Hello,
I just started playing WOW and I have done the character boost to level 110 for my first mage. I am currently doing the main quest line and I am getting destroyed by every minor enemy ( like ravens ). I would love input as to how I can get really good with my frost mage and what would be best for leveling up.
Practice. Youtube videos. Practice. Just play more.
Starting out is a little tough without the azz traits. Use you pets root b4 comet storm if you talent that. Frostbolt frostbolt frostbolt its your main build up to flurry or gla spike. Use you roots and slow they are a necessity at low gear levels . As you learn the class it will get easier to know when to do what. See Icyveins guide for the basics
I think what you’re looking for is just general leveling tips so you don’t die in open combat?
Frost will be rough because it’s a proc-based spec and the spell that gets you your procs is weak (Frostbolt). For leveling as frost, some general tips I’ve found:
- don’t pull big packs
- Put your pet’s “freeze” on your action bar and get used to that being your first move (whatever you’re going to attack, freeze it at a distance first) … especially if you use Comet Storm as your talent (root, then CS for larger packs of 2-3).
- when you get up close and personal, you need to make use of your slows and snares to get far enough away to get some frostbolt casts off and get some procs of fingers of frost or brainfreeze.
- I’ve found Frost Nova, Comet Storm and Ray of Frost to be talents that make leveling go easier (but that’s personal opinion).
It’s not going to be pleasant, OP. Your main spell hits like a wet noodle but it does slow the target. You have nothing as a frost mage other than glacial spike (which isn’t always ready when you want it) as a “nuke” or Ray of Frost (which has a 1.3 min CD) so your entire survival depends on your ability to root/snare/slow enough to get enough frostbolt casts off to get the procs you need to do damage (Fingers of Frost, Brainfreeze) or build up for a Glacial Spike or Ray of Frost cast.
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Frost mages typically like to try and keep their distance from mobs while soloing, so the idea is to put the slowing chill attached to so many of our spells to good use.
- Frostbolt has an eight second slow effect. If you start the fight near the maximum distance from the mob it gives you more time to try and get a proc of Fingers of Frost or Brain Freeze.
- Cone of Cold has an even more powerful slow that hits nearby mobs that are in front of you. Keep in mind the range is limited and the slow only lasts five seconds, but combined with Blink or Shimmer that is valuable time to put some distance between you and the mob(s).
- As mentioned above, your water elemental’s Freeze ability will freeze mobs in place. It can even be used while you are casting another spell.
- Frost Nova can quickly freeze in place all mobs near you. This gives you a chance to then Blink or Shimmer for some distance and get ready for your next move.
Another idea to keep in mind is the chance for our spells to critical strike goes up greatly when the mob is frozen in place. This is due to our passive ability Shatter. Ice Lance also has a separate note saying damage is tripled against mobs that are frozen. Both of these can be put to good use to more quickly kill mobs.
- Fingers of Frost causes your next Ice Lance to treat the mob as if it is frozen. That means tripled damage and a much higher chance to crit. Make sure you are using your charges of Fingers of Frost since you cannot have more than two at a time.
- Brain Freeze does a few things, but the two more interesting aspects are that it makes Flurry an instant cast and it applies Winter’s Chill. Winter’s Chill is a debuff that makes your spells treat the mob as if it is frozen and thus benefit from Shatter. It does not last long, so what benefit does it provide? Each hit from that Brain Freeze enhanced Flurry will reapply Winter’s Chill. That combined with differences in spell projectile velocity open up some nice opportunities.
- If you immediately cast Ice Lance after you use Flurry then the Ice Lance projectile will reach the mob and treat it as if it were frozen despite you likely not having a charge of Fingers of Frost.
- Another benefit is if you cast Frostbolt and then immediately follow it with Flurry, made instant cast from Brain Freeze, then the first projectile of Flurry will reach the mob before Frostbolt. By the time Frostbolt hits the mob will be suffering from Winter’s Chill and thus Frostbolt benefits from Shatter.
- Combine the above two notes and you get a Frostbolt->Flurry->Ice Lance combo that does a lot of damage. Once you start getting more comfortable you can also look at how Glacial Spike relies on this type of combo for big damage. There are guides that go into detail about that.
- Don’t forget that those mobs you used Freeze and Frost Nova to freeze can be hit with an Ice Lance for nice damage. They are already frozen, so you don’t need to rely on a Fingers of Frost proc.
Some small tidbits of advice:
- Make sure you are using Ice Barrier. It absorbs a decent amount of damage and even provides another means of slowing mobs that hit you should they get too close.
- Cold Snap can make the difference between surviving a close fight and having to run back to your corpse.
- Consider switching your Glacial Insulation talent to either Shimmer or Ice Floes. It is more helpful to reduce the time the mobs spend hitting you.
- Consider trying either Comet Storm or Splitting Ice rather than Freezing Rain. You will likely get more benefit from either of them out in the open world. Using Comet Storm on a mob(s) that is frozen can result in a lot of damage.
- Ray of Frost was one talent I found quite helpful when I was soloing. It is on a long cooldown, but that gets partially mitigated by the fact you have downtime as you run from one mob to another or between quest objectives.
More than anything it just takes some patience and practice. We are a bit fragile when you aren’t used to it, but it does get better. Quest gear will also help give you a much appreciated boost in power over the armor they give you from the character boost.
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A little tip that goes a long way.
When you are bored on your character. Spend the time to actually sit down and read your spells and become familiar with them.
The more familiar you are with them, how your stats work and what they do, you get a better grasps of how to play to the best.
Take this for example. Back in Cata when Fire mage was king, I would literally out dps my whole raid as frost. The reason was because I knew what my spells did and I did it in a way that was most beneficial to me. Was nice.
So sure, guides that tell you a rotation and go a little into what the spells does helps.
But you have to actually eat that info and poop it out to fully comprehend.
You got this, I know you can do it. Make little Jimmy proud.
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Your talent choice is very odd for leveling. Swap to Shimmer, Splitting Ice (or Comet Storm) and Glacial Spike. These talents will greatly increase your DPS and kiting potential.