How to pick professions in WoW Forever
Every character can learn two primary professions. Gathering professions (Herbalism, Mining, Skinning) bring materials back from the world and sell from the first day; crafting professions turn materials into gear, potions and gadgets and cost more to level. Most players pair a crafter with the gatherer that feeds it, or take two gatherers to make gold.
Forever adds camping: every profession can place a camp feature at a campfire that helps everyone sitting nearby, and many recipes are new or changed from Classic. The quiz below weighs that for you.
The quiz: six quick questions
- What do you want most from professions? Make gold, Gear myself, Help my group, Something relaxing
- Gathering or crafting? Gathering: out in the world, Crafting: making things, A bit of both
- How much do you play? A few hours a week, A few evenings a week, Most days
- What do you play most? Questing and leveling, Dungeons and raids, PvP
- Your class (optional) Warrior, Paladin, Hunter, Rogue, Priest, Shaman, Mage, Warlock, Druid
- Happy to buy materials or use a bank alt? No: I'd rather supply myself, Yes, that's fine
Turn on JavaScript to take the quiz: the best pair for you shows as you answer, with a link you can share. Still picking a class? Take the class quiz.
Picks for common playstyles
- A gold maker who likes gathering: Herbalism and Skinning. Herbalism: 36 kinds of herb mapped across 46 zones. (Classic spawn points until players see them in Forever.) Source 717 beasts you can skin across 48 zones. (Classic spawn points until players see them in Forever.) Source New in Forever: at skill 140, Herbalism can place a Greenhouse at a campfire. Places a Greenhouse that will grow herbs over time from seeds planted, and provides all of the benefits of an Incense Candle. Source
- A Mage who raids: Enchanting and Tailoring. Tailoring makes 43 items on ForeverDB's best-in-slot lists for a Mage (PvE) at some level up to 30 (our pick, scored with each spec's stat weights). Source Enchanting has 90 enchants you can learn by skill 225. Source Enchanting makes 2 items on ForeverDB's best-in-slot lists for a Mage (PvE) at some level up to 30 (our pick, scored with each spec's stat weights). Source
- A Rogue who plays PvP: Engineering and Mining. Engineering makes 27 consumables you can learn by skill 225. The biggest groups: Damage (21), Explosives and gadgets (6). Source 80 of Engineering's 152 recipes you can learn by skill 225 need something Mining brings back, so one supplies the other. Source Mining: 10 kinds of vein mapped across 43 zones. (Classic spawn points until players see them in Forever.) Source
- A relaxed player with little time: Herbalism and Skinning. Herbalism: 36 kinds of herb mapped across 46 zones. (Classic spawn points until players see them in Forever.) Source 717 beasts you can skin across 48 zones. (Classic spawn points until players see them in Forever.) Source New in Forever: at skill 140, Herbalism can place a Greenhouse at a campfire. Places a Greenhouse that will grow herbs over time from seeds planted, and provides all of the benefits of an Incense Candle. Source
Each profession at a glance
- Alchemy: 196 recipes, 72 new in Forever. Camp feature at skill 140: Fermenter. 81 consumables by skill 225. Leveling guide
- Blacksmithing: 506 recipes, 197 new in Forever. Camp feature at skill 140: Anvil. 13 consumables by skill 225. Leveling guide
- Enchanting: 261 recipes, 63 new in Forever. Camp feature at skill 140: Arcane Salvager. 3 consumables by skill 225. Leveling guide
- Engineering: 275 recipes, 77 new in Forever. Camp feature at skill 140: Repair Bot. 27 consumables by skill 225. Leveling guide
- Leatherworking: 592 recipes, 277 new in Forever. Camp feature at skill 140: Tanning Rack. 10 consumables by skill 225. Leveling guide
- Tailoring: 471 recipes, 180 new in Forever. Camp feature at skill 140: Spinning Wheel. Leveling guide
- Herbalism: Camp feature at skill 140: Greenhouse. Map
- Mining: Camp feature at skill 140: Rock Garden. Map
- Skinning: Camp feature at skill 140: Field Guide. Where to skin
How the score works
Each answer gives each profession a few points (the table). On top: points for gear on ForeverDB's best-in-slot lists for your class at the level cap (up to 5 when you want gear, so a crafter that makes nothing for your class gets nothing; up to 3 for dungeons or PvP); points for consumables (up to 3 when you want to help your group, 1 for dungeons or PvP); up to 2 when a gatherer supplies a crafter's recipes (one more if you'd rather not buy materials); 2 for one gatherer and one crafter when you want a bit of both; and two points off for two crafters when you'd rather not buy materials. On equal points, the pair that fits your gathering-or-crafting answer comes first.
Speculation The weights are ForeverDB's judgement of what each answer favours, not game data, and the best-in-slot lists are ForeverDB's own ranking (client items scored with each spec's stat weights). The other reasons quote the Forever beta client's recipes, camp features and consumables, and beta auction house prices once players' scans confirm them. Level cap: 30.
| Question | Answer | Points |
|---|---|---|
| What do you want most from professions? | Make gold | Herbalism +3, Mining +3, Skinning +3, Alchemy +1, Enchanting +1, Leatherworking +1, Tailoring +1 |
| What do you want most from professions? | Gear myself | Enchanting +2, Engineering +1 |
| What do you want most from professions? | Help my group | Alchemy +2, Enchanting +2, Blacksmithing +1, Engineering +1, Tailoring +1 |
| What do you want most from professions? | Something relaxing | Tailoring +2, Herbalism +2, Skinning +2, Alchemy +1, Enchanting +1, Mining +1 |
| Gathering or crafting? | Gathering: out in the world | Herbalism +3, Mining +3, Skinning +3, Alchemy −2, Blacksmithing −2, Enchanting −2, Engineering −2, Leatherworking −2, Tailoring −2 |
| Gathering or crafting? | Crafting: making things | Alchemy +3, Blacksmithing +3, Enchanting +3, Engineering +3, Leatherworking +3, Tailoring +3, Herbalism −2, Mining −2, Skinning −2 |
| How much do you play? | A few hours a week | Herbalism +2, Skinning +2, Tailoring +1, Mining +1, Enchanting −1, Engineering −1 |
| How much do you play? | Most days | Alchemy +1, Blacksmithing +1, Enchanting +1, Engineering +1, Leatherworking +1, Tailoring +1 |
| What do you play most? | Questing and leveling | Leatherworking +1, Herbalism +1, Mining +1, Skinning +1 |
| What do you play most? | Dungeons and raids | Enchanting +2, Alchemy +1 |
| What do you play most? | PvP | Engineering +3, Alchemy +1, Enchanting +1 |
| Happy to buy materials or use a bank alt? | No: I'd rather supply myself | Enchanting −1, Engineering −1 |
Data from the WoW Forever beta client, build 1.60.1.70205, extracted .