Mastery
- For other uses, see Mastery (disambiguation).
Mastery is a passive mechanic specific to each specialization from level 10 that can be increased with stats. Mastery effects are found in the character sheet, in addition to the Spellbook under each specialization tab. Each Mastery offers specific benefits which can vary but generally fall into one of three 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. 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.
Mastery also refers to the associated secondary stat rating, which increases the strength of the effect. Like other ratings, this can be increased by gear with mastery on it. Each mastery has a base percentage value; the mastery stat increases this percentage by a varying amount depending on spec and level. Therefore even characters with no mastery stat rating will benefit from their Mastery.
Mastery stat rating is unique as its percentage depends both on the player's level and the specific mastery associated with their spec, with each mastery having a different amount of rating required to increase its effects. For example, a warlock that changes from affliction to demonology will see a decrease in both their base mastery percentage and mastery gained from rating, as it takes more mastery rating to increase [Mastery: Master Demonologist] than it does for
[Mastery: Potent Afflictions]. This can be shown by viewing the effects for inactive specializations in the spellbook. Numerous enhancements such as enchantments and gems increase mastery rating. In terms of stat weighting, the importance of mastery depends on the effect it grants the player, as well as the effectiveness of mastery rating on the spec's mastery percentage.
Masteries
Below is a list of all Masteries, and the classes and specs to which they belong. Listed under 'Base effect' are the base percentage benefits granted to players regardless of their mastery stat. 'Rating per 1%' is the mastery rating required at level 60 to gain an additional 1% effect for that mastery's X value only (the displayed mastery percentage value in the paper doll frame). At lower levels, smaller amounts of mastery rating are required to gain the same benefit. Both base effects and ratios are often very specific and are sometimes difficult to determine precisely.
Class | Specialization | Mastery | Effect | Base effect (%) | Rating per 1% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Death Knight | Blood | ![]() |
X% of ![]() |
16/8 | 17.5 |
Frost | ![]() |
Increases frost damage by X%. | 16 | 17.5 | |
Unholy | ![]() |
Increases shadow damage and minion damage by X%. | 18 | 15.5 | |
Demon Hunter | Havoc | ![]() |
Increases Chaos damage by X% and movement speed by Y%. | 14/5 | 19.44 |
Vengeance | ![]() |
Increases the armor bonus granted by ![]() |
24/8 | 14 | |
Druid | Balance | ![]() |
Your Nature spells deal X% additional damage to targets affected by ![]() ![]() |
7 | ? |
Feral | ![]() |
Increases bleed damage and finishing moves damage by X%. | 16 | 17.5 | |
Guardian | ![]() |
Increases maximum health and healing received by X%, and increases Attack Power by Y%. | 4/8 | 70 | |
Restoration | ![]() |
Increases healing by X% for each Restoration heal over time effects on the target. | 4 | 70 | |
Evoker | Devastation | ![]() |
Increases the damage of your spells by up to X%, based on the current health of your target. Higher health targets take more damage. | 20 | 14 |
Preservation | ![]() |
Healing done to allies is increased by X% while their health percentage is lower than your own. | 14 | 19.4 | |
Hunter | Beast Mastery | ![]() |
Increases pet damage by X%. | 15 | 18.42 |
Marksmanship | ![]() |
Range of all ranged abilities is increased by X% and damage of all abilities increased by Y%. | 5/11 | 56 | |
Survival | ![]() |
Damage done by Focus spending abilities increased by X% for both the Hunter and pet. While a pet is active, both Hunter and pet regenerate Y% of max health per 5 seconds. | 13/1 | 21.12 | |
Mage | Arcane | ![]() |
Increases mana regen and max mana by X%. Arcane Charge increase damage of ![]() ![]() |
9.6/4.8/2.4/8 | 29.16 |
Fire | ![]() |
Certain direct-damage spells apply Ignite, a spreadable DoT that deals X% of the damage dealt by these spells over 9 seconds. | 6 | 46.66 | |
Frost | ![]() |
Casting ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
8/15 | 35 | |
Monk | Brewmaster | ![]() |
Each time you're hit or use ![]() |
8 | 35 |
Mistweaver | ![]() |
Healing spells also cause a gust of healing mists, instantly healing the primary target for X% of spell power. | 24 | 8.33 | |
Windwalker | ![]() |
Abilities deal X% more damage when they are not a repeat of the previous ability. | 10 | 28 | |
Paladin | Holy | ![]() |
Proximity to target causes spells to heal for up to X% more. | 12 | 23.33 |
Protection | ![]() |
Increases block chance by X%. Reduces damage taken while inside ![]() |
8/3/8 | 35 | |
Retribution | ![]() |
Increases Holy damage done by X%. | 13 | 21.88 | |
Priest | Discipline | ![]() |
Increases the healing and absorbs done on targets affected by ![]() |
10.8 | 25.93 |
Holy | ![]() |
Direct heals also apply a HoT that heals for X% of the original spells. | 10 | 28 | |
Shadow | ![]() |
Increases damage dealt by X% for each of the priest's three DoTs on the target. All targets receive the maximum effect during ![]() |
4 | 70 | |
Rogue | Assassination | ![]() |
Increases poison and bleed damage by X%. | 14 | 20.59 |
Outlaw | ![]() |
30% chance on main-hand attacks to cause an extra attack that deals damage with an off-hand weapon equal to X% of attack power. | 18 | 24.14 | |
Subtlety | ![]() |
Increases finishing move damage by X%. | 19.6 | 14.28 | |
Shaman | Elemental | ![]() |
Specific spells cast have a X% chance to trigger a second cast on the same target for 85% of normal damage and reduced Maelstrom generation. | 15 | 18.66 |
Enhancement | ![]() |
Increases your chance to trigger ![]() |
0.64/16 | 17.5 | |
Restoration | ![]() |
Increases healing from your spells by up to X%, based on the current health of your target. Lower health targets are healed for more. | 24 | 11.66 | |
Warlock | Affliction | ![]() |
Increases the damage of certain DoT spells and ![]() |
20 | 14 |
Demonology | ![]() |
Increases the damage done by demons by X%. | 12 | 24.14 | |
Destruction | ![]() |
Spell damage increased by X%, plus an additional random amount up to X%. Damage taken reduced by Y%, plus an additional random amount up to Y%. | 8/1.7 | 17.5 | |
Warrior | Arms | ![]() |
Certain attacks apply ![]() |
9 | 31.82 |
Fury | ![]() |
Increases damage done while under the effects of ![]() |
11 | 24 | |
Protection | ![]() |
Increased chance to block by X% and chance to critically block by Y%, and increases Attack Power by Z%. | 4/12/8 | 70 |
Removed masteries
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 [Mastery: 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 | ![]() ![]() |
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 | ![]() ![]() |
Increases ![]() ![]() |
Patch 9.0.1 |
Balance | ![]() ![]() |
Solar Eclipse increases nature spell damage by X%, Lunar Eclipse increases arcane spell damage by X%. | Patch 10.0.0 * | |
Feral (Bear Form) | ![]() ![]() |
Increases the damage absorbed by your ![]() |
Patch 5.0.4 | |
Guardian | ![]() ![]() |
Increases your armor by 12%. | Patch 6.0.2 | |
Guardian | ![]() ![]() |
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 | ![]() ![]() |
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 | ![]() ![]() |
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 | ![]() ![]() |
Increases all magical damage you deal by 10%. | Patch 7.0.3 | |
Survival | ![]() ![]() |
Your pet's attacks have a 4.0% chance to grant you an additional charge of ![]() |
Patch 8.0.1 | |
Mage | Arcane | ![]() ![]() |
Increases all spell damage done by up to 15%, based on the amount of mana the Mage has unspent. | Patch 7.0.3 |
Fire | ![]() ![]() |
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 | ![]() ![]() |
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 | ![]() ![]() |
You have a 10% chance when you heal to summon a ![]() 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 | ![]() ![]() |
Grants a 11% chance for ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Patch 5.2.0 | |
Windwalker | ![]() ![]() |
When you generate ![]() |
Patch 7.0.3 | |
Paladin | Holy | ![]() ![]() |
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 | ![]() ![]() |
Increases ![]() |
Patch 8.0.1 | |
Priest | Discipline | ![]() ![]() |
Increases the potency of all your damage absorption spells by 13%, and all of your healing by 6%. | Patch 7.0.3 |
Discipline | ![]() ![]() |
Increases the healing transferred through Atonement by 11.1%. | Patch 8.0.1 | |
Shadow | ![]() ![]() |
Increases the damage done by your ![]() |
Patch 5.0.4 | |
Shadow | ![]() ![]() |
Gives your periodic shadow damage spells a 14.4% chance to deal damage twice, each time they deal damage. | Patch 6.0.2 | |
Shadow | ![]() ![]() |
Increases the damage of ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Patch 7.0.3 | |
Shadow | ![]() ![]() |
Increases the damage of your ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Patch 9.0.1 | |
Shaman | Elemental | ![]() ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
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 | ![]() ![]() |
Increases the damage of ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Patch 7.0.3 | |
Warrior | Arms | ![]() ![]() |
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 | ![]() ![]() |
Increases the damage of your Mortal Strike, Colossus Smash, and Execute abilities by 41.6%. | Patch 7.0.3 | |
Arms | ![]() ![]() |
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 |
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]
- Death Knight's
- 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).
- The only shadow priest masteries to survive after the expansions they were added in are
[Mastery: 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).
[Mastery: Total Eclipse] was eventually removed again.
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
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