Mage PvP Specs Options

[Rift]

Arcane Mage 63/0/8

This build I use mainly. 8 points in frost for extra armor and freeezing effect from Ice Armor, and time reduction to Ice Block and Frost Nova.

Slow is great for pvp because it can be spammed, so no matter how many times someone removes a magic effect or shapeshifts, it can be reapplied immediately. Incanter's absorption gives a huge boost to spellpower when improved Mana Shield is combined with Fire/Frost ward. Prismatic Cloak makes invisible instant cast. Most people would say PoM is useful for Pyroblast, but I find it the most useful for Polymorph, though sometimes will use it with Frostfire Bolt.

Fire Mage 8/56/7

This is honestly my favorite spec. It's much more difficult to play, making it more fun all around. (I'm going to get rid of my arcane spec in favor of this one.) I have the the points in Arcane for the extra armor, and the points in frost for the same reasons as the Arcane spec.

Ignite is powerful when combined with Glyph of Living Bomb. The glyph will make it so each tick can Crit, adding the extra DoT to them. I've seen people lose half their life just from living bomb (totally dependant on how often it crits, and if the last blast crits). Burning Determination is nice, but I dropped it in favor of Burning Soul. Watching your 1.5 sec pyroblast get pushed back sucks. Though you can change out Molten Armor for Burning Determination if you want. Molten armor gives a 30%(35% if glyphed) chance for your wards to reflect frost or fire damage. It's great against DK's trying to use chains of ice (if you're lucky and it reflects it.) Blazing Speed, what can I say, is great when it fires (which is why I put more into armor for this spec). Combustion will help you get that instant cast pyroblast from Hot Streak. Firey payback is a GREAT talent, once you get used to it. Again, I opted for armor for this talent as well, as it has a chance to disarm melee. Once down to -35% I'll toss up a mana shield or blink and then pyroblast.

The tricky part from this build is using the Firestarter talent effectively. When you're moving around, it's tricky to get Flamestrike down where you need it. General rotation I use is Fire Blast > Dragon's Breath > Flamestrike(8) > Blast Wave > Flamestrike(9) > Fire Blast > Finish with Instant Pyroblast if Hot Streak procced. Using Dragon's breath first will make the first flame strike easier to hit the target, and blast wave second will potentially keep them in the Flamestrike AoE's longer.

Frost Mage
I haven't tinkered with a Frost Mage spec yet.

Ironman Mage 11/27/33

This is a spec I toyed with for survivability (for Ironman achievement in WSG). It has the potential to keep you alive if you're familiar with how and when to use all the skills available to you, but I wouldn't advise using it as a spec if you want to kill people.