Mage Frost FAQ
Go back to https://turtle-wow.fandom.com/wiki/Mage_FAQ
Is Frost good on this server?
Yes frost is quite good since 1.17.2 patch on Nov 8th 2024. Can read about the changes here https://forum.turtle-wow.org/viewtopic.php?p=102974#p102968 ==
Is blizzard nerfed / aoe farming as frost dead?
Yes blizzard slow is nerfed from 75% -> 50% with 3/3 Improved blizzard and 3/3 permafrost so can't do 2 full blizzards anymore. Cone of cold slow is untouched so can still use that to aoe farm with arcane explosion.
Even before this change the popular pathing exploits used to aoe farm as mage in ZF/ZG/Mara/SM have been fixed for a long time.
What's a good spec for leveling?
These are just some suggestions, can honestly spec however you want but I don't recommend using icicles at all when leveling.
Single target
Priorities:
- Improved frostbolt
- Elemental precision
- Ice shards
- Frost Channeling
- Shatter
- Frostbite
- Ice barrier
- Arcane concentration
Aoe
I don't know exactly how bad the new blizzard is, can use those 3 points elsewhere if only using cone of cold to kite.
Priorities:
- Elemental precision
- Permafrost
- Blizzard if using it
- Frost Channeling
- Arcane concentration
- Arcane Impact
- Ice barrier
What's a good spec for raiding?
Pepo frost
File:Pepo frost raid spec.webp
The idea is to use frost nova, cone of cold, and even blizzard to trigger flash freeze in order to get 1 second icicles.
What is the rotation for frost when raiding?
THIS ONLY APPLIES TO MOBS THAT CANNOT BE FROZEN (most mobs in raid). Outside of raids most mobs CAN be frozen so these rotations don't apply to leveling or dungeons.
To see a list of exceptions that CAN be frozen (flash freeze won't work so don't follow these rotations) https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bvW0ghL4eI8clucl7ilCgzYzQIwJGDN-oyPPSBFWwtI/edit?usp=sharing.
Always keep ice barrier up if possible unless fight is about to end. Make sure you are refreshing it right before pull.
In general for these rotations anytime you proc flash freeze from a frost spell you should immediately icicle.
Single target: Frost nova -> icicles -> frostbolt
Aoe up to 5 mobs: Cone of cold -> Icicles if proc -> Frost nova -> icicles -> arcane explosion.
Aoe more than 5 mobs: Cone of cold -> arcane explosion -> try to use icicles on something at the end when some have died
List of mobs that are NOT freeze immune in raids
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bvW0ghL4eI8clucl7ilCgzYzQIwJGDN-oyPPSBFWwtI/edit?usp=sharing
You don't want to use frost nova/cone of cold on these unless you/your guild are prepared for mobs potentially getting rooted and attacking the nearest target.
How many points in Winter's Chill are necessary?
120 sec fight Winter's Chill uptime as solo frost
Using frost nova for icicles 5 pts 5 stack Winter's Chill : 116.0 sec (96.7%) 1410 in 98.7 casts 4 pts 5 stack Winter's Chill : 113.1 sec (94.2%) 1406 in 98.4 casts 3 pts 5 stack Winter's Chill : 108.6 sec (90.5%) 1403 in 98.3 casts 2 pts 5 stack Winter's Chill : 96.5 sec (80.4%) 1400 in 98.5 casts 1 pts 5 stack Winter's Chill : 50.8 sec (42.3%) 1374 in 98.6 casts
Without 5 pts 5 stack Winter's Chill : 109.0 sec (90.8%) 1271 in 73.2 casts 4 pts 5 stack Winter's Chill : 107.1 sec (89.2%) 1271 in 73.1 casts 3 pts 5 stack Winter's Chill : 102.3 sec (85.2%) 1269 in 73.3 casts 2 pts 5 stack Winter's Chill : 85.3 sec (71.1%) 1260 in 73.1 casts 1 pts 5 stack Winter's Chill : 35.5 sec (29.6%) 1237 in 73.3 casts
120 sec fight Winter's Chill uptime with 2 frost players
Using frost nova for icicles 5 pts each 5 stack Winter's Chill : 116.8 sec (97.3%) 1410 in 98.5 casts 4 pts each 5 stack Winter's Chill : 116.6 sec (97.2%) 1408 in 98.4 casts 3 pts each 5 stack Winter's Chill : 115.7 sec (96.4%) 1408 in 98.3 casts 2 pts each 5 stack Winter's Chill : 112.5 sec (93.8%) 1407 in 98.5 casts 1 pts each 5 stack Winter's Chill : 96.4 sec (80.3%) 1401 in 98.6 casts
Without 5 pts each 5 stack Winter's Chill : 113.1 sec (94.2%) 1271 in 73.2 casts 4 pts each 5 stack Winter's Chill : 112.4 sec (93.7%) 1271 in 73.1 casts 3 pts each 5 stack Winter's Chill : 110.7 sec (92.2%) 1271 in 73.3 casts 2 pts each 5 stack Winter's Chill : 106.9 sec (89.1%) 1270 in 73.1 casts 1 pts each 5 stack Winter's Chill : 85.3 sec (71.1%) 1260 in 73.3 casts
Conclusion: 2 or 3 points really all you need
Frost Stat Weights on Bosses from sim
generated with https://github.com/pepopo978/turtlewowsim Take with a grain of salt, no promises this perfectly matches turtle or there aren't bugs.
Weights are dependent on many factors like your gear and raid composition but to give a general idea with endgame gear:
50k runs, 110 sec, 0.07s server lag per spell with a cast time
control_sp = 1000 control_crit = 40 control_hit = 15 control_haste = 0
no cooldowns start with ice barrier
nova when available -> icicles when you have flash freeze -> frostbolt rotation
20sp DPS Mean : 1440 in 93.6 casts 1 hit DPS Mean : 1439 in 93.9 casts 1 haste DPS Mean : 1434 in 94.2 casts 1 crit DPS Mean : 1433 in 93.6 casts control DPS Mean : 1423 in 93.6 casts
Per Spell Data
20sp:
Frost Nova : 6.0 casts, 1.5 avg cast time
Icicle : 54.3 casts, 68642 dmg (43.1%), 1264 avg dmg, 0.21 avg cast time, 6017 dps
Frostbolt : 33.3 casts, 89705 dmg (56.9%), 2691 avg dmg, 2.57 avg cast time, 1047 dps
1 hit:
Frost Nova : 6.0 casts, 1.5 avg cast time
Icicle : 54.5 casts, 68840 dmg (43.2%), 1262 avg dmg, 0.21 avg cast time, 6008 dps
Frostbolt : 33.3 casts, 89470 dmg (56.8%), 2686 avg dmg, 2.57 avg cast time, 1045 dps
1 haste:
Frost Nova : 6.0 casts, 1.5 avg cast time
Icicle : 54.6 casts, 68244 dmg (43.0%), 1250 avg dmg, 0.21 avg cast time, 5953 dps
Frostbolt : 33.6 casts, 89441 dmg (57.0%), 2659 avg dmg, 2.55 avg cast time, 1043 dps
1 crit:
Frost Nova : 6.0 casts, 1.5 avg cast time
Icicle : 54.3 casts, 68372 dmg (43.1%), 1259 avg dmg, 0.21 avg cast time, 5994 dps
Frostbolt : 33.3 casts, 89215 dmg (56.9%), 2677 avg dmg, 2.57 avg cast time, 1042 dps
control:
Frost Nova : 6.0 casts, 1.5 avg cast time
Icicle : 54.3 casts, 67873 dmg (43.1%), 1250 avg dmg, 0.21 avg cast time, 5950 dps
Frostbolt : 33.3 casts, 88650 dmg (56.9%), 2660 avg dmg, 2.57 avg cast time, 1035 dps
So comparing the DPS changes some rough weights:
1 hit = ~18-19 SP 1 haste = ~12-13 SP 1 crit = ~11-12 SP
for fresh 60s with these stats
for fresh 60s with these stats
control_sp = 300 control_crit = 18 control_hit = 13 control_haste = 0
1 hit = ~11-12 SP 1 haste = ~6 SP 1 crit = ~7 SP
Trinket Comparison
generated with https://github.com/pepopo978/turtlewowsim
10k runs, 2 min
base_sp = 1000 base_crit = 40 base_hit = 14
no cooldowns start with ice barrier
nova when available -> icicles when you have flash freeze -> frostbolt rotation
tear DPS Mean : 1385 in 95.5 casts mark of champ DPS Mean : 1381 in 94.4 casts mqg DPS Mean : 1366 in 97.5 casts reos DPS Mean : 1363 in 94.4 casts shard of nightmare DPS Mean : 1359 in 94.8 casts gulch DPS Mean : 1351 in 95.3 casts eye of dim DPS Mean : 1343 in 94.7 casts toep DPS Mean : 1332 in 94.4 casts zandalarian hero charm DPS Mean : 1327 in 94.3 casts nothing DPS Mean : 1314 in 94.4 casts