If your thinking about rolling mage

[Shadowzz]

The Mage is a World of Warcraft class that casts powerful spells to eliminate enemies in short periods of time. The Mage is also able to cast powerful buffs, port to major cities, provide food and drink, crowd control, and protect and shield themselves from damage. The Mage has three main areas of spell focus: fire, frost, and arcane. The Mage can deal massive amounts of single target and area of effect damage. The Mage is a versatile class to have in groups and is deadly to oppose.
Below you'll find a brief summary of the Mage class, but if you want to know how to really play a Mage this guide provides a lot more helpful information.
What Races Can a Mage Be?

Horde: Blood Elf, Troll, and Undead
Alliance: Draenei, Gnome, Human
In order to be a Mage you must be one of the following races if you want to be Horde: Blood Elf, Troll, and Undead; and if you want to be Alliance you must be: Draenei, Gnome, or Human. Before you actually decide what race you want your Mage to be (from the above of course) check out the racial bonuses of each race. The bonuses most relevant to Mages are: Gnomes have increased intellect, Draeneis receive a heal over time and increased chance to hit with spells, and Humans have increased spirit.
What Kind of Gear Can a Mage Use?

Armor: Cloth
Weapons: Daggers, Swords, Staves, and Wands
Mages are only ever allowed to wear cloth armor, or I suppose nothing at all! They are also only able to use the follow weapons: daggers, swords, staves, and wands. Mages are not a melee class and are not designed (gear wise) for taking damage. They also are not especially good at dealing melee damage, with the exception of the damage wands provide them.
What Stats Should a Mage Get?

Intellect
Stamina
Spirit
The primary two stats a Mage needs to focus on obtaining are intellect and stamina. As a third stat, spirit can be chosen but the main focus should be intellect and stamina. Since Mages have low hit points and low armor, stamina is a must in order to stay alive. And because the majority of damage is done by casting spells, intellect is a must for mana and spell critical strike rating.
What are the Main Abilities of a Mage?

The main primary ability of Mages is high damage output through the use of arcane, frost, and fire abilities. Mages are able to provide high damage output through single and area of effect spells. They can also buff party members and port themselves and party members to major cities. In the frost talent tree they are granted superb damage absorption and shielding spells which provide them with powerful tools for staying alive. They are also able to crowd control through the use of incapacitation spells and immobilizing spells.
What Kind of Attacks do Mages Have?

Mages are a casting class and their main attacks are accomplished through spell damage. Mages have high single target damage spells, instant cast damage spells, and powerful area of effect damage spells. If a Mage wants to conserve mana or is out of mana it might use wands to DPS, but the main attacks of a Mage are accomplished through spell casting either fire, arcane, or frost damage.
What is the Role of a Mage in Groups?

The general main role of Mages is to DPS like crazy, so in a group setting Mages are often pulled in for this ability; however, there are a few other reasons that make Mages highly desirable group mates. Mages are often used as a source of crowd control in group settings and the addition of a Mage to a group can sometimes allow a group to break through an area in an instance they otherwise couldn't without the Mage. Frost Mages are often used to pull mobs because they can shield and block themselves from enemy attacks. Mages are also able to buff group members, port them to major cities, and summon food and drink. The benefits of having a Mage in a group are plentiful and go beyond the reasons mentioned here.
Is is Easy to Solo With a Mage?

Soloing with Mages is typically easy because they can deal high single and multiple target damage. They are also given mana restoration spells like Evocation which make regaining mana easier. The downside to soloing with Mages is that they have low hit points and armor, making them more susceptible to attacks and you must med with them to regain mana. These factors can create some down time with the Mage while soloing.
What Professions are Best for a Mage?

Tailoring
Alchemy
Enchanting
Jewelcrafting
The above professions are those which are the most useful for Mages to actually use to provide themselves with gear and items. If you are looking to make lots of money through a profession you might want to alter your choices a bit but in terms of Mage usability the above professions are the ones to choose. By training Tailoring Mages are able to create wearable gear for themselves. With Alchemy they can create powerful potions that can restore mana and health, increase damage, among other things. Enchanting give Mages the ability to give themselves powerful enchants and Jewelcrafting of course allows them to cut their own gems and make their own jewelry.

[Guybrush]

If you copy-pasted please include you sources. there is nothing worse than stealing...

WoW Mage | Free WoW Guides

[Haaskis]

And before you do this mistake and roll mage, click warlock icon in character creation screen. ;-)

Im sure i have seen this some where...!

[IlluzionE]

I seen this guide before, you stole it *tsk tsk*

[Gnomaged]

If you copy-pasted please include you sources. there is nothing worse than stealing...

WoW Mage | Free WoW Guides

what about rape thats pretty bad.

[ipnetz006]

Hmmm... I had a Rival Mage last season...and rolled lock for S3-S4 But no doubt mage is extremely fun in BGs. Lock isn't so appealing because with mage you can do a lot of things. You can get away from situations where you can't being a warlock.

[sapiano]

mages are teh ownage

[Unholyshaman]

lmao @ Gnomaged.
Naa worst crime is buffing shamans.

[iyn]

mage guide?
lol thats not why wowiki is 4?
just saying

[omgcool7]

nice thx for this info

[Signet]

Incredibly stupid of you to copy and paste something, and if your going to make a mage prepare for the massive amounts of drinking while leveling.

[Happy2k]

GG @ copy/paste....

[Zacred]

Old guide as well. xP

[Thimpey]

>_< another one.

[Jock3pock3]

mages rules