Mage and Shaman class deep dives detail new baselines

Mages learn Frostfire Bolt at level 40, a 3 second cast that counts as both Fire and Frost: it hits hard up front like Fireball, then leaves a debuff that deals damage over time and slows movement. Comprehension, a minor tradeskill only Mages have, lets them decipher scrolls looted from creatures. Arcane Blast returns as an 11-point gold medal talent, a 2.5 second cast whose stacks, up to 4, raise the damage of the Mage’s other spells and its own Mana cost until another spell is cast or 8 seconds pass.

For Shaman, a totem now costs 1.0 second of global cooldown instead of 1.5, totems that give a lasting buff stay up 5 minutes instead of 2, and a new tracker shows each active totem’s remaining time. The four weapon imbues — Frostbrand, Flametongue, Rockbiter and Windfury Weapon — last 60 minutes instead of 5 and no longer clash with temporary weapon enchantments such as Sharpening Stones. Fire Nova is now a spell that erupts at the Shaman’s current Fire Totem, replacing Fire Nova Totem. Elemental’s new 31-point talent, Lava Burst, is a 2.5 second Fire cast on a 10 second cooldown that deals 20% more to a target with the Shaman’s own Flame Shock. Elemental loses its Elemental Mastery talent, which Blizzard says kept the spec’s damage from being raised to the right level in PvE without making it much too strong in PvP. Restoration loses its Nature’s Guidance talent.

Why it matters: Mages get a spell that rewards mixing Fire and Frost talents, and Shaman totems finally show their own clock.