This is a collection of what I consider to be the best pre-raid mage gear (that is, before walking in the door of Karazhan. Kitted out in the best of these, the first few bosses of Karazhan should not be a significant challenge gearwise). Each section is listed by first source (I.e. Crafted/Heroic/else), and, within each category, by my opinion of their usefulness, the best at the top. Generally speaking Craftables > Heroic loot > normal/quest. This is not always the case. Since I cannot make tables easily, you will simply have to compare them yourselves, I'm afraid.

If you think I have missed something else, misplaced something, or generally made an error, please point it out! If it's not too outrageous, I'll change it.

A few general trends: this is aimed towards raiding. Hence, spell hit is given some considerable weighting in the way I have ordered this. It is not intended to gear you up for high end PvP.
Of the Dungeon sets, Oblivion (the Warlock set) features fairly prominently. Incanters not at all, as I consider it a poor set (you may disagree). Mana-etched (the "generic" cloth set) features to some extent, although, generally, it is inferior to other, non set items, unless you get enough for the set bonuses.


Post 0: Head, Shoulder, back, Chest, Bracer, Gloves, Belt, leggings, Boots.
Post 1: Weaponry, Necklace, Rings, Trinkets, Gems. (http://forums.wow-europe.com/thread.html?topicId=302171544&postId=3018348317&sid=1#1)




Head

Crafted
Spellstrike Hood; Tailor Made; http://www.thottbot.com/i24266
Destruction Holo-gogs; Engineering made, BoP; http://www.thottbot.com/i32494

Heroic
Mana-binder's Cowl; 50 badges; http://www.thotbott.com/i32089
Demonfang Ritual Helm; Underbog: The Black Stalker; http://thottbot.com/i27781

Normal/Quest
Mag'hari Ritualist's Horns; Mag'har Questchain: Horde Only; http://thottbot.com/i28169
Mana-etchd Crown; Black Morass, Aeonus; http://www.thottbot.com/i28193
Incanters Cowl; Mechanar, Pathaleon; http://www.thotbott.com/i28278
Evoker's Helm of Second Sight; Teron Gorefiend questchain; http://thottbot.com/i31104

Enchant:
Glyph of Power; Sha'tar Revered

Shoulder

Crafted
Frozen Shadoweave Shoulders; Tailoring BoP. Frost only; http://www.thottbot.com/i21869

Heroic
Mana-Etched Spaulders; Slave pens, Quagmirran; http://thottbot.com/i27796

Normal/Quest
Mantle of Three terrors; Black Morass, Temporus
Spaulders of the Torn heart; Cypher of Damnation Questline; http://www.thottbot.com/i30925
Spaulders of Oblivion; Shadow labyrinth, Murmur; http://thottbot.com/i27778
Incanter's Pauldrons; Steamvaults, kalithresh; http://www.thotbott.com/i27738

Enchant:
Aldor/Scryer Inscription

Cape

Crafted
Cloak of the Black Void; recipie BoE world drop recipie, tailor; http://thottbot.com/i24252

Heroic
Shawl of Shifting Probabilities; 25 badges; http://www.thottbot.com/i29369

Normal/Quest
Sethekk Oracle Cloak; Talon King Ikiss, Sethekk Halls; http://thottbot.com/i27981
Baba's Cloak of Arcanistry; Mechanar, pathaleon the Calculator; http://thottbot.com/i28269
Sargeants Heavy Cape; PvP; http://www.thottbot.com/i28378
Terokk's Wisdom; Terokk, Skettis; BoE epic; http://thottbot.com/i32541
Cloak of Woven Energy; Hitting the Motherlode, Netherstorm; http://thottbot.com/i29813

Enchant:
Spell Penetration (+20 Spell Penetration)
Or Subtlety (-2% threat). This only worth it on a cloak you will have for a long time, and if Threat is your limiting factor.

Chest

Crafted
Spellfire Robe; Tailor made, BoP, Fire/Arcane; http://www.thottbot.com/i21848
Frozen Shadoweave Robes; Tailor made BoP, Frost; http://www.thottbot.com/i21871

Heroic
Mana-etched Vestments; Old Hillsbrad, Epoch Hunter; http://thottbot.com/i28191

Normal/Quest
Robes of the Crimson Order; BoE world drop; http://www.thottbot.com/i31297
Vermillion Robes of the Dominant; Steamvaults, Kalithresh; http://thottbot.com/i27799
Bloodfyre Robes of Annihilation; Mechanar, Cahce of the Legion; http://thottbot.com/i28252
Will of Edward the odd; BoE world epic drop; http://thottbot.com/i31340
Robes of Oblivion; Shadow labyrinth, Murmur; http://thottbot.com/i28232
Warp Infused Drape; Botanica, Warp Splinter; http://thottbot.com/i28342
Incanter's Robe; Botanica,Warp Splinter; http://thottbot.com/i28229

Enchant:
Exceptional Stats (+6 all)
Restore Mana Prime (+6mp5)
Exceptional Spirit (+15)

Bracers

Crafted
Bracers of Havok; recipie BoE world drop, Tailor; http://thottbot.com/i24250

Heroic
Crimson Bracers of Gloom; Ramparts, Omorr; http://www.thottbot.com/i27462
Bands of Rarefied magic; Shattered Halls, Kargath Bladefist; http://thottbot.com/i29255

Normal/Quest
Crystalweave Bracers; Created from a 'Depelted' item from Ogri'la. BoE; http://thottbot.com/i32655
Veteran's Silk Cuffs; PvP; http://www.thottbot.com/i32820
Shattrath Wraps; The Soul Devices (SL); http://www.thottbot.com/i28174

Enchant:
Spell Power (+15 spell damage)

Gloves

Crafted
Spellfire Gloves; Tailor made, BoP, Fire/Arcane; http://www.thottbot.com/i21847

Heroic
Mana-etched Handwraps; Ramparts, Omorr; http://thottbot.com/i27465

Normal/Quest
Gloves of Oblivion; Shattered Halls, Kargath Bladefist; http://www.thottbot.com/i27537
Incanter's Gloves; Steamvaults, Thespia; http://www.thotbott.com/i27508
Energis Armwraps; Botanica, High Botanist Freywinn; http://thottbot.com/i28317
Tempest's Touch; Old Hillsbrad Quest; http://thottbot.com/i29317

Enchant:
Spell Strike (+15 Spell hit)
Or Spell Power (+20 Spell damage)

Belt

Crafted
Belt of Blasting; Note: BoE, but requires Nether Vortex. Will be -very- expensive to buy, if available at all; http://www.thottbot.com/i30038
Spellfire Belt; Tailor made, BoP, Fire/Arcane; http://www.thottbot.com/i21846
Girdle of Ruination; Tailor made; http://www.thottbot.com/i24256

Heroic
Belt of Depravity; Arcatraz, Harbringer Skyriss; http://www.thottbot.com/i29241
Oracle Belt of Timeless Mystery; Underbog, Quagmirran; http://thottbot.com/i27768

Normal/Quest
Sash of Serpentra; Steamvaults, Warlord Kalithresh; http://www.thottbot.com/i27795
General's Silk Belt; PvP; http://thottbot.com/i28409
A'dal's Gift; Arcatraz Key quest; http://www.thottbot.com/i31461

Enchant:
None exist

Leggings

Crafted
Spellstrike Pants; Tailor made; http://www.thottbot.com/i24262

Heroic
Breeches of the Occultist; Black Morass, Aeonus; http://thottbot.com/i30531
Kirin Tor Master's trousers; Shadow Labyrinth, Murmur; http://www.thottbot.com/i30532
Mana-etched Pantaloon; Underbog, the Black Stalker; http://www.thotbott.com/i27907

Normal/Quest
Devil Stitched Leggings; Laj, Botanica; http://www.thottbot.com/i28338
Trousers of Oblivion; Talon King Ikiss, Sethekk Halls; http://www.thottbot.com/i27948
Incanter's Trousers; Talon King Ikiss,Sethekk Halls; http://www.thotbott.com/i27838
Khagar's Kilt of Abjuration; Black Morass, Temporus; http://thottbot.com/i28185

Enchant:
Mystic Spellthread (+25 damage, +15 stamina)
Or Runic Spellthread (+35 damage, +20 stamina)

Boots

Crafted
Frozen Shadoweave Boots; Tailor made, BoP, Frost; http://www.thottbot.com/i21870
Boots of blasting; Tailor made, BoP. Recipie a non-binding trash drop in SSC/The Eye. -May- be able to find it on the AH; http://www.thottbot.com/i30037

Heroic
Boots of Etheral Manipulation; Warp Splinter, Botanica heroic; http://www.thottbot.com/i29258
Boots of Blasphemy; Quagmirran, Slave Pens heroic; http://www.thottbot.com/i29242
Extravagant Boots of malice; Tavarok, Mana Tombs heroic; http://www.thottbot.com/i27821

Normal/Quest
Sigil-Laced Boots; Arcatraz, Harbringer Skyriss; http://thottbot.com/i28406
Silent Slippers of meditation; Shadow labyrinth, Murmur; http://thottbot.com/i27902
Shattrath jumpers; Quest in Shadow Labyrinth; http://www.thottbot.com/i28179

Enchant:
Fortitude (+12 stamina)
Vitality (+4 H/Mp5)

Weapon

Crafted
One-handed
Eternium Runed Blade; Blacksmith made;

Held in Offhand

Staves

Heroic
One-handed

Held in Offhand
Khadgar's Knapsack; 25 badges; http://www.thottbot.com/i29273
School-specific offhand; 25 badges

Staves
Terokk's Shadowstaff; Sethekk Halls, Talon King ikiss; http://thottbot.com/i29355
Grand Scepter of the Nexus-Kings; Mana Tombs, Nexus prince Shaffar; http://www.thottbot.com/i27842

Normal/Quest
One-handed
Blade of Wizardry; BoE World drop; http://www.thottbot.com/i31336
Stormcaller / Blade of the Archmage; Thrallmar/Honour Hold exalted; http://www.thottbot.com/i29155 / http://www.thottbot.com/i29153
Greatsword of Horrid Dreams; Murmur, Shadow labyrinth; http://www.thottbot.com/i27905
Continuum Blade; Keepers of Time revered; http://thottbot.com/i29185

Held in Offhand
Crystal Orb of Enlightenment; Ogri'la Exalted; http://www.thottbot.com/i32651
Lamp of Peaceful Radiance; Harbringer Skyriss, Arcatraz; http://www.thottbot.com/i28412
Star-heart Lamp; Temporus, Black Morass; http://www.thottbot.com/i28187

Staves
Bringer of Death; BoE world drop; http://www.thottbot.com/i31308
Aucheni Staff; Aldor Rvered; http://thottbot.com/i29130

Enchant:
Major Spell Power (+40 spell damage)

Wand

Crafted
None exist

Heroic
The Black Stalk; The Black Stalker, Underbog Heroic; http://www.thottbot.com/i29350

Normal/Quest
Nether Core's Control Rod; Dalliah, Arcatraz; http://www.thottbot.com/i28386
Nexus Torch; Shattered Halls, Kargath Bladefist; http://www.thottbot.com/i27540
Wand of the Netherwing; Blackheart the Inciter; http://www.thottbot.com/i27890
Illidari Rod of Discipline; Only a green, but the socket allows considerable upgrade over blue, even epic wands; http://thottbot.com/i32872

Enchant:
None exist

Neck

Crafted
None to speak of

Heroic
Manasurge Pendant; 25 Heroic Badges; http://www.thottbot.com/i29368
Hydra-fang Necklace; The Underbog, Ghaz'an; http://thottbot.com/i27758

Normal/Quest
Brooch of Heightened Potential; Shadow labyrinth: Blackheart the Inciter; http://thottbot.com/i28134
Charlotte's Ivy; BoE World Drop. Part of a set with Lola's Eve (ring). ; http://thottbot.com/i31338
Warp Engineer's Prismatic Chain; Mechanar, Mechano Lord Capacitus; http://thottbot.com/i28254

Enchant:
None exist

Rings

Crafted
The Black Pearl; Jewelcrafter. Trainer recipie; http://thottbot.com/i32774

Heroic
Sparkling Arcanite Ring; Old Hillsbrad, Epoch Hunter; http://www.thottbot.com/i28227
Cobalt Band of Tyrigosa; Mana Tombs,Nexus Prince Shaffar; http://thottbot.com/i29352
Ring of Cryptic Dreams; 25 badges; http://www.thottbot.com/i29367

Normal/Quest
Corrupters Signet; Shaartuul event, possible drop; http://www.thottbot.com/i32941
Ashyens gift; Cenarion Expedition, Exalted; http://www.thottbot.com/i29172
Seer's Signet; Scryer Exalted; http://www.thottbot.com/i29126
Ryngo's band of Ingenuity; Soccrates, Arcatraz; http://www.thottbot.com/i28394
Band of Dominion; BoE world drop; http://thottbot.com/i31290
Scintilating Coral Band; Steamvaults, Hydromancer Thespia; http://thottbot.com/i27784
Lola's Eve; BoE epic world drop. Part of a set with Charlotte's Ivy (Necklace); http://thottbot.com/i31339
Band of the Guardian; COmpleting Black Morass; http://thottbot.com/i29320

Enchant:
Spell Power (+12 damage). Enchanter only.
None for non-enchanters.

Trinkets

Crafted
Living Ruby Serpent; BoP, Jewelcrafter only. pattern is KoT revered. Note: cooldown is 5 minutes, while most Trinket cooldowns are only 1.5; http://www.thottbot.com/i24126

Heroic
Icon of the Silver Crescent; 41 Badges; http://www.thottbot.com/i29370
Quagmirrans Eye; Slave pens, Quagmirran; http://www.thottbot.com/i27683
Arcanist Stone; Old Hillsbrad, Epoch Hunter; http://www.thottbot.com/i28223

Normal/Quest
Scryer's Bloodgem; Scryers rvered; http://www.thottbot.com/i29132
Shiffar's Nexus Horn; Harbringer Skyriss, Arcatraz; http://www.thottbot.com/i28418
Xi'ri's Gift; Sha'tar rveered; http://www.thottbot.com/i29179
Starkiller's bauble; Quest starting by killing the large Void Waste in Ethereum in Netherstorm

Enchant:
None exist

A short note on trinkets: + Spell Hit Rating trinkets are particularly good sources of hit rating, since they can easily be swapped in for boss fights, and you needn't worry about enchants or anything to keep them updated. However, don't forget to swap them in for Bosses, and back out again for trash! *mutter* Like I have on occasion */mutter*



Gems
There are many different types of gems that can be used. These are the 'types' i would recommend, in the order below. Which one you choose depends on what you require, and whether the socket bonus is worth getting (it usually isn't). In terms of the 'rarity' (i.e. uncommon (green) / rare (blue)), I would recommend only putting the rare version in gear you know you will have for a fair while. They are expnsive. I put the 'green' versions in gear I'm not sure I'll use much, or for long, or am testing out various combinations.Note: there is no uncommon version of the Veiled gem.
Gems:

Veiled (Orange) {Spell Hit Rating/Spell Damage} (Noble Topaz)
Runed (Red) {Spell Damage} (Blood Garnet / Living Ruby)
Potent (orange) {Spell Crit/Spell Damage} (Flame Spessarite / Noble Topaz)
Glowing (Purple) {Stamina/Spell Damage} (Shadow Draenite / Nightseye)
Great (Yellow) {Spell Hit Rating} (Golden Draenite / Dawnstone)

Meta gems: (All but first made by Jewelcrafters. First bought with Spirit Shards in Terrokar Faction base)

Swift Starfire Diamond (12 Spell damage, and minor runspeed increase) {2 Yellow, 1 red. Very easy to manage, very good gem}
Destructive Skyfre Diamond (14 Spell crit, and chance for Spell reflect) {2 of each colour}
Mystical Skyfire Diamond (Chance on spell cast to reduce Spell Casting time) {More Blue than yellow. Difficult to manage, as yellow > blue gems}
insightful Earthstorm Diamond (12 Intellect, and chance on spellcast to restore mana) {2 of each colour}

Chaotic Skyfire Diamond (12 crit rating and increases the damage done by Critical spells. >2 Blue gems)

Nice work!

Woo! Good job, reported for sticky :D

Thak ye! Do point out anything you think I have missed out/got in the wrong place though!

Thx for answering in my other thread and nice work doing this list.

Thumbs up. :)

FYI
I was reading your posts and noticed that in the 2nd post you didnt included the necks :)

Cheers
Sankara

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Q u o t e:
FYII was reading your posts and noticed that in the 2nd post you didnt included the necks :)

---

Thanks for pointing that out - I didn;t post it in the same order as I wrote them, which would explain it. I'll stick that in now.

Sticky!!!!
Excellent,and thanks :)

well since you didnt have I made some research.
What do you think of:

Charlotte's Ivy - BoE World Drop (2 Pieces Set)
Natasha's Arcane Filament Or Natasha's Ember Necklace from Q: The Hound-Master - Blade Edge Mountains
Torc of the Sethekk Prophet - Q: Brother Against Brother (Auchindoun)

Im not a mage from the heart ;) and that's why Im asking.

Cheers
Sankara

Edit: correct some typos

---

Q u o t e:
Charlotte's Ivy - BoE World Drop (2 Pieces Set)
Natasha's Arcane Filament Or Natasha's Ember Necklace from Q: The Hound-Master - Blade Edge Mountains
Torc of the Sethekk Prophet - Q: Brother Against Brother (Auchindoun)

---

Charlott's/Lola's
Hrm... they're good, certainly, and if you can get both, very good. I've listed them where I'd put them (I missed them off before, ince when I refind searches to compile this, I had the item level as >100, which they are). They're not the best, but they're good.

Natasha's <>
The one with Intellect and crit is better for a Mage (my opinion, feel free to dispute it). In my eyes, the Warp Engineer's is better in most cases, although yeah, possible worth listing. Definitely not one of the best, though.

Torc - even less amazing. Doesn;t really deserve a place on the list, I think, especially when you can get Natashas (slightly betrter), from a quest a Mage should be able to solo.

Excellent post! Should get stickied :)

But what about the Incanter set?

Well, personally, I don't think its as good as the Warlock, or generic set, or non-set peices. I'll take another look though, by all means.

Added them where I think they should go, but they mostly don't compare, due to poorer stat distribution.

Good job. This would make a nice sticky =)

By the way, Destruction holo-gogs (the engineering goggles) is another useful crafted head item which "only" requires a nether and some other farmable mats.

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Q u o t e:


Heroic
Mana-Etched Spaulders; Underbog, Quagmirran; http://thottbot.com/i27796

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Quagmirran is Slave Pens

and also (edit: As said above =] )

head item - crafted 350 engi - Destruction holo-gogs
http://thottbot.com/i32494

Give this some glue already!

What about offhands? (for those that use them)

You've made a typo!

Crimson Bracers of Gloom; Ramparts, Omor the Unscarred; http://www.thottbot.com/i27462

I corrected it for you :p

Thanks for the feedback (and the sticky, even if it does prevent anyone else reading it!), will get them sorted now.

---

Q u o t e:
What about offhands? (for those that use them)

---

They're in the Weapons section, seperated by a space
i.e.

Weapons
One-handers

Offhands

Staves

Would it be useful if I seperated them out? can do if that sounds better, but I think it looks tidier like that

You miss the nexus-torch in the wand section, I love this wand:

http://www.thottbot.com/i27540 - Warchief Kargath Bladefist ~12% drop chance.