Updated from the recent 4.2 guide this article will guide will make your DPS meter “beg for mercy” from your Fire Mage. Complete with suggested talents build, stats – reforging, glyphs, enchants, gems, gear, and spell rotation for the highest DPS.
I. Introduction
II. Talents
III. Glyphs
IV. Enchants
V. Gems
VI. Stats/Reforging
VII. Spell Rotation
VIII. Gear
Alliance – Worgen. 1% crit + movement speed.
Horde – Troll. Berserking equals two extra ticks for Combustion and one for Living Bomb.
Fire Benefits:
- Mana isn’t as big of an issue or as important for fire as it is with arcane.
- Mobility. Fire is able to still dps on the move.
- Fire relies on Damage over time effects and consists of you keeping them up as much as possible.
Fire Drawbacks:
- Prime – Glyph of Pyroblast
- Prime – Glyph of Molten Armor
- Prime – Glyph of Fireball
- Major – Glyph of Evocation
- Major – Glyph of Dragon’s Breath
- Major – Glyph of Polymorph
- Minor – Glyph of Slow Fall
- Minor – Glyph of Arcane Brilliance
- Minor – Glyph of Mirror Image
- Head – Arcanum of Hyjal – +60 Intellect and 35 Critical Strike Rating
- Main Hand – Enchant Weapon – Power Torrent – Power Torrent
- Chest – Enchant Chest – Peerless Stats – +20 All Stats
- Shoulder – Greater Inscription of Charged Lodestone – +50 Intellect and +25 Haste Rating
- Legs – Powerful Enchanted Spell thread – +95 Intellect and +80 Stamina
- Back – Enchant Cloak – Greater Intellect – +50 Intellect
- Bracer – Enchant Bracer – Mighty Intellect – +50 Intellect
- Off Hand – Enchant Off-Hand – Superior Intellect – +40 Intellect
- Hands – Enchant Gloves – Haste – +50 Haste Rating
- Boots – Enchant Boots – Haste – +50 Haste Rating
- Red – Brilliant Inferno Ruby – +40 Intellect
- Red/Blue – Veiled Demonseye – +20 Intellect and +20 Hit Rating
- Red/Yellow – Potent Ember Topaz – +20 Intellect and +20 Critical Strike Rating
- Meta – Burning Shadowspirit Diamond – +54 Intellect and 3% Increased Critical Damage
- Blue – Rigid Ocean Sapphire – +40 Hit Rating
- Yellow – Smooth Amberjewel – +40 Critical Strike Rating
- Yellow/Blue – Piercing Dream Emerald – +20 Critical Strike Rating and +20 Hit Rating
The most important stat for Fire is Intellect followed by Hit, Haste, and Crit. Hit cap is 1742, once you cap reforge haste (up to 15%) then Crit. Reforge Mastery (worst arcane stat), and Spirit to Haste (up to 15%) then Crit.
For many classes if not all DPS, Cataclysm has changed the way we spell cast from a rotation system to a priority system – use whichever ability is highest priority and available.
Keep Molten Armor and Arcane Brilliance up at all times.
Top Priority: If you have at least two DOTs ticking on the target (Ignite, Living Bomb and the Pyroblast DOT), cast Combustion.
Second Priority: Refresh Living Bomb if it needs to be refreshed and cast Flame Orb if it’s available
Third Priority: Cast Pyroblast if Hot Streak has procced, and refresh Critical Mass with Scorch likewise if needed (it shouldn’t be, normally).
Fourth Priority: If you have nothing else to do, cast Fireball, or if you HAVE to move, Scorch. Use Fireball in preference to Scorch.
AOE: For very short-lived targets, use Blast Wave, then Dragon’s Breath, then Flamestrike. For longer-lived targets, use Living Bomb on multiple targets if they will last long enough, then use Blastwave when you can and otherwise spam Flamestrike.
For AOE on elites, you can also simply proceed with your single-target rotation on one of the targets, and use Fire Blast when Impact procs to spread your DOTs to all three targets. In this case, also use Blast Wave when it’s available.
Some people may find my gear suggestions lacking others seem to agree that unless your raiding and have access to Firelands gear then Valor, Justice, and/or even Honor point gear is the way to go. You can earn justice points for the first seven regular level 85 dungeons you do each week as well as all heroics. You can earn 150 valor points for the first seven heroics you do for the week. Blizz begins it’s week on Tuesday of course. These vendors can be found in old Town in Stormwind:
Faldren Tillsdale Valor Quartermaster (Item Lvl 397)
Magatha Silverton Justice Quartermaster (Item Lvl 378)
Firehawk Robes 2200jp
Firehawk Leggings 2200jp
Emberflame Bracers 1250jp
Firehawk Gloves 1650jp
Crystalline Brimstone Ring 1250jp
* Soothing Brimstone Circle 1250jp
Amulet of Burning Brilliance 1250jp
Trail of Embers 700jp
Matching shoulders and helm Not available without a Firelands Raid token.
* This may be meant for a healer but if you have nothing better this will work and you can reforge the spirit.
Tailor Made:
** Vicious Fireweave Cowl (377)
** Vicious Fireweave Shoulders (377)
** Vicious Fireweave Boots (377)
** Vicious Fireweave Belt (377)
If you PVP you might as well have the complete set made and use the equipment manager to trade gear sets.
** This may be meant for PVP but again these work great if you do not access to better gear. Note: Ruthless Gladiator’s set has a item level of 384 and can purchased using Conquest Points and possibly Honor Points.
Changes in Patch 4.3
Fire Mages get buffed!
- Pyroblast’s initial damage has been increased by approximately 26%, and its damage over time has been increased by approximately 100%.
- Fireball damage has been increased by approximately 17%.
- Living Bomb damage over time has been increased by approximately 10%, and explosion damage has been increased by approximately 120%.
Mage Tier 13 Set Bonuses
Mage 2 Piece Set Bonus: Your Arcane Blast has a 100% chance, and your Fireball and Frostbolt spells have a 50% chance to grant Stolen Time, increasing your haste rating by 50 for 30 seconds and stacking up to 10 times. When Arcane Power, Combustion, or Icy Veins expires, all stacks of Stolen Time are lost.
Mage 4 Piece Set Bonus: Each stack of Stolen Time also reduces the cooldown of Arcane Power by 7 seconds, Combustion by 4 seconds, and Icy Veins by 6 seconds.
Resources and Links
The State of the Fire Mage at WoWinsider.com
Icy Veins Fire guide – excellent dedicated guide.
MMOmeltingpot.com – Some of the spell rotation information and tips we’re gleamed from the Fire Mage Quick Start Guide
Arcane Mage Videos