Frost Mage AoE Leveling — AoE Leveling · WoW Burning Crusade

Key talents

• 

  Improved Blizzard · Frost, up to 3

  Blizzard chills what it hits: the pack crawls through it.

  Adds a chill effect to your Blizzard spell. This effect lowers the target's movement speed by 65%. Lasts 1.5 sec.

• 

  Permafrost · Frost, up to 3

  Longer chills, so the slow holds between ticks.

  Increases the duration of your Chill effects by 3 secs and reduces the target's speed by an additional 10%.

• 

  Improved Frost Nova · Frost, up to 2

  Frost Nova comes back sooner.

  Reduces the cooldown of your Frost Nova spell by 4 sec.

• 

  Arctic Reach · Frost, up to 2

  Longer Blizzard range; wider Nova and Cone.

  Increases the range of your Frostbolt, Ice Lance and Blizzard spells and the radius of your Frost Nova and Cone of Cold spells by 20%.

• 

  Frost Channeling · Frost, up to 3

  Cheaper frost spells.

  Reduces the mana cost of your Frost spells by 15% and reduces the threat caused by your Frost spells by 10%.

• 

  Ice Barrier · Frost, up to 1

  Absorbs the hits that reach you.

  Instantly shields you, absorbing 454 damage. Lasts 1 min. While the shield holds, spells will not be interrupted.

• 

  Arctic Winds · Frost, up to 5

  More frost damage and fewer hits landing on you.

  Increases all Frost damage you cause by 5% and reduces the chance melee and ranged attacks will hit you by 5%.

• 

  Summon Water Elemental · Frost, up to 1

  Its Freeze roots the pack again when Frost Nova is down.

  Summon a Water Elemental to fight for the caster for 45 sec.

• 

  Arcane Concentration · Arcane, up to 5

  Free spells during Blizzard.

  Gives you a 10% chance of entering a Clearcasting state after any damage spell hits a target. The Clearcasting state reduces the mana cost of your next damage spell by 100%.

Abilities

• 

  Blizzard · level 20, 7 ranks

  The main damage over the pack.

  Ice shards pelt the target area doing 1472 Frost damage over 8 sec.

• 

  Frost Nova · level 10, 5 ranks

  Roots the bunched pack.

  Blasts enemies near the caster for 100 to 112 Frost damage and freezes them in place for up to 8 sec. Damage caused may interrupt the effect.

• 

  Cone of Cold · level 26, 6 ranks

  Slows and damages enemies that break out.

  Targets in a cone in front of the caster take 418 to 456 Frost damage and are slowed by 50% for 8 sec.

• 

  Arcane Explosion · level 14, 8 ranks

  Finishes enemies around you.

  Causes an explosion of arcane magic around the caster, causing 377 to 407 Arcane damage to all targets within 10 yards.

• 

  Ice Barrier · talent, 6 ranks

  Before each pull and between Novas.

  Instantly shields you, absorbing 1075 damage. Lasts 1 min. While the shield holds, spells will not be interrupted.

• 

  Summon Water Elemental · talent

  Summon it before the pull; its Freeze is a second Nova.

  Summon a Water Elemental to fight for the caster for 45 sec.

• 

  Ice Block · level 30

  Emergency immunity.

  You become encased in a block of ice, protecting you from all physical attacks and spells for 10 sec, but during that time you cannot attack, move or cast spells. Also causes Hypothermia, preventing you from recasting Ice Block for 30 sec.

• 

  Cold Snap · talent

  Resets Frost Nova, Cone of Cold and Ice Barrier.

  When activated, this spell finishes the cooldown on all Frost spells you recently cast.

• 

  Icy Veins · talent

  Faster casting for a big pull.

  Hastens your spellcasting, increasing spell casting speed by 20% and gives you 100% chance to avoid interruption caused by damage while casting. Lasts 20 sec.

• 

  Blink · level 20

  Out of melee range after a Nova.

  Teleports the caster 20 yards forward, unless something is in the way. Also frees the caster from stuns and bonds.

• 

  Evocation · level 20

  Mana on a long pull.

  While channeling this spell, you gain 60% of your total mana over 8 sec.

• 

  Molten Armor · level 62

  From 62; Ice Armor before it.

  Causes 75 Fire damage when hit, increases your chance to critically hit with spells by 3%, and reduces the chance you are critically hit by 5%. Only one type of Armor spell can be active on the Mage at any time. Lasts 30 min.

The pull

1. Buff an armor and Ice Barrier; summon the Water Elemental; full mana.
2. Gather the pack and lead it behind you.
3. Turn and Frost Nova once they have bunched.
4. Step out and channel Blizzard.
5. When the Nova breaks, use the Water Elemental's Freeze, then Cone of Cold, and keep channeling.
6. Finish with Arcane Explosion or Cone of Cold.

Pulling

Run through the herd so each beast notices you; six to ten is comfortable with Ice Barrier and the elemental.

Grouping

Keep moving until they are all behind you, then turn.

Positioning

Outland's plains are open: kite in wide arcs away from other herds.

Crowd control

Frost Nova, the Water Elemental's Freeze, Cone of Cold; Polymorph for one extra enemy.

Defensives

Ice Barrier, Ice Block, Blink, Mana Shield.

Mana and health

Drink between pulls; Evocation and a mana gem for long fights. Lower Blizzard ranks at lower levels.

Common mistakes

• Pulling casters (Warp Stalkers, Storm Ragers, naga enchantresses)
• Forgetting to resummon the Water Elemental
• Kiting into the next herd

Gear and consumables

Gear

Stamina and Intellect while leveling, then spell damage. Quest rewards in Hellfire and Zangarmarsh replace old-world gear quickly.

Stats

Stamina and Intellect, then spell damage and frost damage.

Enchants

Stamina and Intellect on chest and bracers; speed on boots.

• Super Mana PotionMana in an emergency.
• Super Healing PotionHealth in an emergency.
• Elixir of Draenic WisdomIntellect and Spirit: a bigger mana pool and faster regeneration.
• Elixir of Major FortitudeMore health.

Farming spots

In the order you reach them. Each opens its area on the World Map.

• Deranged Helboars in southern Hellfire Peninsula

  Hellfire Peninsula · Levels 60–62

  Easy

  Deranged Helboars at levels 60–61 roaming southern Hellfire Peninsula: melee demons with tusks and snouts that vendor well, and leather for skinners. The first Outland AoE pulls.

  Spawn points

  46

  Respawn

  about 5 min

  Coin per kill

  None

  Vendor loot per kill

  21 silver 11 copper2111

  Creatures

  • Deranged HelboarLevels 60–61 · 46 spawns

  Pros

  • Melee only, dense and open ground
  • Cracked Boar Tusks on four kills in five vendor for almost 9 silver
  • Skinning: Knothide Leather

  Cons

  • No coin
  • Shattered Hand orcs share the area

  Requires:

  Frost AoE (Improved Blizzard, Frost Nova); paladins with Consecration and Holy Shield.

  Watch out for:

  Unyielding Knight (59–60, caster)

  How to farm it, step by step

  1. 1.Where to stand: Start on the open plain with nothing behind you.
  2. 2.Pull: Run through the boars until five to eight follow.
  3. 3.Group them up: Lead them in a line behind you and turn.
  4. 4.Abilities: Frost Nova as they bunch up, step out of melee range, then channel Blizzard over the pack; Improved Blizzard and Permafrost keep them crawling through it. Cone of Cold and a second Frost Nova (after its cooldown or Cold Snap) cover the last seconds. Paladins: Consecration under the pack, Holy Shield, and Avenger's Shield if you have it.
  5. 5.Kite: The plain is open: kite in a wide arc.
  6. 6.Finish: Arcane Explosion or Cone of Cold.
  7. 7.Recover: Drink conjured water and eat between pulls; save Evocation and a mana gem for a pull that runs long. Rebuff Frost or Ice Armor and Ice Barrier before the next pull.
  8. 8.Avoid: Shattered Hand Guards, Berserkers and Grenadiers patrol in from their camp; Marauding Crust Bursters surface from the ground.

  Show the area on the World Map

• Wrekt Slaves at the Bloodscale camps

  Zangarmarsh · Levels 61–63

  Hard

  Wrekt Slaves at level 62 working the Bloodscale naga camps in western Zangarmarsh: melee humanoids with Netherweave, guarded by naga slavedrivers.

  Spawn points

  47

  Respawn

  about 5 min

  Coin per kill

  1 silver 56 copper156

  Vendor loot per kill

  16 silver 89 copper1689

  Creatures

  • Wrekt SlaveLevel 62 · 47 spawns

  Pros

  • Dense melee slaves
  • Netherweave on one kill in five
  • Coin on every kill

  Cons

  • Bloodscale Slavedrivers and Enchantresses (casters) guard them

  Requires:

  Careful pulls: the naga guards are in the same camps.

  Watch out for:

  Bloodscale Enchantress (63–64, caster)

  How to farm it, step by step

  1. 1.Where to stand: Start at a camp's edge and look for Enchantresses before you pull.
  2. 2.Pull: Gather slaves away from their guards, four to six at a time.
  3. 3.Group them up: Lead them out of the camp before turning.
  4. 4.Abilities: Frost Nova as they bunch up, step out of melee range, then channel Blizzard over the pack; Improved Blizzard and Permafrost keep them crawling through it. Cone of Cold and a second Frost Nova (after its cooldown or Cold Snap) cover the last seconds. Paladins: Consecration and Holy Shield.
  5. 5.Kite: Away from the camp, through open marsh.
  6. 6.Finish: Arcane Explosion.
  7. 7.Recover: Drink conjured water and eat between pulls; save Evocation and a mana gem for a pull that runs long. Rebuff Frost or Ice Armor and Ice Barrier before the next pull.
  8. 8.Avoid: Bloodscale Slavedrivers stand among the slaves and Bloodscale Enchantresses cast; Bogstrok crabs come out of the water.

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• Timber Worg Alphas in northern Terokkar

  Terokkar Forest · Levels 63–65

  Medium

  Timber Worg Alphas at levels 63–64 in Terokkar's northern forest: melee beasts with fangs that vendor for nearly 9 silver and leather for skinners.

  Spawn points

  37

  Respawn

  about 5 min

  Coin per kill

  None

  Vendor loot per kill

  21 silver 57 copper2157

  Creatures

  • Timber Worg AlphaLevels 63–64 · 37 spawns

  Pros

  • Melee beasts
  • Bloody Fangs on four kills in five
  • Skinning: Knothide Leather

  Cons

  • Warp Stalkers blink and cast
  • No coin

  Requires:

  Frost AoE or a tanking paladin.

  Watch out for:

  Warp Stalker (63–64, caster), Firewing Bloodwarder (63–64, caster)

  How to farm it, step by step

  1. 1.Where to stand: Work the forest's clearings, where the trees don't block line of sight.
  2. 2.Pull: Gather four to six worgs.
  3. 3.Group them up: Lead them into a clearing and turn.
  4. 4.Abilities: Frost Nova as they bunch up, step out of melee range, then channel Blizzard over the pack; Improved Blizzard and Permafrost keep them crawling through it. Cone of Cold and a second Frost Nova (after its cooldown or Cold Snap) cover the last seconds. Paladins: Consecration and Holy Shield.
  5. 5.Kite: Kite through the clearings; trees break Blizzard's line of sight.
  6. 6.Finish: Arcane Explosion.
  7. 7.Recover: Drink conjured water and eat between pulls; save Evocation and a mana gem for a pull that runs long. Rebuff Frost or Ice Armor and Ice Barrier before the next pull.
  8. 8.Avoid: Warp Stalkers (they cast and blink), Dampscale Devourers and the Firewing elves at the area's edge.

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• Talbuk Thorngrazers on the Nagrand plains

  Nagrand · Levels 64–67

  Easy

  More than a hundred Talbuk Thorngrazers at levels 65–66 on Nagrand's central plains: melee beasts on open grass, with Resilient Tail Hair that vendors for 12 silver and leather for skinners.

  Spawn points

  129

  Respawn

  about 5 min

  Coin per kill

  None

  Vendor loot per kill

  25 silver 35 copper2535

  Creatures

  • Talbuk ThorngrazerLevels 65–66 · 129 spawns

  Pros

  • The densest beast field in Outland
  • Open grass
  • Resilient Tail Hair on four kills in five
  • Skinning: Knothide Leather

  Cons

  • No coin
  • Storm Ragers (casters) drift across the plains

  Requires:

  Frost AoE or a tanking paladin; hunters do well too.

  Watch out for:

  Storm Rager (65–66, caster), Lake Spirit (64–65, caster)

  How to farm it, step by step

  1. 1.Where to stand: Start in open grass with nothing behind you.
  2. 2.Pull: Run through the talbuks until six to ten follow you.
  3. 3.Group them up: Lead them in a long line and turn.
  4. 4.Abilities: Frost Nova as they bunch up, step out of melee range, then channel Blizzard over the pack; Improved Blizzard and Permafrost keep them crawling through it. Cone of Cold and a second Frost Nova (after its cooldown or Cold Snap) cover the last seconds. Paladins: Consecration and Holy Shield; talbuks hit slowly for their level.
  5. 5.Kite: Open plains in every direction.
  6. 6.Finish: Arcane Explosion.
  7. 7.Recover: Drink conjured water and eat between pulls; save Evocation and a mana gem for a pull that runs long. Rebuff Frost or Ice Armor and Ice Barrier before the next pull.
  8. 8.Avoid: Clefthoof Bulls hit harder; Storm Ragers cast; Enraged Crushers stand among the hills.

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• Shattered Rumblers in southern Nagrand

  Nagrand · Levels 66–68

  MediumGood value

  Shattered Rumblers at levels 66–67 in Nagrand's southern hills: earth elementals with Motes of Earth on almost one kill in five and Elemental Fragments that vendor well.

  Spawn points

  35

  Respawn

  about 5 min

  Coin per kill

  None

  Vendor loot per kill

  27 silver 73 copper2773

  Creatures

  • Shattered RumblerLevels 66–67 · 35 spawns

  Materials

  • Mote of Earth19% of kills · vendor price 4 silver4Used in Blacksmithing (2), Alchemy (1), Enchanting (1), Engineering (1) recipes10 combine into Primal Earth, used in Leatherworking (18), Blacksmithing (13), Enchanting (6), Engineering (6), Alchemy (5), Tailoring (5), Jewelcrafting (3), Mining (1) recipes

  Pros

  • Melee elementals
  • Motes of Earth (ten make Primal Earth)
  • Elemental Fragments on four kills in five

  Cons

  • Voidspawn and Living Cyclones cast
  • No coin

  Requires:

  Frost AoE or a tanking paladin.

  Watch out for:

  Voidspawn (65–66, caster), Living Cyclone (66–67, caster), Kil'sorrow Ritualist (67–68, caster)

  Value:

  Ten Motes of Earth combine into Primal Earth, a reagent for Leatherworking, Blacksmithing and five more professions; price depends on your realm.

  How to farm it, step by step

  1. 1.Where to stand: Start at the hills' edge.
  2. 2.Pull: Gather four to six rumblers.
  3. 3.Group them up: They are slow: let them bunch.
  4. 4.Abilities: Frost Nova as they bunch up, step out of melee range, then channel Blizzard over the pack; Improved Blizzard and Permafrost keep them crawling through it. Cone of Cold and a second Frost Nova (after its cooldown or Cold Snap) cover the last seconds. Paladins: Consecration and Holy Shield.
  5. 5.Kite: Slow enough to kite at walking speed.
  6. 6.Finish: Arcane Explosion.
  7. 7.Recover: Drink conjured water and eat between pulls; save Evocation and a mana gem for a pull that runs long. Rebuff Frost or Ice Armor and Ice Barrier before the next pull.
  8. 8.Avoid: Voidspawn, Living Cyclones and Kil'sorrow Ritualists cast.

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• Phase Hunters in western Netherstorm

  Netherstorm · Levels 67–70

  MediumGood value

  Phase Hunters at levels 67–68 in western Netherstorm: beasts that come back after two minutes and drop Motes of Mana on a quarter of kills.

  Spawn points

  23

  Respawn

  about 2 min

  Coin per kill

  None

  Vendor loot per kill

  28 silver 16 copper2816

  Creatures

  • Phase HunterLevels 67–68 · 23 spawns

  Materials

  • Mote of Mana26% of kills · vendor price 4 silver410 combine into Primal Mana, used in Leatherworking (19), Tailoring (10), Blacksmithing (9), Engineering (7), Jewelcrafting (6), Alchemy (5), Enchanting (3) recipes

  Pros

  • Two-minute respawn
  • Motes of Mana on a quarter of kills
  • Skinning: Knothide Leather

  Cons

  • They shift out of phase during the fight
  • No coin

  Requires:

  Frost AoE or a tanking paladin.

  Watch out for:

  Sunfury Blood Knight (70, caster)

  Value:

  Ten Motes of Mana combine into Primal Mana, a reagent for Leatherworking, Tailoring and five more professions; price depends on your realm.

  How to farm it, step by step

  1. 1.Where to stand: Start at the edge of the hunting ground.
  2. 2.Pull: Gather four to six Phase Hunters.
  3. 3.Group them up: Let them bunch behind you.
  4. 4.Abilities: Frost Nova as they bunch up, step out of melee range, then channel Blizzard over the pack; Improved Blizzard and Permafrost keep them crawling through it. Cone of Cold and a second Frost Nova (after its cooldown or Cold Snap) cover the last seconds. Paladins: Consecration and Holy Shield.
  5. 5.Kite: Open ground around the area.
  6. 6.Finish: Arcane Explosion.
  7. 7.Recover: Drink conjured water and eat between pulls; save Evocation and a mana gem for a pull that runs long. Rebuff Frost or Ice Armor and Ice Barrier before the next pull.
  8. 8.Avoid: Gan'arg Warp-Tinkers and Sunfury Blood Knights at the edges.

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• Ashtongue Workers in Shadowmoon Valley

  Shadowmoon Valley · Levels 68–70

  MediumGood value

  Nearly a hundred Ashtongue Workers at level 69 in Shadowmoon Valley: melee Broken with Netherweave on a third of kills and 2–2.7 silver each.

  Spawn points

  94

  Respawn

  about 5 min

  Coin per kill

  2 silver 33 copper233

  Vendor loot per kill

  21 silver 33 copper2133

  Creatures

  • Ashtongue WorkerLevel 69 · 94 spawns

  Materials

  • Netherweave Cloth35% of kills · vendor price 8 silver8Used in Engineering (5), Blacksmithing (2), Tailoring (2), First Aid (2) recipes

  Pros

  • Netherweave on one kill in three
  • Coin on every kill
  • Very dense

  Cons

  • Ashtongue Shamans cast
  • Warriors and Illidari Overseers mix in

  Requires:

  Level 69+; mages and paladins can AoE them, other classes farm them singly.

  Watch out for:

  Ashtongue Shaman (69–70, caster)

  Value:

  Netherweave Cloth is used by Tailoring, Engineering, Blacksmithing and First Aid; price depends on your realm.

  How to farm it, step by step

  1. 1.Where to stand: Start at the edge of the worksite, away from the Overseers.
  2. 2.Pull: Gather four to six workers.
  3. 3.Group them up: Lead them clear of the next group.
  4. 4.Abilities: Frost Nova as they bunch up, step out of melee range, then channel Blizzard over the pack; Improved Blizzard and Permafrost keep them crawling through it. Cone of Cold and a second Frost Nova (after its cooldown or Cold Snap) cover the last seconds. Paladins: Consecration and Holy Shield.
  5. 5.Kite: Open ground around the worksite.
  6. 6.Finish: Arcane Explosion.
  7. 7.Recover: Drink conjured water and eat between pulls; save Evocation and a mana gem for a pull that runs long. Rebuff Frost or Ice Armor and Ice Barrier before the next pull.
  8. 8.Avoid: Ashtongue Shamans (casters), Warriors and Handlers, Elekk Demolishers and Illidari Overseers.

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Related

• The full build in the talent calculator
• Gold farming for a mage
• Mage class guide
• Every mage spell
• Leveling guide: quests and zones
• Popular mage builds