you are untargetable by enemies. Lasts 20 sec. Taking any action cancels the effect.
Passives
https://www.wowhead.com/spell=231584/brain-freeze - https://www.wowhead.com/spell=116/frostbolt has a 25% chance to empower your next https://www.wowhead.com/spell=44614/flurry to be instant cast and deal 50% increased damage. Once you have the https://www.wowhead.com/spell=231584/brain-freeze buff, https://www.wowhead.com/spell=231584/brain-freeze causes your next https://www.wowhead.com/spell=44614/flurry to apply https://www.wowhead.com/spell=228358/winters-chill to the target. https://www.wowhead.com/spell=228358/winters-chill causes the target to take damage from your spells as if it were frozen.
https://www.wowhead.com/spell=112965/fingers-of-frost - https://www.wowhead.com/spell=116/frostbolt has a 15% chance and https://www.wowhead.com/spell=84714/frozen-orb damage has a 10% to grant a charge of https://www.wowhead.com/spell=112965/fingers-of-frost. https://www.wowhead.com/spell=112965/fingers-of-frost causes your next https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lance to deal damage as if the target were frozen. Maximum 2 charges.
https://www.wowhead.com/spell=76613/mastery-icicles - casting https://www.wowhead.com/spell=116/frostbolt or https://www.wowhead.com/spell=44614/flurry grants you an Icicle. Casting https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lance causes all Icicles stored to begin launching at the target, each dealing (0.1% of Spell power) Frost damage. Up to 5 Icicles can be stored. Any excess Icicles gained will be automatically launched. Increases the damage of https://www.wowhead.com/spell=84714/frozen-orb by 15%.
https://www.wowhead.com/spell=228358/winters-chill unleashes a https://www.wowhead.com/spell=44614/flurry of ice, striking the target 3 times for a total of Frost damage. Each hit reduces the target's movement speed by 70% for 1 sec. While https://www.wowhead.com/spell=231584/brain-freeze is active, https://www.wowhead.com/spell=44614/flurry applies https://www.wowhead.com/spell=228358/winters-chill, causing your target to take damage from your spells as if it were frozen.
Pet Spells
Summon Water Elemental summons a Water Elemental to follow and fight for you. Once summoned, you gain access to the following abilities.
Freeze - Blasts enemies in a 8 yard radius with frost, freezing them in place for up to 8 sec. Damage caused may interrupt the effect.
Talents
Below is an image of the Frost Mage talent tree. Below the image is a description of each talent and the spells it affects and interacts with.
Tier 15
Bone Chilling - Whenever you attempt to chill a target, you gain Bone Chilling (buff), increasing the damage you deal by 0.5% for 8 seconds, stacking up to 10 times.
Lonely Winter - You can no longer summon your Water Elemental, but https://www.wowhead.com/spell=116/frostbolt, https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lance and https://www.wowhead.com/spell=44614/flurry deal 25% increased damage.
Ice Nova - Causes a whirl of icy wind around the enemy, dealing Frost damage to the target and Frost damage to all other enemies within 8 yards, and freezing them in place for 2 sec.
Tier 30
Glacial Insulation - https://www.wowhead.com/spell=11426/ice-barrier increases your armor by 200% while active, and Ice Block applies https://www.wowhead.com/spell=11426/ice-barrier to you when it fades.
Shimmer - Blink now has 2 charges, is off the global cooldown, and can be cast while casting.
Ice Floes - Makes your next Mage spell with a cast time shorter than 10 sec castable while moving. Unaffected by the global cooldown and castable while casting.
Tier 45
Incanter's Flow - Magical energy flows through you while in combat, building up to 20% increased damage and then diminishing down to 4% increased damage, cycling every 10 sec.
Mirror Image - Creates 3 copies of you nearby for 40 sec, which cast spells and attack your enemies.
Rune of Power - Places a Rune of Power on the ground for 10 sec which increases your spell damage by 40% while you stand within 8 yards.
Tier 60
Frozen Touch - https://www.wowhead.com/spell=116/frostbolt grants you https://www.wowhead.com/spell=112965/fingers-of-frost and https://www.wowhead.com/spell=231584/brain-freeze 20% more often.
Chain Reaction - Your https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lances against frozen targets increase the damage of your https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lances by 3% for 10 sec, stacking up to 5 times.
Ebonbolt - Launch a bolt of ice at the enemy, dealing (200% of Spell power) Frost damage and granting you https://www.wowhead.com/spell=231584/brain-freeze.
Tier 75
Frigid Winds - All of your chilling effects reduce the target's movement speed by an additional 15%.
Ice Nova - Frost Nova now has 2 charges.
Ring of Frost - Summons a Ring of Frost for 10 sec at the target location. Enemies entering the ring are incapacitated for 10 sec. Limit 10 targets.
Tier 90
Freezing Rain - https://www.wowhead.com/spell=84714/frozen-orb makes https://www.wowhead.com/spell=190356/blizzard instant cast and increases its damage done by 50% for 12 sec.
Splitting Ice - Your https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lance and Icicles now deal 5% increased damage, and hit a second nearby target for 80% of their damage. Your Ebonbolt and Glacial Spike also hit a second nearby target for 80% of its damage.
Comet Storm - Calls down a series of 7 icy comets on and around the target, that deals up to [7 * (40% of Spell power)] Frost damage to all enemies within 6 yards of its impacts.
Tier 100
Thermal Void - https://www.wowhead.com/spell=12472/icy-veins' duration is increased by 10 sec. Your https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lances against frozen targets extend your https://www.wowhead.com/spell=12472/icy-veins by an additional 1 sec.
Ray of Frost - Channel an icy beam at the enemy for 5 sec, dealing Frost damage every 1 sec and slowing movement by 60%. Each time Ray of Frost deals damage, its damage and snare increases by 10%. Generates 2 charges of https://www.wowhead.com/spell=112965/fingers-of-frost over its duration.
Glacial Spike - Conjures a massive spike of ice, and merges your current Icicles into it. It impales your target, dealing (297% of Spell power) damage plus all of the damage stored in your Icicles, and freezes the target in place for 4 sec. Damage may interrupt the freeze effect. Requires 5 Icicles to cast. Passive: https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lance no longer launches Icicles.
Rotations & Builds
Below will list each individual build, the rotations, the enabling azerite traits and stat priorities. Unless otherwise stated, it is assumed that the rotation follows the standard rotation and deviations from this will be mentioned in each section of the builds.
The rotations will be listed in order of priority taken from simulation craft. A small description will be provided for the rotation at the bottom of each section.
Standard Rotation
Precombat:
The rotation at its core is fairly basic, we are going to spend the majority of your time casting https://www.wowhead.com/spell=116/frostbolt, followed by https://www.wowhead.com/spell=44614/flurry with a https://www.wowhead.com/spell=231584/brain-freeze Proc, followed by an https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lance.
Below is a list of spells with a small explanation in priority order.
As previously mentioned, this section will only cover the differences from the standard rotation. Additionally, there are some enabling factors to the build:
Talents
Precombat:
The rotation at its core is fairly basic, we are going to spend the majority of your time casting https://www.wowhead.com/spell=116/frostbolt, followed by https://www.wowhead.com/spell=44614/flurry with a https://www.wowhead.com/spell=231584/brain-freeze Proc, followed by an https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lance.
Below is a list of spells with a small explanation in priority order.
- https://www.wowhead.com/spell=44614/flurry should only be cast if you have a https://www.wowhead.com/spell=231584/brain-freeze and should always be cast after one of the following spells if you do not have Glacial Spike talented: Ebonbolt (if talented), https://www.wowhead.com/spell=116/frostbolt. If you do not have Ebonbolt talented, https://www.wowhead.com/spell=116/frostbolt should be before https://www.wowhead.com/spell=44614/flurry if you have a https://www.wowhead.com/spell=231584/brain-freeze proc.
If you do have Glacial Spike talented, the usage of https://www.wowhead.com/spell=44614/flurry changes. Cast https://www.wowhead.com/spell=44614/flurry If you have 5 stacks of https://www.wowhead.com/spell=76613/mastery-icicles after casting Glacial Spike, or if you have less than 3 stacks of https://www.wowhead.com/spell=76613/mastery-icicles cast it after https://www.wowhead.com/spell=116/frostbolt. If you will have >=4 https://www.wowhead.com/spell=76613/mastery-icicles at the end of your https://www.wowhead.com/spell=116/frostbolt cast you hold https://www.wowhead.com/spell=231584/brain-freeze for Glacial Spike. - Always cast https://www.wowhead.com/spell=84714/frozen-orb off cooldown.
- https://www.wowhead.com/spell=190356/blizzard should cast if there are currently 2 or more active targets.
- Always https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lance if you have a https://www.wowhead.com/spell=112965/fingers-of-frost proc.
- If talented, you want to cast Ray of Frost off cooldown if https://www.wowhead.com/spell=84714/frozen-orb is not currently travelling to or damaging the target.
- cast Comet Storm off cooldown (if talented)
- Cast Ebonbolt (if talented) on cooldown followed by https://www.wowhead.com/spell=44614/flurry then https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lance. However, if you have Glacial Spike talented you will save the https://www.wowhead.com/spell=231584/brain-freeze generated from Ebonbolt to shatter your Glacial Spike if you have 4 or more https://www.wowhead.com/spell=76613/mastery-icicles
- https://www.wowhead.com/spell=190356/blizzard is used as low priority filler against 2 targets. When using Freezing Rain, it's a medium gain to use the instant https://www.wowhead.com/spell=190356/blizzard even against a single target, especially with low mastery.
- If enabled, you cast Glacial Spike when available and only when you have a https://www.wowhead.com/spell=231584/brain-freeze. However, if you have Splitting Ice talented and there is more than 1 target you should cast Glacial Spike when available, even without a https://www.wowhead.com/spell=231584/brain-freeze
- Cast Ice Nova
- Cast https://www.wowhead.com/spell=116/frostbolt
- Use https://www.wowhead.com/spell=12472/icy-veins off cooldown.
- Use Mirror Image (if talented) off cooldown.
- Rune of Power is used if the target will die is greater than 10 seconds + the cast time of Rune of Power and the time until the boss dies is less than 25 seconds
- If you have Rune of Power talented, cast Rune of Power if you can cast Glacial Spike with a https://www.wowhead.com/spell=231584/brain-freeze proc, casting Rune of Power, Glacial Spike, followed by https://www.wowhead.com/spell=44614/flurry and finally https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lance. If you have Ebonbolt talented and you can cast Glacial Spike then you cast Rune of Power followed by Ebonbolt. If at the end of the Ebonbolt cast you already have a https://www.wowhead.com/spell=231584/brain-freeze proc then you follow Ebonbolt with a https://www.wowhead.com/spell=44614/flurry and https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lance then you cast Glacial Spike followed by https://www.wowhead.com/spell=44614/flurry and finally https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lance. However, if at the end of your Ebonbolt cast you do not already have a https://www.wowhead.com/spell=231584/brain-freeze proc you will save the proc for Glacial Spike and cast Glacial Spike, https://www.wowhead.com/spell=44614/flurry (shattering the Glacial Spike) and finally https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lance.
- If you have Rune of Power talented and you are about to cap on the charges available, the will use a charge of one of the following spells in this order of priority: https://www.wowhead.com/spell=84714/frozen-orb, Ebonbolt (if talented), Comet Storm (if talented), Ray of Frost (if talented)
As previously mentioned, this section will only cover the differences from the standard rotation. Additionally, there are some enabling factors to the build:
- You need Packed Ice, ideally 3
- You want 1 Flash Freeze for the https://www.wowhead.com/spell=112965/fingers-of-frost proc chance. It is advised to only get one of these as the proc chance is mediocre when stacked.
- You want 2 Whiteout, try to get at least 1 for the cooldown reduction
- As little mastery as possible
Talents
- Lonely Winter
- Rune of Power
- Chain Reaction
- Splitting Ice / Freezing Rain
- Thermal Void / Ray of Frost
- When https://www.wowhead.com/spell=84714/frozen-orb is not active, do standard Frost rotation with the exception of using https://www.wowhead.com/spell=190356/blizzard as filler instead of https://www.wowhead.com/spell=116/frostbolt
- If you have enough Whiteout traits, you might want to use Finger of Frost over https://www.wowhead.com/spell=231584/brain-freeze as well
- Try to save one Finger of Frost before using https://www.wowhead.com/spell=84714/frozen-orb
- Save Ray of Frost for https://www.wowhead.com/spell=84714/frozen-orb
- Cast Rune of Power right after you cast https://www.wowhead.com/spell=84714/frozen-orb
- During https://www.wowhead.com/spell=84714/frozen-orb, cast as many shattered https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lances as possible by using the following priority
- Cast https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lance if you have Finger of Frost
- Cast instant https://www.wowhead.com/spell=190356/blizzard (If Freezing Rain talented)
- Cast https://www.wowhead.com/spell=44614/flurry if you have https://www.wowhead.com/spell=231584/brain-freeze and follow it up with https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lance
- cast Ray of Frost, cancel it early if you cap on https://www.wowhead.com/spell=112965/fingers-of-frost
- cast https://www.wowhead.com/spell=190356/blizzard
- cast https://www.wowhead.com/spell=116/frostbolt
As previously mentioned, this section will only cover the differences from the standard rotation. Additionally, there are some enabling factors to the build:
- You need 3 copies of the Flash Freeze Azerite Trait
- Other Azerite Traits such as Treacherous Covenant, Tradewinds etc are very good. Try to avoid anything that directly buffs https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lance e.g. Whiteout as you will never be casting https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lance unless you're moving and have no Shimmer charges left.
- Stack as much mastery as you possibly can.
- Bone Chilling
- Incanter's Flow
- Ebonbolt
- Comet Storm / Splitting Ice
- Glacial Spike
- Never cast https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lance
- Always save https://www.wowhead.com/spell=231584/brain-freeze for Glacial Spike
- Only cast Ebonbolt if you have 5 Icicles and no https://www.wowhead.com/spell=231584/brain-freeze proc
- Cast https://www.wowhead.com/spell=190356/blizzard starting at 3 targets
- Cast Glacial Spike with https://www.wowhead.com/spell=231584/brain-freeze or if it's going to hit during 5 stack Incanter's Flow
With the power of some azerite traits, they now become build enablers. I would advise looking over the build sections of this guide to see what azerite traits you should be aiming for. Additionally, other traits that are not mentioned vary a lot so it is recommended to sim them using Raidbots. It's a very easy interface to use: https://www.raidbots.com/simbot/topgear
Essences
Essences are a new addition to 8.2 and bring some interesting combinations. Hero Damage has saved everyone a lot of time and effort by creating regularly updated sims for the entire community. Below is a snapshot of Frost No https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lance essences per rank. I would high advise referring to HeroDamage.com to have an updated list of all Essences. Click the following image below:
Gems, Enchants & Consumables
Your gems, enchants and comsumables will always depend on the build you are playing.
No https://www.wowhead.com/spell=30455/ice-lance Build:
- Rings: Enchant: Accord of Mastery
- Weapon: Enchant: Masterful Navigation / Enchant: Torrent of Elements
- Gems: Masterful Sea Currant
- This really depends on your own stats. I would highly recommend using Raidbots to sim your stat weights and enchants.
Coming soon
