PvE Arcane Mage DPS Rotations & Cooldowns

Arcane Mages retain their relatively easy rotation in Mists of Pandaria, now benefiting from an extra burst sequence through the new Alter Time mechanic. We’ll showcase an optimal rotation for single target, AoE, and any useful Defensive & Utility spells.

One thing to remember about the Single-Target Rotation is that it still revolves around mana management. Throughout the entirety of the encounter, you will manage your mana reserves, keeping them as high as possible to fully benefit from the Mastery: Mana Adept effect. Allowing yourself to reach low mana reserves will severely dampen your damage output in any possible encounter.

Single-Target Rotation

1. Maintain Mage Armor
2. Cast Rune of Power before Pull once in position
   • Recast Rune of Power when needed & when it expires
3. Cast Living Bomb & refresh it
   • Refresh the effect when it expires, not before
4. Cast Arcane Blast (Main Filler)
   • Cast Arcane Blast to generate Arcane Charges
   • Cast Arcane Blast at 4 Arcane Charges until 2 x Arcane Missiles! trigger or until you reach 85% Mana
5. Cast Arcane Missiles when Arcane Missiles! procs
   • Only use Arcane Missiles when you are at 4 Arcane Charges
6. Cast Arcane Barrage to consume Arcane Charges
7. Prioritize using Mirror Images on cooldown
8. Prioritize using Ice Floes to continue casting while moving or repositioning

Alter Time Burst Sequence

1. Prioritize using the Alter Time Burst Sequence when your Trinket procs
2. Save Arcane Missiles! procs if they are present right before your trinket procs
3. Macro together or cast/use independently:
   • Arcane Power
   • Potion of the Jade Serpent
   • On-use Trinket
   • Synapse Springs
   • Mana Gem with Glyph of Loose Mana
   • Alter Time
4. Cast Arcane Missiles twice if available
5. Repeat normal Arcane Blast Rotation
6. Recast Arcane Missiles after Alter Time expires and resume normal rotation

AoE Rotation

1. Spam Nether Tempest on as many targets as possible
2. Cast Frost Nova to line up a Shatter if possible
   • Use Flamestrike + Cone of Cold together when triggering Shatter
3. Cast Cone of Cold on cooldown if Shatter is impossible
4. Spam Arcane Explosion to generate Arcane Charges
5. Cast Arcane Barrage to consume Arcane Charges and cleave 4 targets

Defensive & Utility Cooldowns

• Crowd Control:
  • Deep Freeze: Powerful Single-Target stun that can be used on frozen targets.
  • Frost Nova: AoE spell that freezes targets.
  • Polymorph: Transforms an enemy Humanoid or Beast into a sheep for a limited duration.
  • Slow: Reduces movement by 50% and increases cast time by 50% on an enemy for a limited duration.
  • Counterspell – Interrupt ability that prevents a School of Magic from being used for 6 seconds and silences the target for up to 4 seconds.
  • Cone of Cold – Massive slow effect in a frontal cone, lasting up to 6 seconds.
  • Ring of Frost – Massive freeze effect encases all enemies in ice blocks.
• Major Defensives:
  • Ice Block – Provides total immunity for up to 10 seconds. May dispel present debuffs and effects.
  • Temporal Shield – Provides a 15% damage reduction buff and heals all damage taken while the buff was active as a HoT. It can be used every 25 seconds.
  • Ice Barrier – Raw Damage shield that can be reapplied every 25 seconds.
  • Cold Snap – Instantly restores the cooldown of Ice Block, Frost Nova, and Cone of Cold and heals you for 30% max HP.
  • Greater Invisibility – Provides invisibility, breaking combat, and a 90% damage reduction buff while the effect is active. The damage reduction lingers for 3 more seconds after the invisibility fades.
  • Blink – Instant repositioning tool that teleports you 20 yards forward.
• Buff:
  • Arcane Intellect – Provides a 10% Spell Power increase and a 5% Critical Strike Chance increase.
  • Mage Armor – Increases Mastery and reduces the duration of debuffs and negative effects by 25%.
  • Time Warp – Grants increased Haste to all raid/party members!
  • Spellsteal – Steals a beneficial effect from an enemy target, lasting up to a maximum of 2 minutes, depending on the effect.
• Utility:
  • Portals – Instant travel to major locations
  • Conjure Refreshment – Free Food for yourself and your allies.
  • Slow Fall – Reduces the falling speed of an ally.
  • Remove Curse – Removes all curses from a friendly target.