Arcane Mage PvP Stat Priority, Gear, and Trinkets — The War Within (11.1.0)

Last updated on Mar 07, 2025 at 13:45 by Mysticall 13 comments

Choosing your gear carefully is important for your Arcane Mage in PvP. We give you a stat priority to help you choose items with the right stats that will make PvP a little easier for Arcane Mages.

This page is part of our Arcane Mage PvP Guide.

1.

Stat Priority for Arcane Mages in PvP

The stat priority for Arcane Mage in PvP is as follows:

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

Intellect is the best stat in all situations. Haste is the best secondary stat. This stat will reduce your global cooldown and the cast times of important spells like Polymorph Icon Polymorph, as well as overall damage spells. This is followed by Versatility, which will reduce the damage you take while also increasing the damage you deal. Finally, Mastery will be the next targeted stat as it will increase your damage.

2.

Gear Recommendations

In general, Arcane Mages want to get trinkets that line up well with Arcane Surge Icon Arcane Surge or Touch of the Magi Icon Touch of the Magi. These trinkets can have a passive or on-use effect. The stat you want to prioritize increases to is Intellect. This is due to the fact Intellect drastically increases your overall damage output. Please refer to our dedicated page for more information about Arcane Power and your rotation in PvP.

Below, you will find our current BiS list.

  • Head: Aspectral Emissary's Crystalline Cowl Icon Aspectral Emissary's Crystalline Cowl
  • Neck: Algari Competitor's Amulet Icon Algari Competitor's Amulet - Crafted with Versatility & Haste
  • Shoulders: Aspectral Emissary's Arcane Vents Icon Aspectral Emissary's Arcane Vents
  • Cloak: Prized Warmonger's Cloak Icon Prized Warmonger's Cloak
  • Chest: Aspectral Emissary's Primal Robes Icon Aspectral Emissary's Primal Robes
  • Wrists: Prized Warmonger's Bindings Icon Prized Warmonger's Bindings
  • Hands: Prized Gladiator's Silk Gloves Icon Prized Gladiator's Silk Gloves
  • Waist: Algari Competitor's Cloth Sash Icon Algari Competitor's Cloth Sash - Crafted with Versatility & Haste
  • Legs: Aspectral Emissary's Trousers Icon Aspectral Emissary's Trousers
  • Feet: Prized Warmonger's Slippers Icon Prized Warmonger's Slippers
  • Ring 1: Algari Competitor's Signet Icon Algari Competitor's Signet - Crafted with Versatility & Haste
  • Ring 2: Prized Gladiator's Ring Icon Prized Gladiator's Ring
  • Trinket 1: Prized Gladiator's Medallion Icon Prized Gladiator's Medallion
  • Trinket 2: Prized Gladiator's Insignia of Alacrity Icon Prized Gladiator's Insignia of Alacrity
  • 1H Weapon: Algari Competitor's Skewer Icon Algari Competitor's Skewer - Crafted with Versatility & Haste
  • OH Weapon: Algari Competitor's Lamp Icon Algari Competitor's Lamp - Crafted with Versatility & Haste

Note: It is essential that you wear two PvP trinkets. This will give you a Stamina and stat boost that will in turn increase your survivability.

2.1.

Arcane Mage Tier Set

As noted above, acquiring both your 2-set and 4-set bonus is crucial. It is important to note that all tier sets are nerfed by 50% in PvP. Although this nerf is significant, tier sets are still important to acquire to maximize your chances to win. For Arcane Mages, this is your tier set:

  • 2-set: Your spells and abilities have a small chance to hit a Jackpot! granting you Clearcasting Icon Clearcasting and 5% increased spell damage for 12 sec. Casting Touch of the Magi Icon Touch of the Magi always hits a Jackpot!
  • 4-set: When you hit a Jackpot!, you also gain Aether Attunement Icon Aether Attunement at 100% effectiveness.

4-set is not required for Arcane Mages, but getting 2-set is recommended.

2.2.

Arcane Mage Embellishments

Embellishments are bonuses that can be put on crafted gear. These effects can have a drastic impact on the game. You are only allowed to have two Embellishments equipped at the same time. Here are the recommended Embellishments for Arcane Mage:

  • Ascendance Icon Ascendance/Writhing Armor Banding Icon Writhing Armor Banding. While in combat, Ascendance Icon Ascendance grants 89 of a random secondary stat, stacking up to 10 times. Writhing Armor Banding Icon Writhing Armor Banding doubles this affect. This combination of Embellishments is the best for Arcane Mage. Ascendance can only be crafted on a weapon.
  • Elemental Focusing Lens Icon Elemental Focusing Lens. This Embellishment causes your damaging spells and abilities to have a chance to deal damage to your target based on which gems you have socketed. This is a flat increase to your overall damage output.
  • Duskthread Lining Icon Duskthread Lining. This Embellishment significantly increases your Versatility when you are above 80% health. This can be used if you do not want to double the affect of Ascendance Icon Ascendance with Writhing Armor Banding Icon Writhing Armor Banding.
2.3.

Gems and Enchants

Here are the best enchants for an Arcane Mage:

  • Cloak: Enchant Cloak - Chant of Burrowing Rapidity Icon Enchant Cloak - Chant of Burrowing Rapidity
  • Chest: Enchant Chest - Crystalline Radiance Icon Enchant Chest - Crystalline Radiance
  • Bracers: Enchant Bracer - Chant of Armored Speed Icon Enchant Bracer - Chant of Armored Speed
  • Legs: Sunset Spellthread Icon Sunset Spellthread
  • Boots: Enchant Boots - Scout's March Icon Enchant Boots - Scout's March
  • Rings: Enchant Ring - Radiant Haste Icon Enchant Ring - Radiant Haste
  • Weapon: Enchant Weapon - Authority of Radiant Power Icon Enchant Weapon - Authority of Radiant Power

Versatile Emerald Icon Versatile Emerald is the best gem you can use. You also get access to a single Meta Gem. Using Cognitive Bloodstone Icon Cognitive Bloodstone is ideal for the meta slot.

3.

Changelog

  • 07 Mar. 2025: Updated recommended enchants.
  • 03 Mar. 2025: Updated recommended gear for Season 2 of The War Within.
  • 24 Feb. 2025: Reviewed for Patch 11.1.
  • 15 Dec. 2024: Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
  • 25 Nov. 2024: Updated recommended embellishments.
  • 21 Oct. 2024: Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
    • Updated Recommended Gear.
    • Updated Recommended Gems.
  • 16 Sep. 2024: Updated Recommended Gear.
    • Updated Recommended Embellishments.
    • Updated Recommended Enchants.
  • 09 Sep. 2024: Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 21 Aug. 2024: Updated for The War Within.
  • 23 Jul. 2024: Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
  • 07 May 2024: Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 22 Apr. 2024: Reviewed for Season 4.
  • 18 Mar. 2024: Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
  • 15 Jan. 2024: Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
  • 06 Nov. 2023: Updated for Patch 10.2
  • 04 Sep. 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7
  • 10 Jul. 2023: Updated for Patch 10.1.5
  • 09 May 2023: Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
  • 21 Mar. 2023: Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 30 Jan. 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 11 Dec. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 22 Nov. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight Pre-patch.
  • 31 Jul. 2022: Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 31 May 2022: Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 28 Feb. 2022: Page updated for Patch 9.2.
  • 17 Nov. 2021: Page reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
  • 04 Jul. 2021: Updated for Patch 9.1 of Shadowlands.
  • 19 Mar. 2021: Updated for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 17 Oct. 2020: Removed Corruption sections.
  • 03 Jul. 2020: Updated Corruptions.
    • Added Recommended Corruptions section.
  • 19 May 2020: Updated Corruptions section.
  • 08 Apr. 2020: Updated Recommended Items.
  • 11 Feb. 2020: Added Corruption Gear section. Updated Recommended Gear and best enchant sections.
  • 20 Jan. 2020: Updated PvP gear to be Season 4 Corrupted gear.
  • 26 Dec. 2019: Page added.
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