Welcome to another Mage guide for 5.0.5! I’ll update it if changes occur in later patches, but till then – I hope it helps!

 Gems:

Meta gem:

Arcane: Burning Primal Diamond
Fire: Burning Primal Diamond
Frost: Burning Primal Diamond

Red or Prismatic socket: 

If under hit cap, and willing to sacrifice a Red socket for hit – Arcane, Fire and Frost: Precise Primordial Ruby or Perfect Precise Pandarian Garnet - (Precise Serpent’s Eye if you’re a Jewelcrafter and really need Hit rating)

Otherwise,

Arcane: Brilliant Primordial Ruby or Perfect Brilliant Pandarian Garnet – (Brilliant Serpent’s Eye if you’re a Jewelcrafter)
Fire: Potent Vermilion Onyx or Perfect  Potent Tiger Opal
Frost:  Brilliant Primordial Ruby or Perfect Brilliant Pandarian Garnet – (Brilliant Serpent’s Eye if you’re a Jewelcrafter)

Yellow socket:

Arcane: If socket bonus is less than 60 Intellect, go with a Brilliant Primordial Ruby or Perfect Brilliant Pandarian Garnet (Brilliant Serpent’s Eye, if you’re a  Jewelcrafter). If over 60 Intellect, go with Artful Vermilion Onyx / Perfect Artful Tiger Opal
Fire:  Smooth Sun’s Radiance or Perfect Smooth Sunstone – (Smooth Serpent’s Eye if you’re a Jewelcrafter)
Frost: If socket bonus is less than 60 Intellect, go with a Brilliant Primordial Ruby or Perfect Brilliant Pandarian Garnet (Brilliant Serpent’s Eye if you’re a Jewelcrafter). If over 60 Intellect, go with  Artful Vermilion Onyx / Perfect Artful Tiger Opal

Blue socket:
(For me, I’d use blue sockets for my Hit rating needs, if any) 

If under hit cap, and willing to sacrifice a Blue socket for hit – Arcane, Fire and Frost: Rigid River’s Heart or Perfect Rigid Lapis Lazuli - (Rigid Serpent’s Eye if you’re a Jewelcrafter and really need Hit rating)

Otherwise, personally, unless the socket bonus is at least 60 Intellect (possibly 60 Crit if Fire, but I’d go with the Intellect threshold):

Arcane: Brilliant Primordial Ruby or Perfect Brilliant Pandarian Garnet - (Brilliant Serpent’s Eye if you’re a Jewelcrafter)
Fire: Potent Vermilion Onyx or Perfect  Potent Tiger Opal
Frost:  Brilliant Primordial Ruby or Perfect Brilliant Pandarian Garnet - (Brilliant Serpent’s Eye if you’re a Jewelcrafter)

If the bonus is at least 60 Intellect (or 60 Crit if you decide for it as Fire):

Arcane: Veiled Imperial Amethyst or Perfect Veiled Roguestone
Fire: Piercing Wild Jade or Perfect Piercing Alexandrite
Frost:  Veiled Imperial Amethyst or Perfect Veiled Roguestone

Enchants:
(ordered from best to not-as-good) 

Helm:
None. Helm enchants are no longer in the game!

Shoulders:

Arcane, Frost and Fire:
Secret Crane Wing Inscription (if you’re a Scribe)
Greater Crane Wing Inscription
Crane Wing Inscription

Back: 

Arcane, Frost and Fire:
Lightweave Embroidery (if you’re a Tailor)
Enchant Cloak – Superior Intellect

Chest:

Arcane, Frost and Fire:
Enchant Chest – Glorious Stats

Wrists:

Arcane, Fire and Frost:
Fur Lining – Intellect (if you’re a Leatherworker)
Enchant Bracer – Super Intellect

Also remember to add on your Socket Bracer enhancement if you’re a Blacksmith!

Hands:

Arcane:
Enchant Gloves – Superior Mastery
Enchant Gloves – Greater Haste
Enchant Gloves – Expertise (if you need Hit rating)

Fire and Frost:
Enchant Gloves – Greater Haste
Enchant Gloves – Superior Mastery
Enchant Gloves – Expertise (if you need Hit rating)

Don’t forget to attach your Synapse Springs if you’re an Engineer, or Socket Gloves enhancement if you’re a Blacksmith!

Belt:

Arcane, Fire and Frost:
Living Steel Belt Buckle

Legs:

Arcane, Fire and Frost:
Greater Cerulean Spellthread = Master’s Spellthread (if you’re a Tailor)
Cerulean Spellthread

Feet:

Arcane:
Enchant Boots – Pandaren’s Step
Enchant Boots – Greater Haste

Fire and Frost – if you don’t want Pandaren’s Step, simply go for:
Enchant Boots – Greater Haste

Ring:

Arcane, Fire and Frost: 
Enchant Ring – Greater Intellect (if you’re an Enchanter)

Main hand weapon or staff:

Arcane, Fire and Frost:
Enchant Weapon – Jade Spirit
Enchant Weapon – Elemental Force
Enchant Weapon – Windsong

Off-hand: 

Arcane, Fire and Frost:
Enchant Off-Hand – Major Intellect

Phew! There we have it. All three Mage trees accounted for. I hope it helps some of you, and if I’ve made an error please do let me know

Thanks for reading!

Guide Loot Mage Mists of Pandaria Pre-raid World of Warcraft