DPS Rotation & Cooldowns

This rotation guide provides a quick, basic understanding of which abilities to prioritize when playing a Frost Mage, along with additional details on important cooldowns at the bottom. Updated for the latest patch in World of Warcraft: The War Within (11.1).

Single Target

Pre-cast Frostfire Bolt at 2 seconds on the countdown.

• Icy Veins
• FlurryView detailsWhen no Winters Chill on target and you have a proc.
• Frostfire BoltView detailsAfter Flurry to start stacking.
• Comet StormView detailsAfter Flurry if it was just cast.
• Glacial SpikeView detailsWhen you have 5 Icicles.
• Ice LanceView detailsIf you have Fingers Of Frost or Winters Chill on target.
• Frozen Orb
• Shifting PowerView detailsWhen all major cooldowns are on cooldown.
• Frostbolt

Start with Icy Veins, then use Flurry to trigger Winters Chill. Follow with Frostfire Bolt and Comet Storm as needed, and maintain your Icicles for Glacial Spike. Use Ice Lance when procs are available.

AoE

Use Blizzard to start AoE damage.

• Icy Veins
• Blizzard
• Frostfire BoltView detailsUntil you have 9 stacks of Deaths Chill.
• Frozen Orb
• Comet Storm
• Cone Of Cold
• Shifting Power
• Ice LanceView detailsIf you have Fingers Of Frost or Winters Chill on target.
• Frostbolt

For AoE, start with Icy Veins and Blizzard. Use Frostfire Bolt to stack Deaths Chill, then follow with Frozen Orb and Comet Storm. Maintain Ice Lance and Frostbolt as needed.

Cooldowns

• Icy VeinsView detailsUse for burst phases.
• Frozen OrbView detailsUse for AoE damage.
• Comet StormView detailsUse after Flurry for maximum damage.
• Shifting PowerView detailsUse when all other cooldowns are on cooldown.

Prioritize Icy Veins for burst, Frozen Orb for AoE, and Comet Storm after Flurry. Use Shifting Power when other cooldowns are unavailable.