Fireball

Fireball
	Fireball; Level 10 Fire mage ability; 40 yd range; 2% of base mana; 2.25 sec cast; Throws a fiery ball that causes (65% of spell power) Fire damage.; ; Rank 3 (Level 41):; Damage increased by 15%.; ; Rank 2 (Level 33):; Each time your Fireball fails to critically strike a target, it gains a stacking 10% increased critical strike chance. Effect ends when Fireball critically strikes.;
Usable by
Class	Mage
Properties
School	Fire
Cooldown	None/Global Cooldown
Other information
Level learned	10
Improvements	[Critical Mass], [Firestarter], [Pyrokinesis], [Tinder]

Fireball is a Fire mage ability, learned at level 10. It deals direct damage, and is one of the primary damage spells for Fire mages.

Improvements

Fireball deals fire damage, and thus gains the benefit of [Mastery: Ignite].
[Critical Mass] (Fire passive)
[Firestarter] (talent)
[Pyrokinesis] (honor talent)
[Tinder] (honor talent)

Background

This spell was one of the Warlock's abilities in Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, before Mages started learning how to use a version of it in Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness:

The basic fire spell which all followers of the Orcish cults (the underworld) first learn. It channels the flames of Hades through the caster's body, allowing the wielder to direct it as a missile at anyone he chooses. It is a dangerous magik to employ, but the effects seem to delight even the lowest circle of Warlock to no end.^[1]

Magiks involving the cardinal elements of the universe are favorites of the Mages. The Fireball is launched from the palms of the Mage and streaks like a comet blazing across the battlefield - slamming its fiery bulk into whatever stands in its path.^[2]

Trivia

Fireball is a basic Mage spell in Hearthstone. The flavor text reads: "This spell is useful for burning things. If you're looking for spells that toast things, or just warm them a little, you're in the wrong place."
- The TCG art for Incinerate is used for Fireball in Hearthstone.

Gallery

Fireball icon for the Warlock in Warcraft I.
Fireball icon for the Mage in Warcraft II.
Fireball in the TCG.
Fireball in the TCG, in different card sets.

Patch changes

Patch 9.0.1 (2020-10-13): Now has two additional ranks.
Hotfix (2016-08-26): Fireball (Fire) now deals 75% additional damage in PvP (was 150%).
Patch 7.0.3 (2016-07-19): Damage increased by 30%.
Hotfix (2014-10-17): Damage reduced by 20%.
Patch 5.0.4 (2012-08-28): Now a Fire specialization ability. Base cast time reduced to 2.25 sec (was 2.5 sec).
Patch 4.3.2 (2012-01-31): Fireball damage has been reduced by roughly 6%.
Patch 4.3.0 (2011-11-29): Damage increased by approximately 17%.
Patch 4.0.6 (2011-02-08): Mana cost has been reduced to 9% of base mana.
Hotfix (2011-01-18): The mana costs of the following mage spells have been reduced, but they still require the previous percentage of base mana in order to be cast: [Arcane Barrage] (11% of base mana), [Arcane Blast] (7% of base mana), and Fireball (12% of base mana). As an example, Fireball requires 16% base mana to cast, but only consumes 12% of base mana.
Patch 4.0.1 (2010-10-12): No longer causes additional damage over time. Base cast time reduced to 2.5 sec (was 3.5 sec). Range increased to 40 yards (was 35 yards).
Patch 3.2.0 (2009-08-04): Periodic damage from this spell can no longer trigger Combustion.
Patch 2.0.1 (2006-12-05): Rank 12 can now be purchased from trainers at level 62.
Patch 1.4.0 (2005-04-19): Pyroblast and Fireball damage over time will now stack together.
Patch 0.7 (2004-06-15): Added a small damage over time effect.

References

^ Warcraft: Orcs & Humans manual, Orcish Horde of the First War, Warlock Spells
^ Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual, Mage Spells

External links

[1] Warcraft: Orcs & Humans manual, Orcish Horde of the First War, Warlock Spells

[2] Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual, Mage Spells

[1]

[2]