WotLK Classic Arcane Mage Pre-Raid Gear

This list uses a the T8 2-set bonus and the T9 2-set bonus, as both bonuses are pretty decent and relatively easy to get. Apart from Ulduar 10 Heroic gear, which is sold by Animated Constellation for Sidereal Essence from Heroic++ (Titan Rune) dungeons, the items in this list come from Tailoring and Heroic++ dungeons. The tailoring items will require Runed Orbs and Crusader Orbs, which can both be bought from the Auction House or with Emblem of Conquest/ Emblem of Triumph. The latter two badges are used for items in this list as well (in more detail below). Further, it uses epic gems, such as Runed Cardinal Ruby. The raw gems can now be bought with Emblem of Heroism or Honor points, but of course the rare gems are also okay to use. Make sure to use two Purified Dreadstones in a Blue Socket or a Red Socket in order to activate your Chaotic Skyflare Diamond Meta Gem.

The faction specific emblem/gear vendors can be found in Dalaran, next to your faction specific inn. Here you can also buy the T8 head token and trade it in for the set item at Paldesse in Dalaran. The T9 vendors can be found at the Argent Tournament stage in north-east Icecrown, where Valiant Bressia and Valiant Laradia stand ready to trade your Emblem of Triumph for tier 9 gear.

Getting the 4-set bonus of T7 is a huge power boost. In phase 2, Greatstaff of the Nexus drops from heroic dungeons and it might be better replace it with Titansteel Spellblade and Ward of the Violet Citadel, if it does not drop. If you need more hit, you might also want to replace Evoker's Charm with Chain of Latent Energies. For more of options for each slot, check out the T7 Pre-Raid BiS list.

This list is built so you can access Raids as quickly as possible with decent gear. The Emblem items and Runed Orbs can be bought from Harold Winston, Arcanist Ivrenne + Arcanist Firael (Alliance), and Magistrix Lambriesse + Magister Sarien (Horde) in Dalaran. Make sure to use two Purified Twilight Opals in a Blue Socket or a Red Socket in order to activate your Chaotic Skyflare Diamond Meta Gem. If you are ever Hit-capped from using a Hit gear piece or from Heroic Presence, you can also use either Reckless Monarch Topaz or Reckless Monarch Topaz in Yellow Sockets. Further, this BiS list is built for 17% hit, so you might want to add a few points hit rating through Veiled Monarch Topaz, if you do not have Heroic Presence.

Please note that getting Heroes' Frostfire Robe and Heroes' Frostfire Gloves is also a preparation for getting the 4-set bonus of this set faster in Raids and it is worth focusing on these two pieces. Further, in many slots you can also just use the TBC pieces from Sunwell Plateau, as many of them are still kind of decent; some are even Pre-Raid BiS. The Emblem of Heroism items can be bought from Harold Winston, Arcanist Ivrenne (Alliance), and Magistrix Lambriesse (Horde) in Dalaran. This list will also give the best 2-3 options per slot (first option is best, etc.), in case you cannot get the best item or already have the second best. Make sure to use two Purified Twilight Opals in a Blue Socket or a Red Socket in order to activate your Chaotic Skyflare Diamond Meta Gem. Using Cowl of Tirisfal and Mantle of Tirisfal can slightly outperform the other options in single-target fights, but they are worse overall.