| Name | A Complete Mage Guide: Fire, Ice, and the Arcane (Mage Macros and Gear) |
| Category | Class |
Hyacintha, your very own Skryer Enchantress is here today, to tell you all about Mages. To help me, I have brought along Nadandren the Mage to help answer some of the most important questions you could possibly have. Never fear, anything you have ever wanted to know about Mages, from their skills to their armor to their talents, you will find, right here the in the pages of this interview. Prepare to take an in-depth look at this popular, yet underplayed class, and be ready to understand where is allure originates from!
In this fourth and final installment, Nadandren and I will go over handy macros for mages and gear. If you are not interested in macros, as it will require a bit of knowledge on how to do macros, you may skip ahead to the gear section.
Hyacintha: When I polled the community about what they would like to know more about mages, they all seemed to agree that macros were pretty important. So, I would like to go over some of the defensive and offensive macros commonly, or not so commonly used by mages that you feel are important.
Nadandren: Alright, we will get started immediately with a list of defensive macros.
For your information, *to make a macro, type /macro, which will open a menu. Select “[Your Character Name] Specific Macros” rather than “General Macros”. You then select NEW. Now you will have the option to create a new macro. First, type in the name of the macro. If it is for a spell, for example, the polymorph macro, you should name it similar or identical to the spell name. So, a polymorph macro would be called something like “Polymorph” or “Polymorph Macro”. You then select an icon for the macro. I highly recommend, if replacing the spell on your bar, that you find and use the same picture. Now, you will hit the “Okay” button. Next, type the macro text in the box bellow where the macro icon appears. Drag the macro icon down to the bar you want it on. Now, click to test!
To make a test macro, follow these simple steps.
1) Type /macro
2) Click your character specific macros.
3) Select New.
4) Type in a name like “Testing.” Select an Icon. Hit okay.
5) In the box, type /say Testing.
6) Drag the icon to your bar.
7) Click to test.
Now you should be ready to make your macros! NOTE: Remember that macros are constantly changing due to Blizzard fixing things, so, some of them may need to be tweaked here and there.
Defensive Macros
Blink & Look
This macro stops any cast or channel and Blinks you forward instead. Then, if your target is an enemy it flips your camera angle 180 degrees. Macros cannot turn your character, only the camera. To turn your character around quickly, click both buttons on your mouse. You will then move to face your attacker again.
/stopcasting
/cast Blink
/stopmacro [noharm]
/run FlipCameraYaw(180)
Decurse
A reasonable replacement for the obsolete Decursive addon, hitting this button will remove a curse from whoever’s unit frame or 3D figure your cursor is hovering over. If your mouse is over a hostile or no target, you will simply decurse yourself.
/cast [target=mouseover, help] [target=player] Remove Lesser Curse
Interrupt Counterspell
This macro stops what you are casting to immediately cast Counterspell.
/stopcasting
/cast Counterspell
Focus Counterspell
This uses the Alt modifier to Counterspell your focus, rather than your target. I find this one very useful for bosses who need to be interrupted while DPSing elsewhere.
/cast [mod:alt, target=focus, exists, nodead] Counterspell
Your Favorite Harmless Animal, Polymorph
Polymorph: Focus
This sets your focus to your target and polymorphs it with a left click. Sheeps your focus without changing targets if you right click.
/cast [button:2, target=focus] Polymorph
/focus [nobutton:2]
Polymorph: Spam
This polymorphs your target, gives it the Star raid icon (if capable), sets it as your focus, and announces to your party or raid group your intention to sheep the
target. Now, how is that for a chat spamming polymorph announcement?
/cast Polymorph
/focus
/run SetRaidTarget("focus", 1)
/run if UnitSex("target")==1 then g="female " else g="male " end;s="I'm going to sheep a "..g..UnitLevel("target").." %T";c="Party";if GetNumRaidMembers()>0 then c="raid" end;SendChatMessage(s,c)
Polymorph: Random
This macro randomly chooses the harmless animal your enemy will some impersonate. Note that you have to have Pig and Turtle for this to work. If you only have pig, just take out the last part of the macro.
/castrandom Polymorph, Polymorph(Rank 1: Pig), Polymorph(Rank 1: Turtle)
Polymorph: Target Alert
This script will whisper any member of your party who is targeting your target. Click it before or while sheeping to help avoid near mishaps!
/run u=UnitIsUnit;c="Party";t="Target";for i=0,40 do if not u(c..i,"player") then if u(c..i..t,t) then n,r=UnitName(c..i) SendChatMessage("I am Polymorphing your target!","WHISPER",this.language,n) end end end
Shapeshifting, Ice Cube Form
Breakable Ice Block
This macro is all about helping you get Ice Block right. You see, a 1.5 second “dead time” on toggle buttons like Ice Block was implemented to prevent unintentionally canceling buffs by spamming. This macro will restore previous functionality so Ice Block can be used to cancel debuffs almost instantaneously.
/cancelaura Ice Block
/cast Ice Block
Ice Block/Cold Snap
This macro allows rapid recasting of Ice Block by incorporating Cold Snap. The reset should be changed to 240 for Ice Floes.
/cancelaura Ice Block
/castsequence reset=300 Ice Block, Cold Snap
Break & Counterspell
This breaks Ice Block and immediately Counterspells your target.
/cancelaura Ice Block
/cast Counterspell
Break’n’Blink
This breaks Ice Block and immediately Blinks you forward. Lets hope you are not facing a bad way!
/cancelaura Ice Block
/cast Blink
One-Button Wards
Left click for Fire Ward, right click for Frost Ward
/cast [btn:2] Frost Ward; Fire Ward
Ice Barrier & Mana Shield
This cast sequence will use a single button to cast Ice Barrier, then Mana Shield. If only Ice Barrier is cast, it will reset to Ice Barrier again in 30 seconds (reset should be changed to 24 for Ice Floes). The problem is, this is not a real cooldown test, it is just a counter from the previous button push. Casting Mana Shield will move the sequence back to Ice Barrier, even if it is not yet ready. Adding another Mana Shield to the sequence would stop the pseudo-cooldown timing, by not pushing to Ice Barrier until 30 seconds after the last mana shield cast.
/castsequence reset=30 Ice Barrier, Mana Shield
Self-Bandaging
Although this one does not actually involve a mage spell, it is extremely useful. If your target can be healed, you bandage it, otherwise you bandage yourself (without losing your enemy target).
/use [help] [target=player] Heavy Netherweave Bandage
You could also make a macro specifically for bandaging yourself, such as…
/cast Blink
/target [Your name]
/use [help] [target=player] Heavy Netherweave Bandage
Now we have the offensive macros which are all about beating the enemy down! Here is where it gets fun.
Offensive Macros
Spammable Arcane Missiles
This macro prevents you from interrupting an Arcane Missiles cast by recasting too early. It is very handy! It will save you time and mana.
/cast [nochanneling:Arcane Missiles] Arcane Missiles
Interrupt Ice Lance
This macro is mostly for Frostbite mages, this macro stops whatever spell you were casting and casts Ice Lance.
/stopcasting
/cast Ice Lance
Opener Pyroblast
This macro casts Pyroblast when you are pulling. If you are in combat, it casts Fireball.
/cast [nocombat] Pyroblast; Fireball
Modifier Pyroblast
For those with 8/8 Netherwind or similar Presence of Mind effects, this will ordinarily cast Fireball, but will use Pyroblast instead if you hold Alt. Because of latency, you will not be able to cast as fast as possible and make use of this.
/cast [mod:alt] Pyroblast; Fireball
Frostbolt(Rank 1) Kiting
Hold alt for the fast casting snare, or cast your maximum rank by using the regular button.
/cast [mod:alt] Frostbolt(rank 1); Frostbolt
Stealth Breaker Arcane Explosion
On a normal key press or click, the first macro casts Arcane Explosion (maximum rank), but on a right click it uses Rank 1. The second option automatically downranks if you are out of combat.
/cast [btn:2] Arcane Explosion(Rank 1); Arcane Explosion
/cast [nocombat] Arcane Explosion(Rank 1); Arcane Explosion
One-Button Blizzard/Flamestrike
With this macro, click for Blizzard, or alt-click for Flamestrike.
/cast [mod:alt] Flamestrike; Blizzard
Castsequence Attack Routine
This is a cast sequence designed for mana efficiency - three Scorches and an Arcane Blast. It will reset to Arcane Blast if not pressed for 7 seconds which is at least enough time for the debuff to begin to fade.
/castsequence reset=7 Arcane Blast, Scorch, Scorch, Scorch, Scorch
Friendly Fire Targeting
Replacing spells with this macro will cause you to cast them at your target’s target if you are targeting a unit which cannot be attacked.
/cast [harm] [target=targettarget] Fireball
UBER Buttons
There are a number of macros to instantly activate spell enhancers and cast your attack. The classic Presence of Mind, Arcane Power, Pyroblast combo simply requires you to press the button three times.
/castsequence Presence of Mind, Arcane Power, Pyroblast
Pet Tricks: the Water Elemental and you
Spammable Summon & Attack
This will summon your pet, and if pressed again, will set it to attack your target ones the lag on summoning finishes. Spamming is okay, and will not cause your pet’s first waterbolt to cancel and restart.
/cast [nopet] Summon Water Elemental
/stopmacro [target=pettarget, exists]
/petattack
Summon & Freeze
This summons or activates the ranged Frost Nova power, Freeze.
/cast [nopet] Summon Water Elemental; Freeze
Dismiss (& Invisibility)
You can use this script to dismiss your pet without using the pet dropdown menu. This particular macro dismisses him and begins your Invisibility fade, so he will not force you into combat unintentionally.
/run PetAbandon()
/cast Invisibility
Hyacintha: Wow. That’s a lot of different macros. Are there any macros that you did not mention that people should look into?
Nadandren: Yes, in fact, you can adapt ANY cast sequence macro to your tastes. You can also make a macro to make all of your mana gems, summon a table, and much more. Remember that macros are constantly changing due to Blizzard fixing things, so, some of them may need to be tweaked here and there.
Hyacintha: Well, we are going to jump right into mage gear. Now, I understand that all of this mage gear you are going to tell us about can be gotten WITHOUT RAIDING! It will mainly be crafting, quest, dungeon, or heroic badges that will help you get the armor, as I understand.
Nadandren: That is correct. Remember that Heroic Badges are found in all heroic dungeons, and in ten man raids. However, this list was compiled for people that do not have access to a lot of raids. Let us begin.
First know that mage gear stats are very important. In order from BEST stat, to least needed stat, here is what you are going to need.
° Spell Hit – There is no point in casting if the enemy is just going to resist your spells.
° Spell Damage (Power) – You want your spells to be big and hit hard.
° Spell Critical Strike – When your spells are being cast, you want the chance for them to deal extra damage to be high.
° Intellect – A large mana pool and bigger crit chance never hurts.
° Spirit – Regeneration of health and mana is important, but not the most important for a mage.
So, in other words hit > damage > crit > nt> spirit. Haste is highly dependant on gear. I would go as far as to say that it is slightly above Crit by the time you generally can find it. Stamina is also situational.
NOTE: Of the items listed, you may wish to look through the badge vendor more carefully. More awards have been added in recent patches, and you may find that there are even better items for your specific specialization. Feel free to look, and remember that these are merely suggestions.
MAGE GEAR!
For your Helm slot, there are some very good, all crafted selections.
Spellstrike Hood - Crafted
Battlecast Hood - Crafted
Evoker's Helmet of Second Sight - Crafted
For your Neck, here are some of the best.
Manasurge Pendant - 25 Heroic Badges
Charlotte's Ivy - World Drop BoE
Brooch of Heightened Potential –Drops from Blackheart the Inciter in Shadow Laybrinth.
For your Back, the following are all good.
Shawl of Shifting Probabilities - 25 Heroic Badges
Baba's Cloak of Arcanistry – Drops off of Pathaleon the Calculator in The Mechanar.
Sethekk Oracle Cloak – Dropped in Sethekk Halls off of Talon King Ikiss.
For your Shoulders, there are three exceptionally good items.
Frozen Shadoweave Shoulders - Crafted
Mantle of Three Terrors – Drops from Chrono Lord Deja in Black Morass.
Spaulders of the Torn-heart - Quest Reward from The Cipher of Damnation - The Third Fragment Recovered.
For your Chest here are the good ones.
Spellfire Robe - Crafted
Incanter's Robe – Drops from Warp Splinter in Botanica.
Robe of the Crimson Order - BoE World Drop
Wrist items are as follows.
Bands of Rarefied Magic – Dropped in Heroic Shattered Halls off of Warchief Kargath Bladefist.
Bands of Nethekurse – Drops in Shattered Halls off of Grand Warlock Nethekurse.
Shattrath Wraps - Quest Reward from The Soul Devices.
For your Hands, here are some good gloves.
Spellfire Gloves - Crafted
Incanter's Gloves – Dropped in Steamvault from Hydromancer Thespia.
Gloves of the High Magus - Quest Reward from News of Victory.
As for a Belt, the following crafts and drops are excellent.
Spellfire Belt - Crafted
Girdle of Ruination - Crafted
Mage-Fury Girdle – Drops from Quagmirran in Heroic Slave Pens.
Sash of Serpentra – Drops from Steamvaults by Warlord Kalithresh.
Legs are also found from crafting or drops.
Spellstrike Pants - Crafted
Battlecast Pants - Crafted
Mana-Etched Pantaloons – Dropped by The Black Stalker in Heroic Underbog.
Incanter's Trousers – Drops from Talon King Ikiss in Sethekk Halls.
For your Boots, you will be stepping with either a crafted or dropped item.
Frozen Shadoweave Boots - Crafted
Boots of Blasphemy – Dropped in Heroic Slave Pens off of Quagmirran.
Silent Slippers of Meditation – Drops off of Murmur in Shadow Laybrinth.
There are many good choices for Rings.
Ring of Cryptic Dreams - 25 Heroic Badges
Cobalt Band of Tyrigosa – Drops off of Nexus-Prince Shaffar in Heroic Mana Tombs.
Seer's Signet - Scryers Exalted
Ashyen's Gift - Cenarion Expedition Exalted
Band of the Guardian - Quest Reward from Hero of the Brood.
Seal of the Exorcist - 50 Spirit Shards
A few good trinkets are as follows:
Shiffar's Nexus-Horn – Dropped off of Harbinger Skyriss in Arcatraz.
Arcanist's Stone - Drop(Heroic Old Hillsbrad)
Oculus of the Hidden Eye - Drop(Auchenai Crypts)
If you choose to use a One-Handed Weapon, the following Weapons are a good start.
Eternium Runed Blade - Crafted
Blade of the Archmage - Honor Hold Exalted
Mana Wrath – Dropped in Mechanar from Pathaleon the Calculator.
Greatsword of Horrid Dreams – Drops off of Murmur in Shadow Laybrinth.
If you use a one handed weapon, you will also need an Off-hand.
Lamp of Peaceful Radiance – Drops from Harbinger Skyriss in Arcatraz.
Manual of the Nethermancer – Dropped in Mechanar from Nethermancer Sepethrea.
Hortus' Seal of Brilliance – Drop in Shattered Halls from Warchief Kargath Bladefist.
Or, you may elect to use a Two-Handed weapon. Here are some.
Terokk's Shadowstaff – Dropped in Heroic Sethekk Halls off of Talon King Ikiss.
Bloodfire Greatstaff – Dropped in Black Morass off of Aeonus.
Warpstaff of Arcanum – Drops in Botanica off of Warp Splinter.
Ameer's Impulse Taser - Quest Reward for Nexus-King Salhadaar.
For your Wand in your Ranged Weapon slot, you will want one of the following to start.
The Black Stalk – Dropped in Heroic Underbog from The Black Stalker.
Nexus Torch – Dropped in Shattered Halls from Warchief Kargath Bladefist.
Nethekurse's Rod of Torment - Quest Reward from Turning the Tide.
Wand of the Netherwing – Drops from Blackheart the Inciter in Shadow Laybrinth.
Hyacintha: Thank you for going over all of that with us Nadandren. Any final words?
Nadandren: Remember to play a mage the way YOU want to. Take it easy.
Hyacintha: Thank you for reading! Look for my future interviews!
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