Table of Contents
First post:
General Trade Questions/reputation page
Alchemy
Blacksmithing
Cooking
Second post:
Enchanting
Engineering
First Aid
Fishing
Third post:
Leatherworking
Tailoring
Fourth Post:
Herbalism
Mining
Skinning
General Trade Questions
Q. What are trade skills? (Only the newest players need to read this)
A. Trade skills are the crafts of World of Warcraft. You take items you have found off of enemies, or bought from vendors, and turn them into something that is hopefully more useful. Many times you can sell these items; sometimes you'll use them immediately.
Q. What are the requirements for Tradeskills?
A. You can start getting Tradeskills at level 5. If you need to find a trainer, ask a guard (they'll put a flag on your mini-map if you ask under "Professions"). There are tiers for skills:
Level 5 - maximum skill is 75 (need to be at least 50 to raise).
Level 10 - maximum skill is 150 (need to be at least 125 to raise).
Level 20 - maximum skill is 225 (need to be at least 200 to raise).
Level 35 - maximum skill is 300 (this is the highest skill alone can take you).
These apply to the primary production skills: Blacksmithing, Leatherworking, Tailoring, Engineering, Alchemy, and Enchanting. There are also three primary gathering skills: Herbalism, Mining, and Skinning. These three can be increased to any level, although you need to be trained every 75 skill levels to reach the new cap. These are mostly limited by the areas the resources you gather are in. With mining and herbalism, you will get a "track resource" button. Clicking this will show resources nearby on your mini-map as yellow dots. If the dot is grey, the resource is under the ground.
You can ONLY have 2 of these 9 skills. You can drop one to make room for another, but if you take it back up later, you will have lost all of your recipes and all of your skill levels.
In addition, there are three secondary trade skills: fishing, cooking, and first aid. You can have all three of these.
Q. How do I craft something?
A. Push "p" to open your skills window. Under the general tab, if you have the skill (say, tailoring), click the tailoring button. You'll see a list of recipes that you have learned and can make. If you have the materials for the item, next to its name you will see a number: this is the maximum amount of the item you can create with the materials you currently have on hand.
You will never fail to craft something in World of Warcraft. You can fail to pick, mine, or skin something, but you can try again without penalty. You will never fail more than three times (providing you can mine it).
Q. What's with the colors on my recipes/resource nodes?
A. The color system is how likely you are to get a skill-up when you pick/mine/skin/craft something. Orange means always (100%), yellow means usually (50-100%), green means rarely (0-50%), and grey means never (0%). Red means you need to raise your skill to pick/mine/skin/craft the item.
Q. How can I make money in WoW? (Torux)
A. The best way is to take two gathering proffessions (mining, skinning and/or herbalism) and sell the items you get in the auction house to crafters. Some people learn enchanting, then disenchant items they no longer want (as well as soulbound items from quests), and sell the dust, essence and shards to enchanters. Shards sell for alot more than dusts and essnces.
A1. This holds true for the first forty levels or so, usually up until you get your mount. With a mount, your money-making abilities increase ten-fold. You can move faster, gather more per hour, and increase your profits (and this is just with gathering). However, even later in the game, the easiest way to get money is to get some rare recipes and make items no one else can. Charge a base line and have people bring you materials; it's free for you and good for them!
Another good way to make money is to play the AH; buy low and sell high. I won't go into this daytrading technique; this is stuff for people with a lot of time and good market skills ^_^ Keep in mind a lot of people are upset by morals here: when you overstep the line and buyout everything to resell it at a higher price, it tends to become a pain. If you can do it, hey, it's all good! But odds are that a lot of people will scoff at your price and make you eat the deposit fees. A better idea: look for underpriced items and sell them at the current price. This is easy and effective.
Q. How do I unlearn a skill? (Torux)
A. Open your list of skills ('k') and click on the tradeskill you wish to unlearn. At the bottom will be a description of the skill. Next to that is an icon that you can click to unlearn the skill. Be warned, this will completely remove any knowledge you have of that skill, and therefore if you wish to relearn it in the future, you will have to start from the very beginning.
A VERY comprehensive link to reputation, including what patterns you can get and how to get reputation levels for the factions. I will link this for any reputation questions in the future. One problem... it links to thottbot instead of allakhazam >_>
http://www.wowwiki.com/Reputation
Alchemy:
Overview: Alchemy is the process of taking herbs and creating potions. These potions give you temporary stat increases or added effects; other give you healing. These effects generally last an hour before another potion is needed, or they fade upon dying. To make a potion you need to buy vials, which come in four varieties.
While only alchemists make potions, anyone can use them (unlike engineering). Potions can tip the balance in your favor in PvE and PvP; however, people in duels often consider them to be illegal. Cry babies. Specify the rules first before a duel; using your profession to help you win is NOT cheating in my book.
Healing potions can be found off some enemies. Stat potions are only created by alchemists or come as quest rewards.
Q. What are these transmutes I keep hearing about? (LockeColeMA)
A. A transmutation is an alchemist's special ability (well, besides making potions, obviously). At level 225 you can create a soulbound item called a Philosopher's Stone:
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=9149
And you get your first Transmutes (from the Gadgetzan Alchemy vendor): Transmute Iron to Gold and Transmute Mithril to Truesilver. You basically make the "normal" items into their rare spawns.
However, these are relatively worthless. At level 275, you can Transmute Arcanite, which will make you big money (on most servers, around 5 gold for each transmute, for doing nothing but the service itself). Arcanite is needed for a lot of engineering and blacksmithing end-game items, so there is always a demand for it. And only alchemists can make it!
Things to note: to transmute you need the necessary materials, which are usually just the metals or essences. In the case of Arcanite, you need a Thorium Bar and an Arcane Crystal. Elemental transmutes (turning one essence to another) and Transmute Iron ---> Gold have a 24 hour cooldown. Transmute Mithril ---> Truesilver and Transmute Arcanite have 48 hour cooldowns. These cooldowns are character specific: having multiple Philosopher's Stones will NOT allow you to transmute more often.
Q. What are these Flasks I hear about? (LockeColeMA)
A. Flasks are the uber eng-game potions. They require an obscene amount of items to create, and can only be crafted at an Alchemy lab, like the ones in Scholomance (I've heard there was an alchemy lab in a different instance as well, but I know of at least two in Scholomance). Since you'll need a great 5-man or a good 10-man raid to get to the labs, these take a while to make. Not to mention that the recipes are all rare drops. Flasks used to be useless, as their effects would end if you die; but I have heard that in a recent patch Flask effects now last through death. This can make them selectively useful, especially in instances and PvP. Still, the component cost is too high for many. You can only have one Flask effect at a time.
Q. What makes money with Alchemy?
This varies depending on server age, population demographics, time of the week, and other things. Here are some decent ideas:
Healing potions/mana potions: Always in demand due to Battlegrounds and PvE use. However, usually the price of ingrediants is more expensive than the potions themselves! Potions also drop off enemies at a rate that I would say is at best uncommon.
Free Action Potions:
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=5634
These things sell like crazy on WSG honor weekends from what I hear. Not tough to see why; this is the best thing a flag-carrier can use!
Oil of Immolation:
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=8956
Not a huge seller, but it is needed for two very specific things: a Silithus logistics quest, and it is used by priests on their Benediction quest.
Swiftness Potions:
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=2459
These also sell like hotcakes on WSG weekends; a speed boost for 15 seconds is great. Also a great PvP tool outside of BGs. The problem is that Swiftthistle can usually go for crazy prices, and the recipe is a random world drop and rather expensive off the AH. If you have cheap Swiftthistle and the recipe though, you can make a killing.
Elixir of the Mongoose:
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=13452
The ultimate rogue/crit potion, it gives a good agility boost and critical hit%. Great for grinding and high-end instances, the effect is a little blunted in BGs, since you lose the effect when you die. It does NOT stack with an agility potion.
Greater Protection Potions (thanks to Turicus):
Fire: http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=13457
Nature: http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=13458
Needed for end-game instances (MC, BWL, AQ), a single player can run through ten of these in a single run. These are always in demand; if you get the recipes (which usually go for above 100 gold at the very least), you have a cash cow.
Blacksmithing:
Finally getting started on this section! Bear with me; unlike everything else I have posted on, I have never done Blacksmithing; feel free to correct me if I messed something up!
Overview: Blacksmithing is a profession that lets you make weapons and mail (and later plate) armor. The weapons created include daggers, swords, maces, and axes. The ability to make mail pretty much drops off at level 40, when Paladins and Warriors upgrade to plate; mail-crafting past level 40 for Shamans and Hunters is in leatherworking at that point.
Blacksmithing has two primary differences: armorsmithing and weaponsmithing. Weaponsmiths are then divided again into an area of focus: swordsmith mastery, hammersmith mastery, and axesmith mastery.
To get stared, you'll want a few things... first and foremost, mining. To make almost everything, you'll need ore and possibly gems. You also need a blacksmith's hammer, along with an anvil to create blacksmithed items.
Q. Why is blacksmithing a good profession?
A. Right now blacksmithing is what I would call one of the most completed professions. It has different routes, something promised to other professions (tailoring and enchanting) in the future. It serves multiple purposes; while Warriors and Paladins will be able to make great armor out of it, rogues, hunters, and shamans can all make weapons they can use. Also, blacksmithing is needed to create the epic hammer that will be come the legendary Sulfuras, Hand of Ragnaros:
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=17182
Unlike gathering skills, a high level blacksmith is potentially able to buy materials right off the AH, smith something, and sell it for a profit. This obviously requires using the AH to plot price potentials, but the possibility is definitely there.
Unlike Tailoring, the ultimate pre-MC items blacksmithing can create are actually darn useful. The enchanted thorium items come to mind. These items can blow away the Valor set (depending on what kind of gear you are focusing on). For weaponsmithing, the Heartseeker, Arcanite Champion, and Arcanite Reaper are amazing weapons; the Arcanite Reaper reigns as one of the best Warrior weapons outside of MC+ raid instances.
Also, unlike alchemy and enchanting, you won't be called a cheater if you use your own smithed items in a duel >_>. I hate people who call others cheaters, but hey, it is a reason...
Q. What are some of the rare patterns for blacksmithing?
I don't know if anyone would actually ask this, but there are some difficult to get patterns. Some are worthless, some are situationally useful, and some are really good.
Darkrune: Just added in patch 1.7 or 1.8, these items are from a repeatable quest in Silithus called Still Believing
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/quest.html?wquest=8324
These armor pieces (there are three) have a hefty amount of shadow resistance on them. The Dark Runes drop off enemies in Scholomance; kind of like Righteous Orbs from Stratholme, but Orbs are worth a lot more and are apparently a lot rarer.
Enchanted Thorium Platemail: These patterns are learned off of the Advanced Armorsmithing pieces (you combine them together to form the book, get the quest, and drop them off in DM to learn the patterns). These are amazing pieces of equipment for tanking; they have a healthy dose of stamina, decetn strength, and +defense. Great for tanking.
Bloodsoul: Some of the mail that blacksmithing can make after level 40. This is decent hunter gear: agility and stamina, along with 3% crit and a passive mana regen bonus. This is from the Zandalar trolls (ZG faction), so you need ot have pretty high reputation to get these from them.
There are also all the things you can get from the Timbermaw, Argent Dawn, and Thorium Brotherhood factions. With the TB, Exalted nets you the plans to make this:
http://wow.allakhazam.com/item.html?witem=17193
Which, again, is used to make the legendary hammer :-P
Q. Okay, I can choose my path: armor or weapon... so... what do I choose!?
A. Well, the first question is a matter of class: Warriors and Paladins will primarily be the only ones taking armorsmithing, as they are the only classes who use plate armor. But as to the question of which to choose... it gets tricky. I won't deny that armorsmithing has some great recipes, as does weaponsmithing. And you don't lose all the recipes; there is life after your path, and both sides can learn some of the same generic blacksmithing recipes. But your path opens up new patterns for you. Remember you need to have at least 200 skill (might be more, not sure of the prereqs...) and around level 40 to choose. Note: you need 210 skill for some parts of the prereqs for armorsmithing at the very least... so you might want to be artisan (225, level 40) before you start.
Great outline in the comments for Alliance armorsmithing:
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/quest.html?wquest=5283
To find the respective quests for weaponsmithing/armorsmithing, check the Trade Skills: List of Trainers bar on the left, and go to blacksmithing. Much easier than me writing it all out :-P
Note: weaponsmithing has fewer patterns at first, because you are not specced into one of the three branches of it: hammer, sword, or axe.
Q. What do I do to become specced in a weaponsmith mastery branch?
A. First, be above level 51. Second, go to Everlook, in Winterspring. Third, look for the three people hanging out... I believe in the bank... You'll notice them easily; one is Lilith the Lithe, a dancing undead. Another is a human (I believe his last name is Scourgebane... funny, as he is watching an undead dance, hehe), and the last is a troll. These three are the masters of the weapons; their quests will get you into the path you desire. You can ONLY be one type of master. You will receive 4 recipes from them (or on the quests; I know the swordsmith will pick up the plans for Corruption, and the hammersmith gets the plans for Serenity). You are now a weaponsmith master.
Cooking:
Overview: Cooking allows you to take raw foods and whip up some cooked ones! Cooked foods generally restore more hp/sec than their raw counterparts. Some cooked foods give you a "Well Fed" effects, which will boost a stat for 15 minutes if you remain eating for more than 15 seconds. There are some other foods with different effects.
Q. Who uses cooking?
A. Generally non-healing classes. To reduce downtime, cooked food is great. You'll get more hp back faster if your food is cooked. If you're soloing, well fed bonuses can give you a nice edge. Warriors and Rogues will use cooking most often as they take direct hits (bandages work better, but have a cooldown). Hunters will use cooking as well, because their pets need to eat. Cooked food restores more happiness than uncooked food. Warlocks don't generally need to eat because they can drain life and tank with Voidwalker. Mages generally don't cook because they can conjure up their own food. Healing classes may or may not use food; it depends on play style.
Q. What do you need to cook?
A. In general you only need a basic campfire, which (if you aren't near one) requires a flint and tinder. The wood for the fire can be stacked. By the way, a basic campfire adds 4 spirit if you are within its range.
Most of the added effect foods require additional ingrediants to make. Basic grilled upgrades (like grilling a raw fish) does not require anything but the fish and a fire.
Q. What are some nice added effect cooked items?
Thistle Tea: Restores 100 energy instantly. A great Rogue item.
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=7676
Grilled Squid: Well Fed effect increases Agility by 10 for 10 minutes. http://wow.allakhazam.com/item.html?witem=13928
Nightfin Soup: For the occassional magic-using cook, Well Fed effect grants 8 mana every 5 seconds for 10 minutes. http://wow.allakhazam.com/item.html?witem=13931
Mightfish Steak: Well Fed effect grants 10 Stamina for 10 minutes. http://wow.allakhazam.com/item.html?witem=13934
Spiced Chili Crab: Well Fed effect grants 12 stamina and spirit for 15 minutes. http://wow.allakhazam.com/item.html?witem=12216
Dragonbreath Chili: Occasionally belch flames at enemies when struck in combat! This is always a crowd-pleaser ^_^. It's nice to get a little extra damage; the flames do around 60 damage, and I believe hit in a cone in front of you. http://wow.allakhazam.com/item.html?witem=12217
Smoked Desert Dumplings: Gives you a whopping 20 Strength for 15 minutes! These are from quests in Silithus though, and will require a decently high level skill (280 or so, I believe) to get (and level 45 to eat).
http://wow.allakhazam.com/item.html?witem=20452
(Added by Kourg)
Dirge's Kickin' Chimaerok Chops: I'm adding this more for fun than anything else :-P This is the ONLY epic cooking recipe. Why is it epic? The quest for it is part of the AQ gate-opening series. You need to kill level 61-62 elites with a full raid to get the meat for it. The food itself gives you +25 stamina, which is great... but it is insane to get, and to make :-P (Original info by Turicus, who didn't mention it was part of the AQ opening ;-))
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=21025
Q. Where do I get recipes for Cooking?
A. Try any general goods or fish dealer. Flip to the end of what they sell and look for recipes. It is very possible to get from 0-300 with only fish and fish-frying recipes; but to get added effects and well fed statuses, you need to gather additional ingrediants and more-difficult to find components.
(Torux) Not specifically a tradeskill related question but more a quick tip. If you've no intention to cook, don't sell things like boar meat or scorpid stingers to vendors. Save them up in stacks and put them on the auction. Alot of people at later levels want to raise their cooking skill but don't want to spend hours killing low level mobs to get the meat to cook (specifically rogues who need to learn to cook thistle tea... speaking from personal experience). They'd much prefer to simply buy the stuff.
I'd recommend saving;
Chunks of boar meat
Clam Meat
Scorpid stinger
Stringy wolf meat.
Basically the very first uncooked meats that drop from low level mobs. These are the main regeants used to get the cooking skill required (60).
Q. What is the Cooking Quest?
A. Clamlette Surprise:
http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/quest.html?wquest=6610
This is available at level 35 (thanks, Turicus!), and you must have maxed skill (225/225). There used to be a bug where if you logged out after getting the quest finished you couldn't level any higher, so it is recommended you get at least one more skill point before logging out.
Edited to add in Cooking section, again by yours truly :)
Edited to add in general comments, enlarge sections.
Edited, Wed Nov 9 13:20:03 2005 by LockeColeMA
Edited, Wed Nov 9 14:40:21 2005 by LockeColeMA
Edited, Wed Nov 9 15:23:14 2005 by LockeColeMA
Edited, Wed Nov 9 15:28:36 2005 by LockeColeMA
Edited, Wed Nov 9 16:09:54 2005 by Darkflame
Edited, Thu Nov 10 10:04:29 2005 by LockeColeMA
Edited, Tue Nov 22 14:06:49 2005 by LockeColeMA
Edit: removed Enchanting section because this one is big enough already. It'll be my next project.
Edited, Tue Nov 29 14:50:22 2005 by LockeColeMA
Edited, Sat Dec 3 20:06:49 2005 by LockeColeMA
Added in Kourg's Dumplings and admonishments about day-trading
Edited, Sat Dec 24 00:10:32 2005 by LockeColeMA
Edited to take out broken large tags, and update information in cooking and alchemy (good potions to sell)
Edited, Tue May 9 13:37:49 2006 by LockeColeMA
Edited, Feb 7th 2007 7:33pm by Darqflame