There are three classes of professions, gathering, production and service. All mages should take the time to learn both Cooking and First Aid professions up to the maximum skill level of 300. With Cooking you will be able to create special foods, which will give you mage friendly temporary buffs that will add to your combat effectiveness. You will also be able to create food with buffs favorable to other classes.

With First Aid you will be able to heal yourself and others when there aren’t any healer’s nearby. First Aid is a necessity! Let me repeat, First Aid is a necessity! It will save your life and the lives of those around you. It is essential for both PvP and PvE encounters so do not neglect working on that skill.

Another skill worth obtaining is Fishing. It’s much harder to raise to the higher levels, but having it will save you money in the long run, as you can fish for many high demand reagents for your advanced cooking endeavors.

In addition to Cooking, First Aid and Fishing, you have the option of picking up any two of the remaining professions. If you are PvP oriented, the Engineering tree is rather helpful. You will find bind on pickup equipment uniquely helpful in many PvP encounters in both the Goblin and Gnomish branches. Similarly, Engineering can help with PvE encounters, but given the mages current role, it is not a necessity for PvE encounters. It is important to note that raising skill in Engineering is rather difficult and expensive. You will need a solid flow of gold or resources to make good progress. Otherwise, it will be a slow, difficult and expensive grind.

Outside of engineering for PvP inclined characters there are no other must have professions for PvE inclined characters. The gathering professions will make you more money over time. Common mage type profession combinations are Herbalism & Alchemy and Enchanting & Tailoring. The most useful combination is Herbalism & Alchemy. With that combination you are virtually assured to have enough resources to create many of the upper end potions.

Enchanting & Tailoring is not recommended for the solo or small team player as many of the most desirable enchants are found only in the higher level encounters. Select enchanting if you must and if only realistically plan on using the profession to disenchant extra magic items found or to enchant your own gear. However, if you are a part of a large or growing guild there should be at least one or two guild enchanters.

I personally would work on having two gathering professions. Over the course of your gaming career you will find a greater market for the raw materials gathered than the end products created. With two gathering professions you would be in a better position to earn gold or trade for player crafted items and equipment. This recommendation is subject to change as additional content may be added to the game to make the production professions more desirable.

CTMods/CT_RaidAssist:http://www.ctmod.net/downloads.ct
CT_Raid Assist and other related CTMods are required for most guild raid events.

Decursive:http://www.curse-gaming.com/mod.php?addid=643
Essential for mass PvE and PvP magic/curse removal.

Damage Meter:http://www.curse-gaming.com/mod.php?addid=791 Essential for monitoring damage output in many ultra-elite aggro sensitive PvE encounters.

The most effective, and ultimate combination of mage armor is armor that grants the wearer a decent amount of + Intelligence, + Stamina and + Damage to magical attacks. Currently the epic Netherwind Regalia obtained from Blackwing Lair and Enigma Vestments obtained in Ahn’Qiraj are the best set items to acquire. There may be the odd epic piece that eclipses an individual set piece, but collectively both sets will provide the wearer with substantial offensive and defensive benefits. These sets are known as Tier 2 armor pieces. The Netherwind Crown can be obtained off of Onyxia while Netherwind Leggings are obtained from Ragnaros.

Below Tier 2 there is the Tier 1 Arcanist set from Molten Core. It was recently buffed to increase its +damage effectiveness, and should now be on any aspiring Mage’s wish list.

If you are level 60 and unable to obtain the above set items, I would suggest running the Zul’Gurub instance with friends or a pickup group, or try questing down in Silithus. You can also choose to run any of the level 55-60 instances as they have a decent array of effective + Stamina, + Intelligence and + Damage gear. It is important to focus on + Intelligence and + Stamina and + Damage and you will have a more effective mage in the long run. I personally avoid the + Critical % gear and + Spirit gear as those stats do not ensure consistent damage and survivability potential. + Crit gear can be good for sporadic damage bursts in a PvP environment, but in the PvE encounters, steady, controlled damage input is more valued, and better ensures raid survival.

For the raiding mage the Azuresong Mageblade is the premier choice for weapons to start. The next upgrade to that would be the Claw of Chromaggus or the Staff of Shadow Flame, both BWL drops or the Sharpened Silithid Femur from AQ 40. If obtaining the Azuresong Mageblade is near impossible, the aspiring mage can join an AQ 20 group in hopes of the BOP hilt drop that completes the Exalted Cenarion Hold quest for the Blade of Vaulted Secrets. For those who also do ZG there is the Bloodcaller blade from Hakkar and the Fang of Venoxis from one of the first couple of bosses. Both those blades are effective for end game use.

As always, it is essential to stay abreast of recent/future patches. New upgradeable epic armor sets are being released which will add greatly in making non-raid players more combat effective. If you choose your equipment wisely, a non-raid mage will have near the damage potential and survivability potential of a fully equipped Tier 1 mage. You’ll have to mix and match PvP and PvE obtained equipment, but it can be done with a little effort.

Let me share with you some of my favorite pieces of armor and equipment that I found very effective as I began my raiding career. Many pieces are farmable, available on the AH or available after running Blackrock Depths, Blackrock Spire, Scholomance, Strathome and the PvP battlegrounds.

• Head: Red Felt Hat (Strathome)
• Shoulders: Burial Shawl (Scholomance) or Boreal Mantle (Blackrock Mountain)
• Back: Deep Woodlands Cloak (Quest in Hinterlands)
• Chest: Robe of Winter Night (AH or Tailor), Robe of the Archmage (Tailor)
• Gloves: Bloodguard Gloves (PvP rank 7 reward)
• Boots: Bloodguard Boots (PvP rank 7 reward)
• Legs: Skyshroud Leggings (Lower Blackrock Spire)
• Belt: Frostwolf Cloth Belt (Friendly AV reward)
• Wrist: Sublime Wristguards (Dire Maul)
• Finger #1: Blood of the Martyr (Strathome quest reward)
• Finger #2: Freezing Band (Farmable epic or purchasable on AH) or Flaming Band of Eagle (Upper Blackrock Spire)
• Trinket #1: Briarwood Reed (Upper Blackrock Spire)
• Trinket #2: Eye of the Beast (Horde Quest) or Burst of Knowledge (Blackrock Mountain)

With the above equipment you won’t have a large mana or hitpoint pool, but you will be combat effective for almost all PvE encounters.

Don’t forget to review the quest rewards for the various battleground instances. You will often find very competent pieces of equipment there and the repeated grind may be to your suiting.

These weapons I am going to show you are ones I held in high regard as I began my raiding career. Acquire your own and you will be well served, they kept me alive on the journey to Golemagg where I earned my current blade.

• Sarah’s Guide (EPL Quest)
• Rod of the Ogre Magi (Dire Maul)
• Glowing Brightwood Staff (World Drop / AH)
• Elemental Mage Staff (World Drop / AH)
• Amethyst Wars Staff (Silithus Elemental Summon)

If you were so inclined to wear a blade you have a few options as well though not as many till you gain battleground faction or begin a raiding career. Two common weapons that served me in their day with their counterpart off-hands are:

Lorespinner (Dire Maul Quest reward)
Inventor’s Focal Sword (Marudon)

Spellbound Tome (Scholomance)
Tome of Knowledge (Strathome)

Oh, let me not forget to tell you that if you work hard with the Frostwolf Clan (Alterac Valley Battleground), you will be able to obtain these impressive epic off-hands.

• Tome of Arcane Domination
• Tome of the Ice Lord
• Tome of Fiery Arcana
• Therazane’s Touch

Similarly, if you work hard with the Defilers (Arathi Basin Battleground) you will have access to this fine blade:

Sageclaw

Work hard apprentice, the rewards are there for the taking. Keep your eyes open, new items are continually being discovered and in larger groups you will have access to even better weapons. This is just a simple guide, the road to your personal pride and joy is one best experienced.

Level Spell			Spell Rank

1	Arcane Intellect 	Rank 1
4	Conjure Water	Rank 1
4	Frostbolt	  	Rank 1
6	Conjure Food	Rank 1
6	Fire Blast		Rank 1
6	Fireball		Rank 2
8	Arcane Missiles	Rank 1
8	Frostbolt		Rank 2
8	Polymorph		Rank 1
10	Conjure Water	Rank 2
10	Frost Armor		Rank 2
10	Frost Nova		Rank 1
12	Conjure Food	Rank 2
12	Dampen Magic	Rank 1
12	Fireball		Rank 3
12	Slow Fall    
14	Arcane Explosion	Rank 1
14	Arcane Intellect	Rank 2
14	Fire Blast		Rank 2
14	Frostbolt		Rank 3
16	Arcane Missiles	Rank 2
16	Detect Magic     
16	Flamestrike		Rank 1
18	Amplify Magic	Rank 1
18	Fireball		Rank 4
18	Remove Lesser Curse
20	Blink
20	Blizzard		Rank 1
20	Cold Snap			Talent
20	Conjure Water	Rank 3
20	Evocation		Talent
20	Fire Ward		Rank 1
20	Frost Armor		Rank 3
20	Frostbolt		Rank 4
20	Mana Shield		Rank 1
20	Polymorph		Rank 2
20	Pyroblast	      Rank 1 	Talent
20	Teleport		Ironforge 
20	Teleport		Orgrimmar
20	Teleport		Stormwind
20	Teleport		Undercity
22	Arcane Explosion	Rank 2
22	Conjure Food	Rank 3
22	Fire Blast		Rank 3
22	Frost Ward		Rank 1
22	Scorch		Rank 1
24	Arcane Missiles	Rank 3
24	Counterspell
24	Dampen Magic	Rank 2
24	Fireball		Rank 5
24	Flamestrike		Rank 2
24	Pyroblast		Rank 2 	Talent
26	Cone of Cold	Rank 1
26	Frost Nova		Rank 2
26	Frostbolt		Rank 5
28	Arcane Intellect	Rank 3
28	Blizzard	      Rank 2
28	Conjure Mana Agate
28	Mana Shield		Rank 2
28	Scorch	      Rank 2
30	Amplify Magic	Rank 2
30	Arcane Explosion	Rank 3
30	Blast Wave		Rank 1	Talent
30	Conjure Water	Rank 4
30	Fire Blast		Rank 4
30	Fire Ward		Rank 2
30	Fireball		Rank 6
30	Ice Armor		Rank 1
30	Ice Block				Talent
30	Presence of Mind			Talent
30	Pyroblast		Rank 3	Talent
30	Teleport 		Darnassus
30	Teleport 		Thunder Bluff
32	Arcane Missiles	Rank 4
32	Conjure Food	Rank 4
32	Flamestrike		Rank 3
32	Frost Ward		Rank 2
32	Frostbolt		Rank 6
34	Cone of Cold	Rank 2
34	Mage Armor		Rank 1
34	Scorch		Rank 3
36	Blast Wave		Rank 2	Talent
36	Blizzard		Rank 3
36	Dampen Magic	Rank 3
36	Fireball		Rank 7
36	Mana Shield		Rank 3
36	Pyroblast		Rank 4	Talent
38	Arcane Explosion	Rank 4
38	Conjure Mana Jade
38	Fire Blast		Rank 5
38	Frostbolt		Rank 7
40	Arcane Missiles	Rank 5
40	Arcane Power			Talent
40	Combustion				Talent
40	Conjure Water	Rank 5
40	Fire Ward		Rank 3
40	Flamestrike		Rank 4
40	Frost Nova		Rank 3
40	Ice Armor		Rank 2
40	Ice Barrier		Rank 1	Talent
40	Polymorph		Rank 3
40	Portal 		Ironforge
40	Portal 		Orgrimmar
40	Portal 		Stormwind
40	Portal 		Undercity
40	Scorch		Rank 4
42	Amplify Magic	Rank 3
42	Arcane Intellect	Rank 4
42	Cone of Cold	Rank 3
42	Conjure Food	Rank 5
42	Fireball		Rank 8
42	Frost Ward		Rank 3
42	Pyroblast		Rank 5	Talent
44	Blast Wave		Rank 3	Talent
44	Blizzard		Rank 4
44	Frostbolt		Rank 8
44	Mana Shield		Rank 4
46	Arcane Explosion	Rank 5
46	Fire Blast		Rank 6
46	Ice Barrier		Rank 2	Talent
46	Mage Armor		Rank 2
46	Scorch		Rank 5
48	Arcane Missiles	Rank 6
48	Conjure Mana Citrine
48	Dampen Magic	Rank 4
48	Fireball		Rank 9
48	Flamestrike		Rank 5
48	Pyroblast		Rank 6	Talent
50	Cone of Cold	Rank 4
50	Conjure Water	Rank 6
50	Fire Ward		Rank 4
50	Frostbolt		Rank 9
50	Ice Armor		Rank 3
50	Portal 		Darnassus
50	Portal 		Thunder Bluff
52	Blast Wave		Rank 4	Talent
52	Blizzard		Rank 5
52	Conjure Food	Rank 6
52	Frost Ward		Rank 4
52	Ice Barrier		Rank 3	Talent
52	Mana Shield		Rank 5
52	Scorch		Rank 6
54	Amplify Magic	Rank 4
54	Arcane Explosion	Rank 6
54	Fire Blast		Rank 7
54	Fireball		Rank 10
54	Frost Nova		Rank 4
54	Pyroblast		Rank 7	Talent
56	Arcane Brilliance	Rank 1
56	Arcane Intellect	Rank 5
56	Arcane Missiles	Rank 7
56	Flamestrike		Rank 6
56	Frostbolt		Rank 10
58	Cone of Cold	Rank 5
58	Conjure Mana Ruby
58	Ice Barrier		Rank 4	Talent
58	Mage Armor		Rank 3
58	Scorch		Rank 7
60	Arcane Missiles	Rank 8
60	Blast Wave		Rank 5	Talent
60	Blizzard		Rank 6
60	Conjure Water	Rank 7	Quest
60	Dampen Magic	Rank 5
60	Fire Ward		Rank 5
60	Fireball		Rank 11
60	Ice Armor		Rank 4
60	Mana Shield		Rank 6
60	Polymorph		Rank 4
60	Pyroblast		Rank 8	Talent
60	Fireball		Rank 12	Book Drop
60	Frostbolt		Rank 11 	Book Drop

I hope this guide serves you well young mage apprentice. If you wish to comment on a current edition or contribute to future editions, you can e-mail me at barontagge@aol.com . Please be sure to include “WoW Mage Guide” in the heading so I can appropriately sort out the e-mails.

Revision 1.00, dated April 19, 2006