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🔮 Mage talent reference

Mages are glass cannons: huge damage, very little armour. Arcane is about mana control and burst windows, Fire is raw damage output, and Frost slows and freezes everything, which also makes it the friendliest spec for levelling.

How to read this Mage reference

• Read rank 1 first. Every Mage talent below lists its full ranks in the exact beta-client wording: rank 1 is the pitch, the last rank is the finished product.
• The tags tell you what Forever changed: NEW never existed in Classic; Changed works differently than it used to; Active means you press a button to use it, everything else just happens on its own.
• Rows are the price. In Arcane, Fire, Frost, a row 4 talent needs 15 points spent in the rows above it, in the same tree. So plan each tree from the top down.

✦ Arcane

Arcane runs 18 talents across 7 rows. Arcane Geometry, Arcane Blast, Missile Barrage are the new Forever additions here. Read them properly before you spend points. The row 7 payoffs are Arcane Power.

✦ Wand Specialization Ranks 1–2 Moved

1. Rank 1: Increases your damage with Wands by 13%.
2. Rank 2: Increases your damage with Wands by 25%.

Row 1 · Column 1 · Tree: Arcane

✦ Arcane Focus Ranks 1–5 Changed

1. Rank 1: Improves your chance to hit with Arcane spells by 1%.
2. Rank 2: Improves your chance to hit with Arcane spells by 2%.
3. Rank 3: Improves your chance to hit with Arcane spells by 3%.
4. Rank 4: Improves your chance to hit with Arcane spells by 4%.
5. Rank 5: Improves your chance to hit with Arcane spells by 5%.

Row 1 · Column 2 · Tree: Arcane

✦ Improved Channeling Ranks 1–5 Changed

1. Rank 1: Gives you a 20% chance to avoid interruption caused by damage while channeling Arcane Missiles and a 14% chance while casting Arcane Blast.
2. Rank 2: Gives you a 40% chance to avoid interruption caused by damage while channeling Arcane Missiles and a 28% chance while casting Arcane Blast.
3. Rank 3: Gives you a 60% chance to avoid interruption caused by damage while channeling Arcane Missiles and a 42% chance while casting Arcane Blast.
4. Rank 4: Gives you a 80% chance to avoid interruption caused by damage while channeling Arcane Missiles and a 56% chance while casting Arcane Blast.
5. Rank 5: Gives you a 100% chance to avoid interruption caused by damage while channeling Arcane Missiles and a 70% chance while casting Arcane Blast.

Row 1 · Column 3 · Tree: Arcane

✦ Arcane Subtlety Ranks 1–2 Changed

1. Rank 1: Reduces your target's resistance to all your spells by 8 and reduces the threat caused by your Arcane spells by 15%.
2. Rank 2: Reduces your target's resistance to all your spells by 15 and reduces the threat caused by your Arcane spells by 30%.

Row 2 · Column 1 · Tree: Arcane

✦ Magic Absorption Ranks 1–2 Changed

1. Rank 1: Increases all your resistances by 5 and causes all spells you fully resist to restore 1% of your total mana. Cannot trigger more often than 1 time per sec.
2. Rank 2: Increases all your resistances by 10 and causes all spells you fully resist to restore 2% of your total mana. Cannot trigger more often than 1 time per sec.

Row 2 · Column 2 · Tree: Arcane

✦ Arcane Concentration Ranks 1–5

1. Rank 1: Gives you a 2% chance of entering a Clearcasting state after any damage spell hits a target. The Clearcasting state reduces the mana cost of your next damage spell by 100%.
2. Rank 2: Gives you a 4% chance of entering a Clearcasting state after any damage spell hits a target. The Clearcasting state reduces the mana cost of your next damage spell by 100%.
3. Rank 3: Gives you a 6% chance of entering a Clearcasting state after any damage spell hits a target. The Clearcasting state reduces the mana cost of your next damage spell by 100%.
4. Rank 4: Gives you a 8% chance of entering a Clearcasting state after any damage spell hits a target. The Clearcasting state reduces the mana cost of your next damage spell by 100%.
5. Rank 5: Gives you a 10% chance of entering a Clearcasting state after any damage spell hits a target. The Clearcasting state reduces the mana cost of your next damage spell by 100%.

Row 2 · Column 3 · Tree: Arcane

✦ Arcane Resilience Ranks 1–2 Changed

1. Rank 1: Increases your Armor by an amount equal to 25% of your Intellect.
2. Rank 2: Increases your Armor by an amount equal to 50% of your Intellect.

Row 2 · Column 4 · Tree: Arcane

✦ Arcane Geometry Ranks 1–2 NEW in Forever

1. Rank 1: Increases the range of your Arcane spells by 3 yards.
2. Rank 2: Increases the range of your Arcane spells by 6 yards.

Row 3 · Column 1 · Tree: Arcane

✦ Arcane Impact Ranks 1–3 Changed

1. Rank 1: Increases the critical strike chance of your Arcane spells by 2%.
2. Rank 2: Increases the critical strike chance of your Arcane spells by 4%.
3. Rank 3: Increases the critical strike chance of your Arcane spells by 6%.

Row 3 · Column 2 · Tree: Arcane

✦ Arcane Blast Ranks 1–1 NEW in Forever Active

15% of base mana | 30 yd range | 2.5 sec cast

1. Rank 1: Blasts the target with energy, dealing 57 to 65 Arcane damage. Each time you cast Arcane Blast, the damage of all your other spells is increased by 10% and the mana cost of Arcane Blast is increased by 175%. Effect stacks up to 4 times and lasts 8 sec or until any other damage spell is cast.

Row 3 · Column 4 · Tree: Arcane

✦ Arcane Shielding Ranks 1–2 Changed

1. Rank 1: Decreases the Mana lost per point of damage taken when your Mana Shield spell is active by 17% and increases the resistances granted by your Mage Armor spell by 25%.
2. Rank 2: Decreases the Mana lost per point of damage taken when your Mana Shield spell is active by 33% and increases the resistances granted by your Mage Armor spell by 50%.

Row 4 · Column 1 · Tree: Arcane

✦ Improved Counterspell Ranks 1–2 Changed

1. Rank 1: Your Counterspell also Silences the target for 2 sec.
2. Rank 2: Your Counterspell also Silences the target for 4 sec.

Row 4 · Column 2 · Tree: Arcane

✦ Arcane Meditation Ranks 1–3 Changed Requires Arcane Concentration

1. Rank 1: Allows 17% of your Mana regeneration to continue while casting.
2. Rank 2: Allows 33% of your Mana regeneration to continue while casting.
3. Rank 3: Allows 50% of your Mana regeneration to continue while casting.

Row 4 · Column 3 · Tree: Arcane

✦ Missile Barrage Ranks 1–1 NEW in Forever

1. Rank 1: Gives your Arcane Blast spell a 40% chance, and your Fireball, Frostbolt, and Frostfire Bolt spells a 20% chance to reduce the channeled duration of your next Arcane Missiles spell by 50%, reduce the Mana cost by 100%, and missiles fire every 0.5 sec.

Row 4 · Column 4 · Tree: Arcane

✦ Presence of Mind Ranks 1–1 Active

Instant | 3 min cooldown

1. Rank 1: When activated, your next Mage spell with a casting time less than 10 sec becomes an instant cast spell.

Row 5 · Column 2 · Tree: Arcane

✦ Arcane Mind Ranks 1–5 Changed

1. Rank 1: Increases your Intellect by 2% and increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Arcane spells by 20%.
2. Rank 2: Increases your Intellect by 4% and increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Arcane spells by 40%.
3. Rank 3: Increases your Intellect by 6% and increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Arcane spells by 60%.
4. Rank 4: Increases your Intellect by 8% and increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Arcane spells by 80%.
5. Rank 5: Increases your Intellect by 10% and increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Arcane spells by 100%.

Row 5 · Column 3 · Tree: Arcane

✦ Arcane Instability Ranks 1–3 Changed

1. Rank 1: Increases the damage done by your spells by 1% and your critical strike chance by 1%.
2. Rank 2: Increases the damage done by your spells by 2% and your critical strike chance by 2%.
3. Rank 3: Increases the damage done by your spells by 3% and your critical strike chance by 3%.

Row 6 · Column 3 · Tree: Arcane

✦ Arcane Power Ranks 1–1 Changed Active Requires Presence of Mind

Instant | 3 min cooldown

1. Rank 1: For the next 15 sec, your spells deal 30% more damage while costing 30% more mana to cast.

Row 7 · Column 2 · Tree: Arcane

Gone from Classic Arcane (1)

These talents were in this tree in Classic Era but are gone in Forever. If an old favourite build is not feeling right, this list is the first place to check.

• Magic Attunement (was 2 ranks, row 3). Increases the effect of your Amplify Magic and Dampen Magic spells by 25%.

✦ Fire

Fire runs 17 talents across 7 rows. Hot Streak is the new Forever addition here. Read it properly before you spend points. The row 7 payoffs are Combustion.

✦ Wake of Fire Ranks 1–2 Changed

1. Rank 1: Reduces the cooldown of your Fire Blast spell by 1 sec. Killing a non-trivial target increases the critical strike chance of your next Fire Blast cast within 20 sec by 25%.
2. Rank 2: Reduces the cooldown of your Fire Blast spell by 2 sec. Killing a non-trivial target increases the critical strike chance of your next Fire Blast cast within 20 sec by 50%.

Row 1 · Column 1 · Tree: Fire

✦ Incineration Ranks 1–3 Changed

1. Rank 1: Increases the critical strike chance of your Fire Blast, Ice Lance, Arcane Blast, and Scorch spells by 2%.
2. Rank 2: Increases the critical strike chance of your Fire Blast, Ice Lance, Arcane Blast, and Scorch spells by 4%.
3. Rank 3: Increases the critical strike chance of your Fire Blast, Ice Lance, Arcane Blast, and Scorch spells by 6%.

Row 1 · Column 2 · Tree: Fire

✦ Improved Fireball Ranks 1–5 Changed

1. Rank 1: Reduces the casting time of your Fireball and Frostfire Bolt spells by 0.1 sec.
2. Rank 2: Reduces the casting time of your Fireball and Frostfire Bolt spells by 0.2 sec.
3. Rank 3: Reduces the casting time of your Fireball and Frostfire Bolt spells by 0.3 sec.
4. Rank 4: Reduces the casting time of your Fireball and Frostfire Bolt spells by 0.4 sec.
5. Rank 5: Reduces the casting time of your Fireball and Frostfire Bolt spells by 0.5 sec.

Row 1 · Column 3 · Tree: Fire

✦ Ignite Ranks 1–5

1. Rank 1: Your critical strikes from Fire damage spells cause the target to burn for an additional 8% of your spell's damage over 4 sec.
2. Rank 2: Your critical strikes from Fire damage spells cause the target to burn for an additional 16% of your spell's damage over 4 sec.
3. Rank 3: Your critical strikes from Fire damage spells cause the target to burn for an additional 24% of your spell's damage over 4 sec.
4. Rank 4: Your critical strikes from Fire damage spells cause the target to burn for an additional 32% of your spell's damage over 4 sec.
5. Rank 5: Your critical strikes from Fire damage spells cause the target to burn for an additional 40% of your spell's damage over 4 sec.

Row 2 · Column 1 · Tree: Fire

✦ Flame Throwing Ranks 1–2

1. Rank 1: Increases the range of your Fire spells by 3 yards.
2. Rank 2: Increases the range of your Fire spells by 6 yards.

Row 2 · Column 2 · Tree: Fire

✦ Impact Ranks 1–3 Changed

1. Rank 1: Gives your Fire spells a 3% chance to stun the target for 2 sec.
2. Rank 2: Gives your Fire spells a 7% chance to stun the target for 2 sec.
3. Rank 3: Gives your Fire spells a 10% chance to stun the target for 2 sec.

Row 2 · Column 3 · Tree: Fire

✦ Burning Soul Ranks 1–3 Changed

1. Rank 1: Gives your Fire spells a 23% chance to not lose casting time when you take damage and reduces the threat caused by your Fire spells by 10%.
2. Rank 2: Gives your Fire spells a 47% chance to not lose casting time when you take damage and reduces the threat caused by your Fire spells by 20%.
3. Rank 3: Gives your Fire spells a 70% chance to not lose casting time when you take damage and reduces the threat caused by your Fire spells by 30%.

Row 3 · Column 1 · Tree: Fire

✦ Improved Flamestrike Ranks 1–3

1. Rank 1: Increases the critical strike chance of your Flamestrike spell by 5%.
2. Rank 2: Increases the critical strike chance of your Flamestrike spell by 10%.
3. Rank 3: Increases the critical strike chance of your Flamestrike spell by 15%.

Row 3 · Column 2 · Tree: Fire

✦ Pyroblast Ranks 1–1 Changed Active

125 Mana | 35 yd range | 6 sec cast

1. Rank 1: Hurls an immense fiery boulder that causes 101 to 131 Fire damage and an additional 44 Fire damage over 12 sec.

Row 3 · Column 3 · Tree: Fire

✦ Improved Scorch Ranks 1–3 Changed

1. Rank 1: Your Scorch spell has a 33% chance to cause your target to be vulnerable to Fire damage. This vulnerability increases all Fire damage you deal to your target by 3% and lasts 30 sec, stacking up to 5 times.
2. Rank 2: Your Scorch spell has a 67% chance to cause your target to be vulnerable to Fire damage. This vulnerability increases all Fire damage you deal to your target by 3% and lasts 30 sec, stacking up to 5 times.
3. Rank 3: Your Scorch spell has a 100% chance to cause your target to be vulnerable to Fire damage. This vulnerability increases all Fire damage you deal to your target by 3% and lasts 30 sec, stacking up to 5 times.

Row 4 · Column 1 · Tree: Fire

✦ Improved Fire Ward Ranks 1–2

1. Rank 1: Causes your Fire Ward to have a 10% chance to reflect Fire spells while active.
2. Rank 2: Causes your Fire Ward to have a 20% chance to reflect Fire spells while active.

Row 4 · Column 2 · Tree: Fire

✦ Hot Streak Ranks 1–1 NEW in Forever Requires Pyroblast

1. Rank 1: Your non-periodic critical strikes with Fireball, Frostfire Bolt, Fire Blast, and Scorch grant Hot Streak for 15 sec. Hot Streak reduces the cast time of Pyroblast by 25%, stacking up to 3 times.

Row 4 · Column 3 · Tree: Fire

✦ Master of Elements Ranks 1–3 Changed

1. Rank 1: Your Fire and Frost critical strikes will refund 10% of their base mana cost.
2. Rank 2: Your Fire and Frost critical strikes will refund 20% of their base mana cost.
3. Rank 3: Your Fire and Frost critical strikes will refund 30% of their base mana cost.

Row 4 · Column 4 · Tree: Fire

✦ Critical Mass Ranks 1–3

1. Rank 1: Increases the critical strike chance of your Fire spells by 2%.
2. Rank 2: Increases the critical strike chance of your Fire spells by 4%.
3. Rank 3: Increases the critical strike chance of your Fire spells by 6%.

Row 5 · Column 2 · Tree: Fire

✦ Blast Wave Ranks 1–1 Changed Active

215 Mana | Instant | 45 sec cooldown

1. Rank 1: A wave of flame radiates outward from the caster, damaging all enemies caught within the blast for 154 to 184 Fire damage, and Dazing them for 50% reduced movement speed for 6 sec.

Row 5 · Column 3 · Tree: Fire

✦ Fire Power Ranks 1–5

1. Rank 1: Increases the damage done by your Fire spells by 2%.
2. Rank 2: Increases the damage done by your Fire spells by 4%.
3. Rank 3: Increases the damage done by your Fire spells by 6%.
4. Rank 4: Increases the damage done by your Fire spells by 8%.
5. Rank 5: Increases the damage done by your Fire spells by 10%.

Row 6 · Column 3 · Tree: Fire

✦ Combustion Ranks 1–1 Changed Active Requires Critical Mass

Instant | 3 min cooldown

1. Rank 1: When activated, this spell causes each of your Fire damage spell hits to increase your critical strike chance with Fire damage spells by 10%. This effect lasts until you have caused 4 non-periodic critical strikes with Fire spells.

Row 7 · Column 2 · Tree: Fire

✦ Frost

Frost runs 19 talents across 7 rows. Ice Lance, Fingers of Frost are the new Forever additions here. Read them properly before you spend points. The row 7 payoffs are Ice Barrier.

✦ Frost Warding Ranks 1–2 Changed

1. Rank 1: Increases the Armor and resistance given by your Frost Armor and Ice Armor spells by 15%. In addition, gives your Frost Ward a 10% chance to reflect Frost spells and effects while active.
2. Rank 2: Increases the Armor and resistance given by your Frost Armor and Ice Armor spells by 30%. In addition, gives your Frost Ward a 20% chance to reflect Frost spells and effects while active.

Row 1 · Column 1 · Tree: Frost

✦ Improved Frostbolt Ranks 1–5

1. Rank 1: Reduces the casting time of your Frostbolt spell by 0.1 sec.
2. Rank 2: Reduces the casting time of your Frostbolt spell by 0.2 sec.
3. Rank 3: Reduces the casting time of your Frostbolt spell by 0.3 sec.
4. Rank 4: Reduces the casting time of your Frostbolt spell by 0.4 sec.
5. Rank 5: Reduces the casting time of your Frostbolt spell by 0.5 sec.

Row 1 · Column 2 · Tree: Frost

✦ Elemental Precision Ranks 1–5 Changed

1. Rank 1: Improves your chance to hit with Frost and Fire spells by 1%.
2. Rank 2: Improves your chance to hit with Frost and Fire spells by 2%.
3. Rank 3: Improves your chance to hit with Frost and Fire spells by 3%.
4. Rank 4: Improves your chance to hit with Frost and Fire spells by 4%.
5. Rank 5: Improves your chance to hit with Frost and Fire spells by 5%.

Row 1 · Column 3 · Tree: Frost

✦ Ice Shards Ranks 1–5

1. Rank 1: Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Frost spells by 20%.
2. Rank 2: Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Frost spells by 40%.
3. Rank 3: Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Frost spells by 60%.
4. Rank 4: Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Frost spells by 80%.
5. Rank 5: Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Frost spells by 100%.

Row 2 · Column 1 · Tree: Frost

✦ Permafrost Ranks 1–3 Changed

1. Rank 1: Increases the duration of your Chill effects by 11% and reduces the target's speed by an additional 3%.
2. Rank 2: Increases the duration of your Chill effects by 22% and reduces the target's speed by an additional 7%.
3. Rank 3: Increases the duration of your Chill effects by 33% and reduces the target's speed by an additional 10%.

Row 2 · Column 2 · Tree: Frost

✦ Improved Frost Nova Ranks 1–2

1. Rank 1: Reduces the cooldown of your Frost Nova spell by 2 sec.
2. Rank 2: Reduces the cooldown of your Frost Nova spell by 4 sec.

Row 2 · Column 3 · Tree: Frost

✦ Frostbite Ranks 1–3

1. Rank 1: Gives your Chill effects a 5% chance to Freeze the target for 5 sec.
2. Rank 2: Gives your Chill effects a 10% chance to Freeze the target for 5 sec.
3. Rank 3: Gives your Chill effects a 15% chance to Freeze the target for 5 sec.

Row 2 · Column 4 · Tree: Frost

✦ Piercing Ice Ranks 1–3

1. Rank 1: Increases the damage done by your Frost spells by 2%.
2. Rank 2: Increases the damage done by your Frost spells by 4%.
3. Rank 3: Increases the damage done by your Frost spells by 6%.

Row 3 · Column 1 · Tree: Frost

✦ Frost Channeling Ranks 1–3 Moved

1. Rank 1: Reduces the mana cost of your Frost spells by 5% and reduces the threat caused by your Frost spells by 10%.
2. Rank 2: Reduces the mana cost of your Frost spells by 10% and reduces the threat caused by your Frost spells by 20%.
3. Rank 3: Reduces the mana cost of your Frost spells by 15% and reduces the threat caused by your Frost spells by 30%.

Row 3 · Column 2 · Tree: Frost

✦ Ice Lance Ranks 1–1 NEW in Forever Active

45 Mana | 30 yd range | Instant

1. Rank 1: Deals 28 to 32 Frost damage to an enemy target. Deals 300% increased damage to Frozen targets.

Row 3 · Column 3 · Tree: Frost

✦ Improved Blizzard Ranks 1–3 Changed

1. Rank 1: Adds a Chill effect to your Blizzard spell. This effect lowers the target's movement speed by 15% for 1.5 sec.
2. Rank 2: Adds a Chill effect to your Blizzard spell. This effect lowers the target's movement speed by 25% for 1.5 sec.
3. Rank 3: Adds a Chill effect to your Blizzard spell. This effect lowers the target's movement speed by 40% for 1.5 sec.

Row 3 · Column 4 · Tree: Frost

✦ Arctic Reach Ranks 1–2

1. Rank 1: Increases the range of your Frostbolt and Blizzard spells and the radius of your Frost Nova and Cone of Cold spells by 10%.
2. Rank 2: Increases the range of your Frostbolt and Blizzard spells and the radius of your Frost Nova and Cone of Cold spells by 20%.

Row 4 · Column 1 · Tree: Frost

✦ Ice Block Ranks 1–1 Moved Active

15 Mana | Instant | 5 min cooldown

1. Rank 1: You become encased in a block of ice, protecting you from all physical attacks and spells for 10 sec, but during that time you cannot attack, move, or cast spells.

Row 4 · Column 2 · Tree: Frost

✦ Shatter Ranks 1–3 Changed

1. Rank 1: Increases the critical strike chance of all your spells against Frozen targets by 17%.
2. Rank 2: Increases the critical strike chance of all your spells against Frozen targets by 33%.
3. Rank 3: Increases the critical strike chance of all your spells against Frozen targets by 50%.

Row 4 · Column 4 · Tree: Frost

✦ Improved Cone of Cold Ranks 1–3 Changed

1. Rank 1: Increases the damage dealt by your Cone of Cold spell by 12%.
2. Rank 2: Increases the damage dealt by your Cone of Cold spell by 23%.
3. Rank 3: Increases the damage dealt by your Cone of Cold spell by 35%.

Row 5 · Column 1 · Tree: Frost

✦ Cold Snap Ranks 1–1 Changed Active

Instant | 10 min cooldown

1. Rank 1: Finishes the remaining cooldown on all your other Frost spells.

Row 5 · Column 2 · Tree: Frost

✦ Fingers of Frost Ranks 1–2 NEW in Forever Requires Ice Lance

1. Rank 1: Gives your Chill effects a 15% chance to grant you the Fingers of Frost effect, which treats your next 1 spell cast as if the target were Frozen. Lasts 15 sec.
2. Rank 2: Gives your Chill effects a 15% chance to grant you the Fingers of Frost effect, which treats your next 2 spells cast as if the target were Frozen. Lasts 15 sec.

Row 5 · Column 3 · Tree: Frost

✦ Winter's Chill Ranks 1–5 Changed

1. Rank 1: Gives your Frost damage spells a 20% chance to apply the Winter's Chill effect, which increases the chance your Ice Lance and Frostbolt spells will critically hit the target by 2% for 15 sec. Stacks up to 1 times.
2. Rank 2: Gives your Frost damage spells a 40% chance to apply the Winter's Chill effect, which increases the chance your Ice Lance and Frostbolt spells will critically hit the target by 2% for 15 sec. Stacks up to 2 times.
3. Rank 3: Gives your Frost damage spells a 60% chance to apply the Winter's Chill effect, which increases the chance your Ice Lance and Frostbolt spells will critically hit the target by 2% for 15 sec. Stacks up to 3 times.
4. Rank 4: Gives your Frost damage spells a 80% chance to apply the Winter's Chill effect, which increases the chance your Ice Lance and Frostbolt spells will critically hit the target by 2% for 15 sec. Stacks up to 4 times.
5. Rank 5: Gives your Frost damage spells a 100% chance to apply the Winter's Chill effect, which increases the chance your Ice Lance and Frostbolt spells will critically hit the target by 2% for 15 sec. Stacks up to 5 times.

Row 6 · Column 3 · Tree: Frost

✦ Ice Barrier Ranks 1–1 Changed Active Requires Cold Snap

305 Mana | Instant | 30 sec cooldown

1. Rank 1: Instantly shields you, absorbing 447 damage. Lasts 1 min. While the shield holds, your spellcasts will not be interrupted or delayed from taking damage.

Row 7 · Column 2 · Tree: Frost

Mage talent reference questions

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