Cataclysm Classic Arcane Mage Spell Summary

Any spell not listed here is simply not relevant for Arcane Mage, or has only a very niche use.

This section outlines the essential abilities required for single-target engagements as an Arcane Mage.

• Arcane Blast — This serves as your primary ability, generating a stacking buff that accounts for the majority of your damage output and mana consumption. Each stack reduces the cast time of Arcane Blast, adding complexity to the Arcane specialization.
• Arcane Missiles — This ability activates only when it procs. Following the talent tree we recommend, this channeled spell releases 5 waves of missiles every 0.5 seconds. Arcane Missiles, devoid of mana cost, depletes your Arcane Blast stacks and is primarily utilized for mana management.
• Mage Armor — It is your best Armor type as Arcane and used to maintain mana. With Mana Adept the mana regeneration from this armor provides you extra DPS.
• Arcane Barrage — An instant-cast spell suitable for use when on the move or when seeking to deplete Arcane Blast stacks while Arcane Missiles is unavailable.
• Flame Orb — This offers dual benefits. Firstly, it inflicts significant damage with just a global cooldown to cast. Secondly, it continuously deals damage, increasing the likelihood of procuring Arcane Missiles and facilitating mana management.
• Arcane Power — Your primary DPS cooldown. While Arcane Power is active the global cooldown of your Blink, Mana Shield, and Mirror Image is reduced to zero.
• Evocation — The primary source of mana regeneration under your control.
• Presence of Mind — A noteworthy but small DPS cooldown, particularly when triggering Arcane Potency. It's important to note that Presence of Mind cannot be used simultaneously with Arcane Power, hence it's advisable to employ this ability through a macro.
• Mana Gem — Integral to the Arcane Mage rotation, providing a damage boost upon usage (courtesy of Improved Mana Gem). Given the criticality of mana management for an Arcane Mage, Mana Gems should be utilized judiciously at specific intervals rather than randomly.
• Mana Adept — The ability Mana Adept requires a more detailed explanation. It increases your damage done, based on the % mana you have left. At 100% mana, Mana Adept gives you 20% extra damage. This scales linearly with your mana, so e.g. at 60% Mana you only gain 60% of 20% (which is 0.6*0.2=0.12 or 12%) bonus damage, e.g. at 15% mana you gain only 15% of 20% (which is 0.15*0.2=0.03 or 3%) bonus damage. Therefore you want 100% mana as you start your Burn Phase. Mana Adept is greatly amplified by the stat Mastery and is learned passively when speccing into Arcane.
• Focus Magic — Cast on a group member to increase their chance to crit with spells by 3%. If they crit, your crit chance is also increased by 3% for 10 seconds. Situational use on healers possible.
• Arcane Tactics — Passive enhancement to damage (+3% for all raid/party members). Does not stack with Ferocious Inspiration and Communion.

Apart from the single-target DPS abilities outlined earlier, Arcane Mage wields the following arsenal:

• Arcane Explosion — Cast when enemies are close to you. Can be strategically enhanced by building up to four Arcane Blast stacks before.
• Flamestrike and Blizzard — On ranged AoE encounters, alternate between those two spells.

The following abilities are considered useful to Arcane Mage:

• Portals / Teleport — Used for (group) travel.
• Time Warp — Equivalent to Heroism and Bloodlust.
• Ring of Frost — Root with a 10-second duration and 10-yard radius.
• Polymorph — Turns your foes into an animal for a 50-second duration (less in PvP).
• Conjure Refreshment / Ritual of Refreshment — Creates food for you / your party.
• Mage Ward — Absorbs Arcane, Fire or Frost damage.
• Slow Fall — Slows your/a friends fall, prevents damage from falling.
• Blink — Teleports you 20 yards forward. Induces no global cooldown during Arcane Power.
• Ice Block — Provides a 10-second immunity.
• Remove Curse — Decurse your friends and yourself.
• Arcane Brilliance — Increases spell power, critical strike chance and enchances the mana pool.
• Remove Curse — Interrupt spells, has a 24-second cooldown.
• Spellsteal — Steals beneficial effects from enemies.
• Invisibility — Turns you invisible, allowing you to flee from combat and reset your threat on enemies.
• Mirror Image — A minor DPS cooldown that and should only be used if you can make sure they do not die from damage. Can also be used if your tank dies and you have threat, so your enemy will attack the mirror images first, giving you time to use Invisibility, or to resurrect your tank and prevent a wipe. Induces no global cooldown during Arcane Power.