Mastery

For other uses, see Mastery (disambiguation).

Mastery

Mastery is a secondary attribute that unlike critical strike, haste, and versatility, what increased with mastery is completely different for every specialization.

Each specialization from level 10 has its unique Mastery ability, or known as simply Mastery, a passive ability that its potency scale with the character's mastery stat. These abilities can be found in the Spellbook under each specialization tab, in addition to paper doll frame for your current Mastery effects. Each Mastery offers specific benefits which can vary but generally fall into one of these categories: increasing the effectiveness of specific abilities or types of damage dealt; becoming more effective when certain conditions are met; or providing bonus effects including DoTs, HoTs, free attacks, or free spellcasts; or simply all times attack power/spell power up. All mastery benefits are measured in percentages, whether in terms of a numerical improvement, the size of an effectiveness boost or bonus effect, or a proc chance.

Like other secondary stats, mastery can be increased by gear with mastery rating on it. However, mastery rating is converted to Mastery Point, then the value of mastery point converted to their actual effects of Mastery ability. Each character starts with 8 mastery point, which is why effects of Mastery abilities are not 0% at 0 mastery rating, and this isn't affected by gear rating diminishing returns.

The "mastery percentage" value displayed in the paper doll frame for mastery is simply the first percentage text of your Mastery ability, therefore there is no point in comparing these numbers between different specializations.

Masteries

Below is a list of all Masteries, and the classes and specs to which they belong. Underline numbers are scale with every 1 mastery point.

Class	Specialization	Mastery	Mastery effects
Death Knight	Blood	[Mastery: Blood Shield]	2% of [Death Strike] healing converted to absorption +1% attack power
	Frost	[Mastery: Frozen Heart]	+2% Frost abilities damage
	Unholy	[Mastery: Dreadblade]	+1.8% Shadow abilities and minions damage
Demon Hunter	Havoc	[Mastery: Demonic Presence]	+1.8% Chaos damage +0.6% movement speed if has [Pursuit]
	Vengeance	[Mastery: Fel Blood]	+1.5% agility to armor, doubled when [Demon Spikes] activated +1% attack power
Druid	Balance	[Mastery: Astral Invocation]	+0.5% Nature and Arcane abilities damage +0.25% Nature abilities damage to targets affected by [Sunfire] +0.25% Arcane abilities damage to targets affected by [Moonfire]
	Feral	[Mastery: Razor Claws]	+2% Cat Form bleeds, periodic abilities, finishing moves damage
	Guardian	[Mastery: Nature's Guardian]	+0.7% maximum health +0.7% healing and absorption received +1% attack power
	Restoration	[Mastery: Harmony]	+0.728% healing for each Restoration heal over time effects on the target
Evoker	Devastation	[Mastery: Giantkiller]	+1.5% spells damage ceiling, scales proportional to target's health
	Preservation	[Mastery: Life-Binder]	+1.8% healing to target with health percentage isn't higher than self
	Augmentation	[Mastery: Timewalker]	Casting an empower spell grants Shifting Sands to an ally +0.272% versatility for units with Shifting Sands +0.5% specific buffs (full list) duration
Hunter	Beast Mastery	[Mastery: Master of Beasts]	+1.9% pet damage
	Marksmanship	[Mastery: Sniper Training]	+0.625% specific abilities (full list) range +1.4% specific abilities (full list) damage
	Survival	[Mastery: Spirit Bond]	+0.85% damage for hunter and pet -3% damage taken for hunter and pet both effects doubled when hunter and pet are within 25 yards of each other
Mage	Arcane	[Mastery: Savant]	+1.2% Mana regeneration rate +1.2% maximum Mana +0.9% Arcane Charge damage increase to [Arcane Blast] +0.6% Arcane Charge damage increase to [Arcane Barrage] +1% other Arcane damage
	Fire	[Mastery: Ignite]	0.62255% of [Fireball], [Fire Blast], [Scorch], [Pyroblast], [Meteor], [Phoenix Flames], [Cinderstorm], [Flamestrike] damage converted to Damage over Time over 9 sec
	Frost	[Mastery: Icicles]	Casting [Frostbolt] or [Flurry] create Icicles that can be launched with [Ice Lance] or auto launched beyond 5, each do (2% of spell power) Frost damage +1.125% [Frozen Orb], [Blizzard], [Comet Storm] damage +0.75% [Ice Lance], [Glacial Spike], [Ray of Frost] damage
Monk	Brewmaster	[Mastery: Elusive Brawler]	Each time hit by a melee attack, or hit with [Blackout Kick], gains one stack of Elusive Brawler, effect removes on successful dodge +0.88% dodge per stack of Elusive Brawler +1% attack power
	Mistweaver	[Mastery: Gust of Mists]	Each use of [Renewing Mist], [Enveloping Mist], [Rising Sun Kick], [Expel Harm], [Revival], [Restoral], [Sheilun's Gift], [Jadefire Stomp], [Vivify] cause (6.93% of spell power) healing primary target
	Windwalker	[Mastery: Combo Strikes]	+2.32875% abilities damage if the ability isn't a repeat of the previous ability
Paladin	Holy	[Mastery: Lightbringer]	+1.5% healing ceiling, scales inversely proportional to range to target
	Protection	[Mastery: Divine Bulwark]	+1% block chance +1% attack power -0.28% damage taken while inside own [Consecration]
	Retribution	[Mastery: Highlord's Judgment]	+1.35% Holy damage +0.75% [Judgment] extra damage proc chance
Priest	Discipline	[Mastery: Grace]	+1.35% healing and absorption to targets with [Atonement]
	Holy	[Mastery: Echo of Light]	0.95625% of direct healing spells healing converted to Heal over Time over 4 sec
	Shadow	[Mastery: Shadow Weaving]	+0.5% damage for each type of [Shadow Word: Pain], [Vampiric Touch], [Devouring Plague] on target, considered as 3 types when [Voidform] activated
Rogue	Assassination	[Mastery: Potent Assassin]	+1.7% poisons and bleeds damage
	Outlaw	[Mastery: Main Gauche]	30% chance on main-hand attacks to cause an extra attack that deals (5.23% of attack power) Physical damage with an off-hand weapon
	Subtlety	[Mastery: Executioner]	+2.45% finishing moves damage
Shaman	Elemental	[Mastery: Elemental Overload]	+0.76% Elemental and Physical damage for shaman and pet 1.875% chance for [Lightning Bolt], [Tempest], [Icefury], [Lava Burst], [Chain Lightning] to trigger a second cast for 25% of normal damage and reduced Maelstrom generation
	Enhancement	[Mastery: Enhanced Elements]	+0.08% Stormsurge, [Windfury Weapon] proc chance +2% Fire, Frost, Nature damage
	Restoration	[Mastery: Deep Healing]	+3% healing ceiling, scales inversely proportional to target's health
Warlock	Affliction	[Mastery: Potent Afflictions]	+2.5% [Malefic Rapture], [Agony], [Corruption], [Siphon Life], [Phantom Singularity], [Vile Taint], [Unstable Affliction], [Seed of Corruption] damage
	Demonology	[Mastery: Master Demonologist]	+1.45% minion damage
	Destruction	[Mastery: Chaotic Energies]	+1% spells damage +1% spells damage occurs randomly
Warrior	Arms	[Mastery: Deep Wounds]	+1.1% damage to targets affected by own [Deep Wounds]
	Fury	[Mastery: Unshackled Fury]	+1.4% damage when [Enrage] activated
	Protection	[Mastery: Critical Block]	+0.5% block chance +1.5% critical block chance +1% attack power

Removed masteries

The subject of this section has been removed from World of Warcraft.

The following is a list of masteries that were removed from game. This list does not include the masteries that were previously removed and then re-added (such as [Total Eclipse]), as these are still the current masteries in game. This list also does not include masteries that were redesigned but not renamed (such as [Mastery: Harmony]).

Class	Specialization	Mastery	Effect	Patch removed
Death Knight	Unholy	[Blightcaller]	Increases the damage done by your diseases by 40%. Each point of Mastery increases disease damage by an additional 5%.	Patch 4.0.6
Druid	Balance	[Mastery: Starlight]	Increases [Starfall] and [Starsurge] damage, and the effect of Lunar, Solar, and Stellar Empowerments by an additional 14%.	Patch 9.0.1
	Balance	[Total Eclipse]	Solar Eclipse increases nature spell damage by X%, Lunar Eclipse increases arcane spell damage by X%.	Patch 10.0.0 *
	Feral (Bear Form)	[Savage Defender]	Increases the damage absorbed by your [Savage Defense] ability by 32%. Each point of Mastery increases the absorb by an additional 4%.	Patch 5.0.4
	Guardian	Nature's Guardian	Increases your armor by 12%.	Patch 6.0.2
	Guardian	[Mastery: Primal Tenacity]	When you are hit by a physical attack, you gain a physical absorb shield equal to 12% of that hit's damage. Attacks which this effect fully or partially absorbs cannot trigger Primal Tenacity. Also increases your attack power by 8%.	Patch 7.0.3
	Restoration	[Symbiosis]	Increases the potency of your healing spells by 11.6% on targets already affected by one of your heal over time spells. Each point of Mastery increases heal potency by an additional 1.45%.	Patch 4.2.0
Hunter	Marksmanship	[Wild Quiver]	Grants a 16% chance for your ranged attacks to also instantly fire an additional ranged shot that deals 80% weapon damage.	Patch 6.0.2
	Survival	[Essence of the Viper]	Increases all magical damage you deal by 10%.	Patch 7.0.3
	Survival	[Mastery: Hunting Companion]	Your pet's attacks have a 4.0% chance to grant you an additional charge of [Mongoose Bite].	Patch 8.0.1
Mage	Arcane	[Mana Adept]	Increases all spell damage done by up to 15%, based on the amount of mana the Mage has unspent.	Patch 7.0.3
	Fire	[Flashburn]	Increases the damage done by all your periodic fire damage effects by 22.4%. Each point of Mastery increases periodic damage done by an additional 2.8%.	Patch 5.0.4
	Frost	[Frostburn]	All your spells deal 16% increased damage against Frozen targets. Increases damage done by your Water Elemental by 16%.	Patch 5.4.0
Monk	Mistweaver	[Mastery: Gift of the Serpent]	You have a 10% chance when you heal to summon a [Healing Sphere] nearby an injured ally for 30 sec. Allies who walk through the sphere will be healed for (75% of spell power). If the Healing Sphere expires before being used, a nearby ally within 12 yards of the sphere will be healed.	Patch 7.0.3
	Windwalker	[Combo Breaker]	Grants a 11% chance for [Jab] to cause your next [Tiger Palm] to cost no Chi, or your next [Blackout Kick] to cost no Chi.	Patch 5.2.0
	Windwalker	[Mastery: Bottled Fury]	When you generate [Tigereye Brew] charges, you have a 20% chance to generate an additional charge.	Patch 7.0.3
Paladin	Holy	[Illuminated Healing]	Your healing spells and their multistrikes also place an absorb shield on your target for 10% of the amount healed lasting 15 sec. Does not trigger from healing caused by Beacon of Light.	Patch 7.0.3
	Retribution	[Mastery: Divine Judgment]	Increases [Judgment] damage by 24%, and causes Judgment to increase damage taken from your Holy Power spenders by 12%.	Patch 8.0.1
Priest	Discipline	[Shield Discipline]	Increases the potency of all your damage absorption spells by 13%, and all of your healing by 6%.	Patch 7.0.3
	Discipline	[Mastery: Absolution]	Increases the healing transferred through Atonement by 11.1%.	Patch 8.0.1
	Shadow	[Shadow Orb Power]	Increases the damage done by your Shadow Orbs by 11.6%. Each point of Mastery increases damage by an additional 1.45%.	Patch 5.0.4
	Shadow	Shadowy Recall	Gives your periodic shadow damage spells a 14.4% chance to deal damage twice, each time they deal damage.	Patch 6.0.2
	Shadow	[Mastery: Mental Anguish]	Increases the damage of [Mind Blast], [Mind Spike], and [Mind Flay] by 20%.	Patch 7.0.3
	Shadow	[Mastery: Madness]	Increases the damage of your [Shadow Word: Pain], [Vampiric Touch], [Mind Blast], [Mind Flay], [Mind Sear], [Void Eruption], and [Void Bolt] by 9.6%.	Patch 9.0.1
Shaman	Elemental	[Mastery: Molten Earth]	Your damaging spells incite the earth around you to come to your aid for 6 sec, repeatedly dealing (41.6% of spell power) Fire damage to your most recently attacked target. Also increases the damage of your Earthquake by 16%.	Patch 7.0.3
Warlock	Destruction	[Fiery Apocalypse]	Increases all fire damage you deal by 10.8%. Each point of Mastery increases fire damage by an additional 1.35%.	Patch 5.0.4
	Destruction	[Mastery: Emberstorm]	Increases the damage of [Immolate], [Incinerate], and [Conflagrate] by 8.00%. Increases the effectiveness of Burning Ember consuming spells by 24.00%.	Patch 7.0.3
Warrior	Arms	Strikes of Opportunity	Grants a 17.6% chance for your melee attacks to instantly trigger an additional melee attack for 100% normal damage. Each point of Mastery increases this chance by 2.2%.	Patch 6.0.2
	Arms	[Mastery: Weapons Master]	Increases the damage of your Mortal Strike, Colossus Smash, and Execute abilities by 41.6%.	Patch 7.0.3
	Arms	[Mastery: Colossal Might]	Increases the damage of your Colossus Smash by 16%, and causes it to increase damage you deal to the target by an additional 16%.	Patch 8.0.1

Cataclysm: Classic

This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.

In Cataclysm Classic, Mastery is only available to players beginning at Level 80, and the Mastery class skill must be trained at a Class Trainer in order for it to have any effect (and to receive any benefit from mastery rating). Additionally, Mastery rating can only be found on high level equipment, consumables, and enchants obtained from Cataclysm content (though it may be reforged to on older items that are at least item level 200).

Once trained, all players start with a base 8 Mastery Points (with the exception of Frost Mages, whose passive [Frost Specialization] reduces their base mastery to 2 points). Each mastery point is converted to a differing amount of mastery based on specialization.
The character pane will show the total amount of raw mastery points a player has, but the effective values are only visible by mousing over the tooltip.

Class	Specialization	Mastery	Mastery effects
Death Knight	Blood	Blood Shield	Each time you heal yourself with Death Strike while in Blood Presence, you gain 50% of the amount healed as a damage absorption shield. Each point of Mastery increases the shield by an additional 6.25%.
	Frost	Frozen Heart	Increases all Frost damage done by 16%. Each point of Mastery increases Frost damage by an additional 2.0%.
	Unholy	Dreadblade	Increases Shadow damage done by 20%. Each point of Mastery increases Shadow damage by an additional 2.5%.
Druid	Balance	[Total Eclipse]	Increases the bonus damage from [Eclipse] by 16%. Each point of Mastery increases the bonus by an additional 2.0%.
	Feral ( [Bear Form])	[Savage Defender]	Increases the damage absorbed by your [Savage Defense] ability by 32%. Each point of Mastery increases the absorb by an additional 4%.
	Feral ( [Cat Form])	Razor Claws	Increases the damage done by your bleed abilities by 25.04%. Each point of Mastery increases bleed damage by an additional 3.1%.
	Restoration	Harmony	Your direct healing is increased by an additional 10% and casting your direct healing spells grants you an additional 10% bonus to periodic healing for 10 sec. Each point of Mastery increases each bonus by an additional 1.25%.
Hunter	Beast Mastery	Master of Beasts	Increases the damage done by your pets by 13.36%. Each point of Mastery increases pet damage by an additional 1.67%.
	Marksmanship	[Wild Quiver]	Grants a 16.8% chance for your ranged attacks to also instantly fire an additional ranged shot. Each point of Mastery increases the chance by an additional 2.1%.
	Survival	[Essence of the Viper]	Increases all magical damage you deal by 8%. Each point of Mastery increases magical damage by an additional 1.0%.
Mage	Arcane	[Mana Adept]	Increases all spell damage done by up to 12%, based on the amount of mana the Mage has unspent. Each point of Mastery increases damage done by up to an additional 1.5%.
	Fire	[Flashburn]	Increases the damage done by all your periodic fire damage effects by 22.4%. Each point of Mastery increases periodic damage done by an additional 2.8%.
	Frost	[Frostburn]	All your spells deal 5% increased damage against Frozen targets. Each point of Mastery increases damage by an additional 2.5%.
Paladin	Holy	Illuminated Healing	Your direct healing spells also place an absorb shield on your target for 12% of the amount healed lasting 15 sec. Each point of Mastery increases the absorb amount by an additional 1.50%.
	Protection	Divine Bulwark	Increases your chance to block melee attacks by 18%. Each point of Mastery increases block chance by an additional 2.25%.
	Retribution	[Hand of Light]	Your [Templar's Verdict], [Crusader Strike], and [Divine Storm] deal 16.8% additional damage as Holy damage. Each point of Mastery increases the damage by an additional 2.1%.
Priest	Discipline	[Shield Discipline]	Increases the potency of all your damage absorption spells by 20%. Each point of Mastery increases the potency of absorbs by an additional 2.5%.
	Holy	Echo of Light	Your direct healing spells heal for an additional 10% over 6 sec. Each point of Mastery provides an additional 1.25% healing over 6 sec.
	Shadow	[Shadow Orb Power]	Increases the damage done by your Shadow Orbs by 11.6%. Each point of Mastery increases damage by an additional 1.45%.
Rogue	Assassination	Potent Poisons	Increases the damage done by your poisons by 28%. Each point of Mastery increases damage by an additional 3.5%.
	Combat	Main Gauche	Your main-hand attacks have a 16% chance to grant you an attack that deals damage equal to 100% of a main-hand attack. Each point of Mastery increases the chance by an additional 2.0%.
	Subtlety	Executioner	Increases the damage done by your finishing moves, and the effectiveness of your [Slice and Dice], by 20%. Each point of Mastery increases damage by an additional 2.5%.
Shaman	Elemental	Elemental Overload	Grants a 16% chance for Elemental Overload to occur. Elemental Overload causes a [Lightning Bolt], [Chain Lightning], or [Lava Burst] spell you cast to trigger a second, similar spell on the same target at no additional cost that causes 75% of normal damage and no threat. Each point of Mastery increases the chance of Elemental Overload by an additional 2%.
	Enhancement	Enhanced Elements	Increases all Fire, Frost, and Nature damage done by 20%. Each point of Mastery increases damage by an additional 2.5%
	Restoration	Deep Healing	Increases the potency of your healing spells by up to 24%, based on the current health level of your target (lower health targets are healed for more). Each point of Mastery increases healing by up to an additional 3.0%.
Warlock	Affliction	Potent Afflictions	Increases all periodic shadow damage you deal by 13.04%. Each point of Mastery increases periodic shadow damage by an additional 1.63%.
	Demonology	[Master Demonologist]	Increases the damage done by your demon servants and damage you deal while transformed into a demon by 18.4%. Each point of Mastery increases damage by an additional 2.3%.
	Destruction	[Fiery Apocalypse]	Increases all fire damage you deal by 10.8%. Each point of Mastery increases fire damage by an additional 1.35%.
Warrior	Arms	Strikes of Opportunity	Grants a 17.6% chance for your melee attacks to instantly trigger an additional melee attack for 100% normal damage. Each point of Mastery increases this chance by 2.2%.
	Fury	Unshackled Fury	Increases the benefit of abilities that cause or require you to be enraged by 11.2%. Each point of Mastery increases enrage effects by an additional 5.6%.
	Protection	Critical Block	Increases your chance to block by 12% and your chance to critically block by 12%. Each point of Mastery increases your block chance by an additional 1.5% and your critical block chance by an additional 1.5%.

Mastery Rating Required Per 1 Mastery Point
Level 80	Level 85
45.90	179.28

Trivia

• Some of the original masteries in game were created from reworked talents in prior expansions, such as Combat's [Hack and Slash] becoming [Mastery: Main Gauche] and Elemental's [Lightning Overload] becoming [Mastery: Elemental Overload].
• Only a few of the original masteries added in Cataclysm have survived numerous expansions and remained as the spec's mastery at present (though some have been redesigned). The masteries added in Patch 4.0.1 that are still in use today are:
  • Death Knight's [Mastery: Blood Shield] and [Mastery: Frozen Heart].
  • Druid's [Mastery: Razor Claws]
  • Hunter's [Mastery: Master of Beasts]
  • Paladin's [Mastery: Divine Bulwark]
  • Priest's [Mastery: Echo of Light]
  • Rogue's [Mastery: Potent Assassin], [Mastery: Main Gauche], and [Mastery: Executioner]
  • Shaman's [Mastery: Enhanced Elements] and [Mastery: Deep Healing]
  • Warlock's [Mastery: Potent Afflictions] and [Mastery: Master Demonologist]
  • Warrior's [Mastery: Unshackled Fury] and [Mastery: Critical Block]
• The first mastery to be removed was the Unholy Death Knight's [Blightcaller], replaced by [Mastery: Dreadblade] in Patch 4.0.6.
  • This mastery also has the shortest lifespan in game, lasting just under four months before being removed.
• Mage is the only original class that has had all three of their spec's original masteries removed.
• Rogue is the only original class that has not had any of their spec's masteries removed, even after having one of their original specializations removed, as Outlaw retained Combat's mastery.
• Shadow priests currently hold the record for the spec that has had the largest amount of different masteries, having had a total of 5 different masteries since mastery was introduced.
  • The only shadow priest masteries to survive after the expansions they were added in are [Mastery: Madness] (added in Legion, removed in Shadowlands) and [Mastery: Shadow Weaving] (added in Shadowlands, still active as of Dragonflight).
• [Total Eclipse], Mastery: Hand of Light, and [Mastery: Elemental Overload] are the only three masteries that have been re-added to the game after previously being removed. These were also the three original masteries for their respective specializations (though Mastery: Hand of Light was redesigned when it was re-added).
  • [Total Eclipse] was eventually removed again.
• In Cataclysm Classic, certain masteries that increase damage schools by flat amounts (such as Enhanced Elements) will also apply their effect to items with damage procs (e.g.  [Rathrak, the Poisonous Mind]).
  • This is in contrast to retail, where these masteries only affect the player's abilities and do not extend to procs from items, enchants, or consumables.

Patch changes

• Patch 9.0.1 (2020-10-13): Masteries are now learned at level 10. (At current, masteries are present in the spellbook.)
  
• Patch 7.0.3 (2016-07-19): Masteries are now learned at level 78 instead of 80.
  
• Patch 6.0.2 (2014-10-14): Masteries are no longer found in the Spellbook.
  
• Patch 5.0.4 (2012-08-28): Mastery is no longer found as mastery rating or measured in points. Gear and items that previously granted 'mastery rating' now simply grant 'mastery', and mastery is now converted directly into a percentage bonus without being measured in points. Accordingly, there is no longer a standard rate of conversion for mastery. All mastery abilities now have "Mastery:" prefixed to their name ("Potent Afflictions" is now "Mastery: Potent Afflictions").
  
• Patch 4.0.1 (2010-10-12): Added.
  

External links

Wowhead How Mastery Works in World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft Community Site Cataclysm Class & Mastery Systems Update ^{[dead link]}

ElitistJerks.com Combat Ratings at level 85 (Cataclysm) ^{[dead link - archived copy]}