Frost Mage PvP Guide — The War Within (11.2) - World of Warcraft

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to play Frost Mage in a PvP environment. The guide will cover everything from talent choices, PvP talents, gameplay and rotation, and useful racial bonuses. It is most applicable to Arena content, but most talents and racial bonuses will work in Rated Battlegrounds and skirmishes.

If you were looking for TBC Classic content, please refer to our TBC Mage PvP guide.

PvP Frost Mage Guides

Mage Leveling Guide

Frost Mage PvE Guide

Introduction Talents Gear & Stats Battleground Blitz Compositions Playstyle & Rotations Macros Races

TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE

3. Notable 11.2 Changes to Frost Mages

Frost Mages' Place in the Meta.

Frost Mages are typically one of the strongest caster specs in PvP. Mages not only excel at getting crowd control and relentlessly slowing enemies, but they also have great burst damage. With short burst cooldowns and strong crowd control, Frost Mages are capable of controlling entire teams. One Polymorph Icon Polymorph can turn an entire game around. With the recent talent changes to Mages, the specialization has much more control and utility than in previous expansions.

Frost Mage Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

Great control over enemies
Multiple defensive cooldowns
Strong burst damage
Countless ways to root and slow enemy players

Weaknesses

Have to rotate mobility well versus high mobility enemies
Predictable burst damage
Low Durability when out of cooldowns

Notable 11.2 Changes to Frost Mages

No notable changes for PvP

Changelog

27 Aug. 2025 (talents): Updated recommended talents.
13 Aug. 2025 (gear): Updated recommended gear.
- Updated Gear for Reshii Wraps
04 Aug. 2025 (races): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.
04 Aug. 2025 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.
04 Aug. 2025 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 11.2.
- Updated all damage rotations.
04 Aug. 2025 (comps): Updated for Patch 11.2.
- Updated best 3v3 team compositions.
04 Aug. 2025 (blitz): Updated for Patch 11.2.
- Updated recommended talents.
- Updated PvP talents.
- Updated crowd control section.
04 Aug. 2025 (gear): Updated for Patch 11.2.
- Updated recommended gear.
- Updated tier sets section.
04 Aug. 2025 (talents): Updated for Patch 11.2.
- Updated class talent description.
- Updated best PvP talents.
04 Aug. 2025 (this page): Updated for Patch 11.2.
- Updated Strengths and Weaknesses.
- Updated 11.2 changes.
04 Aug. 2025 (this page): Updated for Patch 11.2.
- Updated Strengths and Weaknesses.
- Updated 11.2 changes.
15 Jun. 2025 (races): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7.
15 Jun. 2025 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7.
15 Jun. 2025 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7.
15 Jun. 2025 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7.
15 Jun. 2025 (blitz): Updated recommended gear.
- Updated recommended PvP gear.
15 Jun. 2025 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7.
15 Jun. 2025 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7.
15 Jun. 2025 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7.
15 Jun. 2025 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7.
21 Apr. 2025 (races): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
21 Apr. 2025 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
21 Apr. 2025 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
21 Apr. 2025 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
21 Apr. 2025 (blitz): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
21 Apr. 2025 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
21 Apr. 2025 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
21 Apr. 2025 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
21 Apr. 2025 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
03 Apr. 2025 (gear): Updated recommended gear.
24 Mar. 2025 (talents): Updated recommended talents.
07 Mar. 2025 (gear): Updated recommended enchants.
03 Mar. 2025 (gear): Updated recommended gear for Season 2 of The War Within.
03 Mar. 2025 (talents): Updated recommended talents.
24 Feb. 2025 (races): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.
24 Feb. 2025 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.
24 Feb. 2025 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 11.1.
- Updated damage rotations.
24 Feb. 2025 (comps): Updated for Patch 11.1.
- Updated best 3v3 team compositions.
24 Feb. 2025 (blitz): Updated for Patch 11.1.
- Updated recommended talents.
- Updated recommended PvP talents.
24 Feb. 2025 (gear): Updated for Patch 11.1.0.
24 Feb. 2025 (talents): Updated for Patch 11.1.
- Updated recommended talents.
- Updated recommended PvP talents.
24 Feb. 2025 (this page): Updated for Patch 11.1.
- Added 11.1 Notable changes.
24 Feb. 2025 (this page): Updated for Patch 11.1.
- Added 11.1 Notable changes.
29 Dec. 2024 (gear): Updated recommended gear.
15 Dec. 2024 (races): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
15 Dec. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
15 Dec. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
15 Dec. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
15 Dec. 2024 (blitz): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
15 Dec. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
15 Dec. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
15 Dec. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
15 Dec. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
19 Nov. 2024 (playstyle): Updated all damage rotations
- Updated opener rotation.
- Updated burst damage rotation.
- Updated sustained damage rotation.
- Updated defensives.
19 Nov. 2024 (comps): Updated best team compositions.
- Updated best 2v2 team compositions.
- Updated best 3v3 team compositions.
19 Nov. 2024 (blitz): Updated recommended talents.
19 Nov. 2024 (gear): Reviewed recommended gear.
19 Nov. 2024 (this page): Updated weaknesses.
19 Nov. 2024 (this page): Updated weaknesses.
18 Nov. 2024 (talents): Updated recommended talents.
- Updated talent descriptions.
21 Oct. 2024 (blitz): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
- Updated Recommended Talents.
21 Oct. 2024 (talents): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
- Updated Recommended Talents.
21 Oct. 2024 (this page): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
21 Oct. 2024 (this page): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
14 Oct. 2024 (gear): Updated Recommended Gear.
16 Sep. 2024 (gear): Updated Recommended Gear.
- Updated Recommended Embellishments.
- Updated Recommended Enchants.
15 Sep. 2024 (blitz): Updated Recommended Talents.
12 Sep. 2024 (talents): Updated Recommended Talents.
09 Sep. 2024 (races): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
09 Sep. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
09 Sep. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
09 Sep. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
09 Sep. 2024 (blitz): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
09 Sep. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
09 Sep. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
09 Sep. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
09 Sep. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
28 Aug. 2024 (blitz): Page added.
21 Aug. 2024 (races): Reviewed for The War Within.
21 Aug. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for The War Within.
21 Aug. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for The War Within.
21 Aug. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for The War Within.
21 Aug. 2024 (gear): Updated for The War Within.
21 Aug. 2024 (talents): Updated for The War Within.
21 Aug. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within.
21 Aug. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within.
26 Jul. 2024 (talents): Updated Recommended Talents.
23 Jul. 2024 (races): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
23 Jul. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for The War Within Pre-Patch.
23 Jul. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
23 Jul. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for The War Within Pre-Patch.
23 Jul. 2024 (gear): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
23 Jul. 2024 (talents): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
23 Jul. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
23 Jul. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
07 May 2024 (races): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
07 May 2024 (macros): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
07 May 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
07 May 2024 (comps): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
07 May 2024 (gear): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
07 May 2024 (talents): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
07 May 2024 (this page): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
07 May 2024 (this page): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
22 Apr. 2024 (races): Reviewed for Season 4.
22 Apr. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Season 4.
22 Apr. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Season 4.
22 Apr. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Season 4.
22 Apr. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for Season 4.
22 Apr. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for Season 4.
22 Apr. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Season 4.
22 Apr. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Season 4.
18 Mar. 2024 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
18 Mar. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
18 Mar. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
18 Mar. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
18 Mar. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
18 Mar. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
18 Mar. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
18 Mar. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
15 Jan. 2024 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
15 Jan. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
15 Jan. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
15 Jan. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
15 Jan. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
15 Jan. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
15 Jan. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
15 Jan. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
06 Nov. 2023 (races): Updated for Patch 10.2
06 Nov. 2023 (macros): Updated for Patch 10.2
06 Nov. 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 10.2
06 Nov. 2023 (comps): Updated for Patch 10.2
06 Nov. 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.2
06 Nov. 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.2
06 Nov. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2
06 Nov. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2
04 Sep. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7
04 Sep. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7
04 Sep. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7
04 Sep. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7
04 Sep. 2023 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7
04 Sep. 2023 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7, updated specific talent choices
04 Sep. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7. better aligned introduction
04 Sep. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7. better aligned introduction
10 Jul. 2023 (races): Updated for Patch 10.1.5
10 Jul. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
10 Jul. 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 10.1.5
10 Jul. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
10 Jul. 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.1.5
10 Jul. 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.1.5
10 Jul. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5
10 Jul. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5
09 May 2023 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
09 May 2023 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
09 May 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
09 May 2023 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
09 May 2023 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
09 May 2023 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
21 Mar. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
21 Mar. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
21 Mar. 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
21 Mar. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
21 Mar. 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
21 Mar. 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
21 Mar. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
21 Mar. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
30 Jan. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
30 Jan. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
30 Jan. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
30 Jan. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
30 Jan. 2023 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
30 Jan. 2023 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
30 Jan. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
30 Jan. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
11 Dec. 2022 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
11 Dec. 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
11 Dec. 2022 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
11 Dec. 2022 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
11 Dec. 2022 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
11 Dec. 2022 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
11 Dec. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
11 Dec. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
22 Nov. 2022 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Pre-patch.
22 Nov. 2022 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight Pre-patch.
22 Nov. 2022 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Pre-patch.
22 Nov. 2022 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Pre-patch.
22 Nov. 2022 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Pre-patch.
22 Nov. 2022 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Pre-patch.
22 Nov. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Pre-patch.
22 Nov. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Pre-patch.
31 Jul. 2022 (comps): Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
31 Jul. 2022 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
31 Jul. 2022 (talents): Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
31 Jul. 2022 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
31 Jul. 2022 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
31 May 2022 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
31 May 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
31 May 2022 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
31 May 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
31 May 2022 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
31 May 2022 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
31 May 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
31 May 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
28 Feb. 2022 (races): Page reviewed and approved for Patch 9.2.
28 Feb. 2022 (macros): Page reviewed and approved for Patch 9.2.
28 Feb. 2022 (playstyle): Page reviewed and approved for Patch 9.2.
28 Feb. 2022 (comps): Page reviewed and approved for Patch 9.2.
28 Feb. 2022 (gear): Page updated for Patch 9.2.
28 Feb. 2022 (talents): Page updated for Patch 9.2.
28 Feb. 2022 (this page): Page updated for Patch 9.2.
28 Feb. 2022 (this page): Page updated for Patch 9.2.
17 Nov. 2021 (races): Page reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
17 Nov. 2021 (macros): Page reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
17 Nov. 2021 (playstyle): Page reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
17 Nov. 2021 (comps): Page updated for Patch 9.1.5.
17 Nov. 2021 (gear): Page reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
17 Nov. 2021 (talents): Page reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
17 Nov. 2021 (this page): Page updated for Patch 9.1.5.
17 Nov. 2021 (this page): Page updated for Patch 9.1.5.
04 Jul. 2021 (races): Reviewed and approved for Patch 9.1.
04 Jul. 2021 (macros): Reviewed and approved for Patch 9.1.
04 Jul. 2021 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 9.1 of Shadowlands.
04 Jul. 2021 (comps): Updated for Patch 9.1 of Shadowlands.
04 Jul. 2021 (gear): Updated for Patch 9.1 of Shadowlands.
04 Jul. 2021 (talents): Updated for Patch 9.1 of Shadowlands.
04 Jul. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1 of Shadowlands.
04 Jul. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1 of Shadowlands.
19 Mar. 2021 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
19 Mar. 2021 (gear): Updated for Patch 9.0.5.
19 Mar. 2021 (talents): Updated for Patch 9.0.5.
19 Mar. 2021 (this page): Updated strength and weaknesses for Patch 9.0.5.
19 Mar. 2021 (this page): Updated strength and weaknesses for Patch 9.0.5.
23 Dec. 2020 (macros): Updated for Shadowlands.
23 Dec. 2020 (playstyle): Updated for Shadowlands.
23 Dec. 2020 (comps): Updated for Shadowlands.
23 Dec. 2020 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands.
23 Dec. 2020 (talents): Updated for Shadowlands.
23 Dec. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands.
23 Dec. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands.
28 Oct. 2020 (talents): Updated PvP Talents.
14 Oct. 2020 (races): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
14 Oct. 2020 (macros): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
14 Oct. 2020 (playstyle): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
14 Oct. 2020 (comps): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
14 Oct. 2020 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
14 Oct. 2020 (talents): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
14 Oct. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
14 Oct. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.

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PvP Frost Mage Guides

Mage Leveling Guide

Frost Mage PvE Guide

Introduction Talents Gear & Stats Battleground Blitz Compositions Playstyle & Rotations Macros Races

Other PvP Guides

Frost Mage PvP Arena Compositions

Frost Mage PvP Stat Priority, Gear, and Trinkets

Frost Mage PvP Races and Racials

Frost Mage Battleground Blitz

Frost Mage PvE Guides

Frost Mage Builds and Talents

Frost Mage Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities

Frost Mage Stat Priority

Frost Mage Gear and Best in Slot

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

This guide has been written by Mysticall, a seasoned multi-Rank 1 PvP player. You can watch Mysticall create educational and entertaining content that showcases advanced PvP strategies on on Twitch, and YouTube.

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Frost Mage PvP Guide — The War Within (11.2)