Mining in Classic World of Warcraft is a profitable and essential gathering profession, providing ore, stones, and gems for Blacksmithing, Engineering, and Jewelcrafting. Whether you’re looking to craft gear or make gold on the Auction House, this guide will help you level Mining from 1 to 300 efficiently.
How to Get Started:
- Requirements: Purchase a Mining Pick from a trade goods vendor (e.g., in capital cities like Stormwind or Orgrimmar). Keep it in your inventory.
- Trainer: Visit a Mining Trainer in any major city to learn Apprentice Mining (1-75). You’ll upgrade your skill at higher levels:
- Journeyman (75-150): Skill 50+
- Expert (150-225): Skill 125+
- Artisan (225-300): Skill 200+
- Tip: Pair Mining with Blacksmithing or Engineering for self-sufficiency, or sell materials for profit.
Leveling Mining: Ore and Zones
Follow this progression to level efficiently. Stick to zones until you can mine the next ore type without failing (nodes turn gray when too easy).
1-65: Copper Ore
- Skill Required: 1
- Zones:
- Alliance: Elwynn Forest, Dun Morogh
- Horde: Durotar, Mulgore
- Notes: Copper is abundant in starting zones. Run loops around the edges of these areas, hitting caves like Jasperlode Mine (Elwynn) or The Venture Co. Mine (Mulgore).
65-125: Tin Ore (and Copper)
- Skill Required: 65
- Zones:
- Alliance: Loch Modan, Westfall
- Horde: The Barrens
- Notes: Tin spawns in mid-level zones. The Barrens is a hotspot—check the mountains around Ratchet and Crossroads. Smelt Copper to push past early skill gaps.
125-175: Iron Ore
- Skill Required: 125
- Zones: Thousand Needles, Desolace, Arathi Highlands
- Notes: Thousand Needles’ cliffs and caves (e.g., Shimmering Flats) are great for Iron. Arathi Highlands also offers a dense loop around Stromgarde.
175-245: Mithril Ore
- Skill Required: 175
- Zones: Tanaris, The Hinterlands, Badlands
- Notes: Tanaris is a top pick—circle Gadgetzan and the Zul’Farrak area. Mithril nodes often spawn in caves, so explore thoroughly.
245-300: Thorium Ore
- Skill Required: 245
- Zones: Un’Goro Crater, Winterspring, Burning Steppes
- Notes: Un’Goro’s outer rim and Winterspring’s Yeti Cave are Thorium-rich. Look for Small Thorium Veins (245) and Rich Thorium Veins (275). Burning Steppes is competitive but dense.
Smelting for Skill Points
- Smelt ore at a forge to gain skill points, especially early on:
- Copper: 1-50
- Tin: 65-90
- Iron: 125-150
- Mithril: 175-200
- Thorium: 245-265
- Tip: Stockpile ore if you’re short on skill points to mine the next tier.
Gold Making Tips
- High Demand Ores: Iron, Mithril, and Thorium sell well due to crafting needs.
- Gems: Mining Mithril and Thorium veins can yield gems like Aquamarine, Star Ruby, or Arcane Crystals (from Rich Thorium). Check Auction House prices.
- Dark Iron Ore: Found in Blackrock Depths and Molten Core (Skill 230+). Rare and valuable for Blacksmithing recipes.
We recommend these addons:
- GatherMate2: Tracks node spawns for efficient routes.
- Auctioneer: Helps price your ore and gems on the Auction House.
Mining is best leveled while questing or farming in the open world. Stick to a zone until nodes turn green or gray, then move up. Patience pays off—Thorium farming at 300 can fund your epic mount! Happy mining, and may your pickaxe strike rich veins.
For more guides on Classic World of Warcraft – check out our leveling guide and guide to whirlwind axe here.