09-17-2005, 10:51 PM
I've tried a couple of various arcane/frost builds, and this is the one I'm currently using. It's focused on MC/Onyxia, but seem to be viable in Zul'Gurub and BWL too. I'll comment based on MC-usefulness only, even though many talents have other qualities for other situations.
Arcane: (28 points)
Improved Arcane Missiles (5/5)
Useful for surgers and other flighty opponents, due to the extending range once you have started the fiering sequence.
Arcane Concentration (5/5)
More mana. Gotta love it.
Improved Arcane Explosion (5/5)
Not essential for MC, since blizzard can cover most of it's uses. My mage has a lot of HP however, so I like to use AE on the imp encounters, to guarantee that I get aggro over other casters once the warrior shout wears off. With good shielding and healing, and Ice Block if needed, we usually take down imp groups without any deaths.
Evocation (5/5)
With the mana efficiency of a frost build, a single evocation can earn you another couple of minutes of constant fiering. Especially if you combine it with mana stones and potions.
Improved Counterspell (2/2)
Completly useless in MC, since all spellcasting mobs are immune to the silencing effect. I just can't live without it for other reasons. :)
Arcane Meditation (2/5)
Slightly dubious, I know, since I'm not sure if this talent is still bugged with or without Mage Armor. No other talent in the tree would make a big difference with my current playstyle though, so I'm keeping these points here.
Prescense of Mind (1/1)
As pointed out earlier, mostly useful in the Majordomo encounter. Especially if you're unlucky and your sheep pops with the magic reflection shield still active. I usually blink away, wait for him to get close, ice block. Then I release the Ice Block before he gets to the healers and PoM-Sheep.
Arcane Mind (4/4)
Mana. That's what I eat to make magic.
Arcane Instability (3/3)
More damage, simple as that.
Frost: (23 points)
Improved Frostbolt (5/5)
My main damage dealer, so this is a no-brainer.
Ice Shards (5/5)
Damage. Mmmmmmdamage.
Piercing Ice (3/3)
See the previous comment.
Cold Snap (1/1)
98% of the time used to quicken up the cooldown on Ice Block. I occationally use it to save healers from runaway Imps with a second Frost Nova.
Improved Blizzard (1/3)
Just a place to dump a leftover point. Our melee usually handle the spawns from the Fire Lords, so we don't even use Blizzard against them. (unless we accidentily pull 2 Firelords at once) I use AE and Cone of Cold for the Core Hound Packs.
Arctic Reach (2/2)
Priceless. Allows you to stay out of Magmadar's fear range and the AoE damage/debuffs from the Lava Packs. Makes your positioning in most fights more flexible.
Frost Channeling (3/3)
I've tried frost builds both with and without this talent, and the difference is huge. With my mana regen equipment on, I can go through the more lenghty fights without getting into mana trouble due to this talent.
Ice Block (1/1)
Survivability's #1. Well, #2 if you count the paladin bubble. :D
Save yourself from damage, save yourself from aggro. Remove Geddon's bomb or Azuregos' Mark of Frost or Lord Kazzak's Twisted Reflection. HALO jump into the Un'Goro crater and Ice Block 10 inches from the ground. The possibilities are endless. :lol:
Improved Cone of Cold (2/3)
Admittedly not very useful for MC, but a nice dps boost against Core Hound Packs, Imps and Onyxia's whelp groups.
I've honestly never had Ice Barrier, but I can't afford the 50g for a respec atm to fill out that blank. :P Can imagine it easing up a bit on the healers' mana (or your bandage usage) though.
Arcane: (28 points)
Improved Arcane Missiles (5/5)
Useful for surgers and other flighty opponents, due to the extending range once you have started the fiering sequence.
Arcane Concentration (5/5)
More mana. Gotta love it.
Improved Arcane Explosion (5/5)
Not essential for MC, since blizzard can cover most of it's uses. My mage has a lot of HP however, so I like to use AE on the imp encounters, to guarantee that I get aggro over other casters once the warrior shout wears off. With good shielding and healing, and Ice Block if needed, we usually take down imp groups without any deaths.
Evocation (5/5)
With the mana efficiency of a frost build, a single evocation can earn you another couple of minutes of constant fiering. Especially if you combine it with mana stones and potions.
Improved Counterspell (2/2)
Completly useless in MC, since all spellcasting mobs are immune to the silencing effect. I just can't live without it for other reasons. :)
Arcane Meditation (2/5)
Slightly dubious, I know, since I'm not sure if this talent is still bugged with or without Mage Armor. No other talent in the tree would make a big difference with my current playstyle though, so I'm keeping these points here.
Prescense of Mind (1/1)
As pointed out earlier, mostly useful in the Majordomo encounter. Especially if you're unlucky and your sheep pops with the magic reflection shield still active. I usually blink away, wait for him to get close, ice block. Then I release the Ice Block before he gets to the healers and PoM-Sheep.
Arcane Mind (4/4)
Mana. That's what I eat to make magic.
Arcane Instability (3/3)
More damage, simple as that.
Frost: (23 points)
Improved Frostbolt (5/5)
My main damage dealer, so this is a no-brainer.
Ice Shards (5/5)
Damage. Mmmmmmdamage.
Piercing Ice (3/3)
See the previous comment.
Cold Snap (1/1)
98% of the time used to quicken up the cooldown on Ice Block. I occationally use it to save healers from runaway Imps with a second Frost Nova.
Improved Blizzard (1/3)
Just a place to dump a leftover point. Our melee usually handle the spawns from the Fire Lords, so we don't even use Blizzard against them. (unless we accidentily pull 2 Firelords at once) I use AE and Cone of Cold for the Core Hound Packs.
Arctic Reach (2/2)
Priceless. Allows you to stay out of Magmadar's fear range and the AoE damage/debuffs from the Lava Packs. Makes your positioning in most fights more flexible.
Frost Channeling (3/3)
I've tried frost builds both with and without this talent, and the difference is huge. With my mana regen equipment on, I can go through the more lenghty fights without getting into mana trouble due to this talent.
Ice Block (1/1)
Survivability's #1. Well, #2 if you count the paladin bubble. :D
Save yourself from damage, save yourself from aggro. Remove Geddon's bomb or Azuregos' Mark of Frost or Lord Kazzak's Twisted Reflection. HALO jump into the Un'Goro crater and Ice Block 10 inches from the ground. The possibilities are endless. :lol:
Improved Cone of Cold (2/3)
Admittedly not very useful for MC, but a nice dps boost against Core Hound Packs, Imps and Onyxia's whelp groups.
I've honestly never had Ice Barrier, but I can't afford the 50g for a respec atm to fill out that blank. :P Can imagine it easing up a bit on the healers' mana (or your bandage usage) though.