Frost Mage DPS Artifact Talents/Traits and Relics (Legion 7.2.5)

Table of Contents

• +Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. Patch 7.2.5 Changes
  • 3. Patch 7.2 Changes
  • 4. Strengths
  • 5. Weaknesses
  • 6. Viability in the Current Patch
  • 7. Contents
  • 8. ChangeLog
• +Easy Mode
  • 1. The Basics
  • 2. Talent Choice
  • 3. Stat Choice
  • 4. Basic Rotation
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Spell Summary
  • 1. Spell Summary
  • 2. Main Resources
  • 3. Basic Abilities
  • 4. Important Procs
  • 5. DPS Cooldowns
  • 6. ChangeLog
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Talent Choices
  • 2. Talent Cheat Sheets
    • 2.1. Raid Encounters
      • 2.1.1. Heavy Cleave/AOE
    • 2.2. For General Use
  • 3. Tier 1 (Level 15) Talents
  • 4. Tier 2 (Level 30) Talents
  • 5. Tier 3 (Level 45) Talents
  • 6. Tier 4 (Level 60) Talents
  • 7. Tier 5 (Level 75) Talents
  • 8. Tier 6 (Level 90) Talents
  • 9. Tier 7 (Level 100) Talents
  • 10. ChangeLog
• ×Artifact Traits and Relics
  • 1. Artifact Progression — First 35 Points
    • 1.1. Early Point Investment
    • 1.2. Second Golden Trait
    • 1.3. Final Point Investment
  • 2. Patch 7.2: 35+ Trait Path
  • 3. Relic Choice
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities
  • 1. Single Target Rotation
  • 2. Important Notes
    • 2.1. Frost Bomb
    • 2.2. Tier 3 Talents
      • 2.2.1. Rune of Power
      • 2.2.2. Mirror Image
      • 2.2.3. Incanter's Flow
    • 2.3. Water Jet
  • 3. Core Concepts
    • 3.1. Cooldown Overlap and Maximizing Cleave
    • 3.2. Movement Management
    • 3.3. Opening Sequence
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Stat Priority
  • 1. Basics
    • 1.1. Stat Weights
  • 2. Getting a Better Understanding
    • 2.1. Statistics Explanations
    • 2.2. How Exactly Mastery: Icicles Work
      • 2.2.1. Glacial Spike
    • 2.3. Critical Strike Cap
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gems, Enchants, and Consumables
  • 1. Disclaimer
  • 2. Gems
  • 3. Enchants
  • 4. Consumables
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Macros and Addons
  • 1. Addons
    • 1.1. ElvUI
    • 1.2. Weak Auras
    • 1.3. Boss Mods
      • 1.3.1. BigWigs Bossmods
      • 1.3.2. Deadly Boss Mods
    • 1.4. Name Plates
      • 1.4.1. KUI Nameplates
      • 1.4.2. TidyPlates
    • 1.5. Damage Meters
      • 1.5.1. Skada
      • 1.5.2. Details
    • 1.6. Extra AddOns
      • 1.6.1. Mik's Scrolling Battle Text
      • 1.6.2. DeathNote
      • 1.6.3. Doom CooldownPulse
      • 1.6.4. Angry Assignments
  • 2. Macros
    • 2.1. Generic Macros for Mages
      • 2.1.1. Stopcast Blink
      • 2.1.2. 1-Button Block
      • 2.1.3. Block Cancel
    • 2.2. Specific Macros for Frost Mages
      • 2.2.1. Water Elemental: Freeze
      • 2.2.2. Water Elemental: Water jet
      • 2.2.3. Pet Macros
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gear, Legendaries, and Best in Slot
  • 1. Tier 20 Set Bonuses
  • 2. Best in Slot List
  • 3. Evaluating Upgrades Using Stat Weights
  • 4. Racial Bonuses
  • 5. Legendaries
  • 6. Loot Competition
  • 7. ChangeLog

General Information

This page shows you how to level up the Artifact and how to choose the right Relics for your Frost Mages. It is updated for World of Warcraft Legion 7.2.5.

The other pages of our Frost Mage guide can be accessed from the table of contents on the right.

About Our Author and Reviewer

This guide has been written by Furty, who has an illustrious history in the World of Warcraft raiding scene and race for World First. He has been a member of guilds such as Serenity, Midwinter, and many more, and is currently raiding in Future. He plays most classes at the highest level. You can follow him on Twitter and watch him play on Twitch.

This guide has been reviewed and approved by Kuni, one of the best Frost Mages in the world, who raids in Midnight Sanctuary.

1. Artifact Progression — First 35 Points

1.1. Early Point Investment

After acquiring the starting point, Shattering Bolts, take a small foray into the left path and acquire Let It Go, an essential basic trait. Backtrack through The Storm Rages and get Chain Reaction, another power point. Move up into Jouster, which offers some nice damage reduction, and grab your first Golden Trait. It's Cold Outside offers a nice passive damage boost, making it a good place to start.

1.2. Second Golden Trait

Continue upwards into Frozen Veins, an overall potent trait which further enhances the value of crit. Clarity of Thought is next, offering additional chances to cast Flurry. Take a detour to the right and put a point into Icy Hand, an amazing power point which allows for up to 3 charges of Fingers of Frost. Continue upward into Ice Age for some free damage and acquire your second Golden Trait, Chilled to the Core, which is exceptional for burst.

1.3. Final Point Investment

Go down into Icy Caress for some free filler damage. Return to the beginning of the tree, following up the left path, and grab the Ice Nine passive. Shield of Alodi makes for some great defensive utility before snagging your final Golden Trait, Black Ice, which is even more passive damage. Your final trait will be the extra critical damage from Frozen Orb via Orbital Strike.

2. Patch 7.2: 35+ Trait Path

Patch 7.2 has replaced the 35-54 Paragon system with several additional new traits becoming available upon acquisition of the 35th point. All of the previous Relic traits will also unlock a 4th rank, along with a new Paragon system becoming available after all traits have been filled (via Concordance of the Legionfall) which all additional Artifact Power will be spent on.

Detailed below is our suggested maxing order after 35 traits:

1. Frigidity of the Tirisgarde
2. Obsidian Lance
3. Freezing Rain
4. Glacial Eruption
5. Fourth rank of Frozen Veins
6. Fourth rank of Let It Go
7. Fourth rank of Ice Age
8. Fourth rank of Clarity of Thought
9. Fourth rank of Icy Caress
10. Fourth rank of The Storm Rages
11. Fourth rank of Orbital Strike
12. Fourth rank of Jouster
13. Fourth rank of Shield of Alodi
14. Concordance of the Legionfall

3. Relic Choice

1. Let It Go is overall the best/most versatile Relic
2. Frozen Veins ranks for the Icy Veins CDR are also very valuable
3. Ice Age is strong for the Flurry damage
4. Clarity of Thought for Flurry proc chance
5. Icy Caress for more filler damage
6. Any remaining damage Relics
7. Any defensive Relics

You should prioritize item level over the trait quality if the Relic is at least 3+ item levels superior.

4. ChangeLog

+ show all entries - show only 10 entries

• 12 Jun. 2017: Page reviewed and deemed updated for 7.2.5.
• 27 Mar. 2017: Updated for Patch 7.2.
• 13 Feb. 2017: Updated Relic priority.
• 09 Jan. 2017: Updated description of It's Cold Outside.
• 29 Aug. 2016: Added.