Coming back to th egame after several years away.
I want to level a mage and move into pvp. I hear arcane is strong, but frost has always been the PVP and leveling spec?
Can arcane pvp effectively? Can arcane level effectively and keep things out of their face?
EDIT: when I say pvp viable I dont mean high end arena Im just asking if arcane can defend themselves in a fun bg setting.
Frost was the leveling spec back in the day when mobs hurt a lot and Mages had no defensives. Now, any spec can level with ease.
Arcane is great for leveling since a 4-charge AB can take out most mobs easily, and AM also takes out significant amounts of mob health… but it chews mana so it’ll be the only spec you’ll have to occasionally sit and drink with. They’re also very, very great in low level bgs. You just spam Missile people to death.
As for max level unrated bgs Arcane is viable there too, and does great damage when not focused by melee. Displacement is also really, really nice. The downside is getting spell locked hurts Arcane far more since almost all mage utility spells are Arcane school spells.
Yeah I’d recommend it
I’m currently leveling this mage as Arcane. I would suggest: Rule of Threes + Overpowered.
So you start with Over, which gives you a free 4 stacks AB, you cast the first AB + Slow, then AB AB to death. With Clearcasting AMs in between, and the walk, looting things, etc., you are like in half mana then you ABarrage, then Overpowered again when it’s off CD, and a new free 4 stack AB. This way I need to Evo - drink very few times.
I know this is not a pro tip, but it works for me, hope it’s useful.
I leveled as arcane and really had no issues. After about ilvl 340 at max level mobs melt like wax in a fire…
Leveling this character now, and Arcane is FAR more enjoyable than the other specs at 51