PvE Frost Mage DPS Rotations & Cooldowns

In Mists of Pandaria, Frost Mages have a dynamic and easy-to-use rotation that revolves around proc effects.  Many of their previous mechanics have been simplified, allowing for smoother gameplay, with Mastery: Icicles granting them a new way to play.

Icicles & Ice Lance

Thanks to the new overhauled mastery effect added in patch 5.4.8, which will be available in MoP Classic, Mastery: Icicles, Frost Mages’ playstyle has a dynamic element! Every Frostbolt & Frostfire Bolt is stored as an icicle for up to 5 Icicles. Any Icicle stored after the 5 mark is automatically sent to the target with every further cast of either Frostbolt or Frostfire Bolt. You can only release all Icicles at once by using Ice Lance, and you should only use Ice Lance when Fingers of Frost proc.

However, even if you have the Fingers of Frost proc, which can proc from multiple spells, you must store some icicles before releasing the effect to make it efficient. The only exception is the Frozen Orb effect, which guarantees Fingers of Frost procs in a row. In this case, you should use any leftover proc before using Frozen Orb.

Single-Target Rotation

1. Maintain Frost Armor if you need Haste.
2. Maintain Mage Armor if you need Mastery.
3. Cast Summon Water Elemental & upkeep it.
4. Maintain Rune of Power or Invocation active!
5. Cast Living Bomb at pull.
   • Refresh Living Bomb as soon as it expires to generate Brain Freeze procs.
6. Cast Frostbolt as the Main Filler.
7. Cast Frozen Orb on cooldown.
   • Use Frozen Orb to generate guaranteed Fingers of Frost procs.
8. Prioritize using Brain Freeze procs as soon as they trigger.
   • Cast Frostfire Bolt to consume Brain Freeze procs.
9. Cast Ice Lance to release Icicles.
   • Only use Ice Lance when you have Fingers of Frost procs!
   • Cast Ice Lance when you have at least 2-3 Icicles stored.
10. Prioritize Mirror Image, Icy Veins, & Time Warp for burst sequences.
    • Use Alter Time macros to extend your burst sequence.

AoE Rotation

1. Spam Nether Tempest on as many targets as possible.
2. Use Frozen Orb on cooldown.
3. Cast Frost Nova to line up a Shatter if possible.
   • Use Flamestrike + Cone of Cold together when triggering Shatter.
4. Cast Cone of Cold on cooldown if Shatter is impossible.
5. Cast Blizzard after Nether Tempest is active and Cone of Cold is on cooldown.
   • Cast Blizzard if you can’t get close to cast Cone of Cold.

Cleave Rotation

1. Cast Living Bomb on 2-3 targets.
2. Use Frozen Orb on cooldown.
3. Cast Frostbolt as the Main Filler.
4. Use Brain Freeze procs on Frostfire Bolt casts to store icicles.
5. Use Ice Lance to release Icicles with Glyph of Splitting Ice.

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.
  • 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.
  • Frost Armor – Increases Spell Haste by 7% and reduces the movement speed of any attacker by 30%.
  • Molten Armor – Increases Critical Strike Chance by 5% and reduces all Physical Damage taken by 6%.
  • 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 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.