Arcane Mage

Arcane changes

• 
  NewArcane Blast

  11-point talent. 2.5-second cast that raises the damage of other Mage spells and its own mana cost, stacking up to 4 times for 8 seconds.

• 
  NewMissile Barrage

  16-point talent. Arcane Blast, Fireball, Frostbolt and Frostfire Bolt can make the next Arcane Missiles free and twice as fast; Arcane Blast has double the chance.

• 
  NewArcane Geometry

  Row 3. More range on Arcane spells.

• 
  ChangedArcane Impact

  Was Improved Arcane Explosion. Now raises critical strike chance on all Arcane spells.

• 
  ChangedArcane Mind

  Raises Intellect instead of maximum mana, and Arcane critical damage. No longer needs Arcane Resilience.

• 
  ChangedImproved Channeling

  Was Improved Arcane Missiles. Also protects Arcane Blast from pushback.

• 
  ChangedArcane Focus

  Redesigned to add hit chance with Arcane spells.

• 
  ChangedArcane Resilience

  Moved to row 2, no longer a milestone talent, 2 points for the same effect.

• 
  ChangedArcane Meditation

  More mana regeneration while casting; now requires Arcane Concentration.

• 
  ChangedArcane Shielding

  Was Improved Mana Shield. Bigger Mana Shield discount, and it boosts Mage Armor resistances.

• 
  ChangedImproved Counterspell

  One point now always applies a shorter Silence instead of a 50% chance.

• 
  ChangedArcane Power and Arcane Instability

  Arcane Power now requires Presence of Mind; Arcane Instability no longer does.

• 
  ChangedWand Specialization

  Same benefit for 2 points.

• 
  ChangedMagic Absorption and Arcane Concentration

  Magic Absorption gets a 1-second cooldown; Arcane Concentration triggers less from low-rank spells.

Baseline changes — every Mage

These apply to Arcane too, regardless of where talent points go.

• 
  NewComprehension

  A Mage-only minor tradeskill. Comprehend Scroll lets you read and decipher scrolls dropped by creatures.

• 
  NewFrostfire Bolt

  Learned at level 40. A 3-second Fire and Frost hybrid that adds damage over time and a slow, using your better school bonus and the target’s lower resistance.

• 
  ChangedCone of Cold

  Shorter duration, to cut kiting-based farming and boosting.

• 
  ChangedMage Armor

  Larger mana regeneration bonus from Spirit.

• 
  ChangedMagic Attunement

  Now baseline instead of an Arcane talent.