When it comes to professions in WoW Classic, you've got a lot of options — from natural combinations such as Herbalism and Alchemy to combinations that work for your Class, like a Mage using Tailoring and Enchanting.
Here we give you our "best for the job" list for making gold, crafting gear or fighting in PvP.
Best for gearing up
Blacksmithing lets you make weapons and metal armour. It is an extremely useful skill, and can earn you significant gold since you can make weapons usable by all classes.
In order to turn metal bars and other ingredients into finished arms and armour you must work at an anvil, which can be found in all major cities.
Many of the ingredients necessary for blacksmithing can be gathered with the Mining skill, so that is a useful secondary skill for prospective smiths.
Ideal for those wearing Mail and Plate (at Level 40) armour to gear up. You can also make a number of weapon and shield enhancements to improve your damage and survivability.
Leatherworking lets you create leather armour, armor kits that boost defence, and containers.
All Leatherworking blueprints require Leather and Cured Hides, so prospective leatherworkers should also pick up the Skinning skill.
Used by leather and mail wearers to craft gear and armour kits to enhance their existing armour.
At Level 60 you can specialise in either Elemental Leatherworking for casters or Dragonscale for mail users, with Tribal Leatherworking ideal for those who mix Agility with Intellect.
Tailoring enables you to create cloth armour. Tailoring and Leatherworking are the only skills that let you create bags, which are used to hold additional items in your inventory. Because of this, tailors are often in high demand.
Tailoring blueprints require various types of cloth. The most common type of cloth is Linen, followed by Wool, Silk, and Mageweave. The best tailoring items can only be made out of the rarest cloths, such as Silk and Mageweave
Tailoring is ideal for Cloth-wearing classes such as the Mage. You'll not only be able to make your own armour, but also a number of useful items such as bags.
Tailoring also does not require a gathering profession alongside it — instead, you loot cloth from humanoid mobs.
Best for making gold
Herbalism lets you gather herbs from the many plants around the world.
Low-level herbs include Peacebloom, Silverleaf, and Earthroot. Higher-level herbs include Dreamfoil and Black Lotus.
Herbalism is a great way to make money in Classic.
With Alchemy needing it to make potions, you'll often find it easy to sell Herbs on the Auction House.
Mining lets you gather ore, stone, and gems. Ore can be turned
into metal bars, while stone can be turned into refined stone.
Metal bars are especially important in all Blacksmithing and
Engineering blueprints, while gems are required for many high-level
blueprints in other production skills.
At low levels you can only mine Copper, but as you improve your skill you can learn to mine Tin, Silver, Iron, Gold, and Mithril.
Both Blacksmithing and Engineering rely on Mining for their materials. This makes Mining an ideal money-making tool.
Best for raiding
Alchemy enables you to brew potions, oils, and other substances.
Potions are imbibed by players and provide various benefits, while oils are applied to weapons and armour for added effect.
Alchemy is a sure bet for raiding, with a variety of potions on offer to enhance your damage abilities or top up health and mana pools.
Engineering is a production skill that lets you create a bizarre mix of clockwork contraptions, explosives, goggles, and guns.
Among all the production trade skills, Engineering requires some of the widest ranges of materials. However, most blueprints require at least some metal or stone, so prospective engineers should also pick up the Mining skill.
Engineering is great for offering you AoE damage during raids, especially for melee classes with considerable downtime between abilities.
Best PvP Professions
Alchemy enables you to brew potions, oils, and other substances.
Potions are imbibed by players and provide various benefits, while oils are applied to weapons and armour for added effect.
Alchemy will always be useful, with a variety of potions on offer to enhance your damage abilities or to keep you alive in a tight fight. When it comes to PvP, especially in the open world, Alchemy can be the difference between victory and a trip to the Spirit Healer.
Engineering is a production skill that lets you create a bizarre mix of clockwork contraptions, explosives, goggles, and guns.
Among all the production trade skills, Engineering requires some of the widest ranges of materials. However, most blueprints require at least some metal or stone, so prospective engineers should also pick up the Mining skill.
Engineering is great for offering you AoE damage during PVP, as certain bombs can even turn the tide of a fight.
The First Aid skill lets you create bandages that you can apply to yourself and other players to cure HP damage. First Aid also lets you make other curative aids, such as Anti-Venom. It's also a great complementary skill for Warriors and Rogues who like to play solo.
Applying a bandage requires a brief amount of time, but it is a great way to replenish health if you aren't adventuring with a healer.
In order to make bandages, you need cloth. The best bandages require the rarest
cloths, such as Silk and Mageweave.
While only a secondary profession, First Aid can be handy to top up your HP in a tight situation. Rogues can get especially high value out of this profession, by using Vanish then healing up. Paladins can also use First Aid while in a bubble, so as not to consume mana.
Written by David Hollingsworth.
