I’m looking for a 4th spec for mage - maybe lightning focused (throwback to diablo 2 sorceress).
That is all, please make a lightning spec mage or make some lightning type magic abilities for mage 
6 Likes
Just be a shaman?
10 Likes
As long as shaman exist, there’ll never be any lightning spells for mages. Lightning in Warcraft is connected to the spirits of the elements, not to arcane power.
8 Likes
Mages not having lightning spells probably has more to do with class distinction than actual lore. Warcraft Mage units/npcs have historically had some lightning abilities or effects as far back as Warcraft II, and as recent as Azshara’s Eternal Palace.
3 Likes
Popular mages in lore (Jaina, Khadgar, Azshara) seem to not have much to do with lightning spells, if anything. However it is interesting how many Naga do actually use lightning spells, including those that spawn on the Azshara encounter itself. I reckon Azshara knows lightning spells but she simply chooses not to use them.
It’s probably similar to how Jaina can use fire spells but she chooses not to after she burned down the library and promised Antonidas she wouldn’t use them anymore.
1 Like
As are fire and water/ice.
“Magic” is just using [power source] to cause [effect]. Shamans summon flame directly from the elemental plane of fire while mages conjure them from the ether and warlocks call them from fel planes (maybe? demons and the fel/void have been retconned a bunch recently.) Same effect using different methods. There’s no reason a mage couldn’t theoretically use lightning magic, it’s just not one of the traditional Kirin Tor approved specializations so no traditionally trained mages use it. (and from a gameplay perspective never going to happen because of shamans.)
2 Likes
Probably not a very safe option, living under water and all.
2 Likes
“There is no power I cannot defile!” - Azshara <3
1 Like
Hmmm… We have Arcane as a levelling spec, Frost for early gear spec, and Fire for when balance is thrown through the window end of expansion Spec.
What good would a 4th spec do?
Personally I think that’s why I prefer mages in the Final Fantasy realm: they access fire, lightning, and frost but have a bunch of other mage-like spells thrown in there.
Having frost and fire and then arcane never really made sense to me. Seems it would be more natural to have lightning as the 3rd spec and then have arcane themed spells available to all three specs. Just a thought.
As for the “lightning belongs to Shamans” … yes but not entirely. The lightning spells are filler for ele shamans. Only a little more important to enhance. Not useful at all to resto.
1 Like
On paper, yes. Mage turns Arcane magic into other things, which is why we have fire/frost specs. So in theory, they could cast lightning spells too.
That being said, Blizzard has decided that only Shaman get to use lightning spells. Idk why.
1 Like
I still think Blizzard has a hard enough time balancing the three mage specs without trying to add more. I would not mind lightning spells at all, but I don’t see it happening.
2 Likes
arcane spells can be “anything” , see Jaina with cannons 
, change arcane for “magic” , arcane/magic missiles (a classic spell of mages), arcane storm , arcane meteor , arcane ray , arcane w/e u want
we can say that arcane is like using the green latern ring lol
2 Likes
To be honest, Blizzard has shown they aren’t even capable of balancing one Mage spec let alone 3. We’re either stupidly broken OP, or so weak that it’s silly to play one and do half the damage of a melee who rolls their face on a keypad.
2 Likes
I’m going to throw my voice in here for a Storm Mage spec. I’ve been wanting this since WOTLK. Shaman’s are cool and all, but I prefer the, “feel,” of Storm Mage. Not an outdoorsy elemental attuned type, rather a mysteries of the universe cracking, tapping into the unseen order, aware of where the ley lines are kinda caster. I want my storm mage to be part of the arcane circles, not spewing religiously about the natural order of the elements.
Oh I’ve wanted that for so long! Mages use lightning in lore and the only reason we don’t have any lightning based spells in game is so we don’t clash with shamans (whose entire DPS toolkit consisted of 2 lightning spells at launch but of course that was years ago). Which is ridiculous when you think about it because shamans have frost AND fire based attacks as do multiple other classes (warlocks, death knights, etc.) and of course half of balance’s toolkit is arcane.
That said, I gave up on that a long time ago and since then I’ve scratched that itch with my Lightning Sorcerer in SWTOR. Which btw is an amazing spec and I would recommend it highly except the game is kinda dead. 
What I would love for them to do is introduce an arcane-lightning type spell as a powerful active talent in the final row to replace ridiculous boring and passive Overpowered. I am picturing an arcane laser beam that’s crackling with electricity. It would be a nice throwback to the fact that Arcane Power used to be a crackling lightning effect until like, 3 years ago? LOL!
But yeah, not holding my breath at all about any of this. Chances are it won’t happen.
2 Likes
Others have already pointed this out but I just have to say you’re totally wrong on this. Mages not having lightning abilities in game has absolutely nothing to do with lore and everything to do with arbitrarily forced class distinction. Emphasis on arbitrary because it’s not a two way street, just ask demonology warlocks. And of course mages totally get shafted since 4 other classes use abilities from our three schools of magic.
1 Like
If we can’t have necromancers because we have warlocks and unholy DK’s then we can’t have storm mages either… I think its a lame argument but people like to use it.
I much rather have a blood spec for mages then a lightning spec - I have fought blood magic since wrath - BFA had a whole leveling zone fighting against blood trolls lol. It’ll never happen though with Blood spec for deathknight but a guy can wish.
Wrath was 12 years ago and I still miss Blood DPS.