WoW Classic Mage Pre-BiS & BiS

The Mage is a popular caster DPS class in WoW Classic. In this Mage guide you will find the best PvE DPS talents, pre-BiS, BiS, and enchants for Mages to DPS in dungeons and raids in WoW Classic.

📂 WoW Classic > Mage

📅 Last updated on March 28, 2025.

WoW Classic Frost Mage Talents

Choose the following talents as a Frost  Mage to DPS in raids and dungeons at level 60 from phase 1 to phase 4:

If you raid in a guild group with multiple  Mages, one  Mage should run the  Winter's Chill support spec. It has a lower damage output and only one  Mage should use that build. In static groups it’s common to rotate the  Winter's Chill-Mage, so every  Mage has the opportunity to do full damage and get good logs.

WoW Classic Mage Pre-BiS

The following  Mage pre-BiS list contains the best items you can get in WoW Classic before entering the endgame raids at level 60.

• Head
   Spellweaver's Turban (Lower Blackrock Spire – Phase 5)
   Field Marshal's Coronet ( PvP Rank 13 – Phase 3)
   Warlord's Silk Cowl ( PvP Rank 13 – Phase 3)
   Lieutenant Commander's Silk Cowl ( PvP Rank 10 – Phase 2)
   Champion's Silk Cowl ( PvP Rank 10 – Phase 2)
   Crimson Felt Hat (Stratholme Undead Side)
   Master's Hat of the Frozen Wrath (or similar item with up to 40 Frost Damage, World Drop)
• Neck
   Nacreous Shell Necklace (Stratholme Living Side – Phase 5)
   Orb of the Darkmoon (Darkmoon Faire – Phase 3)
   Arcane Crystal Pendant (Destroy Morphaz in Sunken Temple – Phase 3)
   Star of Mystaria (Stratholme Living Side)
• Shoulders
   Lieutenant Commander's Silk Spaulders ( PvP Rank 10 – Phase 2) ¹
   Champion's Satin Shoulderpads ( PvP Rank 10 – Phase 2) ¹
   Field Marshal's Silk Spaulders ( PvP Rank 13 – Phase 3)
   Warlord's Silk Amice ( PvP Rank 13 – Phase 3)
   Boreal Mantle (Blackrock Depths)
   Burial Shawl (Scholomance)
• Back
   Archivist Cape of the Frozen Wrath (Stratholme Living Side)
   Master's Cloak of the Frozen Wrath (or similar item with up to 21 Frost Damage, World Drop)
   Amplifying Cloak (Dire Maul West – Phase 2)
   Spritecaster Cape (Blackrock Depths)
• Chest
   Bloodvine Vest (Tailoring – Phase 4)
   Robe of the Archmage (Tailoring)
   Field Marshal's Silk Vestments ( PvP Rank 13 – Phase 3)
   Warlord's Silk Raiment ( PvP Rank 13 – Phase 3)
   Knight-Captain's Silk Tunic ( PvP Rank 8 – Phase 2) ¹
   Legionnaire's Silk Tunic ( PvP Rank 8 – Phase 2) ¹
   Freezing Lich Robes (Scholomance)
• Wrist
   Dryad's Wrist Bindings (Warsong Gulch – Exalted – Phase 3)
   Tearfall Bracers of the Frozen Wrath (Stratholme Living Side)
   Flameweave Cuffs of the Frozen Wrath (Blackrock Depths)
   Sublime Wristguards (Dire Maul North – Phase 2)
• Hands
   Knight-Lieutenant's Silk Handwraps ( PvP Rank 8 – Phase 2) ¹
   Blood Guard's Silk Handwraps ( PvP Rank 8 – Phase 2) ¹
   Marshal's Silk Gloves ( PvP Rank 12 – Phase 3)
   General's Silk Handguards ( PvP Rank 12 – Phase 3)
   Hands of Power (Lower Blackrock Spire)
   Frostweave Gloves (Tailoring)
   Earth Warder's Gloves (Winterfall Activity)
• Waist
   Ban'thok Sash (Blackrock Depths)
   Highlander's Cloth Girdle ( Arathi Basin – Honored – Phase 4)
   Defiler's Cloth Girdle ( Arathi Basin – Honored – Phase 4)
   Clutch of Andros (Scholomance)
   Thuzadin Sash (Stratholme Undead Side)
• Legs
   Bloodvine Leggings (Tailoring – Phase 4)
   Knight-Captain's Silk Legguards ( PvP Rank 8 – Phase 2) ¹
   Legionnaire's Silk Legguards ( PvP Rank 8 – Phase 2) ¹
   Marshal's Silk Leggings ( PvP Rank 12 – Phase 3)
   General's Silk Trousers ( PvP Rank 12 – Phase 3)
   Flarecore Leggings (Tailoring)
   Skyshroud Leggings (Lower Blackrock Spire)
   Spellshock Leggings (Random Drop in Zul'Farrak)
• Feet
   Bloodvine Boots (Tailoring – Phase 4)
   Marshal's Silk Footwraps ( PvP Rank 12 – Phase 3)
   General's Silk Boots ( PvP Rank 12 – Phase 3)
   Knight-Lieutenant's Silk Walkers ( PvP Rank 7 – Phase 2)
   Blood Guard's Silk Walkers ( PvP Rank 7 – Phase 2)
   Master's Boots of the Frozen Wrath (or similar item with up to 30 Frost Damage, World Drop)
   Omnicast Boots (Blackrock Depths)
• Rings
   Freezing Band (World Drop)
   Rune Band of Wizardry (Upper Blackrock Spire – Phase 5)
   Songstone of Ironforge ( The Princess's Surprise in Blackrock Depths)
   Eye of Orgrimmar ( The Princess Saved? in Blackrock Depths)
   Maiden's Circle (World Drop)
• Trinkets
   Briarwood Reed (Upper Blackrock Spire)
   Eye of the Beast ( General Drakkisath's Demise in Blackrock Spire)
   Eye of the Beast ( For The Horde! in Blackrock Spire)
   Burst of Knowledge (Blackrock Depths)
• Weapon
   Grand Marshal's Mageblade ( PvP Rank 14 – Phase 3)
   High Warlord's Spellblade ( PvP Rank 14 – Phase 3)
   Mindfang (Arathi Basin Exalted – Phase 4)
   Bloodstrike Dagger of the Frozen Wrath (or similar item with up to 17 Frost Damage, World Drop)
   Witchblade (Scholomance)
   Mind Carver (Dire Maul West – Phase 2)
• Off-Hand
   Tome of the Ice Lord (Alterac Valley Exalted – Phase 2)
   Scepter of Interminable Focus (Stratholme Living Side – Phase 5)
   Drakestone of the Frozen Wrath (Sunken Temple)
   Spirit of Aquementas (It's Dangerous to Go Alone in Un'Goro Crater, starting with It's a Secret to Everybody)
• Wand
   Wand of Biting Cold ( Hero of the Stormpike in Alterac Valley – Phase 2)
   Wand of Biting Cold ( Hero of the Frostwolf in Alterac Valley – Phase 2)
   Lunar Wand of the Frozen Wrath (or similar item with up to 13 Frost Damage, World Drop)
   Bonecreeper Stylus (Scholomance)

¹ This item requires that you unlock the 2-set bonus. Skip this item otherwise.

WoW Classic Mage BiS Phase 2

The following Phase 2  Mage BiS list contains the best items you can get in WoW Classic with Molten Core, Onyxia's Lair, World Bosses, and Dire Maul.

• Head ( Arcanum of Focus)
   Arcanist Crown (Molten Core) ²
   Lieutenant Commander's Silk Cowl ( PvP Rank 10) ¹
   Champion's Silk Cowl ( PvP Rank 10) ¹
   Netherwind Crown (Onyxia's Lair)
• Neck
   Choker of the Fire Lord (Molten Core)
• Shoulders
   Lieutenant Commander's Silk Spaulders ( PvP Rank 10) ¹
   Champion's Satin Shoulderpads ( PvP Rank 10) ¹
   Boreal Mantle (Blackrock Depths)
• Back ( Enchant Cloak - Greater Resistance)
   Archivist Cape of the Frozen Wrath (Stratholme Living Side)
   Sapphiron Drape (Onyxia's Lair)
• Chest ( Enchant Chest - Greater Stats)
   Robe of the Archmage (Tailoring)
   Knight-Captain's Silk Tunic ( PvP Rank 8) ¹
   Legionnaire's Silk Tunic ( PvP Rank 8) ¹
   Robe of Volatile Power (Molten Core)
• Wrist ( Enchant Bracer - Greater Intellect)
   Arcanist Bindings (Molten Core)
• Hands
   Arcanist Gloves (Molten Core)
• Waist
   Mana Igniting Cord (Molten Core)
• Legs ( Arcanum of Focus)
   Netherwind Pants (Molten Core)
• Feet ( Enchant Boots - Minor Speed)
   Knight-Lieutenant's Silk Walkers ( PvP Rank 7) ¹
   Blood Guard's Silk Walkers ( PvP Rank 7) ¹
   Arcanist Boots (Molten Core)
• Rings
   Ring of Spell Power x2 (Molten Core)
   Freezing Band (World Drop)
• Trinkets
   Talisman of Ephemeral Power (Molten Core)
   Briarwood Reed (Upper Blackrock Spire)
• Weapon ( Enchant Weapon - Spell Power)
   Azuresong Mageblade (Molten Core)
• Off-Hand
   Tome of the Ice Lord (Alterac Valley Exalted)
   Drakestone of the Frozen Wrath (Sunken Temple)
• Wand
   Cold Snap (Azuregos)
   Wand of Biting Cold ( Hero of the Stormpike in Alterac Valley)
   Wand of Biting Cold ( Hero of the Frostwolf in Alterac Valley)

¹ This item requires that you unlock the 2-set bonus. Skip this item otherwise. You only want to wear two PvP items. Which PvP items you’re wearing depends on whether you’re having Tailoring or not and what you are wearing in your other slots.
² This item requires that you unlock the 3-set bonus. Skip this item otherwise.

WoW Classic Mage BiS Phase 3

The following WoW Classic  Mage BiS list contains the best Phase 3 items you can get in WoW Classic after the release of Blackwing Lair, Warsong Gulch vendors, and Rank 14 gear.

• Head ( Arcanum of Focus)
   Mish'undare, Circlet of the Mind Flayer (Blackwing Lair)
   Field Marshal's Coronet ( PvP Rank 13)
   Warlord's Silk Cowl ( PvP Rank 13)
   Arcanist Crown (Molten Core)
   Lieutenant Commander's Silk Cowl ( PvP Rank 10) ¹
   Champion's Silk Cowl ( PvP Rank 10) ¹
• Neck
   Choker of the Fire Lord (Molten Core)
• Shoulders
   Mantle of the Blackwing Cabal (Blackwing Lair) ¹
   Lieutenant Commander's Silk Spaulders ( PvP Rank 10) ¹
   Champion's Satin Shoulderpads ( PvP Rank 10) ¹
• Back ( Enchant Cloak - Greater Resistance)
   Cloak of the Brood Lord (Blackwing Lair)
• Chest ( Enchant Chest - Greater Stats)
   Robe of the Archmage (Tailoring)
   Netherwind Robes (Blackwing Lair)
• Wrist ( Enchant Bracer - Greater Intellect)
   Bracers of Arcane Accuracy (Blackwing Lair)
• Hands
   Netherwind Gloves (Blackwing Lair)
• Waist
   Mana Igniting Cord (Molten Core)
   Firemaw's Clutch (Blackwing Lair)
• Legs ( Arcanum of Focus)
   Netherwind Pants (Molten Core)
• Feet ( Enchant Boots - Minor Speed)
   Ringo's Blizzard Boots (Blackwing Lair)
   Marshal's Silk Footwraps ( PvP Rank 12)
   General's Silk Boots ( PvP Rank 12)
• Rings
   Band of Forced Concentration (Blackwing Lair)
   Ring of Spell Power (Molten Core)
• Trinkets
   Neltharion's Tear (Blackwing Lair)
   Talisman of Ephemeral Power (Molten Core)
   Briarwood Reed (Upper Blackrock Spire)
• Weapon ( Enchant Weapon - Spell Power)
   Grand Marshal's Mageblade ( PvP Rank 14)
   High Warlord's Spellblade ( PvP Rank 14)
   Staff of the Shadow Flame (Blackwing Lair) ²
   Claw of Chromaggus (Blackwing Lair)
• Off-Hand
   Tome of the Ice Lord (Alterac Valley Exalted)
• Wand
   Cold Snap (Azuregos)
   Wand of Biting Cold ( Hero of the Stormpike in Alterac Valley)
   Wand of Biting Cold ( Hero of the Frostwolf in Alterac Valley)

¹ Use the 2-set bonus of the PvP set if you have it until you get  Mish'undare, Circlet of the Mind Flayer. Then you can change the shoulders.
²  Staff of the Shadow Flame is your BiS weapon if you do not have access to Rank 14 weapons.

WoW Classic Mage BiS Phase 4

The following Vanilla  Mage BiS list contains the best items you can get in Phase 4 of WoW Classic with the release of Zul'Gurub.

• Head ( Presence of Sight)
   Mish'undare, Circlet of the Mind Flayer (Blackwing Lair)
   Field Marshal's Coronet ( PvP Rank 13)
   Warlord's Silk Cowl ( PvP Rank 13)
   The Hexxer's Cover (Zul'Gurub)
   Lieutenant Commander's Silk Cowl ( PvP Rank 10) ¹
   Champion's Silk Cowl ( PvP Rank 10) ¹
• Neck
   Choker of the Fire Lord (Molten Core)
• Shoulders ( Zandalar Signet of Mojo)
   Mantle of the Blackwing Cabal (Blackwing Lair) ¹
   Lieutenant Commander's Silk Spaulders ( PvP Rank 10) ¹
   Champion's Satin Shoulderpads ( PvP Rank 10) ¹
• Back ( Enchant Cloak - Greater Resistance)
   Cloak of Consumption (Zul'Gurub)
• Chest ( Enchant Chest - Greater Stats)
   Bloodvine Vest (Tailoring) ²
• Wrist ( Enchant Bracer - Greater Intellect)
   Bracers of Arcane Accuracy (Blackwing Lair)
• Hands
   Netherwind Gloves (Blackwing Lair)
• Waist
   Mana Igniting Cord (Molten Core)
   Firemaw's Clutch (Blackwing Lair)
• Legs ( Presence of Sight)
   Bloodvine Leggings (Tailoring) ²
• Feet ( Enchant Boots - Minor Speed)
   Bloodvine Boots (Tailoring) ²
• Rings
   Band of Forced Concentration (Blackwing Lair)
   Mindtear Band (Taerar)
   Ring of Spell Power (Molten Core)
• Trinkets
   Neltharion's Tear (Blackwing Lair)
   Talisman of Ephemeral Power (Molten Core)
   Mind Quickening Gem (Blackwing Lair)
• Weapon ( Enchant Weapon - Spell Power)
   Grand Marshal's Mageblade ( PvP Rank 14)
   High Warlord's Spellblade ( PvP Rank 14)
   Staff of the Shadow Flame (Blackwing Lair) ³
   Claw of Chromaggus (Blackwing Lair)
• Off-Hand
   Tome of the Ice Lord (Alterac Valley Exalted)
• Wand
   Cold Snap (Azuregos)
   Wand of Biting Cold ( Hero of the Stormpike in Alterac Valley)
   Wand of Biting Cold ( Hero of the Frostwolf in Alterac Valley)

¹ Use the 2-set bonus of the PvP set if you have it until you get  Mish'undare, Circlet of the Mind Flayer. Then you can change the shoulders.
² You need to have the profession Tailoring at 300 to unlock the set bonus. Learn how to level Tailoring from 1 – 300 in WoW Classic.
³  Staff of the Shadow Flame is your BiS weapon if you do not have access to Rank 14 weapons.

WoW Classic Mage BiS Phase 5

The following Phase 5  Mage BiS list contains the best items you can get in WoW Classic after the release of Ahn'Qiraj.

• Head ( Presence of Sight)
   Mish'undare, Circlet of the Mind Flayer (Blackwing Lair)
   Field Marshal's Coronet ( PvP Rank 13)
   Warlord's Silk Cowl ( PvP Rank 13)
   The Hexxer's Cover (Zul'Gurub)
• Neck
   Amulet of Vek'nilash (Ahn'Qiraj)
• Shoulders ( Zandalar Signet of Mojo)
   Lieutenant Commander's Silk Spaulders ( PvP Rank 10)
   Champion's Satin Shoulderpads ( PvP Rank 10)
• Back ( Enchant Cloak - Subtlety)
   Cloak of the Devoured (Ahn'Qiraj)
• Chest ( Enchant Chest - Greater Stats)
   Enigma Robes (Enigma Robes in Ahn'Qiraj)
• Wrist ( Enchant Bracer - Greater Intellect)
   Rockfury Bracers (Stalwart's Battlegear in Silithus)
• Hands ( Enchant Gloves - Fire Power)
   Dark Storm Gauntlets (Ahn'Qiraj)
• Waist
   Eyestalk Waist Cord (Ahn'Qiraj)
• Legs ( Presence of Sight)
   Leggings of the Black Blizzard (Ahn'Qiraj)
• Feet ( Enchant Boots - Minor Speed)
   Knight-Lieutenant's Silk Walkers ( PvP Rank 7)
   Blood Guard's Silk Walkers ( PvP Rank 7)
• Rings
   Ring of the Fallen God (Ahn'Qiraj)
   Ritssyn's Ring of Chaos (Ahn'Qiraj)
   Band of Forced Concentration (Blackwing Lair)
• Trinkets
   Neltharion's Tear (Blackwing Lair)
   Zandalarian Hero Charm (The Heart of Hakkar in Zul'Gurub)
   Mind Quickening Gem (Blackwing Lair)
• Weapon ( Enchant Weapon - Spell Power)
   Grand Marshal's Mageblade ( PvP Rank 14)
   High Warlord's Spellblade ( PvP Rank 14)
   Sharpened Silithid Femur (Ahn'Qiraj)
• Off-Hand
   Royal Scepter of Vek'lor (Ahn'Qiraj)
• Wand
   Wand of Qiraji Nobility (Ahn'Qiraj)

Additional Resources

You can find more resources about the WoW Classic Mage here, including Mage Macros for WoW Classic.

The BiS lists are based on learnings since the World of Warcraft Classic 2019 release. They are updated for the WoW Classic Anniversary servers. Special thanks to the WoWSims team for providing an invaluable simulation tool. In the Classic Mage Discord, you can find additional tips and discussions to improve different aspects of your gameplay.