Mage talent changes
Forever gives the Mage 54 talents. 5 are new, 35 changed and 14 work as they did in Classic. Every Classic talent is still there.
Arcane
New in Forever
Arcane BlastRow 3, 1 rankBlasts the target with energy, dealing 50 to 58 Arcane damage. Each time you cast Arcane Blast, the damage of all your other spells is increased by 10% and the mana cost of Arcane Blast is increased by 175%. Effect stacks up to 4 times and lasts 8 sec or until any other damage spell is cast.
Missile BarrageRow 4, 1 rankGives your Arcane Blast spell a 40% chance, and your Fireball, Frostbolt, and Frostfire Bolt spells a 20% chance to reduce the channeled duration of your next Arcane Missiles spell by 50%, reduce the Mana cost by 100%, and missiles fire every 0.5 sec.
Changed
Wand SpecializationRow 1, 2 ranks- Row 2 in Classic, row 1 now
Arcane FocusRow 1, 5 ranksClassic, rank 5/5Reduces the chance that the opponent can resist your Arcane spells by 10%.
Forever, rank 5/5Improves your chance to hit with Arcane spells by 5%.
Improved ChannelingRow 1, 5 ranks- Called Improved Arcane Missiles in Classic
Classic, rank 5/5Gives you a 100% chance to avoid interruption caused by damage while channeling Arcane Missiles.
Forever, rank 5/5Gives you a 100% chance to avoid interruption caused by damage while channeling Arcane Missiles and a 70% chance while casting Arcane Blast.
Arcane SubtletyRow 2, 2 ranks- Row 1 in Classic, row 2 now
- Ranks were 5, 10, now 8, 15
- Ranks were 20%, 40%, now 15%, 30%
Magic AbsorptionRow 2, 2 ranks- 5 ranks in Classic, 2 now
Classic, rank 5/5Increases all resistances by 10 and causes all spells you fully resist to restore 5% of your total mana. 1 sec. cooldown.
Forever, rank 2/2Increases all your resistances by 10 and causes all spells you fully resist to restore 2% of your total mana. Cannot trigger more often than 1 time per sec.
Arcane ResilienceRow 2, 2 ranks- 1 rank in Classic, 2 now
- Row 3 in Classic, row 2 now
Arcane GeometryRow 3, 2 ranks- Called Magic Attunement in Classic
Classic, rank 2/2Increases the effect of your Amplify Magic and Dampen Magic spells by 50%.
Forever, rank 2/2Increases the range of your Arcane spells by 6 yards.
Arcane ImpactRow 3, 3 ranks- Called Improved Arcane Explosion in Classic
Classic, rank 3/3Increases the critical strike chance of your Arcane Explosion spell by an additional 6%.
Forever, rank 3/3Increases the critical strike chance of your Arcane spells by 6%.
Arcane ShieldingRow 4, 2 ranks- Called Improved Mana Shield in Classic
Classic, rank 2/2Decreases the mana lost per point of damage taken when Mana Shield is active by 20%.
Forever, rank 2/2Decreases the Mana lost per point of damage taken when your Mana Shield spell is active by 33% and increases the resistances granted by your Mage Armor spell by 50%.
Improved CounterspellRow 4, 2 ranksClassic, rank 2/2Gives your Counterspell a 100% chance to silence the target for 4 sec.
Forever, rank 2/2Your Counterspell also Silences the target for 4 sec.
Arcane MeditationRow 4, 3 ranks- Same row, column 4 in Classic, 3 now
- Needs Arcane Concentration first, which Classic didn't ask for
- Ranks were 5%, 10%, 15%, now 17%, 33%, 50%
Arcane MindRow 5, 5 ranks- Needed Arcane Resilience first in Classic, needs nothing now
Classic, rank 5/5Increases your maximum Mana by 10%.
Forever, rank 5/5Increases your Intellect by 10% and increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Arcane spells by 100%.
Arcane InstabilityRow 6, 3 ranks- Same row, column 2 in Classic, 3 now
- Needed Presence of Mind first in Classic, needs nothing now
Classic, rank 3/3Increases your spell damage and critical strike chance by 3%.
Forever, rank 3/3Increases the damage done by your spells by 3% and your critical strike chance by 3%.
Arcane PowerRow 7, 1 rank- Needed Arcane Instability first in Classic, needs Presence of Mind now
Classic, rank 1/1When activated, your spells deal 30% more damage while costing 30% more mana to cast. This effect lasts 15 sec.
Forever, rank 1/1For the next 15 sec, your spells deal 30% more damage while costing 30% more mana to cast.
Unchanged: Arcane Concentration, Presence of Mind.
Fire
New in Forever
Hot StreakRow 4, 1 rankYour non-periodic critical strikes with Fireball, Frostfire Bolt, Fire Blast, and Scorch grant Hot Streak for 15 sec. Hot Streak reduces the cast time of Pyroblast by 25%, stacking up to 3 times.
Changed
Wake of FireRow 1, 2 ranks- Called Improved Fire Blast in Classic
- 3 ranks in Classic, 2 now
- Row 2 in Classic, row 1 now
Classic, rank 3/3Reduces the cooldown of your Fire Blast spell by 1.5 sec.
Forever, rank 2/2Reduces the cooldown of your Fire Blast spell by 2 sec. Killing a non-trivial target increases the critical strike chance of your next Fire Blast cast within 20 sec by 50%.
IncinerationRow 1, 3 ranks- Called Incinerate in Classic
- 2 ranks in Classic, 3 now
- Row 3 in Classic, row 1 now
Classic, rank 2/2Increases the critical strike chance of your Fire Blast and Scorch spells by 4%.
Forever, rank 3/3Increases the critical strike chance of your Fire Blast, Ice Lance, Arcane Blast, and Scorch spells by 6%.
Improved FireballRow 1, 5 ranks- Same row, column 2 in Classic, 3 now
Classic, rank 5/5Reduces the casting time of your Fireball spell by 0.5 sec.
Forever, rank 5/5Reduces the casting time of your Fireball and Frostfire Bolt spells by 0.5 sec.
ImpactRow 2, 3 ranks- 5 ranks in Classic, 3 now
- Row 1 in Classic, row 2 now
Burning SoulRow 3, 3 ranks- 2 ranks in Classic, 3 now
- Same row, column 4 in Classic, 1 now
PyroblastRow 3, 1 rankClassic, rank 1/1Hurls an immense fiery boulder that causes 141 to 187 Fire damage and an additional 56 Fire damage over 12 sec.
Forever, rank 1/1Hurls an immense fiery boulder that causes 95 to 125 Fire damage and an additional 44 Fire damage over 12 sec.
Improved ScorchRow 4, 3 ranksClassic, rank 3/3Your Scorch spells have a 100% chance to cause your target to be vulnerable to Fire damage. This vulnerability increases the Fire damage dealt to your target by 3% and lasts 30 sec. Stacks up to 5 times.
Forever, rank 3/3Your Scorch spell has a 100% chance to cause your target to be vulnerable to Fire damage. This vulnerability increases all Fire damage you deal to your target by 3% and lasts 30 sec, stacking up to 5 times.
Master of ElementsRow 4, 3 ranksClassic, rank 3/3Your Fire and Frost spell criticals will refund 30% of their base mana cost.
Forever, rank 3/3Your Fire and Frost critical strikes will refund 30% of their base mana cost.
Blast WaveRow 5, 1 rank- Needed Pyroblast first in Classic, needs nothing now
Classic, rank 1/1A wave of flame radiates outward from the caster, damaging all enemies caught within the blast for 154 to 186 Fire damage, and dazing them for 6 sec.
Forever, rank 1/1A wave of flame radiates outward from the caster, damaging all enemies caught within the blast for 148 to 178 Fire damage, and Dazing them for 50% reduced movement speed for 6 sec.
CombustionRow 7, 1 rankClassic, rank 1/1When activated, this spell causes each of your Fire damage spell hits to increase your critical strike chance with Fire damage spells by 10%. This effect lasts until you have caused 3 critical strikes with Fire spells.
Forever, rank 1/1When activated, this spell causes each of your Fire damage spell hits to increase your critical strike chance with Fire damage spells by 10%. This effect lasts until you have caused 4 non-periodic critical strikes with Fire spells.
Unchanged: Ignite, Flame Throwing, Improved Flamestrike, Improved Fire Ward, Critical Mass, Fire Power.
Frost
New in Forever
Ice LanceRow 3, 1 rankDeals 26 to 30 Frost damage to an enemy target. Deals 300% increased damage to Frozen targets.
Fingers of FrostRow 5, 2 ranksGives your Chill effects a 15% chance to grant you the Fingers of Frost effect, which treats your next 2 spells cast as if the target were Frozen. Lasts 15 sec.
Changed
Elemental PrecisionRow 1, 5 ranks- 3 ranks in Classic, 5 now
Classic, rank 3/3Reduces the chance that the opponent can resist your Frost and Fire spells by 6%.
Forever, rank 5/5Improves your chance to hit with Frost and Fire spells by 5%.
PermafrostRow 2, 3 ranks- Same row, column 4 in Classic, 2 now
Classic, rank 3/3Increases the duration of your Chill effects by 3 secs and reduces the target's speed by an additional 10%.
Forever, rank 3/3Increases the duration of your Chill effects by 33% and reduces the target's speed by an additional 10%.
FrostbiteRow 2, 3 ranks- Same row, column 2 in Classic, 4 now
Frost ChannelingRow 3, 3 ranks- Row 4 in Classic, row 3 now
Improved BlizzardRow 3, 3 ranks- Ranks were 30%, 50%, 65%, now 15%, 25%, 40%
Ice BlockRow 4, 1 rank- Row 5 in Classic, row 4 now
ShatterRow 4, 3 ranks- 5 ranks in Classic, 3 now
- Same row, column 3 in Classic, 4 now
- Needed Improved Frost Nova first in Classic, needs nothing now
Improved Cone of ColdRow 5, 3 ranks- Same row, column 3 in Classic, 1 now
- Ranks were 15%, 25%, 35%, now 12%, 23%, 35%
Cold SnapRow 5, 1 rank- Row 3 in Classic, row 5 now
Classic, rank 1/1When activated, this spell finishes the cooldown on all of your Frost spells.
Forever, rank 1/1Finishes the remaining cooldown on all your other Frost spells.
Winter's ChillRow 6, 5 ranksClassic, rank 5/5Gives your Frost damage spells a 100% chance to apply the Winter's Chill effect, which increases the chance a Frost spell will critically hit the target by 2% for 15 sec. Stacks up to 5 times.
Forever, rank 5/5Gives your Frost damage spells a 100% chance to apply the Winter's Chill effect, which increases the chance your Ice Lance and Frostbolt spells will critically hit the target by 2% for 15 sec. Stacks up to 5 times.
Ice BarrierRow 7, 1 rank- Needed Ice Block first in Classic, needs Cold Snap now
Classic, rank 1/1Instantly shields you, absorbing 438 damage. Lasts 1 min. While the shield holds, spells will not be interrupted.
Forever, rank 1/1Instantly shields you, absorbing 431 damage. Lasts 1 min. While the shield holds, your spellcasts will not be interrupted or delayed from taking damage.
Unchanged: Frost Warding, Improved Frostbolt, Ice Shards, Improved Frost Nova, Piercing Ice, Arctic Reach.
Forever values come from the beta client, build 1.60.1.69913. Classic values come from Classic Era, build 1.15.9.69722. Both were read through wago.tools. The overview explains how talents are matched. To try a build with these talents, open the Mage calculator.

