Deep Arcane

Mage · Levelling 10–60Arcane

36/11/13 flex points (levels 58–60)

Go deeper and deeper into Arcane: probably the most damage while levelling. Arcane Blast stacks boost everything, Arcane Wrath finishes, Missile Barrage gives free Missiles. Mana is much less of an issue now.

Spirit stacking
Arcane Blast stacks
Crit

Arcane (36)

Deep Arcane - Prepull

Pick order

1Improved ChannelingArcane★lvl 10–14 5/5
Going Arcane: get it immediately.
2Missile BarrageArcane★lvl 15–16 2/2
Free, faster Arcane Missiles: 2 points in any build.
3Arcane FocusArcanelvl 17–18 2/5
2% hit: enough for mobs of your level. Try 1 point first.
4Elemental PrecisionFrostlvl 19 1/3
2% hit for Fire and Frost spells with one point.
5Arcane ConcentrationArcanelvl 20–24 5/5
Clearcasting: use it on your highest-stacked Arcane Blast.
6Arcane BlastArcane★lvl 25 1/1
Stacks raise your spell power: weave it in.
Around level 26–27: respec here if you started another tree. Start stacking Spirit.
7Arcane MeditationArcane★lvl 26–28 3/3
50% mana regen while casting: with Spirit, the build becomes overpowered.
8Arcane WrathArcane★lvl 29 1/1
Big hit: cast it after the Frost Nova, as a finisher.
9Arcane GeometryArcanelvl 30–31 2/2
Range: kill mobs before they reach you; open with Arcane Blast.
10Arcane MindArcane★lvl 32–36 5/5
Massive crit damage bonus: start stacking some crit.
11Arcane ImpactArcanelvl 37–39 3/3
The most crit for the points.
12Arcane InstabilityArcanelvl 40–42 3/3
Another 3% crit, 15–20% crit while levelling.
13Presence of MindArcanelvl 43 1/1
Leads to Arcane Power.
14Arcane PowerArcane★lvl 44 1/1
Use it whenever it's up, AoE included.
Level 40–60: Arcane is done; finish with the utility you like.
15Arcane ResilienceArcanelvl 45–46 2/2
Armor from Intellect: 10–20% less damage. Recommended on a PvP server.
16Improved Fire BlastFirelvl 47–48 2/2
More Fire Blast range: an instant you always use.
17IncinerationFirefillerlvl 49–51 3/3
More Fire Blast crit; opens row 2.
18ImpactFirelvl 52–54 3/3
Chance to stun with Fire Blast.
19Flame ThrowingFirefillerlvl 55–56 2/2
Opens Pyroblast.
20PyroblastFirelvl 57 1/1
The end-game spec will likely use Pyroblast and Heating Up.

3 flex points (levels 58–60)

Alternatives

Frost Channeling the Frost AoE farming spec: just don't take Frostbite, it freezes mobs out of your Blizzard
Heating Up with Pyroblast, probably part of the level-60 spec

Avoid

Frostbite for AoE farming: frozen mobs escape your Blizzard

Tips

Pull with Arcane Blast (range) or Frostbolt/Frost Blast for the slow; build a few Arcane Blast stacks, Frost Nova, step back, Arcane Wrath, then Missiles with the Barrage proc.
Mana-saving rotation: Frostbolt and Arcane Missiles, wand when low.
AoE: build Arcane Blast stacks first, clump the mobs, Frost Nova, Flamestrike, spam Arcane Explosion.
Spirit stacking + 50% regen while casting (Arcane Meditation) means you barely ever drink; Mage Armor at 34 adds the same again.
When you do drink with high Spirit, 5–10 sec is enough: shorter downtime.
Hit: 1 point of Elemental Precision (2%) and 2 of Arcane Focus (2%) cover mobs of your level.
Polymorph breaks on your Fireball: use it as an interrupt on healers before you have Counterspell.
Keep your wand upgraded (MP5 or spell power); weapon oils are cheap and last through death.
Don't buy water: save gold for the level-40 mount, mages have no speed boost before it.

Links

Metal Goblin · English by Metal Goblin Talent trees, icon names and effects: talentsforever.com (CC BY 4.0)

Deep Arcane

Arcane (36)

Deep Arcane

Arcane (36)

Fire (11)

Frost (1)

Pick order