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The Endgame: Equipment and Weapons for the Skilled Mage
The most effective, and ultimate combination of mage armor is armor that grants the wearer a decent amount of + Intelligence, + Stamina and + Damage to magical attacks. Currently the epic Netherwind Regalia obtained from Blackwing Lair and Enigma Vestments obtained in Ahn’Qiraj are the best set items to acquire. There may be the odd epic piece that eclipses an individual set piece, but collectively both sets will provide the wearer with substantial offensive and defensive benefits. These sets are known as Tier 2 armor pieces. The Netherwind Crown can be obtained off of Onyxia while Netherwind Leggings are obtained from Ragnaros.

Below Tier 2 there is the Tier 1 Arcanist set from Molten Core. It was recently buffed to increase its +damage effectiveness, and should now be on any aspiring Mage’s wish list.

If you are level 60 and unable to obtain the above set items, I would suggest running the Zul’Gurub instance with friends or a pickup group, or try questing down in Silithus. You can also choose to run any of the level 55-60 instances as they have a decent array of effective + Stamina, + Intelligence and + Damage gear. It is important to focus on + Intelligence and + Stamina and + Damage and you will have a more effective mage in the long run. I personally avoid the + Critical % gear and + Spirit gear as those stats do not ensure consistent damage and survivability potential. + Crit gear can be good for sporadic damage bursts in a PvP environment, but in the PvE encounters, steady, controlled damage input is more valued, and better ensures raid survival.

For the raiding mage the Azuresong Mageblade is the premier choice for weapons to start. The next upgrade to that would be the Claw of Chromaggus or the Staff of Shadow Flame, both BWL drops or the Sharpened Silithid Femur from AQ 40. If obtaining the Azuresong Mageblade is near impossible, the aspiring mage can join an AQ 20 group in hopes of the BOP hilt drop that completes the Exalted Cenarion Hold quest for the Blade of Vaulted Secrets. For those who also do ZG there is the Bloodcaller blade from Hakkar and the Fang of Venoxis from one of the first couple of bosses. Both those blades are effective for end game use.

As always, it is essential to stay abreast of recent/future patches. New upgradeable epic armor sets are being released which will add greatly in making non-raid players more combat effective. If you choose your equipment wisely, a non-raid mage will have near the damage potential and survivability potential of a fully equipped Tier 1 mage. You’ll have to mix and match PvP and PvE obtained equipment, but it can be done with a little effort.

Let me share with you some of my favorite pieces of armor and equipment that I found very effective as I began my raiding career. Many pieces are farmable, available on the AH or available after running Blackrock Depths, Blackrock Spire, Scholomance, Strathome and the PvP battlegrounds.

Head: Red Felt Hat (Strathome)
Shoulders: Burial Shawl (Scholomance) or Boreal Mantle (Blackrock Mountain)
Back: Deep Woodlands Cloak (Quest in Hinterlands)
Chest: Robe of Winter Night (AH or Tailor), Robe of the Archmage (Tailor)
Gloves: Bloodguard Gloves (PvP rank 7 reward)
Boots: Bloodguard Boots (PvP rank 7 reward)
Legs: Skyshroud Leggings (Lower Blackrock Spire)
Belt: Frostwolf Cloth Belt (Friendly AV reward)
Wrist: Sublime Wristguards (Dire Maul)
Finger #1: Blood of the Martyr (Strathome quest reward)
Finger #2: Freezing Band (Farmable epic or purchasable on AH) or Flaming Band of Eagle (Upper Blackrock Spire)
Trinket #1: Briarwood Reed (Upper Blackrock Spire)
Trinket #2: Eye of the Beast (Horde Quest) or Burst of Knowledge (Blackrock Mountain)
With the above equipment you won’t have a large mana or hitpoint pool, but you will be combat effective for almost all PvE encounters.

Don’t forget to review the quest rewards for the various battleground instances. You will often find very competent pieces of equipment there and the repeated grind may be to your suiting.

These weapons I am going to show you are ones I held in high regard as I began my raiding career. Acquire your own and you will be well served, they kept me alive on the journey to Golemagg where I earned my current blade.

Sarah’s Guide (EPL Quest)
Rod of the Ogre Magi (Dire Maul)
Glowing Brightwood Staff (World Drop / AH)
Elemental Mage Staff (World Drop / AH)
Amethyst Wars Staff (Silithus Elemental Summon)
If you were so inclined to wear a blade you have a few options as well though not as many till you gain battleground faction or begin a raiding career. Two common weapons that served me in their day with their counterpart off-hands are:

Lorespinner (Dire Maul Quest reward)
Inventor’s Focal Sword (Marudon)
Spellbound Tome (Scholomance)
Tome of Knowledge (Strathome)
Oh, let me not forget to tell you that if you work hard with the Frostwolf Clan (Alterac Valley Battleground), you will be able to obtain these impressive epic off-hands.

Tome of Arcane Domination
Tome of the Ice Lord
Tome of Fiery Arcana
Therazane’s Touch
Similarly, if you work hard with the Defilers (Arathi Basin Battleground) you will have access to this fine blade:

Sageclaw
Work hard apprentice, the rewards are there for the taking. Keep your eyes open, new items are continually being discovered and in larger groups you will have access to even better weapons. This is just a simple guide, the road to your personal pride and joy is one best experienced.