Portal (spell)

Portals are a line of useful Mage utility spells that allow the caster to transport himself and his party members to one of several fixed locations (including all friendly capital cities).

Apparently, elven mages typically like to put a little flair, a signature, in their portal magic.

Non-mage portal spell
There are several portal spells not exclusive to mages.

There was also an item that opened a portal to the heart of Maraudon - Scepter of Celebras, but it could only be used on an altar just before entering the instance. The portal ability was phased out in Patch 3.0.8, and replaced with weapon stats.

Tips and tactics

 * It is not possible to create a portal in combat, but it is possible to enter one at any time.


 * If creating a portal in hostile territory, the mage should wait until all members of the party have used the portal. If the mage clicks too soon, they run the risk of leaving someone behind.


 * Prior to Patch 6.0.2, it was possible for a mage to stack his portals, such that it was very difficult for the players taking the portals to know where they would end up. This was commonly known as "portal roulette". Portal function has been changed so that summoning portals on top of each other prioritizes the first one cast.

Etiquette
While most mages will offer portals for partymates at the end of quest, runs, etc., to ask for one outside of this should be approached tactfully.

Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind.
 * When asking (especially on Trade) make sure you say where you are currently (or where you will be).
 * If a mage is coming from a different city, it's much easier if they can meet you at the teleport points (that's where they will arrive). Learn where they are and be standing there when you ask.
 * You will only be able to use the portal if you're in the same party as the mage. If you're in one, have the leader send the invite, or drop party to get portaled.
 * Mages are dropping what they are doing to help you. The minimum you should offer is 1g, 2-3g if they have to travel to you.  You'll spend a good percent of that amount just to take taxis if you were getting there on your own anyway.  Announce the amount you're offering when you ask for the teleport.
 * Make sure you know the level required to create the portal where you need to go before you ask directly. Faction capitals and Theramore are available at 42, Stonard at 52, Shattrath at 66, Dalaran at 74, Tol Barad at 85, Pandaria at 90, and Draenor at 92.

Following these fairly simple guidelines will help you get along with your fellow players, and it makes people remember you.

Lore


Ley lines are harnessed to make portals possible, but traffic from across the planet will break down the infrastructure and it must be periodically replaced.

The standard dimensions for a mage portal are 3 yards, 1 foot, and 3/4 inches tall, 2 yards, 8 feet, 9 and 15/16 inches wide.

The Kirin Tor creates and enforces the rules of portal usage for all legitimate mages on Azeroth. As sometimes demonstrated by archmages such as Jaina Proudmoore and Khadgar, portals can actually be created to go anywhere, and the spell's vast potential is what makes it so dangerous (for example, the official but outdated drop-off zone for Dalaran and the consequences for Crusader Jorny the Deified, and why unlicensed portal creation outside drop-off zones is punishable by death). There are hundreds of rules that the Kirin Tor has already created for safe and proper portal usage and mages are required to abide by every single one of them, including special licensing to make sure certain actions are only carried out by responsible individuals.

Nevertheless, in practice portals have a history of being a burden on any society in which it is offered to the general public, and of all the major spells developed and maintained by the Kirin Tor, portal technology is the closest to becoming banished from anything but emergency usage.

A variation of the portal spell can be used to enchant mirrors for two-way communication across vast distances.

Portals have been used to help evacuate entire settlements and cities in times of crisis and emergency, such as Darnassus during the War of the Thorns, although it apparently requires tremendous amounts of time and effort to maintain them in the long term, as well to fully evacuate populations using portals alone. It was mentioned that the Alliance could not move armies through portals as one did handful of individuals, and that most travelers could go through portals by twos or three at the most, a very useful way for an individual to quickly get from one place to another, but not ideal for massive evacuations.

Portals are suitable for moving a handful of individuals easily, but not usually stable enough for moving whole armies. Typically, large, stable portals require a person channeling and maintaining it on the other side.

People cannot enter portals at the same time when going in opposite directions, but can enter portals in up to twos or threes going in the same direction.

According to Archmage Ansirem Runeweaver, portal and teleport spells are a great privilege and responsibility; however, portals and teleportations are negatively used as a means for garbage repository in the Twisting Nether.