POST EDITED to reflect 1.11 talents
A few precursors:
a) This method works. I've tried all sorts of builds and styles and this is by far the most efficient. Grinding this way without losing health means you can take as many mobs as you can get your hands on. There is no 'maximum number of mobs I can manage in one go'.
b) This method takes practice. Expect to die A LOT while learning. Even when you're adept you'll still make the odd mistake and die anyway. If you don't like dying, roll a warrior and kill things one or two at a time.
c) This works best with the talents from about level 54 onwards. Before this you should take whichever bits you can in order to successfully AoE grind. I levelled from about 40 to 60 more or less totally on grinding this way. Before this it was probably more hassle than it was worth (I tried anyway...)
d) What I am saying here is no big secret and has already been said, albeit spread across several different threads.
e) What I describe here is certainly not the only way to AoE grind, and doesn’t pretend to be. Folks will likely disagree with some points here and there, but like anything in WoW you should adapt to suit your own style. What is certainly not in doubt is that if you follow these instructions, you WILL be killing 12-15 mobs each pull and end up on full or near full hp. Final mana will of course depend on your base mana pool.
Build (this bit has changed):
Arcane Talents - 4 point(s)
* Arcane Subtlety - rank 2/2 (necessary to avoid resists)
Arcane Focus - rank 2/5
Frost Talents - 47 point(s)
Frost Warding - rank 2/2
Improved Frostbolt - rank 5/5
* Elemental Precision - rank 3/3 (necessary to avoid resists)
* Ice Shards - rank 5/5 (+dmg)
* Improved Frost Nova - rank 2/2 (absolutely essential for timing)
* Permafrost - rank 3/3 (absolutely essential for timing)
* Piercing Ice - rank 3/3 (+dmg on each pull)
* Cold Snap - rank 1/1 (lets you carry on if you do get a resist)
* Improved Blizzard - rank 3/3 (absolutely essential for timing)
Arctic Reach - rank 2/2
Frost Channeling - rank 3/3
* Shatter - rank 5/5 (+dmg)
Ice Block - rank 1/1
* Improved Cone of Cold - rank 3/3 (much more dmg from cone of cold)
Winter's Chill - rank 5/5
* Ice Barrier - rank 1/1 (for rounding 'em up)
Link to Talent Calculator with this build in it
Notes: I have marked what I consider to be essential talents for this technique with a star. The non-stared things could be switch around to provide a more balanced build whilst still allowing for AoE grinding. Also, this build is perfectly suited to frost grinding but pretty useless for anything else. I can hold my own in an instance ok but other builds would be much better for this. Other posts deal with other builds. Finally, do NOT take frostbite, however tempted. While this is an awesome spell for pvp, kiting elites, instances etc., it is very unhelpful for this type of grinding, which is based on keeping the mobs together. If some are frozen and some aren’t, they split up and can be missed by your blizzard. Well executed frost grinding finishes with the last blizzard falling on mobs packed in a VERY tight radius. Frostbite is seriously unhelpful with this.
The Area:
Melee type mobs only – this is almost essential. You can go to areas where there is the odd caster but these will need taking out singly first. No hunter spec types are possible either. The reason this is so important is that this method relies on uninterrupted Blizzard, which is a channeled spell. You’ll be needing lots of mobs all in one place, though.
There are many posts on good AoE spots. Here is one:
Allakhazam Grinding Spots
The Technique:
1. Watch for ‘lie of land’ and ‘wandering mobs’. Both can stuff you up
2. Pick off any casters or shooter type mobs before you start
3. Full mana
4. Ice barrier
5. Mount up
6. Round up mobs (circular type motion is best – gathers them together)
7. Hop off mount
8. Wait until all are on you. This step is important – you are effectively using yourself as a focal point here. Your shield will take almost all damage unless you have absolutely loads (>15) mobs or they are coming from a very wide range (takes more time). If this is the case, use ice block
9. Frost nova
(please note that if any resist you should use cold snap and try again straight away. If this is on cooldown then ice block may help but is a little clumsy and you may already have used it – see above)
10. Blink
11. Walk forward 3 paces (puts your pretty much at max. Blizzard range)
12. Turn and first blizzard with far edge of target on gathered frosted mobs
13. Second blizzard as they are walking towards you – outside edge of target on rear-most mob
(please note that steps 11, 12 and 13 are the bits that take the most practice. Speed is of the essence and hot-keying them rather than using mouse is almost essential. Getting the target in the right place is a skill which makes all the difference between success and failure)
14. Cone of Cold. (Important to do this before the frost nova even though there will be less crits. You need them frozen in place)
15. Second Frost Nova
16. Walk away about 8 paces (no blink necessary here)
17. Turn and blizzard – this final blizz will take down most mobs. Any strays or runners can are usually on so little health that a decent wand will take them down.
Notes on technique: the above technique done correctly will leave you virtually untouched. However, everyone makes the odd mistake with timing etc. and you will need to remain adaptable. Sometimes a mob that wanders in (or is pulled in by a member of the opposite faction who is insanely jealous of your uber grinding skills) can be dealt with by sheeping, but you have to be stupidly quick with this to make it work. Be prepared to frost nova and leg it if things get gnarly, particularly when you first start or move to a new area.
Of course there will be skeptics, and I could well be lying. But my mage turned 60 just before Easter and had ground enough for his epic mount within 2 weeks just using this style. I had some lucky libram drops and I have alts to disenchant/sell greens etc. but my main (priest) took about 5 months to get his epic (and he was helped by the mage!).
Good luck. Remember to persevere. The rewards are worth it!
Edited, Sep 3rd 2006 at 7:28pm EDT by leatherpatches
Edited, Sep 3rd 2006 at 7:31pm EDT by leatherpatches
Edited, Oct 1st 2006 at 2:30am PDT by leatherpatches