Wrath of the Lich King · 1–450

Profession Guides

Actual leveling paths: what to make or gather, when to move on, and where the good farming routes are.

Choose profession

Crafting · 1–450

Alchemy

Alchemy turns herbs and other reagents into potions, elixirs, flasks and transmutes. Herbalism supplies most of the raw materials, and high-end consumables stay useful for dungeons, raids and the Auction House.

Training: Train the older ranks normally, then learn Grand Master in a Northrend starting zone or Dalaran where available. High-end recipes can be reputation, research or vendor gated.

Skill	Craft / focus	What to do	Alternatives / price checks
1–60	≈65 Minor Healing Potion	65 Peacebloom + 65 Silverleaf; keep the potions for the next step.	If one starter herb is overpriced, farm it yourself rather than changing recipes.
60–110	≈65 Lesser Healing Potion	Use the Minor Healing Potions plus Briarthorn.	None better: this recycles your previous crafts.
110–140	≈35 Healing Potion	Bruiseweed + Briarthorn.	Compare Elixir of Wisdom / other orange trainer recipes only if herbs are unusually cheap.
140–155	≈20 Lesser Mana Potion	Mageroyal + Stranglekelp; expect a few yellow skill-ups.	Continue Healing Potion briefly if Stranglekelp is expensive.
155–185	≈35 Greater Healing Potion	Liferoot + Kingsblood.	Elixir of Firepower can be attractive when Fire Oil is cheap.
185–210	≈30 Elixir of Agility	Stranglekelp + Goldthorn.	Greater Mana Potion / Lesser Invisibility Potion can be cheaper depending on herb prices.
210–215	5 Elixir of Greater Defense	Wild Steelbloom + Goldthorn.	Continue an earlier orange/yellow recipe if Steelbloom is inflated.
215–230	15 Superior Healing Potion	Sungrass + Khadgar’s Whisker.	Check Greater Mana Potion if those herbs are cheaper.
230–265	≈45 Elixir of Detect Undead	Arthas’ Tears + vial; simple one-herb route.	Use other orange elixirs if Arthas’ Tears is being price-gouged.
265–285	≈30 Superior Mana Potion	Sungrass + Blindweed; buy the limited-supply recipe before committing.	Continue a cheaper yellow recipe if the vendor recipe is unavailable.
285–300	≈20 Major Healing Potion	Golden Sansam + Mountain Silversage; limited-supply recipe in Everlook.	If the recipe is camped, compare Major Mana / high-end elixirs on your realm.
300–315	Volatile Healing Potion / Adept’s Elixir / Onslaught Elixir	Pick the cheapest Felweed/Dreaming Glory starter recipe.	Classic Major Mana / Greater Arcane / protection potions can bridge to 315 if old herbs are cheaper.
315–330	≈25 Elixir of Healing Power	Golden Sansam + Dreaming Glory; useful enough to sell.	Use a comparable orange potion if one herb is badly overpriced.
330–335	5 Elixir of Draenic Wisdom	Terocone + Felweed.	Mad Alchemist’s Potion if you have cheap Ragveil.
335–340	5 Super Healing Potion	Netherbloom + Felweed.	Make 5 more Draenic Wisdom if Netherbloom is expensive.
340–355	15 Super Mana Potion	Dreaming Glory + Felweed; buy the vendor recipe.	Continue a cheaper yellow potion if the vendor recipe is unavailable.
355–375	≈40 Major Dreamless Sleep Potion	Dreaming Glory + Nightmare Vine; may go green near the end.	Elixir of Major Shadow Power if you have Lower City reputation; it is often easier to sell.
350–360	10 Resurgent Healing Potion	Goldclover + Imbued Vial.	Continue Super Mana Potion briefly if old herbs are much cheaper.
360–365	5 Icy Mana Potion	Talandra’s Rose + Imbued Vial.	Use another orange Northrend potion if Talandra’s Rose spikes.
365–375	10 Spellpower Elixir	Goldclover + Tiger Lily.	Any orange elixir with cheaper herbs.
375–380	5 Pygmy Oil	Pygmy Suckerfish.	Buy fish only if the market beats herb-based crafts.
380–385	5 Potion of Nightmares	Goldclover + Talandra’s Rose.	Continue a cheaper yellow potion if needed.
385–395	≈12 Elixir of Mighty Strength	Tiger Lily.	Use an equivalent orange/yellow elixir if Tiger Lily is inflated.
395–400	5 Elixir of Mighty Agility	Goldclover + Adder’s Tongue.	Mighty Thoughts if its herbs are cheaper once available.
400–401	Northrend Alchemy Research	Do the research once; it also starts your discovery cycle.	No substitute if you want discoveries.
401–405	Mighty Agility / Mighty Thoughts	Craft whichever discovered/trained recipe uses cheaper herbs.	Use the other one as the price alternative.
405–415	10 Indestructible Potion	Goldclover + Icethorn.	Use a cheaper yellow potion if tanks are not buying these on your realm.
415–425	≈20 Runic Mana Potion	Goldclover + Lichbloom; yellow late.	Runic Healing Potion if its herbs are cheaper.
425–430	≈7 Transmute: Titanium	Saronite Bars; useful conversion.	Craft your Alchemist Stone variant if you need it and the mats are competitively priced.
430–450	Flasks / meta transmutes / discoveries	Choose the least-loss route based on Frost Lotus, Eternal and gem prices.	Do not bulk-buy the final 20 points until you compare flask sale value vs transmute inputs.

Crafting · 1–450

Blacksmithing

Blacksmithing consumes large amounts of ore and stone to make weapons, plate armor, sharpening stones and utility pieces. Mining is the natural material source, and several stretches are much cheaper if you save intermediate bars and grinding stones.

Training: Train the older ranks normally, then learn Grand Master in a Northrend starting zone or Dalaran where available. High-end recipes can be reputation, research or vendor gated.

Skill	Craft / focus	What to do	Alternatives / price checks
1–30	40 Rough Sharpening Stone	40 Rough Stone.	Make a few extra if Rough Stone is cheap.
30–65	≈55 Rough Grinding Stone	110 Rough Stone; keep at least 10.	None—these saved stones are used later.
65–75	≈25 Coarse Sharpening Stone	25 Coarse Stone.	Continue Rough Grinding if it still skills and Rough Stone is much cheaper.
75–90	≈35 Coarse Grinding Stone	70 Coarse Stone; keep them.	If you miss 90, move on rather than overbuying.
90–100	10 Runed Copper Belt	100 Copper Bars.	Use extra Coarse Grinding Stone if it still gives skill.
100–105	5 Silver Rod	5 Silver Bars + 10 Rough Grinding Stones.	Skip and make more Runed Copper Belts if Silver is expensive.
105–110	5 Runed Copper Belt	50 Copper Bars.	Same recipe; only five more points.
110–125	15 Rough Bronze Leggings	90 Bronze Bars.	Use another orange Bronze craft if bars/components are cheaper.
125–140	≈35 Heavy Grinding Stone	105 Heavy Stone; keep them.	Extend toward 150 if Heavy Stone is cheap.
140–150	10 Patterned Bronze Bracers	50 Bronze Bars + 20 Coarse Grinding Stones.	Continue Heavy Grinding Stone if it remains economical.
150–155	5 Golden Rod	5 Gold Bars + 10 Coarse Grinding Stones.	No real need to force this if Gold spikes; use an orange Iron recipe.
155–165	10 Green Iron Leggings	80 Iron Bars + Heavy Grinding Stones + Green Dye.	Compare other trainer Iron pieces if dye is overpriced.
165–190	25 Green Iron Bracers	150 Iron Bars + Green Dye.	If Iron is scarce, compare Steel crafts that remain orange.
190–200	10 Golden Scale Bracers	50 Steel Bars + 20 Heavy Grinding Stones.	Keep some if you plan Armorsmithing.
200–210	≈30 Solid Grinding Stone	120 Solid Stone; keep at least 10.	If you own Mithril Spurs, keep all of them for later.
210–225	15 Heavy Mithril Gauntlet	90 Mithril Bars + 60 Mageweave Cloth.	Compare Mithril Scale / other orange crafts if cloth is expensive.
225–235	10 Steel Plate Helm	140 Steel Bars + 10 Solid Grinding Stones.	Use a cheaper orange Mithril recipe if Steel is inflated.
235–250	15 Mithril Spurs	60 Mithril Bars + 45 Solid Grinding Stones.	15 Mithril Coifs if you cannot get the Spurs plan.
250–260	20 Dense Sharpening Stone	20 Dense Stone.	Usually too cheap to replace.
260–270	≈20 Mithril Spurs	80 Mithril Bars + 60 Solid Grinding Stones; recipe turns green near the end.	Thorium Bracers / Thorium Belt / Radiant Belt, or trainer Heavy Mithril Boots then Imperial Plate Belt.
270–295	≈25 Imperial Plate Bracers	500 Thorium Bars + Star Rubies; expect yellow crafts late.	Use cheaper Thorium world/vendor plans if available on your realm.
295–300	5 Imperial Plate Boots	170 Thorium Bars + Star Ruby + Aquamarine.	Continue a cheaper yellow Thorium pattern if you already own one.
300–305	≈7 Fel Weightstone	Fel Iron Bar + Netherweave Cloth.	Continue Classic Thorium craft if Fel Iron is unusually expensive.
305–316	11 Fel Iron Plate Belt	44 Fel Iron Bars.	Imperial Plate Boots if Thorium is cheaper than Fel Iron.
316–321	5 Fel Iron Chain Gloves	25 Fel Iron Bars.	Imperial Plate Chest if Thorium is cheaper and you have the quest plan.
321–325	4 Fel Iron Plate Boots	About 24 Fel Iron Bars.	Continue Chain Gloves if their materials remain cheaper.
325–335	10 Lesser Rune of Warding	Adamantite Bars; keep/sell if useful.	Adamantite Weightstone if recipe/material economics are better.
335–340	5 Fel Iron Chain Tunic	Fel Iron Bars.	Use Adamantite trainer crafts if Fel Iron has spiked.
340–350	≈10 Lesser Ward of Shielding	Adamantite Bars.	Adamantite Weightstone or other cheap yellow Adamantite craft.
350–360	≈10 Adamantite Weightstone	Adamantite + Netherweave.	Use reputation/vendor armor recipes if they are cheaper on your realm.
360–375	High Adamantite / reputation recipes	There are multiple valid paths; price your available plans before buying.	Felsteel/reputation/vendor recipes can beat the default route depending on rep and AH.
350–360	10 Cobalt Boots	40 Cobalt Bars.	Use another orange Cobalt piece if its bar cost is lower.
360–370	10 Cobalt Triangle Shield	40 Cobalt Bars.	Cobalt Shoulders/other trained item if shield economics are poor.
370–375	5 Cobalt Legplates	25 Cobalt Bars.	Continue the shield if still orange and cheap.
375–380	5 Cobalt Gauntlets	25 Cobalt Bars.	Any orange Cobalt armor piece.
380–385	5 Spiked Cobalt Boots	35 Cobalt Bars.	Compare the next Cobalt recipes by bars per skill point.
385–390	5 Spiked Cobalt Shoulders	35 Cobalt Bars.	Use another orange Spiked Cobalt slot if cheaper.
390–395	5 Notched Cobalt War Axe	Cobalt Bars + Crystallized Air.	Brilliant Saronite Belt can start early if Saronite is cheaper than Cobalt + Air.
395–400	5 Brilliant Saronite Belt	Saronite Bars.	Keep using Notched Cobalt War Axe if its inputs remain cheaper.
400–405	5 Horned Cobalt Helm	Cobalt Bars.	Saronite items if Cobalt has become expensive.
405–416	≈11 Deadly Saronite Dirk	Saronite Bars + Crystallized Air.	Reinforced Cobalt Chestpiece path can be cheaper depending on recipe/material prices.
416–425	Saronite armor / weapons	Use the trained yellow/orange recipe with the lowest Saronite/Eternal cost.	Price-check Eternal Earth/Water/Shadow before choosing.
425–450	Titanium / high Saronite crafts	Final points are expensive; make useful epics/reputation crafts when possible.	Delay expensive orange crafts until you actually need 450; use saleable pieces rather than vendor trash.

Crafting · 1–450

Enchanting

Enchanting converts dusts, essences and shards into permanent item enhancements. Most of those materials come from disenchanting uncommon-or-better gear, so saving crafted or quest greens can dramatically reduce the leveling bill.

Training: Train the older ranks normally, then learn Grand Master in a Northrend starting zone or Dalaran where available. High-end recipes can be reputation, research or vendor gated.

Skill	Craft / focus	What to do	Alternatives / price checks
1–2	Runed Copper Rod	Make the required rod.	Do not buy the plain Copper Rod from the AH if a trade vendor has it.
2–50	48 Enchant Bracer: Minor Health	48 Strange Dust; disenchant greens as needed.	Disenchanting itself can cover some early points.
50–90	40 Enchant Bracer: Minor Health	Continue with Strange Dust.	If Greater Magic Essence is cheap, move to wand/rod steps sooner.
90–100	10 Enchant Bracer: Minor Stamina	30 Strange Dust.	Continue Minor Health if Strange Dust is exceptionally cheap.
100–101	Runed Silver Rod	Silver Rod + dust/essence + Shadowgem.	Required progression item.
101–110	9 Greater Magic Wand	9 Greater Magic Essence + Simple Wood.	Any comparable orange enchant if essence is expensive.
110–135	≈25 Enchant Cloak: Minor Agility	25 Lesser Astral Essence; vendor formula is limited-supply.	Enchant 2H Weapon: Minor Impact if Small Glimmering Shards are cheaper.
135–155	20 Enchant Bracer: Lesser Stamina	40 Soul Dust.	No special alternative unless Soul Dust spikes.
155–156	Runed Golden Rod	Golden Rod + pearl + essences/dust.	Required progression item.
156–185	≈40 Enchant Bracer: Lesser Strength	80 Soul Dust.	From 165, Enchant Bracer: Spirit if Lesser Mystic Essence is cheaper than 2 Soul Dust.
185–200	15 Enchant Bracer: Strength	15 Vision Dust.	Use another orange Vision Dust enchant if your target items are inconvenient.
200–201	Runed Truesilver Rod	Truesilver Rod + Black Pearl + Mystic Essence + Vision Dust.	Required progression item.
201–220	≈35 Enchant Bracer: Strength	Continue Vision Dust; recipe turns yellow.	Switch to another orange trainer enchant if yellow luck is bad.
220–225	5 Enchant Cloak: Greater Defense	15 Vision Dust.	Continue Bracer: Strength if cheaper.
225–230	5 Enchant Gloves: Agility	Lesser Nether Essence + Vision Dust.	Enchant Cloak: Greater Defense if Lesser Nether Essence costs too much.
230–235	5 Enchant Boots: Stamina	25 Vision Dust.	Any cheap orange Vision Dust enchant.
235–250	≈25 Enchant Chest: Superior Health	150 Vision Dust.	If you own Formula: Bracer Greater Stamina, compare its material cost.
250–265	≈20 Lesser Mana Oil	Dream Dust + Purple Lotus + Crystal Vials.	Enchant Bracer: Greater Strength if the oil formula is unavailable / Lotus expensive.
265–294	≈30 Enchant Shield: Greater Stamina	About 300 Dream Dust; vendor formula is limited supply.	Greater Stamina bracer or other yellow Dream Dust recipes if the formula is unavailable.
294–295	Runed Arcanite Rod	Arcanite Rod + Golden Pearl + Illusion Dust + Eternal Essences/Shards.	Required for the highest enchants.
295–300	5 Enchant Cloak: Superior Defense	40 Illusion Dust.	Continue Shield: Greater Stamina if Dream Dust is much cheaper.
300–310	Runed Fel Iron Rod + 9 Bracer: Assault	Make the new rod, then use Arcane Dust.	Enchant Cloak: Superior Defense with Illusion Dust if old dust is cheap.
310–316	6 Bracer: Brawn	36 Arcane Dust.	Continue Superior Defense if old mats remain much cheaper.
316–330	≈16 Gloves: Assault	Arcane Dust; yellow for part of the range.	Chest: Major Spirit when Greater Planar Essence is cheaper than the equivalent Arcane Dust.
330–335	5 Shield: Major Stamina	75 Arcane Dust; limited-supply formula in Shattrath.	Chest: Major Spirit if the formula is unavailable.
335–340	5 Shield: Resilience	Large Prismatic Shards + Lesser Planar Essence.	Keep making Shield: Major Stamina if shards are expensive; Blood Elves can exploit their +10 skill for shard conversions.
340–350	≈15 Superior Wizard Oil	Arcane Dust + Nightmare Vine + Imbued Vial.	More Shield: Resilience if Nightmare Vine is expensive.
350–360	High-end trainer enchants	Use the cheapest Greater Planar Essence / shard recipe available.	Compare ring enchants if you have the reputation.
360–365	≈10 Gloves: Major Strength	Arcane Dust + Greater Planar Essence.	Any comparable yellow high-end enchant with cheaper mats.
365–375	≈12 Ring: Spellpower	Large Prismatic Shards + Greater Planar Essence; requires Keepers of Time reputation.	Ring: Striking with Consortium rep, or slow Void Sphere cooldowns if Void Crystals are very cheap.
350–360	10 Enchant Cloak: Speed	Infinite Dust.	Use another orange low-cost dust enchant if target materials differ.
360–375	15 Enchant Bracers: Striking	Infinite Dust.	Continue older Outland recipes briefly if Arcane Dust is dramatically cheaper.
375–376	Runed Eternium Rod	Make the required progression rod.	Required.
376–380	4 Bracers: Striking	Continue Infinite Dust.	Any orange Infinite Dust enchant.
380–385	5 Bracers: Exceptional Intellect	Infinite Dust + Greater Cosmic Essence.	Compare Boots: Icewalker if essence is expensive.
385–395	10 Boots: Icewalker	Infinite Dust + Crystallized Water.	Bracer/Glove recipes if Water is overpriced.
395–410	≈15 Cloak: Superior Agility	Infinite Dust.	Choose another dust-heavy yellow enchant if this one is no longer efficient.
410–415	5 Gloves: Expertise	Greater Cosmic Essence.	Boots: Greater Spirit if essences are costly and dust is cheap.
415–420	5 Boots: Greater Spirit	Infinite Dust.	Continue Gloves: Expertise if dust is expensive.
420–425	5 Shield: Defense	Infinite Dust + Greater Cosmic Essence.	Use a comparable orange/yellow trainer enchant.
425–426	Runed Titanium Rod	Required high-rank rod.	Required.
426–430	4 Shield: Defense	Continue same recipe.	Switch if it turns inefficient on your skill/racial bonus.
430–435	5 Cloak: Mighty Armor	Infinite Dust + Greater Cosmic Essence.	Compare high-end bracer/glove enchants by market value.
435–445	≈10 Gloves: Armsman	Dust/essence/shards; expensive.	Make saleable high-end enchants if you own better formulas.
445–450	5 Abyssal Shatter	Break Abyss Crystals for skill while creating useful materials.	If Abyss Crystals are expensive, use a high-end orange enchant you can sell.

Crafting · 1–450

Engineering

Engineering turns ore, stone, cloth and miscellaneous parts into explosives, gadgets, scopes, goggles and some of the strangest toys in the game. Mining supplies the bulk of the materials, and many early components are reused later, so do not vendor them too quickly.

Training: Train the older ranks normally, then learn Grand Master in a Northrend starting zone or Dalaran where available. High-end recipes can be reputation, research or vendor gated.

Skill	Craft / focus	What to do	Alternatives / price checks
1–30	60 Rough Blasting Powder	60 Rough Stone; keep it.	You may overshoot 30—stop once you have enough powder.
30–50	30 Handful of Copper Bolts	30 Copper Bars; keep them.	None; they are components for the next step.
50–51	Arclight Spanner	6 Copper Bars; keep permanently.	Required tool.
51–75	≈30 Rough Copper Bomb	Copper Bars + Handful of Copper Bolts + Rough Blasting Powder + Linen Cloth.	Any orange Copper device if Linen prices spike.
75–90	60 Coarse Blasting Powder	60 Coarse Stone; keep it.	Continue Rough Copper Bomb briefly if still orange and cheaper.
90–100	20 Coarse Dynamite	Coarse Blasting Powder + Linen Cloth.	Use other orange Coarse recipes if Linen is expensive.
100–105	5 Silver Contact	5 Silver Bars.	Flying Tiger Goggles if Silver Bars are expensive.
105–125	25 Bronze Tube	50 Bronze Bars + Weak Flux; keep useful tubes.	Other orange Bronze components are okay if bars fluctuate.
125–135	10 Standard Scope	Bronze Tube + Moss Agate.	Start Heavy Blasting Powder if Moss Agate is expensive.
135–150	Heavy Blasting Powder + Whirring Bronze Gizmo	Heavy Blasting Powder + Whirring Bronze Gizmo; make enough of both for the next steps.	Mix the two recipes to avoid overproducing one component.
150–160	≈15 Bronze Framework	Bronze Bars + Medium Leather + Wool Cloth; save the frameworks.	Stop early if you reach 160 before 15.
160–175	15 Explosive Sheep	Heavy Blasting Powder + Whirring Bronze Gizmo + Bronze Framework + Wool Cloth.	Keep 5 if you intend Goblin Engineering.
175–194	≈60 Solid Blasting Powder	120 Solid Stone; save it.	Iron Grenade if you need a few points and have spare Iron.
194–195	Gyromatic Micro-Adjustor	4 Steel Bars; keep permanently.	Required tool.
195–200	≈7 Mithril Tube	21 Mithril Bars; stop at 200.	Iron Grenade if Mithril is unusually expensive.
200–215	20 Unstable Trigger	Mithril Bars + Mageweave Cloth + Solid Blasting Powder; keep the triggers.	None—needed for Hi-Explosive Bombs.
215–238	40 Mithril Casing	120 Mithril Bars; keep them.	Make only until the target if bars are expensive.
238–250	20 Hi-Explosive Bomb	Mithril Casing + Unstable Trigger + Solid Blasting Powder.	Use other orange explosives if you over/under-produced components.
250–260	≈30 Dense Blasting Powder	60 Dense Stone.	Expect a few extra yellow crafts.
260–285	≈35 Thorium Widget	105 Thorium Bars + Runecloth.	Check vendor availability of the schematic before bulk-buying.
285–300	≈20 Thorium Tube	120 Thorium Bars.	Thorium Shells can be cheaper if Dense Powder is already in your bags.
300–320	Fel Iron Bolts / Elemental Blasting Powder / Fel Iron Casing	Handful of Fel Iron Bolts + Elemental Blasting Powder + Fel Iron Casing; save components for later devices.	Continue Classic Thorium crafts briefly if old materials are much cheaper.
320–325	≈5 Fel Iron Bomb	Fel Iron Casing + Handful of Fel Iron Bolts + Elemental Blasting Powder.	Any orange Fel Iron device that consumes your saved parts.
325–335	≈10 Adamantite Frame	Adamantite Bars + Primal Earth; save the frames.	Make more Fel Iron Bombs if Adamantite is overpriced.
335–355	≈20 White Smoke Flare	Elemental Blasting Powder + Netherweave Cloth; use the vendor schematic when available.	Adamantite Grenades / other trained explosives if the flare schematic is unavailable.
355–360	High-end component/device bridge	Use saved frames and the cheapest yellow device.	Price Khorium and Adamantite before choosing.
360–375	Repair Bot / high-end devices	Finish with available high-skill schematics.	Field Repair Bot 110G is a classic route if you have the schematic; otherwise use your cheapest specialization/reputation recipe.
350–375	Cobalt Bolts + Volatile Blasting Trigger stock	Cobalt Bars; make about 50 Handful of Cobalt Bolts and 24 Volatile Blasting Triggers, then save them.	Make bolts first because triggers stay yellow longer.
375–385	10 Overcharged Capacitor	Cobalt Bars + Crystallized Earth; save the capacitors.	None—later recipes use these.
385–390	≈7 Explosive Decoy	Frostweave Cloth + Volatile Blasting Trigger.	Make a few extra if yellow RNG is poor.
390–400	≈15 Froststeel Tube	Cobalt Bars + Crystallized Water; save the tubes.	Stop as soon as you hit 400 and make extras later only when needed.
400–405	5 Diamond-cut Refractor Scope	Froststeel Tube + Handful of Cobalt Bolts.	Box of Bombs if scopes do not make sense economically.
405–410	5 Box of Bombs	Saronite Bars + Volatile Blasting Trigger.	Other orange Saronite explosive if materials are cheaper.
410–415	5 Goblin Beam Welder	Saronite Bars + Crystallized Fire + Crystallized Water.	Continue Box of Bombs if elementals are overpriced.
415–425	≈12 Mana Injector Kit	Saronite Bars + Crystallized Water.	Use another orange utility device if Water is expensive.
425–430	≈7 Mechanized Snow Goggles	Saronite Bars + Borean Leather + Eternal Shadow.	Goblin Engineers can use Global Thermal Sapper Charge; craft MOLL-E at 429 if you want it.
430–435	5 Noise Machine	Froststeel Tube + Overcharged Capacitor + Handful of Cobalt Bolts.	Any useful orange gadget if you consumed those components elsewhere.
435–450	≈30 Gnomish Army Knife	Saronite Bars + vendor tools; the recipe is green for the last points.	Save Wormhole Generator: Northrend and an epic engineering helm for 448–450 to avoid dozens of green knives.

Crafting · 1–450

Inscription

Inscription mills herbs into pigments and inks, then turns those inks into glyphs, scrolls, off-hands and cards. Herbalism is the cleanest way to feed it; in Wrath, research also matters because part of the glyph library is learned over time.

Training: Train the older ranks normally, then learn Grand Master in a Northrend starting zone or Dalaran where available. High-end recipes can be reputation, research or vendor gated.

Skill	Craft / focus	What to do	Alternatives / price checks
1–18	≈17 Ivory Ink	Alabaster Pigment.	Mill whichever Peacebloom/Silverleaf/Earthroot is cheapest.
18–35	≈17 Scroll of Stamina	Ivory Ink + Light Parchment.	Use another orange starter scroll if cheaper.
35–53	≈22 Moonglow Ink	Alabaster Pigment.	Keep extra ink for the next vellum/glyph steps.
53–75	Armor Vellum / orange glyphs	Moonglow Ink + Light Parchment.	Rotate to any new orange glyph rather than overpay for one parchment/ink recipe.
75–125	Midnight Ink + orange glyphs	Mill Briarthorn/Mageroyal/Bruiseweed-tier herbs.	Buy whichever herb gives the cheapest pigment per mill.
125–200	Lion’s / Jadefire ink tiers + glyphs	Advance through the next herb families and newly trained glyphs.	Choose the cheapest orange glyph at every breakpoint.
200–290	Celestial / Fiery / Shimmering ink tiers	Ink first, then orange glyphs/scrolls.	Do not stockpile expensive rare pigments unless a later recipe needs them.
290–305	≈45 Ethereal Ink	Nether Pigment.	Mill the cheapest Outland herb family.
305–350	Outland glyphs	Ethereal Ink + Resilient Parchment; rotate orange recipes.	Use any equal-cost orange glyph rather than a fixed name.
350–355	≈90 Ink of the Sea stock	180 Azure Pigment; keep it for the next steps.	Mill the cheapest Northrend herbs by pigment yield.
355–360	5 Scroll of Spirit VII	Ink of the Sea + Resilient Parchment.	A newly trained orange glyph can substitute if cheaper.
360–365	5 Scroll of Intellect VII	Ink + parchment.	Same-price orange glyphs are valid alternatives.
365–370	5 Scroll of Strength VII	Ink + parchment.	Same-price orange glyphs are valid alternatives.
370–375	5 Scroll of Agility VII	Ink + parchment.	Same-price orange glyphs are valid alternatives.
375–380	Snowfall Ink	Use the rare Icy Pigment from milling; save ink for research.	Do not buy rare pigment unless it is cheaper than the skill-up value.
380–385	≈7 Glyph of Focus	Ink of the Sea + Resilient Parchment.	Any comparable orange glyph.
385–386	Northrend Inscription Research	Do research to unlock Northrend glyphs.	Required for the long-term glyph pool.
386–400	Discovered major glyphs	Craft the newly discovered orange glyphs.	Use whichever discovery has the best sale value / cheapest inks.
400–405	5 Scroll of Stamina VIII	Ink of the Sea + parchment.	Orange glyph alternative.
405–410	5 Scroll of Spirit VIII	Ink + parchment.	Orange glyph alternative.
410–415	5 Scroll of Intellect VIII	Ink + parchment.	Orange glyph alternative.
415–420	5 Scroll of Strength VIII	Ink + parchment.	Orange glyph alternative.
420–430	≈10 Scroll of Agility VIII	Ink + parchment.	Craft saleable discovered glyphs instead if they remain yellow/orange.
430–450	Regular Northrend Inscription Research	Research is the recommended low-waste finish over time.	If you need 450 immediately, compare high-end off-hands/cards/glyphs before buying mats.

Crafting · 1–450

Jewelcrafting

Jewelcrafting prospects ore for gems, cuts those gems and uses metals to make rings, necklaces and other jewelry. Mining supplies both the ore and much of the metal, and the cheapest route often changes with the price of individual gem colors.

Training: Train the older ranks normally, then learn Grand Master in a Northrend starting zone or Dalaran where available. High-end recipes can be reputation, research or vendor gated.

Skill	Craft / focus	What to do	Alternatives / price checks
1–35	≈55 Delicate Copper Wire	110 Copper Bars; keep the wire.	None—later recipes use it.
35–50	≈15 Tigerseye Band / Malachite Pendant	Use whichever gem is cheaper plus saved wire.	Mix both gems to avoid an AH spike.
50–80	≈50 Bronze Setting	100 Bronze Bars; keep the settings.	None—later jewelry uses them.
80–100	≈20 Gloom Band	Bronze Settings + Shadowgems + wire.	Simple Pearl Ring / Ring of Silver Might.
100–110	10 Ring of Twilight Shadows	Shadowgems + Bronze Bars.	Heavy Jade Ring from 105.
110–120	≈10 Heavy Stone Statue	Roughly 80 Heavy Stone.	Extend toward 130 if stone is cheap.
120–150	≈30 Pendant of the Agate Shield	Moss Agate + Bronze Settings; limited-supply design.	Amulet of the Moon / Heavy Jade Ring / Golden Dragon Ring.
150–180	≈40 Mithril Filigree	80 Mithril Bars; keep it.	None—later jewelry uses it.
180–185	≈9 Solid Stone Statue	90 Solid Stone.	Blazing Citrine Ring.
185–210	≈28 Engraved Truesilver Ring	Truesilver + Mithril Filigree.	Citrine Ring of Rapid Healing.
210–220	10 Aquamarine Signet	Aquamarine + Flask of Mojo.	Farm Mojo from trolls if it is expensive.
220–225	5 Aquamarine Pendant of the Warrior	Aquamarine + Mithril Filigree.	Continue Signet.
225–250	≈56 Thorium Setting	56 Thorium Bars; keep them.	None.
250–260	10 Ruby Pendant of Fire	Star Ruby + Thorium Setting.	Any orange Thorium/Ruby jewelry.
260–281	≈21 Simple Opal Ring	Large Opal + Thorium Setting.	Diamond Focus Ring from 265.
281–295	≈20 Diamond Focus Ring	Azerothian Diamond + Thorium Setting.	Continue Opal Ring if cheaper.
295–300	5 Emerald Lion Ring	Huge Emerald + Thorium Setting.	Onslaught Ring / Sapphire Pendant / Glowing Thorium Band.
300–320	≈30 cheap Outland gem cuts	Cut inexpensive green Outland gems.	Spread purchases across colors.
320–325	≈5–7 improved green cuts	Use the cheapest trainer/vendor green-gem cuts.	Pick by raw gem price.
325–335	12 Mercurial Adamantite	48 Adamantite Powder + 12 Primal Earth; save all 12.	Prospect 240 Adamantite Ore yourself if powder is overpriced.
335–340	≈5–10 green cuts	Potent Flame Spessarite / Sovereign Shadow Draenite / Smooth Golden Draenite.	Choose cheapest vendor/reputation design.
340–350	≈12 Heavy Adamantite Ring	Adamantite Bars + saved Mercurial Adamantite.	Continue green cuts if needed.
350–395	≈60 Northrend uncommon gem cuts	Buy/cut Bloodstone, Chalcedony, Dark Jade, Huge Citrine, Shadow Crystal or Sun Crystal.	Train one cut per color and follow whichever raw gem is cheapest.
395–400	≈5 green Northrend jewelry	Bloodstone Band / Crystal Chalcedony Amulet / Crystal Citrine Necklace / Sun Rock Ring.	All are yellow—buy a few extra of the cheapest gem.
400–420	≈23 Stoneguard Band / Shadowmight Ring	46 Eternal Earth, or 23 Earth + 23 Eternal Shadow.	Compare Earth-only vs Earth+Shadow price before buying.
420–440	≈20 Meta gem cuts	Earthsiege/Skyflare meta cuts; trainer or token recipes.	Dream Signet if meta gems are expensive or token cuts sell poorly.
440–450	Icy Prism daily / more meta gems	Icy Prism can skill to 450 on its cooldown.	If you need 450 now, continue the cheapest meta cut rather than waiting.

Crafting · 1–450

Leatherworking

Leatherworking turns skinned hides into leather and mail armor, armor kits and later leg enchants and profession bonuses. Skinning supplies nearly everything you need, and several brackets have multiple viable recipes depending on leather, hide and thread prices.

Training: Train the older ranks normally, then learn Grand Master in a Northrend starting zone or Dalaran where available. High-end recipes can be reputation, research or vendor gated.

Skill	Craft / focus	What to do	Alternatives / price checks
1–20	19 Light Leather	Convert 57 Ruined Leather Scraps.	Skip if you have no scraps and start Light Armor Kits.
20–45	40 Light Armor Kit	40 Light Leather.	Start here from skill 1 if scraps are unavailable.
45–55	20 Handstitched Leather Cloak	40 Light Leather + Coarse Thread.	Any orange Light Leather recipe if thread/vendor access is awkward.
55–100	≈50 Embossed Leather Gloves	150 Light Leather + Coarse Thread.	Use inexpensive trained Light Leather pieces if leather prices vary.
100–125	≈40 Fine Leather Belt	240 Light Leather + thread; keep belts if using Dark Leather Belt later.	Craft Cured Medium Hide whenever Medium Hide is cheap.
125–137	15 Dark Leather Boots	60 Medium Leather + Fine Thread + Gray Dye.	Dark Leather Belt if you saved Fine Leather Belts + Cured Medium Hides.
137–150	20 Dark Leather Pants	240 Medium Leather + dye/thread.	Other orange Medium Leather recipes if dye is overpriced.
150–155	≈7 Heavy Leather conversion	Convert Medium Leather.	Heavy Leather Ball if conversion economics are poor.
155–165	20 Cured Heavy Hide	20 Heavy Hide + Salt; save them.	If Heavy Hides are expensive, use Heavy Armor Kits through this band.
165–180	15 Heavy Armor Kit	75 Heavy Leather + Fine Thread.	Continue longer if you skipped Cured Heavy Hides.
180–190	10 Barbaric Shoulders	Heavy Leather + saved Cured Heavy Hides.	Guardian Pants / Barbaric Leggings if hides are unavailable.
190–200	10 Guardian Gloves	Heavy Leather + Cured Heavy Hide.	Barbaric Leggings if Moss Agate is cheaper than hides.
200–205	5 Thick Armor Kit	25 Thick Leather.	Move straight to Nightscape Headband if Thick Leather is cheap.
205–235	≈40 Nightscape Headband	200 Thick Leather + Silken Thread.	Thick Armor Kits use less thread but vendor for less.
235–250	15 Nightscape Pants	210 Thick Leather + Silken Thread.	Stay on Headbands if pants are materially worse on your realm.
250–260	≈13 Nightscape Boots	208 Thick Leather + Heavy Silken Thread.	Rugged Armor Kits can start earlier if Rugged Leather is cheap.
260–290	≈33 Wicked Leather Gauntlets	264 Rugged Leather + Black Dye + Rune Thread.	Wicked Leather Bracers if you can get the drop pattern; otherwise extend Nightscape Boots briefly.
290–300	10 Runic Leather Headband	140 Rugged Leather + 100 Runecloth.	Wicked Leather Headband / Runic Leather Belt / Bracers / Gauntlets—price the pattern and Runecloth before choosing.
300–325	≈30 Knothide Armor Kit	120 Knothide Leather; may need extras because it turns yellow.	Wicked Leather Belt with cheap Rugged Leather can carry you to 325/330.
325–335	Heavy Knothide Leather conversion	Convert Knothide; stop at 335 and make the rest later.	If Heavy Knothide itself is cheaper than the input leather, buy it and use another skill-up craft.
335–350	≈20 Thick Draenic Vest	Knothide Leather + Rune Thread; yellow for much of the range.	Compare other trained Knothide armor pieces if leather/thread prices differ.
350–365	≈35–60 Heavy Knothide Armor Kit	Uses Heavy Knothide; green near the end.	Use reputation/vendor patterns if the green skill-up rate becomes too expensive.
365–370	≈6 Drums of Battle	Heavy Knothide + Thick Clefthoof Leather; Sha’tar Honored.	Continue Heavy Knothide Armor Kit if reputation or Clefthoof Leather is a problem.
370–375	≈6 Drums of Panic	Heavy Knothide + Fel Hide; Keepers of Time Honored.	Continue Drums of Battle; it is greener but avoids another reputation requirement.
350–380	≈35 Borean Armor Kit	175 Borean Leather.	Convert Borean Leather Scraps via the trained recipe for free-ish early skill points.
380–386	6 Arctic Boots	48 Borean Leather.	Other Arctic pieces if their leather cost is lower.
386–390	4 Arctic Gloves	40 Borean Leather.	Continue Arctic Boots if they remain orange and cheaper.
390–405	Heavy Borean Leather conversion	Convert Borean Leather; save Heavy Borean for later.	If Heavy Borean is cheaper on AH than converting, buy it and continue Arctic pieces for skill.
405–410	5 Arctic Wristguards	Borean Leather.	Any orange Arctic armor piece using fewer leather per point.
410–420	Dark Frostscale / Dark Iceborne Leggings	Borean Leather + Crystallized Water/Shadow.	Choose whichever crystallized element is cheaper.
420–425	5 Overcast Bracers	Heavy Borean Leather + Eternal Water.	Use the cheaper comparable high-level bracer if Eternal Water spikes.
425–435	≈10 Overcast Handwraps	Heavy Borean + Eternal Water.	Compare other trained 425+ pieces by Eternal cost.
435–440	Frosthide / Icescale Leg Armor	Heavy Borean + Arctic Fur / elementals.	Pick whichever leg armor has cheaper inputs and better resale.
440–450	Epic/high-end Northrend leatherwork	Final points require costly recipes/materials.	Make items you or your guild actually need; compare Frozen Orbs, Arctic Fur and specialty scales before choosing.

Crafting · 1–450

Tailoring

Tailoring turns cloth from humanoid enemies into cloth armor, bags, specialty cloth and later profession-only enchants. It does not require a gathering profession; Enchanting is a common companion because many crafted greens can be disenchanted instead of vendored.

Training: Train the older ranks normally, then learn Grand Master in a Northrend starting zone or Dalaran where available. High-end recipes can be reputation, research or vendor gated.

Skill	Craft / focus	What to do	Alternatives / price checks
1–45	≈102 Bolt of Linen Cloth	Convert about 204 Linen Cloth; stop at 45 and make more only as needed.	No reason to overproduce bolts unless Linen is very cheap.
40–70	40 Linen Belt	40 Linen Bolts + Coarse Thread.	Simple Linen Boots/other orange Linen crafts can bridge.
70–75	5 Reinforced Linen Cape	10 Linen Bolts + Coarse Thread.	Continue Linen Belt if materials are already on hand.
75–100	45 Bolt of Woolen Cloth	135 Wool Cloth.	Make only what you need if Wool is expensive.
100–110	13 Simple Kilt	Uses leftover Linen Bolts + Fine Thread.	Any orange Wool craft if you ran out of Linen Bolts.
110–125	15 Double-stitched Woolen Shoulders	45 Wool Bolts + Fine Thread.	Other orange Wool recipes if bolts are scarce.
125–145	≈201 Bolt of Silk Cloth	804 Silk Cloth; you use many later.	Stop at 145 and make remaining bolts on demand if capital is tight.
145–160	18 Azure Silk Hood	Silk Bolts + Blue Dye + thread.	Silk Headband once it becomes available if dye is expensive.
160–170	10 Silk Headband	30 Silk Bolts + Fine Thread.	Continue Azure Silk Hood if Blue Dye is cheap.
170–175	5 Formal White Shirt	Silk Bolts + Bleach + Fine Thread.	Continue Silk Headband if you do not want a vendor-material step.
175–185	≈94 Bolt of Mageweave	470 Mageweave Cloth.	Make only enough to hit 185, then produce the rest as needed.
185–205	20 Crimson Silk Vest	Silk Bolts + Fine Thread + Red Dye.	Use other orange Silk crafts if dye is overpriced.
205–215	10 Crimson Silk Pantaloons	Silk Bolts + dye/thread.	Black Mageweave pieces if Mageweave is cheaper than Silk.
215–220	5 Orange Mageweave Shirt	Mageweave Bolt + Orange Dye + Heavy Silken Thread.	Move to Black Mageweave Gloves early if dye is expensive.
220–230	10 Black Mageweave Gloves	20 Mageweave Bolts + Heavy Silken Thread.	Black Mageweave Headband can begin once available.
230–250	≈23 Black Mageweave Headband	69 Mageweave Bolts + Heavy Silken Thread.	Other Black Mageweave slots if their vendor/AH value is better.
250–260	≈239 Bolt of Runecloth	Convert Runecloth; most will be used later.	Make only enough to reach 260 if you prefer staged purchasing.
260–280	25 Runecloth Belt	75 Runecloth Bolts + Rune Thread.	Runecloth Bag can replace belts if bags sell well enough to recover cost.
280–290	≈18 Runecloth Bag	90 Bolts + Rugged Leather + thread; limited-supply pattern.	More Runecloth Belts to ~285 if the bag pattern is camped.
290–300	≈18 Runecloth Gloves	72 Bolts + Rugged Leather + thread; yellow near 290.	Brightcloth Cloak/Gloves/Robe or Runecloth Pants if their patterns/materials are cheaper.
300–325	Bolt of Netherweave stock	Convert Netherweave; the full route eventually consumes hundreds of bolts.	Stop at 325 and make additional bolts on demand if you do not want to tie up gold.
325–340	Bolt of Imbued Netherweave stock	Use Netherweave Bolts + Arcane Dust at a Mana Loom; save the bolts.	Netherweave Bag can be cheaper if bags sell well; Arcanoweave patterns reduce later Imbued Bolt needs.
340–345	5 Netherweave Boots	30 Netherweave Bolts + Knothide Leather + thread.	Continue making Imbued Netherweave if it still skills and you will use the bolts.
345–360	≈20 Netherweave Tunic	Netherweave Bolts + Rune Thread; yellow near the end.	Any comparable yellow Netherweave recipe if tunic materials are more expensive.
360–375	≈17 Imbued Netherweave Tunic / Robe	Imbued Bolts + Netherweb Spider Silk + thread.	Arcanoweave Boots/Robe if you have the Mechanar drop recipes; compare Arcane Dust vs Spider Silk cost.
350–375	≈50 Bolt of Frostweave	250 Frostweave Cloth; you need many more bolts later.	Stop at 375 and make additional bolts as needed if capital is limited.
375–380	5 Frostwoven Belt	15 Frostweave Bolts.	Use another orange Frostwoven piece if its bolt cost is lower.
380–385	5 Frostwoven Boots	20 Frostweave Bolts.	Continue Belt if still orange/cheaper.
385–395	≈13 Frostwoven Cowl	65 Frostweave Bolts.	Other Frostwoven slot if cloth usage/sale value is better.
395–400	5 Duskweave Belt	Frostweave Bolts + Eternal Shadow.	Stay on Frostwoven if Eternal Shadow is overpriced.
400–405	Bolt of Imbued Frostweave stock	Frostweave Bolts + Infinite Dust; save them.	Only make what later steps need if Infinite Dust is expensive.
405–410	5 Duskweave Wristwraps	Frostweave Bolts + Eternal Shadow.	Choose another orange Duskweave piece if cheaper.
410–415	5 Duskweave Gloves	Frostweave Bolts + Eternal Shadow.	Continue Wristwraps if still efficient.
415–425	≈10 Duskweave Boots	Frostweave Bolts + Eternal Shadow.	Frostweave Bags can start being attractive if bags sell well.
425–440	≈15 Frostweave Bag	60 Frostweave Bolts + Infinite Dust.	Use saleable high-end cloth items if bag margins are poor.
440–450	Frostweave Bag / useful epics	Bags are cheap but green; expect extras.	Make expensive epics or specialty cloth items if you can sell/use them and want guaranteed skill points.

Gathering · 1–450

Herbalism

Herbalism gathers herbs used primarily by Alchemy and, in Wrath, Inscription. The fastest leveling comes from dense loops rather than chasing one specific herb, so these routes favor zones where several useful herb tiers overlap.

Training: Train the older ranks normally, then learn Grand Master in a Northrend starting zone or Dalaran where available. High-end recipes can be reputation, research or vendor gated.

Skill	Material	Best places / route	Alternate route / notes
1–70	Peacebloom / Silverleaf / Earthroot	Circle any starter zone, following road shoulders and hill edges.	Choose the least-contested starter zone; route density matters more than faction.
70–115	Mageroyal / Briarthorn / Stranglekelp	The Barrens, Silverpine, Loch Modan or Darkshore.	If coastal Stranglekelp slows the loop, stay inland on Briarthorn/Mageroyal.
115–170	Bruiseweed / Wild Steelbloom / Kingsblood / Liferoot	Hillsbrad, Wetlands and Stonetalon.	Move into the higher-elevation parts after 150 for Kingsblood/Liferoot.
170–205	Kingsblood / Liferoot / Fadeleaf / Goldthorn	Arathi Highlands and Stranglethorn Vale are efficient.	Khadgar’s Whisker begins at 185 and can extend these routes.
205–230	Khadgar’s Whisker / Firebloom / Purple Lotus	The Hinterlands, Tanaris and Feralas.	Tanaris is great if you also want Firebloom for Alchemy.
230–270	Sungrass / Blindweed / Gromsblood	Feralas, Hinterlands, Swamp of Sorrows.	Felwood is a strong Gromsblood alternative.
270–300	Dreamfoil / Mountain Silversage / Icecap	Un’Goro, Winterspring and Eastern Plaguelands.	Winterspring is the obvious choice if Icecap is valuable on your realm.
300–325	Felweed / Dreaming Glory	Hellfire Peninsula.	Zangarmarsh edges can work once your skill permits.
325–350	Ragveil / Terocone	Zangarmarsh for Ragveil; Terokkar for Terocone.	Stay in Hellfire a little longer if Felweed is uncontested.
350–375	Netherbloom / Nightmare Vine / Mana Thistle	Netherstorm and Shadowmoon Valley.	Outland herbs below this tier can still skill to 375; use them if the endgame zones are packed.
350–400	Goldclover / Tiger Lily	Borean Tundra and Howling Fjord.	Staying in Netherstorm to 375 is reasonable if Outland is empty.
400–425	Talandra’s Rose / Adder’s Tongue	Zul’Drak then Sholazar; Sholazar is the standout Adder’s Tongue farm.	Dragonblight is a good mixed-herb transition.
425–450	Lichbloom / Icethorn	Icecrown and Storm Peaks.	Sholazar remains good money if high-end zones are crowded.

Gathering · 1–450

Mining

Mining gathers ore and stone for Blacksmithing, Engineering and Jewelcrafting. Smelting can bridge some awkward skill ranges, while the open-world routes focus on dense circuits and high-value ore once raw skill is no longer the only goal.

Training: Train the older ranks normally, then learn Grand Master in a Northrend starting zone or Dalaran where available. High-end recipes can be reputation, research or vendor gated.

Skill	Material	Best places / route	Alternate route / notes
1–65	Copper	Run starter-zone mountain edges and cave mouths. Durotar, Dun Morogh, Elwynn and Mulgore are dependable.	Night Elves can move to Darkshore; Teldrassil has no Copper.
65–125	Tin + Copper	The Barrens and Loch Modan are easy mixed loops; Hillsbrad is good once Tin is comfortable.	Smelt Copper/Tin/Bronze when ore is cheap to bridge awkward skill gaps.
125–175	Iron + Tin	Arathi Highlands is one of the cleanest Iron loops; Thousand Needles is another strong route.	Badlands works if Arathi is crowded.
175–245	Mithril	Loop The Hinterlands, Tanaris or Badlands. Mine every Truesilver node you see.	Hinterlands is usually the cleanest low-competition route.
245–275	Mithril + Thorium	Transition through Tanaris / Un’Goro while Mithril still gives skill.	Burning Steppes is a viable Thorium transition route.
275–300	Thorium / Rich Thorium	Un’Goro, Winterspring and Eastern Plaguelands.	At cap, Rich Thorium is the higher-value farm; switch zones if competition is heavy.
300–325	Fel Iron	Hellfire Peninsula perimeter and mountain walls.	Use the ground route while leveling; flying routes are faster at 70.
325–350	Adamantite	Nagrand and Terokkar. Nagrand’s open terrain makes nodes easy to spot.	Terokkar is often better when Nagrand is crowded.
350–375	Rich Adamantite / Khorium	Nagrand, Netherstorm and Shadowmoon Valley.	Khorium is a rare replacement spawn, so movement beats camping.
350–400	Cobalt	Borean Tundra or Howling Fjord; both have strong ground routes.	Stay in Outland to 375 if competition there is lower.
400–450	Saronite / Rich Saronite / Titanium	Sholazar is the easiest dense loop; Storm Peaks is the main alternative.	Icecrown is strong at cap; Titanium is a rare replacement spawn.

Gathering · 1–450

Skinning

Skinning converts beasts you or other players kill into leather, hides and scales for Leatherworking. Mob density matters more than one exact species, so the best routes favor camps where you can move continuously with little downtime.

Training: Train the older ranks normally, then learn Grand Master in a Northrend starting zone or Dalaran where available. High-end recipes can be reputation, research or vendor gated.

Skill	Material	Best places / route	Alternate route / notes
1–75	Light Leather	Durotar or Dun Morogh; skin everything you or other players kill.	Any starter-zone beast camp works.
75–155	Light / Medium Leather	The Barrens, Loch Modan and Wetlands.	Follow quest hubs where players leave corpses behind.
155–205	Medium / Heavy Leather	Thousand Needles and Arathi Highlands.	Stranglethorn beast camps are another dense option.
205–260	Heavy / Thick Leather	Feralas and higher-level Tanaris beast camps.	The Hinterlands is solid if Feralas is crowded.
260–300	Thick / Rugged Leather	Un’Goro is excellent due to constant dinosaur density.	Winterspring/Feralas high-level beasts are good alternatives.
300–330	Knothide scraps / leather	Hellfire Peninsula and Zangarmarsh beasts.	Convert scraps rather than vendoring them.
330–360	Knothide Leather	Nagrand has superb beast density.	Terokkar’s warp stalkers / wolves can be quieter.
360–375	Knothide / Heavy Knothide	Nagrand, Blade’s Edge and Netherstorm high-level beasts.	Farm the leather type your Leatherworking route needs most.
375–405	Borean Leather	Borean Tundra / Howling Fjord beast packs.	Skin quest-area corpses during peak hours for easy volume.
405–435	Borean Leather	Sholazar Basin is the easiest high-density route.	Grizzly Hills can be quieter.
435–450	Borean / Heavy Borean Leather	Sholazar, Storm Peaks and Icecrown high-level beasts.	Choose based on Arctic Fur chances and competition.

Secondary · 1–450

Cooking

Cooking turns meat and fish into food buffs and useful raid consumables. Because many brackets have several recipes with identical skill colors, the cheapest route usually depends on what you can farm yourself or buy inexpensively that day.

Training: Train the older ranks normally, then learn Grand Master in a Northrend starting zone or Dalaran where available. High-end recipes can be reputation, research or vendor gated.

Skill	Craft / focus	What to do	Alternatives / price checks
1–50	≈55 starter meat or fish	Charred Wolf Meat, Roasted Boar Meat, Brilliant Smallfish or Slitherskin Mackerel.	Use faction-specific cheap recipes such as Crispy Bat Wing / Scorpid Surprise / Kaldorei Spider Kabob if you already have the meat.
50–110	≈65 low-tier food	Boiled Clams, Coyote Steak, Longjaw Mud Snapper, Strider Stew, etc.	Use whatever meat/fish is cheapest; this bracket has many equivalent recipes.
110–130	≈20–30 mid-tier food	Crab Cake, Dry Pork Ribs, Bristle Whisker Catfish, etc.	Pick the recipe whose raw ingredient is cheapest on your AH.
130–175	≈50 Curiously Tasty Omelet	Raptor Eggs.	Mithril Head Trout / other fish route if you are leveling Fishing alongside Cooking.
175–225	Roast Raptor / Spider Sausage / fish progression	Work through trainer/vendor recipes using plentiful mid-level meats.	Fishing route is often cheaper if raw fish is abundant.
225–250	Artisan quest then Monster Omelet / Tender Wolf Steak	Complete the Artisan Cooking requirement before the final stretch.	Use Nightfin / Sunscale fish recipes if you are already fishing.
250–285	Monster Omelet / Tender Wolf Steak	High-level eggs/wolf meat.	Cook high-skill fish if meat prices spike.
285–300	Smoked Desert Dumplings / endgame fish	Finish on a useful high-level recipe instead of a pure vendor loss.	Choose based on what you can farm cheaply in Silithus / high-level fishing zones.
300–325	≈30 Ravager Dog / Buzzard Bites	Ravager Flesh or Buzzard Meat.	Choose whichever recipe/meat is easier for your faction and server.
325–355	Talbuk Steak / Roasted Clefthoof / Warp Burger	Use Nagrand/Terokkar meats.	Fish-based Golden Fish Sticks / Blackened Trout routes if you are leveling Fishing.
355–375	Crunchy Serpent / Mok’Nathal Shortribs / high Outland food	Finish on a high-skill recipe with useful output.	Pick the meat/fish with the lowest AH cost or best personal farm.
350–365	Northern Stew / simple Northrend meat	Use common Northrend meats and trainer recipes.	Pick the cheapest meat on your realm; Fishing can substitute with early Northrend fish.
365–400	Rhino Dogs / Worm Delight / similar trained foods	Cycle through trained recipes as they turn yellow.	Use whichever raw meat/fish you already farm.
400–425	Dalaran Cooking Award recipes	Start the Dalaran daily and buy recipes that match your cheapest farm.	Pick a saleable stat food rather than a pure leveling recipe when costs are close.
425–450	Feasts / high-stat foods	Finish on useful raid foods; recipes depend on awards.	Choose the recipe with the best ingredient supply or resale rather than one fixed food.

Secondary · 1–450

Fishing

Fishing supplies Cooking, alchemy fish and several valuable trade goods while requiring very little gear. Skill can be raised in almost any suitable water; the suggested zones emphasize useful catches and convenient Cooking overlap.

Training: Train the older ranks normally, then learn Grand Master in a Northrend starting zone or Dalaran where available. High-end recipes can be reputation, research or vendor gated.

Skill	Craft / focus	What to do	Alternatives / price checks
1–75	Starter-zone / capital water	Use a lure and fish continuously; pair catches with early Cooking.	Any water is fine if you only care about skill.
75–130	Low-level rivers/coasts	Fish somewhere that supplies Longjaw Mud Snapper / Bristle Whisker Catfish.	Stay in a capital if travel time matters more than fish value.
130–205	Mid-level pools	Target fish that feed your Cooking route.	Move zones only when catch value, not skill-up mechanics, makes it worthwhile.
205–255	Artisan fishing quest + higher waters	Complete Nat Pagle’s Artisan Fishing quest when required.	Use strong lures/rod upgrades to reduce escapes.
255–300	Feralas / high-level pools	Feralas is a clean finishing zone and supplies useful Cooking fish.	Azshara / Tanaris high-level water if Feralas is crowded.
300–350	Zangarmarsh water	Use a strong pole/lure; effective skill around 400 greatly reduces escapes.	Stay in older Azeroth waters if your gear/lures are weak.
350–375	Terokkar Forest	Higher-value catches make Terokkar a better finish.	You can remain in Zangarmarsh to 375 if travel/competition favors it.
375–400	Borean Tundra / Howling Fjord	Use strong lures and fish pools that also feed Cooking.	Stay in Outland temporarily if your effective fishing is too low.
400–425	Dragonblight / Grizzly / Zul’Drak	Move for fish value, not because skill-ups demand it.	Any safe Northrend water works for raw skill.
425–450	Sholazar / Icecrown / Wintergrasp	Target useful endgame pools.	Storm Peaks / open Northrend water if competition is lower.

Secondary · 1–450

First Aid

First Aid turns humanoid cloth drops into bandages and is useful on every class that wants an emergency heal without mana. The route is mostly a cloth progression, so saving Linen through Frostweave while leveling keeps the cost down.

Training: Train the older ranks normally, then learn Grand Master in a Northrend starting zone or Dalaran where available. High-end recipes can be reputation, research or vendor gated.

Skill	Craft / focus	What to do	Alternatives / price checks
1–40	≈50 Linen Bandage	50 Linen Cloth.	No alternative; use cheap low-level cloth.
40–80	≈45–60 Heavy Linen Bandage	90–120 Linen Cloth.	Stop as soon as Wool Bandage is available and cheaper.
80–115	≈60 Wool Bandage	60 Wool Cloth.	If Wool is expensive, finish a few points with Heavy Linen first.
115–150	≈60 Heavy Wool Bandage	120 Wool Cloth.	Buy/train the next manuals before leaving the relevant vendor.
150–180	Silk Bandage	Silk Cloth.	Expert First Aid book/manual checkpoint matters here.
180–210	Heavy Silk Bandage	Silk Cloth.	Move to Mageweave as soon as the recipe is available and cheaper.
210–240	Mageweave Bandage	Mageweave Cloth.	None.
240–260	Heavy Mageweave Bandage	Mageweave Cloth.	None.
260–290	Runecloth Bandage	Runecloth.	None.
290–300	Heavy Runecloth Bandage	Runecloth.	Continue past 300 in TBC builds; Classic stops here.
300–330	≈70 Heavy Runecloth Bandage	140 Runecloth.	Do this before switching to Netherweave because the old recipe is efficient early in the Master bracket.
330–360	≈45 Netherweave Bandage	45 Netherweave Cloth; buy the manual in Hellfire.	None.
360–375	≈20 Heavy Netherweave Bandage	40 Netherweave Cloth; buy the second manual.	None.
375–400	Frostweave Bandage	Use Frostweave Cloth from Northrend humanoids.	If Netherweave is extremely cheap, finish a few early points before switching.
400–450	Heavy Frostweave Bandage	Learn the manual/drop when eligible and finish with Frostweave.	The manual commonly comes from Northrend humanoids; do not overpay on the AH unless you want it immediately.