Frost Mage
PvE guide, updated for Patch 12.1.5
DPS Rotation & Cooldowns
How to play Frost Mage in each rotation style: the full rotation SimulationCraft sims play by default, and the game’s Assisted Highlight and One Button rotations beside it.
Rotation style comparison
How Frost Mage’s DPS compares when using the game’s assisted modes instead of the full rotation, based on Single Target simulations.
- Full rotationBaseline
- Assisted Highlight-3.0%
- One Button-20.9%
The full rotation is the one SimulationCraft’s sims play by default. Its priority list is SimC’s own for the spec, read here for one build and one kind of fight.
Rotation
Beta10 abilities- 1Racial ability
- 2Flurry
- 3Frozen OrbWhen ready
- 4Ray of Frost
- 5Comet StormWhen ready
- 6Ice LanceWhen ready
- 7Glacial SpikeWhen ready
- 8Blizzard
- 9FrostboltWhen ready
- 10Any Blink
Every step also needs the ability off cooldown and affordable. Range checks are left out. A blank Targets cell means any number of targets.
Before the pull
Things to do before entering combat.
- 1Arcane IntellectWhen ready
- 2Summon Water ElementalWhen ready
- 3BlizzardSimC active_enemies>=(7-2*talent.freezing_winds-2*talent.freezing_rain)
- 4Glacial SpikeWhen ready
- 5FrostboltWhen ready
Cooldowns
When each cooldown was used across the sample fight, so you can see how often each comes back and which ones line up.
Sample opener
One simulated fight from the start, played by this list on the profile in the Gear section with the guide’s Single target build, whichever build the list above is read for. Procs and timing change the order from fight to fight, so use it to get a feel for the start rather than as a script.
The full priority list
simc@de11f57Everything above is read from this SimulationCraft list, including the steps the page hides (the potion and on-use items) and the branches your build and fight leave out.
# This default action priority list is automatically created based on your character. # It is a attempt to provide you with a action list that is both simple and practicable, # while resulting in a meaningful and good simulation. It may not result in the absolutely highest possible dps. # Feel free to edit, adapt and improve it to your own needs. # SimulationCraft is always looking for updates and improvements to the default action lists. # Executed before combat begins. Accepts non-harmful actions only. actions.precombat=arcane_intellect actions.precombat+=/snapshot_stats actions.precombat+=/summon_water_elemental # Blizzard is only used as a precast when it is also hardcasted in the regular rotation at the given number of enemies. actions.precombat+=/blizzard,if=talent.frostfire_bolt&active_enemies>=(8-3*talent.freezing_winds-2*talent.freezing_rain)|!talent.frostfire_bolt&active_enemies>=(7-2*talent.freezing_winds-2*talent.freezing_rain) actions.precombat+=/glacial_spike actions.precombat+=/frostbolt # Executed every time the actor is available. actions=call_action_list,name=cds actions+=/run_action_list,name=frostfire,if=talent.frostfire_bolt actions+=/run_action_list,name=spellslinger # Frostfire uses potions, items and racials after Frozen Orb, Comet Storm or Glacial Spike, or together with Ray of Frost. actions.cds=variable,name=ff_trinket_timing,value=talent.frostfire_bolt&(fight_remains<15|prev_gcd.1.frozen_orb|prev_gcd.1.comet_storm|prev_gcd.1.glacial_spike|cooldown.ray_of_frost.charges>=1&debuff.freezing.react<12&buff.fingers_of_frost.react<2&buff.icicles.react<5&(!buff.frostfire_empowerment.react|active_enemies<=2)&(!buff.brain_freeze.react|buff.thermal_void.up)) # Spellslinger uses potions, items and racials after Frozen Orb or together with Ray of Frost. actions.cds+=/variable,name=ss_trinket_timing,value=!talent.frostfire_bolt&(fight_remains<15|prev_gcd.1.frozen_orb|time>1.5&cooldown.ray_of_frost.charges>=1&debuff.freezing.react<6&!buff.fingers_of_frost.react&buff.icicles.react<=3&(!buff.brain_freeze.react|buff.thermal_void.up)) # Externals. actions.cds+=/invoke_external_buff,name=power_infusion,if=buff.power_infusion.down&(variable.ff_trinket_timing|variable.ss_trinket_timing) # Racials. actions.cds+=/blood_fury,if=variable.ff_trinket_timing|variable.ss_trinket_timing actions.cds+=/berserking,if=variable.ff_trinket_timing|variable.ss_trinket_timing actions.cds+=/fireblood,if=variable.ff_trinket_timing|variable.ss_trinket_timing actions.cds+=/ancestral_call,if=variable.ff_trinket_timing|variable.ss_trinket_timing # Flat-damage on-use trinkets are used immediately, after Potion of Recklessness on combat start. actions.cds+=/use_item,name=font_of_venomous_rage,if=cooldown.potion.remains|!potion.potion_of_recklessness actions.cds+=/use_item,name=vexhuls_everflowing_gland,if=cooldown.potion.remains|!potion.potion_of_recklessness # Haste trinkets are used after using potion (of recklessness). Crit trinkets are used before using potion. Mastery trinkets are used after using potion if Crit is your highest secondary stat, and before otherwise. actions.cds+=/use_item,name=nevermelting_ice_crystal,if=variable.ff_trinket_timing|variable.ss_trinket_timing actions.cds+=/use_item,name=freightrunners_flask,if=variable.ff_trinket_timing|variable.ss_trinket_timing actions.cds+=/use_item,name=vaelgors_final_stare,if=(variable.ff_trinket_timing|variable.ss_trinket_timing)&(stat.haste_rating>stat.crit_rating|stat.versatility_rating>stat.crit_rating) actions.cds+=/potion,if=variable.ff_trinket_timing|variable.ss_trinket_timing|(trinket.font_of_venomous_rage.cooldown.ready|trinket.vexhuls_everflowing_gland.cooldown.ready)&potion.potion_of_recklessness|fight_remains<35 actions.cds+=/use_item,name=vaelgors_final_stare,if=variable.ff_trinket_timing|variable.ss_trinket_timing actions.cds+=/use_item,name=vile_vial_of_volatile_venom,if=variable.ff_trinket_timing|variable.ss_trinket_timing actions.cds+=/use_items actions.cds+=/use_item,name=hex_lords_dooming_idol,if=variable.ff_trinket_timing|variable.ss_trinket_timing # Frostfire Opener: precast Frostfire Bolt/Blizzard --> Ray of Frost --> Flurry --> Frozen Orb. actions.cds+=/ray_of_frost,if=talent.frostfire_bolt,interrupt_if=!talent.hand_of_frost_4&active_enemies>=2&tick_time>gcd.remains&(!talent.crystalline_refraction|talent.crystalline_refraction&buff.fingers_of_frost.react=2),interrupt_global=1,interrupt_immediate=1,line_cd=9999 actions.cds+=/flurry,if=talent.frostfire_bolt&talent.wintertide,line_cd=9999 actions.cds+=/frozen_orb,if=talent.frostfire_bolt,line_cd=9999 # Spellslinger Opener: precast Frostbolt/Blizzard --> Flurry --> Frozen Orb --> Ray of Frost. actions.cds+=/flurry,if=!talent.frostfire_bolt&talent.wintertide,line_cd=9999 actions.cds+=/frozen_orb,if=!talent.frostfire_bolt,line_cd=9999 actions.cds+=/ray_of_frost,if=!talent.frostfire_bolt,line_cd=9999 # End-Of-Fight actions and overcap protection. actions.cds+=/ray_of_frost,if=fight_remains<12|charges=2,interrupt_if=talent.frostfire_bolt&!talent.hand_of_frost_4&active_enemies>=2&tick_time>gcd.remains&(!talent.crystalline_refraction|talent.crystalline_refraction&buff.fingers_of_frost.react=2),interrupt_global=1,interrupt_immediate=1 actions.cds+=/comet_storm,if=fight_remains<8 # These Glacial Spike conditions prevent super-human behaviour. Chaincasting 4p proccs as GS --> X --> GS --> X is reasonable, as long as the cast time/gcd of X is longer than 1 second. actions.frostfire=glacial_spike,if=buff.glacial_spike.react|time-buff.rapid_refreezing.last_trigger<1.5 # In AoE, Comet Storm can quickly refill Icicles through the 2pc bonus. Cast it second-to-last after Glacial Spike, allowing time to react to a 4pc proc first. actions.frostfire+=/comet_storm,if=active_enemies<=2|prev_gcd.2.glacial_spike&(time-buff.rapid_refreezing.last_trigger>1.5|!set_bonus.midnight_season_2_4pc) actions.frostfire+=/flurry,if=buff.brain_freeze.react&buff.thermal_void.down actions.frostfire+=/ice_lance,if=buff.fingers_of_frost.react=2 # Without the final Apex Talent, Ray of Frost is cast at higher priority. Against 2+ targets, cancel Ray of Frost on your next gcd. With Crystalline Refraction, wait until 2 Fingers of Frost before cancelling it. actions.frostfire+=/ray_of_frost,if=!talent.hand_of_frost_4,interrupt_if=active_enemies>=2&tick_time>gcd.remains&(!talent.crystalline_refraction|talent.crystalline_refraction&buff.fingers_of_frost.react=2),interrupt_global=1,interrupt_immediate=1 actions.frostfire+=/frozen_orb actions.frostfire+=/blizzard,if=active_enemies>=(8-3*talent.freezing_winds-2*talent.freezing_rain)|active_enemies>=3&buff.freezing_rain.up # Single Finger of Frost procs are held unless Thermal Void is active. They may still get spent passively when the enemy has 12+ stacks of Freezing. actions.frostfire+=/ice_lance,if=buff.fingers_of_frost.react&buff.thermal_void.up actions.frostfire+=/ice_lance,if=debuff.freezing.stack>=12 actions.frostfire+=/flurry,if=cooldown_react actions.frostfire+=/ice_nova,if=active_enemies>=5&talent.cone_of_frost&!buff.frostfire_empowerment.react&cooldown.ray_of_frost.charges>=1 actions.frostfire+=/cone_of_cold,if=active_enemies>=5&talent.cone_of_frost&!buff.frostfire_empowerment.react&cooldown.ray_of_frost.charges>=1 # With the final Apex Talent, spend Frostfire Empowerment in AoE before casting Ray of Frost. This builds Freezing stacks before the following Comet Storm. actions.frostfire+=/ray_of_frost,if=active_enemies<=2|!buff.frostfire_empowerment.react actions.frostfire+=/glacial_spike actions.frostfire+=/frostbolt actions.frostfire+=/call_action_list,name=movement actions.movement=any_blink,if=movement.distance>5 actions.movement+=/blizzard,if=buff.freezing_rain.up actions.movement+=/ice_nova,if=talent.cone_of_frost actions.movement+=/cone_of_cold,if=talent.cone_of_frost actions.movement+=/ice_lance actions.spellslinger=comet_storm actions.spellslinger+=/flurry,if=buff.brain_freeze.react&buff.thermal_void.down actions.spellslinger+=/ice_lance,if=buff.fingers_of_frost.react=2 actions.spellslinger+=/frozen_orb # These Glacial Spike conditions prevent super-human behaviour. Chaincasting 4p proccs as GS --> X --> GS --> X is reasonable, as long as the cast time/gcd of X is longer than 1 second. actions.spellslinger+=/glacial_spike,if=buff.glacial_spike.react|time-buff.rapid_refreezing.last_trigger<1.5 actions.spellslinger+=/blizzard,if=active_enemies>=(5-2*talent.freezing_winds)&buff.freezing_rain.up actions.spellslinger+=/ice_lance,if=buff.fingers_of_frost.react actions.spellslinger+=/ice_lance,if=debuff.freezing.react>=6 # This Ray of Frost optimization improves ressource overflow slightly. It is neutral in AoE. actions.spellslinger+=/ray_of_frost,if=buff.icicles.react<=3|active_enemies>=3 actions.spellslinger+=/flurry,if=cooldown_react actions.spellslinger+=/ice_nova,if=active_enemies>=4&talent.cone_of_frost actions.spellslinger+=/cone_of_cold,if=active_enemies>=4&talent.cone_of_frost actions.spellslinger+=/blizzard,if=active_enemies>=(7-2*talent.freezing_winds-2*talent.freezing_rain) actions.spellslinger+=/glacial_spike actions.spellslinger+=/frostbolt actions.spellslinger+=/call_action_list,name=movement
Is this rotation built for your talents?
The rotation follows your talent build. Sim your highest-DPS build on your own gear, for the mode and rotation style you play.