In short
- Frost keeps its control and gains a way to turn it into damage with Ice Lance (11-point milestone) and Fingers of Frost (row 5).
- Ice Block becomes the 16-point milestone and Cold Snap the 21-point one, with a 10-minute cooldown.
- Improved Blizzard and Cone of Cold slow less or for less time, to curb mass farming.
Identity
Frost keeps its strength in control: according to Blizzard, it offers combat control no other class matches, and it gains new interactions that connect it with the rest of the class. Official: Published by Blizzard in a source we have read.
Milestone talents
- 11 pointsIce LanceOfficial: Published by Blizzard in a source we have read.Source:Blizzard EntertainmentBlizzard Entertainment: World of Warcraft: Forever Class Deep Dives — Mage & Shaman (opens in a new tab)
- 16 pointsIce BlockOfficial: Published by Blizzard in a source we have read.Source:Blizzard EntertainmentBlizzard Entertainment: World of Warcraft: Forever Class Deep Dives — Mage & Shaman (opens in a new tab)
- 21 pointsCold SnapOfficial: Published by Blizzard in a source we have read.Source:Blizzard EntertainmentBlizzard Entertainment: World of Warcraft: Forever Class Deep Dives — Mage & Shaman (opens in a new tab)
- 31 pointsIce BarrierClassic reference: This is how it works in WoW Classic. Forever has not announced a change; not yet checked in game.
Tier 7 in Classic and requires Ice Block. Since Ice Block moves rows in Forever, the prerequisite may change.
Source:Warcraft WikiWarcraft Wiki: Ice Barrier (opens in a new tab)
Changed talents
Elemental Precision
Now increases your chance to hit with Fire and Frost spells instead of reducing the target's chance to resist them.
Permafrost
Increases Chill durations by 11/22/33% instead of a flat 1/2/3 s, so it no longer over-extends Improved Blizzard.
Frost Channeling
Moved from row 4 to row 3.
Ice Lance
New 11-point milestone talent. Instant cast with low damage, increased by 300% against Frozen targets (or targets treated as Frozen by Fingers of Frost).
What it means
- Analysis: Our reading of official mechanics. Not tested in game.Only worth it on a Frozen target: after Frost Nova or with Fingers of Frost charges. Otherwise it is a movement filler.
Improved Blizzard
Slows less: the maximum goes from 65% to 40%.
- According to Blizzard, it reduces the power of Frost Mage AoE farming, which was used for fast gold and experience and disrupted the economy.
What it means
- Analysis: Our reading of official mechanics. Not tested in game.Together with Cone of Cold, it weakens the classic kite-and-farm AoE grinding.
Ice Block
Moved from row 5 to row 4 and is now the 16-point milestone talent.
Shatter
No longer requires Improved Frost Nova.
Cold Snap
Moved from row 3 to row 5, becomes the 21-point milestone talent, and its cooldown rises from 5 to 10 minutes.
Fingers of Frost
New row 5 talent. Your Chill effects have a chance to grant 1/2 charges of Fingers of Frost. Each charge makes your spells treat the target as if it were Frozen.
- The official text calls it “Pre-requisite of Ice Lance”. Since Ice Lance is an 11-point milestone (row 3), Fingers of Frost most likely requires Ice Lance rather than the reverse. Awaiting confirmation.
What it means
- Analysis: Our reading of official mechanics. Not tested in game.This is what makes Ice Lance playable outside Frost Nova: apply Chill with Frostbolt and spend charges on Ice Lance.
Winter's Chill
Only benefits the casting Mage, and its critical strike chance increase now applies only to Frostbolt and Ice Lance.
- Its application no longer rolls a separate resist: the original spell hitting is enough (1 October build).
How the pieces fit
- Freeze to shatter. Ice Lance deals 300% more against Frozen targets. Frost Nova freezes; Fingers of Frost makes your spells treat the target as Frozen. Official: Published by Blizzard in a source we have read.
- Frostbolt is the engine. Fingers of Frost triggers from your Chill effects, and Frostbolt slows. Casting Frostbolt builds the charges you then spend on Ice Lance. Analysis: Our reading of official mechanics. Not tested in game.
- Careful with downranking. Blizzard’s own example is Frost: Rank 1 Frostbolt at level 60 has a 0% chance to trigger Frostbite. Low ranks slow cheaply, but they do not trigger your talents. Official: Published by Blizzard in a source we have read.
- Winter’s Chill, just for you. It now only benefits the Mage who applies it, only for Frostbolt and Ice Lance, and it can no longer be resisted separately. Official: Published by Blizzard in a source we have read.
- Earlier defences, pricier Cold Snap. Ice Block is now the 16-point milestone; Cold Snap needs 21 points and its cooldown rises to 10 minutes. Official: Published by Blizzard in a source we have read.
- Easier Shatter. It no longer requires Improved Frost Nova, which frees points. Official: Published by Blizzard in a source we have read.
Still unknown
Not documented yet
- Why it is missing
- There are no values for Ice Lance base damage or the Fingers of Frost chance, and the prerequisite between Ice Lance and Fingers of Frost is worded ambiguously in the official source.
- What we will do
- We will check the prerequisite in game and measure how many Fingers of Frost charges an average Frostbolt produces.