| Each profession in WoW is dependent on other | | | | profession, through the use of disenchanting. |
| professions. This makes choosing sometimes difficult. | | | | Uncommon, rare, and epic items can be disenchanted |
| There are several professions which would be near | | | | into the various dusts, essences, and shards that are |
| impossible to level up if you did not choose the | | | | required for this profession. |
| appropriate GATHERING profession to go along with | | | | The only downside is that they require uncommon or |
| it. | | | | higher items, which are sometimes hard to find. |
| Below are the CRAFTING professions: Blacksmithing | | | | Myself, having a level 80 character and just starting |
| Tailoring | | | | Enchanting, I can run instances to get the items I |
| Leatherworking | | | | need. I have already started profiting greatly from |
| Engineering | | | | this unique advantage. Almost all players above level |
| Enchanting (To an extent) | | | | 30 are going to invest in enchanting their gear, |
| Inscription | | | | especially those at the higher levels who know the |
| Alchemy Here are the list of GATHERING | | | | gear they have will be their gear for a very long time. |
| professions: Mining | | | | This extends profitability of enchanting, as you have |
| Skinning | | | | two sources of income. You can then pick up |
| Herbalism | | | | another gathering profession if you wish, and sell |
| You'll notice that the GATHERING professions are | | | | those mats as well, yielding 3 different sources of |
| fewer than the CRAFTING professions. Many crafting | | | | income. |
| professions rely on one gethering profession. For | | | | Levelling the gathering professions is easiest. In most |
| example, Alchemy and Inscription rely on Herbalism. | | | | cases each looted item will grant you a level up in |
| Blacksmithing and Engineering rely heavily on Mining. | | | | your gathering skill. You'll want to move to areas of |
| Tailoring, however doesn't rely on any particular | | | | higher levels when the items you're currently farming |
| gathering profession, as the cloth required for tailoring | | | | become "green". When clicking over the item (Plant, |
| is typically dropped from NPC's around the world. | | | | Vein, Beast), it will state "Requires" and the |
| Picking your professions is going to depend on what | | | | profession it requires. This line will appear in Red, |
| you want to do. Most people look to professions for | | | | Orange, Yellow, Green, or Grey. Red means it is too |
| a quick way to make Gold, but in many cases this | | | | difficult for you to do, and you will not be allowed to |
| becomes farther from the truth. Many people end up | | | | loot the item. Orange is your best bet, as it will |
| concentrating on levelling their characters to the cap, | | | | guarantee a level-up. Yellow is slightly less likely to |
| then focus on their professions afterwards, like | | | | grant a level, generally one level per 2-3 items. Green |
| myself. In this case, any of the gathering professions | | | | however is on average one level every 5-10 loots, |
| would be a good choice. While you're levelling, | | | | which will take forever to complete in this fashion. |
| questing, running instances, etc. you will come across | | | | When the line appears grey, you will not level up the |
| all kinds of different materials along the way. This | | | | skill at all. |
| way, as you're getting through your levelling, you'll be | | | | Since the crafting professions generally require more |
| levelling your gathering professions at the same time! | | | | than one of each material, the crafting skills are |
| This is also a good way to financially support | | | | harder to level. But again, if you have the time, and |
| yourself, as mats always sell with the utmost | | | | aren't going to be a casual player, these yield more |
| importance in the Auction House. Herbalism and | | | | profits later on. |
| Skinning are probably the easiest, as you can find | | | | Engineering is a cloudy profession for me. It's benefits |
| herbs everywhere, including fields and mountains. | | | | are typically for the player, in that they can make |
| Skinning is even easier, as it's found in many of the | | | | certain things like goggles which increase ranged |
| wildlife/beasts in every area you'll run into. | | | | attack, or other buffs of that nature. They can also |
| Mining is always as easy, as the veins you'll require | | | | craft bombs which can "Blow open" locked doors |
| are typically only found on mountains and hillsides, | | | | (Perfect for those of us who can't get into certain |
| sometimes in water, which make finding them in | | | | instances because we don't have keys). Many of the |
| certain areas difficult. Stacks of 20 low level skinning | | | | items that are crafted cannot be used by players |
| mats, like light leather, can and does go for upwards | | | | who are not engineers. The profession requires the |
| of 20 Gold on the Auction House, making it a | | | | use of rods made of copper, silver, etc. This means |
| potential cash cow for those looking to build their | | | | that there's a heavy dependancy on mining, and |
| savings. For those with more free time on their | | | | blacksmithing alike. Miners can mine the ores that are |
| hands than the average casual player, a gathering and | | | | needed to make these rods, and then smelt them |
| crafting profession can yield more returns at the | | | | into bars, but cannot actually made the rods. This |
| higher levels. Rare and Epic BOE (Bind On Equip) | | | | must be done by a blacksmith, which helps the |
| crafted items can sell really well on the Auction | | | | blacksmith with an income source. |
| House, but sometimes require multiple hours of | | | | These items can be sold in stacks on the AH for |
| gathering. For example, one of the most high demand | | | | profit, albeit a low one. Copper rods generally won't |
| items right now, at least on my server, is the | | | | go for a very large amount, and they're pretty |
| Titansteel Destroyer 2H Mace. This involves making | | | | common items on the AH. Engineers also generally |
| Titansteel bars, which can only be made in quantities | | | | become close friends with someone trained in Mining |
| of 1 every 24 hours. This translates to waiting over | | | | Blacksmithing and pay small tips to them to gather |
| 100 hours to be able to make one, but the gold yield | | | | and craft the rods on their own free will. Most |
| is great. If you do not spend any gold buying mats, | | | | engineers are of the Gnome race, as they will get |
| or buying other blacksmiths' 1 titansteel smelt, you | | | | bonuses to skill in this profession. Gnomes, after all, |
| can yield a large profit over 1,000Gold, and be | | | | are known as the inventors in World of Warcraft, |
| guaranteed to have the item sold before the | | | | riding around on Mechanical chickens and crafting |
| weekend is over. So, if you can't or don't work | | | | airplanes for flight in Northrend instead of the usual |
| during the day, you can see how this could yield | | | | griffons. |
| more profits in a quicker timeframe. Enchanting is the | | | | Hopefully, this information will help a casual player, |
| exception to the rule. Enchanters have a unique | | | | dedicated player, or overall WoW addict decide what |
| advantage, in that the mats they need for their | | | | professions are good for their particular timeframe |
| profession are obtained only by having the one | | | | and needs. |