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Arcane Brilliance: Gears of war, part 2

Amanda Rivera
Updated ·7 min read


Last week's Arcane Brilliance looked at some of the shiny mage items available out in Azeroth for low level mages. We're continuing our look at the clothes at that make the mage this week, with the level 20 to 40 range.

At this point you've gotten into your own identity as a mage, started defining yourself as frost, pyro, or arcane. Still, the gear in this bracket is mostly defined by general spell damage, which means that for the most part you can get items that will work for any type of play style or spec.

At least once in the comments last week I ran across the argument that one shouldn't gear up a low level mage, but I have to disagree with that notion. Yes, you are leveling up your character, no you shouldn't need to go buy gear. But the items you choose to wear go a long way toward determining how fast you will level. When you do more damage, you kill mobs quicker, you die less, you get more experience. You level faster. Gear helps you be a better mage, even at the beginning of the game.

Levels 21-30:

  1. Smoldering Pants: BOE, 35 armor, +13 fire dmg, level 21. An extremely rare drop off the Crimson Whelps in Wetlands. Look for it to sell on the AH for about 95 silver.

  2. Kam's Walking Stick: BOE, 18.4 DPS, +3 agi, +8 int, level 22. Another very rare drop, this staff comes off Kam Deepfury in The Stockades. After Patch 2.3 this item will have its Agility replaced by +12 spell damage. No word if the drop rate will be increased once the staff becomes one of the best of its level for damage casters.

  3. Feline Mantle: BOP, 32 armor, +2 agi, +10 int, +3 spi, level 23. A shoulder piece that drops about half of the time from Wolf Master Nandos in Shadowfang Keep. This item's Agility will be replaced by a bonus to spell damage and healing in Patch 2.3.

  4. Azure Silk Pants: BOE, 32 armor, +6 int, +10 frost dmg, level 23. Great items for Frost mages, the Azure silk set is tailor-crafted. Also available are a pair of gloves at level 24, a vest at level 25, and a cloak at level 30. There are other items of the same name, the belt and the hood, but neither give bonuses to spell damage.

  5. Acidic Walkers: BOP, 34 armor, +8 int, +4 spi, +5 nature resist, +5 spell dmg and healing, level 27. These boots drop about half the time off the Vicious Fallout in Gnomeregan. Although the mini-boss is a side trip for most Gnomer groups, he also drops the Hydrocane, a great item for underwater questing, so I recommend that you take the time to fight him.

  6. Nether-lace Robe/Astral Knot Robe: BOP, 44 armor +6 sta, +6 int, +6 spi, level 26. These robes are quest rewards from a mage quest you begin at level 26. The quest chain begins at your mage trainer.

  7. Bat Wing Mantle: BOP 37 armor, +3 agi, +10 int, +5 spi, level 27. A slight upgrade to the Feline Mantle, this drops about a fourth of the time from Blind Hunter in Razorfen Kraul, and is a good alternative for those that don't like to run Shadowfang Keep. Its Agility will also be replaced by spell damage and healing in Patch 2.3.

  8. Blighted Leggings: BOP 45 armor, +17 spi, +10 shadow dmg. This item drops from Azshir the Sleepless, a rare elite in the Scarlet Monastery Graveyard who also drops a good neck piece. What makes it a good mage item? After patch 2.3 it's stats will change to +5 sta, +20 spell damage and healing.

  9. Bloodmage Mantle: BOP 35 armor, +8 int, +4 spi, level 30. You'll find this shoulder piece drops about half the time from Bloodmage Thalnos in Scarlet Monestary. After Patch 2.3 it will also increase spell crit by 10.

  10. Robe of Power: BOP, 55 armor, +12 int, +8 spi, +14 spell dmg and healing, level 33. Tailor-crafted, the robe of power is one of the first rewards a mage will get for picking up tailoring early. It binds as soon as you make it, and is definitely worth the time you will spend collecting mats.

Levels 31-40:

  1. Icefury/Nether Force/Ragefire Wands: BOP, 37.3 DPS, +3 int, +9 to either frost, arcane or fire dmg, level 30. These wands are a quest reward from a mage quest chain that begins with Tabetha in Dustwallow Marsh. Although you can begin the chain at level 30, it takes you into Arathi Highlands where you will have to face level 39 elites, so you might need to wait a few levels before you complete it, and even then I suggest going with a group.

  2. Hypnotic Blade: BOP, 26.8 DPS, +8 int, +3 spi, +9 spell dmg and healing, level 34. Many players will prefer the Illusionary Rod, and indeed both are good weapons dropping from Arcanist Doan in Scarlet Monastery. I prefer the dagger for two reasons: one, spell damage is more important than spell crit, and two a one-handed item allows you to get additional stats from an off-hand. But again, to each his own.

  3. Robe of Doan: BOE 50 armor, +5 sta, +13 spi, level 33. Drops about half the time from Arcanist Doan in Scarlet Monastery. After Patch 2.3 this will be a great mage robe, as it will have an additional +13 spell damage and healing. Pair this with the shoulder piece he drops for some extra post 2.3 damage fun.

  4. Plaguerot Sprig: BOP 37.2 DPS, +7 shadow resist, level 35. This mage-only wand drops a third of the time off Plaguemaw the Rotting in Razorfen Downs. After Patch 2.3, its shadow resist will be replaced by +8 to spell damage and healing.

  5. Stoneweaver Leggings: BOP, 51 armor, +9 sta, +8 int, +15 spi, level 35. These pants drop about a fourth of the time from my favorite boss in the game, Ironaya in Uldaman. After Patch 2.3 their Intellect will be replaced with spell damage and healing, so you might consider these more of a priest item, depending on which stats you are looking to work on. Me, I like the spell damage.

  6. Deathmage Sash: BOP, 33 armor, +6 sta, +10 int, level 36. Come on, with a name like that, it has to be worn by a mage. This belt drops fairly rarely from Mordesh Fire Eye in Razorfen Downs. Along with other items in this bracket, this one will be upgraded with Patch 2.3 to include +12 spell damage and healing.

  7. Glowing Eye of Mordesh: BOP, +5 int, +5 spi, level 36. This neck piece in conjunction with the Deathmage Sash and Plaguerot Sprig should be all the convincing you need to run Razorfen Downs for mage gear. It drops about a third of the time from Mordesh Fire Eye, and is another item that will be upgraded with the patch. In this case it will receive +11 spell crit and +6 spell damage and healing. Mordesh also drops an off-hand item that will add +13 to your spell damage.

  8. Robes of the Lich: BOP, 65 armor, +20 sta, +10 int, level 39. This robe drops of Amnennar the Coldbringer in Razorfen Downs about a third of the time. With the addition of Patch 2.3 into the game, this item will have a little of its Stamina reduced in exchange for +14 spell crit.

  9. Inferno Robe: BOP 53 armor, +23 fire dmg. This pyro-mages dream is a quest reward from the WANTED: Baron Vardus Horde quest. The quest can be picked up in Tarren Mill from a wanted poster, and is best done around level 40 with a group.

Once again, I'll let you know this is simply a selection of the items out there for mages between levels 20 and 40. The changes coming with Patch 2.3 will make a lot of these good items great, and certainly our treks into the marsh to speak to Tabitha will be greatly improved once they add the road to her hut. Check in next week when we will finish out our pre-Outlands gear lists, working from level 40 to 60. Until then, may all your days be enchanted.