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. (Mage Level 70 Pre-raid Gear )




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)

[ Post edited by Zultmeth ]

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