Arcane Mage DPS Easy Mode

Table of Contents

• +Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. Patch 7.3 Changes for Arcane Mage
  • 3. Patch 7.2.5 Changes for Arcane Mage
  • 4. Arcane Mage Strengths
  • 5. Arcane Mage Weaknesses
  • 6. Arcane Mage Viability in the Current Patch
  • 7. Contents
  • 8. ChangeLog
• ×Easy Mode
  • 1. The Basics for Arcane Mage
  • 2. Talent Choice for Arcane Mage
  • 3. Stat Choice for Arcane Mage
  • 4. Relic Choice for Arcane Mage
  • 5. Basic Rotation for Arcane Mage
    • 5.1. "Burn"
    • 5.2. "Conserve"
  • 6. ChangeLog
• +Spell Summary
  • 1. Arcane Mage Spell Summary
  • 2. Main Resources of Arcane Mage
  • 3. Basic Abilities for Arcane Mage
  • 4. Important Procs for Arcane Mage
  • 5. DPS Cooldowns for Arcane Mage
  • 6. Artifact Ability for Arcane Mage
  • 7. ChangeLog
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Talent Choices
  • 2. Talent Cheat Sheets for Arcane Mage
    • 2.1. Tier 21 4-Piece Bonus
    • 2.2. Without Tier 21 4-Piece Bonus
      • 2.2.1. Heavy Cleave/AOE
    • 2.3. For General Use
  • 3. Tier 1 (Level 15) Talents for Arcane Mage
  • 4. Tier 2 (Level 30) Talents for Arcane Mage
  • 5. Tier 3 (Level 45) Talents for Arcane Mage
  • 6. Tier 4 (Level 60) Talents for Arcane Mage
  • 7. Tier 5 (Level 75) Talents for Arcane Mage
  • 8. Tier 6 (Level 90) Talents for Arcane Mage
  • 9. Tier 7 (Level 100) Talents for Arcane Mage
  • 10. ChangeLog
• +Artifact Traits and Relics
  • 1. Artifact Progression for Arcane Mage — First 35 Points
    • 1.1. Early Point Investment
    • 1.2. Second Golden Trait
    • 1.3. Third Golden Trait
      • 1.3.1. Mythic Raid Progression/Single Target Focused
      • 1.3.2. Mythic+ Dungeons/AoE Focused
    • 1.4. Final Point Investment
  • 2. Patch 7.2: 35+ Trait Path for Arcane Mage
  • 3. Relic Priority for Arcane Mage
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Netherlight Crucible Relic Paths
  • 1. General Optimization Advice for Arcane Mage
  • 2. Tier 2 Upgrade Priority for Arcane Mage
  • 3. Tier 3 Upgrade Priority for Arcane Mage
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities
  • 1. Ability Priority List for Arcane Mage
    • 1.1. Conserve Phase
      • 1.1.1. Building Charges
      • 1.1.2. Maximum Charges
    • 1.2. Burn Phase
  • 2. Important Notes for Arcane Mage
    • 2.1. Arcane Charges: Understanding Your Mana Pool
      • 2.1.1. Aluneth's Avarice
    • 2.2. Spells That Benefit From Arcane Charges
    • 2.3. Truncating Arcane Missiles
    • 2.4. Effectively Handling AoE
    • 2.5. Rune of Power
    • 2.6. Arcane Orb
    • 2.7. Prismatic Barrier
  • 3. Core Concepts for Arcane Mage
    • 3.1. Mana Management During Conserve Phase
    • 3.2. Executing the Burn Phase Consistently
    • 3.3. Movement Management
      • 3.3.1. Quiet Movement
  • 4. Arcane Mage: Resonance Opening Sequence
  • 5. Arcane Mage: Charged Up Opening Sequence
  • 6. ChangeLog
• +Stat Priority
  • 1. Basic Stat Priority for Arcane Mage
  • 2. Arcane Mage: Getting a Better Understanding
    • 2.1. Statistics Explanations
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gems, Enchants, and Consumables
  • 1. Gems for Arcane Mage
  • 2. Enchants for Arcane Mage
  • 3. Consumables for Arcane Mage
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Macros and Addons
  • 1. Addons for Arcane Mage
    • 1.1. ElvUI
    • 1.2. Weak Auras
    • 1.3. Boss Mods
      • 1.3.1. BigWigs Bossmods
      • 1.3.2. Deadly Boss Mods
    • 1.4. Name Plates
      • 1.4.1. KUI Nameplates
      • 1.4.2. TidyPlates
    • 1.5. Damage Meters
      • 1.5.1. Skada
      • 1.5.2. Details
    • 1.6. Extra AddOns
      • 1.6.1. Mik's Scrolling Battle Text
      • 1.6.2. DeathNote
      • 1.6.3. Doom CooldownPulse
      • 1.6.4. Angry Assignments
  • 2. Macros
    • 2.1. Generic Macros for Mages
      • 2.1.1. Stopcast Blink
      • 2.1.2. 1-Button Block
      • 2.1.3. Block Cancel
    • 2.2. Specific Macros for Arcane Mages
      • 2.2.1. Stopcast Displacement
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gear, Legendaries, and Best in Slot
  • 1. Tier 21 Set Bonus for Arcane Mage
  • 2. Advised Legendary Setup for Antorus Gear for Arcane Mage
  • 3. Tier 20 Set Bonus for Arcane Mage
  • 4. Best in Slot List for Arcane Mage
    • 4.1. Trinket Notes for Arcane Mage
  • 5. Evaluating Upgrades Using Stat Weights for Arcane Mage
  • 6. Racial Bonuses for Arcane Mage
  • 7. Legendaries for Arcane Mage
  • 8. Loot Competition
  • 9. ChangeLog

This section is intended for players who are new to the game or class, have no intentions of raiding Mythic difficulty, or simply want a more straightforward way to play their specialization without being overwhelmed by the numerous priorities and active abilities that need to be taken into consideration for optimal play.

1. The Basics for Arcane Mage

Arcane is a great Swiss Army Knife that has a complete toolkit to approach any situation. It provides great burst as well as impressive cleave and AoE. It is also hyper mobile and comes equipped with a variety of defensive spells and cooldowns. In this section we will be focusing on a setup that minimizes the amount of buttons and reactivity necessary without unduly compromising overall damage output.

2. Talent Choice for Arcane Mage

These choices are optimized for ease of use. Although some talents might offer marginally higher gains when played perfectly, these same talents often result in damage losses when utilized by many players. These talents aim to present the best setup that has very little punishment for unfamiliarity or mistakes.

• Level 15: Amplification
• Level 30: Slipstream
• Level 45: Incanter's Flow
• Level 60: Resonance
• Level 75: Chrono Shift
• Level 90: Erosion
• Level 100: Overpowered

3. Stat Choice for Arcane Mage

Currently, you will want to prioritize secondary stats as follows:

1. Versatility;
2. Critical Strike;
3. Haste;
4. Intellect;
5. Mastery.

4. Relic Choice for Arcane Mage

1. Aegwynn's Imperative
2. Aegwynn's Intensity
3. Aegwynn's Fury
4. Aegwynn's Wrath

These 4 traits are very close in value. As a rule of thumb, if Aegwynn is in the name, it is one of the best traits.

5. Basic Rotation for Arcane Mage

5.1. "Burn"

Whenever Arcane Power is available, you will enter a Mana "burn", where you aim to deal as much burst damage as possible at the expense of Mana. For the burn:

1. Ensure you have 4 Arcane Charges.
2. Place Rune of Power (if talented).
3. Activate Arcane Power.
4. Cast Arcane Missiles whenever available.
5. Cast Arcane Blast.

After Arcane Power ends, cast Evocation and return to full Mana.

5.2. "Conserve"

Whenever Arcane Power is on cooldown, you should aim to "conserve" enough Mana to be ready for the next Arcane Power burn phase.

• Cast Mark of Aluneth on cooldown.
• Cast Arcane Blast to generate Arcane Charges.
• Cast Arcane Missiles when you are at 4 Arcane Charges and have available charges of Arcane Missiles.
• Cast Arcane Barrage to clear Arcane Charges if you need to regenerate Mana.
• Cast Arcane Explosion on 3+ targets.

About Our Author and Reviewer

This guide has been reviewed and approved by Blixius, a top Arcane Mage who raids in Bird is the Word.

6. ChangeLog

• 17 Feb. 2018: Added a relic priority section.
• 28 Nov. 2017: Updated rotation.
• 17 Sep. 2017: Removed mention of Rune of Power.
• 29 Aug. 2017: Updated stat priority.
• 12 Jun. 2017: Page reviewed and deemed updated for 7.2.5.
• 09 Jan. 2017: Updated easy mode talent build for 7.1.5.
• 08 Dec. 2016: Added easy mode for Arcane Mages.

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