Cataclysm Classic Fire Mage Stat Priority

Last updated Today at 12:00 by Wrdlbrmpft

On this page, you will find out the optimal PvE stat priority for your Fire Mage in Cataclysm Classic. We first present the stat priority, before delving into more complex explanations.

1.

Stat Priority for Fire Mage

The stat priority for Fire Mage is as follows:

  1. Intellect
  2. Hit Rating (17% Hit Cap!)
  3. Critical Strike Rating
  4. Haste Rating (see break points below!)
  5. Mastery Rating
1.1.

Intellect

Intellect becomes our new best stat by far, you can never have enough of it, the more the better. It provides Spell Power, Crit and a Mana pool increase.

1.2.

Hit Rating

Hit is our second best stat until you reach the cap of 17% hit (16% for Draenei Mages). Once you reach 17% hit chance, any further Hit Rating becomes redundant. Draenei Mages need 1640 Hit Rating to reach the hit cap, whereas other races require 1742 Hit Rating. The best way to get hit rating from Reforging is to reforge Mastery Rating into Hit Rating.

At Level 85:

  • 102.44 Hit Rating = 1% Spell Hit Chance
1.3.

Critical Strike Rating

Critical Strike Rating is a great stat for Fire Mages due to the beneficial interaction of Crit with almost all FireFire talents. Back in the days of original Cataclysm, Haste Rating was considered the better stat, because "Ignite Munching" was still in place. This has been fixed, so now Critical Strike Rating is better. However, if you are close to a Haste cap (see Haste Rating section below), adding more Haste Rating can still be more beneficial than adding Critical Strike rating.

At Level 85:

  • 179.28 Crit Rating = 1% Crit
1.4.

Haste Rating

Haste Rating is a good stat, but Critical Strike rating is generally better. Only focus on getting more Haste Rating, if you are close to a Haste cap and can reach it by adding more Haste Rating. The Haste caps increase the frequency of your DoT ticks (particularly those of Living Bomb Icon Living Bomb and the Pyroblast! Icon Pyroblast! DoT), giving them one more tick of damage over their duration.

The two important haste caps for Fire are the 15% and 25% caps, where you gain 1 extra tick for your biggest DPS contributor Combustion Icon Combustion. The caps tables below assume that you have spent 3 points in the Netherwind Presence Icon Netherwind Presence talent and gives you the values based on if you have a 5% Spell Haste raid buff (Moonkin Form Icon Moonkin Form, Mind Quickening Icon Mind Quickening, or Wrath of Air Totem Icon Wrath of Air Totem), got Dark Intent Icon Dark Intent from a Warlock, and if you are a Goblin or not:

1.4.1.

15% Haste Cap

+5% BuffDark IntentGoblinRequired Haste Rating
1494
1352
1077
940
813
678
416
285
1.4.2.

25% Haste Cap

+5% BuffDark IntentGoblinRequired Haste Rating
2745
2591
2292
2143
2005
1858
1574
1431

At Level 85:

  • 128.05 Haste Rating = 1% Haste
1.5.

Mastery Rating

Mastery is the worst stat for FireFire Mage. It increases your damage via Flashburn Icon Flashburn, however, the damage increase is too low to justify stacking Mastery Rating. Reforge this stat to Hit, Crit or Haste Rating.

At Level 85:

  • 179.28 Mastery Rating = 1% Mastery