Mage changes in patch 2.3

Blizzard have already started to post (some of?) the changes in patch 2.3. Here are the mage changes, as currently posted:

• Fire Ward and Frost Ward now gain additional benefit from spell damage bonuses. Base absorb values of ranks 5 and 6 have been reduced.


• Ice Barrier now gains additional benefit from spell damage bonuses. Base absorb values of ranks 5 and 6 have been reduced.

Nice changes, although without knowing how much the base absorb has been reduced and how much is the gain from spell damage bonus, there is no way to tell exactly how nice the change is. Looking for example at Ice Barrier, ranks 3-6 absorb currently 678, 818, 977 and 1175.

Assuming Blizzard don't reduce rank 5 below tank 4, I would guess around 900 base for rank 5 and 950 base for rank 6.
An optimistic scenario is that a mage with +800 spell damage will get 400 bonus absorption. Such a mage will have a rank 6 Ice Barrier of 1350 - around 200 more than currently, give or take. That's a big help when farming mobs or normal 5man, a lot less help in heroics or raids. Still, overall, a very nice change.
If the base absorb is reduced only slightly and the entire +spell damage goes to the absorption this will give, depending on the mage, around 2k damage absorption. This will make PvP mages very happy and all other PvP-ers very angry :) so I doubt it will go that high.

• Detect Magic removed. All players may now see their target's beneficial effects at all times.

I've got mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, having to use Detect Magic was at times annoying. On the other hand, it gave mages another thing to do which increased their raid utility. All in all a positive change I think but as a raiding mage I'll remember it fondly. No idea about the PvP aspects, I've heard PvP mages QQ about it.

• Arcane Meditation (Arcane) increased to 10/20/30% mana regeneration.

While this doubling of the mana regen rate due to Arcane Meditation is nice for Arcane mages, even for them it's not a big deal. Since it requires 15 points in Arcane, Fire or Frost mages will never take it. As for Arcane mages, 30% of a very low number is still a very low number. Simply put, mages have never had high Spirit and will never have. Trivial change, affecting only a part of the mage population.

• Evocation now regenerates 15% of total mana every 2 seconds rather than increase Spirit based regeneration.

Fantastic change. This brings the mana regen from Evocation back to pre-TBC days, from 40% to 100% in 8 seconds. Plus I can get rid of those spirit staff+wand, clearing up another 2 slots in my bags :)

• (NEW SPELL) Ritual of Refreshment available on trainers at level 70.

I wish Blizzard came up with a better name, "Ritual of" sounds like a Warlock spell. Other than that, what can I say except "ty Blizzard" :)

• Improved Fireball: The reduction in damage coefficient caused by this talent has been removed.


• Improved Frostbolt: The reduction in damage coefficient caused by this talent has been removed.

This one change will have mages going ga-ga over this patch. Really, if this was the only change in patch 2.3 with regards to mages, I would still be happy. Of course, only time will tell if this will really increase our DPS or if Blizzard will find another way to nerf us, but for now I'm optimistic :)