| The top question of every new player in World of | | | | Frost |
| Warcraft is "which spec is the best to level?" When | | | | Frost spec is all about AoE grinding. No doubt anyone |
| leveling a mage, the decision is a little easier as fire is | | | | who has leveled a character in WoW has come |
| the least viable to level. Arcane and Frost both have | | | | across a mage AoE leveling at some point or another. |
| points for, and against, them. I will give you my | | | | It is an amazing sight to see, but also frustrating |
| perspective on which one is the better spec. | | | | knowing that you will need to probably find another |
| Arcane | | | | area to grind. |
| Arcane is the best spec for leveling if you will be | | | | This spec will play a lot like a fire spec early on, |
| doing a lot of single pulls. The spec is very mana | | | | except you will use frostbolt to keep the distance |
| friendly, and is highly viable as soon as level 15 when | | | | between you and your target. It gains a lot of |
| you can max out Arcane Stability. Arcane Stability | | | | survivability later on to help you stay alive. Best of all, |
| simply allows you to cast your Arcane Missiles spell | | | | the juicy AoE talents are kept in this tree. Single |
| without being interrupted or having the cast knocked | | | | target killing is slow as this spec, much like a fire spec |
| back, so you are guaranteed to shoot off 5 sets of | | | | is. |
| missiles if your target lives long enough to survive. | | | | The real strength of a Frost build is in its AoE grinding |
| Many Arcane specs will go into Fire early on for | | | | ability. A combination of talents like Improved Blizzard |
| Pyroblast to give them a hard hitting spell. This also | | | | and Permafrost keep your targets slowed combined |
| serves the benefit of giving the build a little more | | | | with Frost Nova if your victims get too close. |
| survivability later on when you get the talent | | | | If you can AoE grind well, frost is the faster spec. |
| Presence of Mind (PoM), which makes your next spell | | | | The downside is that you really need to look into |
| an instant cast. You can activate PoM and cast an | | | | bringing a priest with you to level for the shield and |
| instant cast Pyroblast to dish out quite a bit of | | | | heals to keep things up. Deaths while leveling will |
| instant damage to a target if things get rough. | | | | greatly slow your experience per hour rate, and must |
| This spec will lead with a Frostbolt (or Pyroblast if | | | | be avoided at all costs. Avoiding death while AoE |
| you spec into Fire), and then follow with another | | | | grinding is a delicate dance that not everyone can |
| frostbolt or fireball. From there you have some | | | | master (I will admit that I did not), so keep that in |
| options depending on your target. I liked to Frost | | | | your mind |
| Nova my target, jump backwards, and start casting | | | | The choice of your Mage Leveling spec comes |
| Arcane Missiles until the target is dead. If the target | | | | between Arcane and Frost for maximum experience |
| is about dead you can simply start casting Arcane | | | | per hour. For the best way to speed up your |
| Missiles after the second nuke. As long as you attack | | | | experience gain, regardless of spec, buy Zygor |
| one mob at a time, your mana should last at least a | | | | Guides today. |
| few fights. | | | | |