How to read these guides
Each guide splits the profession into TBC skill brackets: 1-75, 75-150, 150-225, 225-300 and 300-375. Crafting professions focus on material groups and recipe choices, while gathering professions focus on zone routes and skill requirements. Always compare exact craft counts with the prices on your own realm.
1-75 Apprentice
Start on Copper nodes and smelt bars if you need skill points.
- Smelting can speed up the beginning.
- Save Copper/Tin if you plan to level Engineering or Blacksmithing.
75-150 Journeyman
Tin, Silver, Bronze and Iron open the next stage.
- Bronze requires Copper + Tin.
- Smelting provides some points, but you still need a node route.
150-225 Expert
Move from Iron into Mithril.
- Mithril is often in demand for several professions.
- Do not stay in too low a zone once node colors turn green.
225-300 Artisan
From Mithril to Thorium and Rich Thorium nodes.
- Thorium is valuable for both smelting and jewelcrafting/prospecting use.
- Competition can be fierce; keep an alternative route ready.
300-375 Master / Outland
Fel Iron starts at Hellfire Peninsula level, while Adamantite and Khorium take you to the end.
- Outland nodes can also yield motes.
- Flying helps especially with 350+ farming and Khorium spots.