Mage

Mage

Races

In Wrath of the Lich King, the Mage is available to six races: the Human, the Gnome and the Draenei for the Alliance, and the Troll, the Undead and the Blood Elf for the Horde.

Alliance

The Human benefits from increased Spirit and faster reputation gains.

• Sword Specialization: increases expertise with one- and two-handed swords by 3.
• The Human Spirit: increases Spirit by 3%.
• Diplomacy: increases reputation gains by 10%.
• Perception: increases stealth detection.
• Every Man for Himself: removes all movement-impairing effects and all effects that cause loss of control of your character.
• Mace Specialization: increases expertise with one- and two-handed maces by 3.

The Gnome combines increased Intellect with the ability to break free from immobilization.

• Escape Artist: frees you from immobilization and movement slowing effects.
• Expansive Mind: increases Intellect by 5%.
• Arcane Resistance: reduces the chance to be hit by Arcane spells by 2%.
• Engineering Specialization: increases Engineering skill by 15.

The Draenei strengthens the spells of their party.

• Gift of the Naaru: heals the target over 15 seconds.
• Heroic Presence: increases chance to hit with spells and attacks by 1% for you and your party.
• Gemcutting: increases Jewelcrafting skill by 5.
• Shadow Resistance: reduces the chance to be hit by Shadow spells by 2%.

Horde

The Troll speeds up their spells and recovers health faster.

• Berserking: increases attack and casting speed by 20% for 10 seconds.
• Regeneration: increases health regeneration by 10%, and 10% of this regeneration continues during combat.
• Beast Slaying: increases damage dealt to beasts by 5%.
• Throwing Specialization: increases critical strike chance with throwing weapons by 1%.
• Bow Specialization: increases critical strike chance with bows by 1%.
• Da Voodoo Shuffle: reduces the duration of movement-impairing effects by 15%.

The Undead resists control effects and Shadow.

• Will of the Forsaken: removes charm, fear and sleep effects.
• Cannibalize: lets you devour a humanoid or undead corpse to regenerate 7% of your health every 2 seconds for 10 seconds.
• Underwater Breathing: lets you hold your breath 233% longer underwater.
• Shadow Resistance: reduces the chance to be hit by Shadow spells by 2%.

The Blood Elf has an area silence and recovers some mana.

• Arcane Torrent: silences enemies within 8 yards for 2 seconds and restores mana, Energy or Runic Power.
• Arcane Affinity: increases Enchanting skill by 10.
• Magic Resistance: reduces the chance to be hit by spells by 2%.

Which race should you choose for each specialization?

Arcane

The Gnome benefits from Expansive Mind, which increases Intellect, and therefore mana and damage. On the Horde side, the Troll can speed up their spells with Berserking.

Fire

The Troll can speed up their spells with Berserking. The Gnome benefits from Expansive Mind, which increases Intellect.

Frost

In PvP, the Gnome can break free from immobilization and slows with Escape Artist, and the Undead from charm, fear and sleep effects with Will of the Forsaken.

Which one to choose?

No race is mandatory to play a Mage. The choice depends first on your faction, then on your specialization.