improved frostboltFollow

in almost all of the frost mage specs i see improved frostbolt is always taken. i'm wondering if the 5 points to reduce by 1/2 a second of casting time is really worth it. when i'm soloing i usually use it as an opener for the chill effect to give me time to get off arcane missiles before it reaches me to be followed by frost nova, step away, and either frostbolt to cone of cold or arcane missiles to finish it off.

Here's the build I'm looking to go to: Mage Build . If I take improved frostbolt, what should I lose? the 3 piercing ice and 2 arctic winds? That will result in a lower damage for all frost spells, including blizzard and cone of cold which get used just as frequently. Should I just become more dependent on frostbolt and not use arcane missiles?

Thanks

two frostbolts in the time of arcane missiles? i thought they were much closer in time. i guess i didn't quite realize arcane missiles took that long. perhaps it's also because i'm still leveling up that they seem closer in cast time. that definitely makes sense.

the arcane fortitude talent was only to get arcane fortitude and magic absorption.

I don't know why anyone wouldn't take the 0/0/61 frost at this point. *EDIT: From a purely Solo standpoing* Unless you have gear that is really setup for fire or arcance (Read a 375 Tailor wearing the fire set) you really get a lot from the new frost tree. I think the improved damage and the improved water ele - both very nice. (Though does anyone really need 15 more seconds - He was too squishy, not to quick...)

Arcane missiles pretty much suck. The improved defense from the arcane fortitude - roll a plate wearing class and see what real defense is like. I have single pieces of armor that provide more defense than my entire set as a mage... As far as the magic absorption thing... Why? Just assuming 50/50 divide between casters/non-casters (Which is probably wrong) you only get to use this talent 1/2 the time at best - and then it's gotta actually proc.

Plus - I think it's just a rule that what ever tree you spec - you have to take the improved nuke of that tree. You are casting full cast frostbolts - that's just crazy talk.

Get rid of frost warding.

Why the 1 point in Imp Blizz? Either you're going to AOE or not - take it all or get rid of it.



If those tactics are how you are fighting - you're not being a frost mage...


Edited, Nov 4th 2008 4:29pm by Borsuk

Edited, Nov 4th 2008 4:30pm by Borsuk

So by reading this. I've assumed that frost is the most popular spec out of all 3 tree's. My mage has obtained level 10. Now is crunch time. Were to go...what abilities to take. I'm not even going to wonder about arcane. To many bad talents just to have a few decent. Anyone here level as frost or fire then respec into frost. My friend is a frost mage who leveled as frost. Only thing is he's spent to much time worrying about how much Int he has and not focusing on learning how to play his class. I don't want to be like that lol. I'm going to do it all. Pve/Pvp and raid occasionaly.

I for one always went into frost at low level as for me its a more simple slower route to take , slower mobs = no "ohh F**88888" moments when the mobs have landed on my head , i guess i still have no idea what i am doing with the talents as i level apart from making frostbolts cast faster and collecting any talent that promises to do more damage , what i do understand though is at about level 35 my mage becomes a Mage and so far has not died once .

And there are only a few bad frost talents which even i can spot , but arcane i can see at low level is not great and fire for me perhaps could do more damage but the mobs give me more grief and i have to think a lot faster to survive.

I guess my thoughts on spec was to do as much damage as possible , and to collect as much + frost damage and + spell damage items i can find , i did int as a secondary must have, so at level 28 my lowest Mage has + 40 spell damage and +68 frost damage bonus , i am guessing that +400 crits are not bad at that level and i know by level 30 will be a lot higher (new gear then).

Am i right in collecting gear that gives + spell damage rather than just +int , bearing in mind i also have an enchanter that can and does enchant all my gear so i can make up for the lack of int or stamina on my gear as i level. as it is i have over 2000 mana so not that shabby i hope.

Frost really doesn't come into its own until you have Shatter + Frostbite + Ice Shards. So it stands to reason that fire is better early on.

As a arcane mage I don't see how its that useful? Arcane Blast requires less mana and less (or equal) cast time. Even in PVP 2.5 seconds is more then enough time for the night elf hunters to kill you.

Our of curiosity (I'm still kind of a newb in terms of higher level characters), is the "deep deep deep frost" build you posted (Anobix) a viable raid spec? I'm only level 56 and have found Frost to be an absolute blast to level with (since 40 or so) and would love to stick it out for raiding later. :) Thanks!

I leveled to 70 as a Fire Mage with a Dash of Arcane. Loved it for the most part. The real problem was that I could only effectively take 2 mobes at once (3 if I could Sheep one).

After switching to Frost, I think the kills are slightly slower. But, I'm not getting hit. With a Fire build I knew I was going to be hit once or twice (and sometimes more) before the mob went down. This cost me lots of downtime. With the 61 Frost build, I was getting hit once per mob. Sometimes a bit more if I screwed up the timing. Multiple mobs are not an issue with all the talents that frost gives you. You can pretty much kite 4 mobs forever. And if all hell breaks loose, just bust of the Elemental.

I was a big fan of Fire, but I'm thinking I'd go Frost after about level 40 if I had to do it over again.