Professions

You get two main professions plus any secondary ones. Gathering makes gold from day one; crafting turns materials into gear and consumables. Most players pair one of each, or take two gathering skills to save up for a mount.

Best pairs by class

Warrior: Mining + Blacksmithing, or Mining + Engineering for PvP.
Paladin: Mining + Blacksmithing, or Herbalism + Alchemy.
Hunter: Skinning + Leatherworking.
Rogue: Skinning + Leatherworking, or Mining + Engineering.
Priest: Tailoring + Enchanting, or Herbalism + Alchemy.
Shaman: Skinning + Leatherworking (mail), or Herbalism + Alchemy.
Mage: Tailoring + Enchanting.
Warlock: Tailoring + Enchanting.
Druid: Herbalism + Alchemy, or Skinning + Leatherworking.

Gathering

MiningPairs with Blacksmithing or Engineering

Mine ore and stone from nodes.

LEVELING PATH
  1. 1–65 Copper (starting zones)
  2. 65–125 Tin (Westfall, Barrens)
  3. 125–175 Iron (Arathi, Desolace)
  4. 175–245 Mithril (Badlands, Tanaris)
  5. 245–300 Thorium (Un'Goro, Winterspring)

Money: Sell bars and Thorium Ore; Arcane Crystals sell high.

HerbalismPairs with Alchemy

Pick herbs from the world.

LEVELING PATH
  1. 1–70 Peacebloom, Silverleaf
  2. 70–115 Briarthorn, Mageroyal
  3. 115–170 Kingsblood, Liferoot
  4. 170–230 Sungrass, Goldthorn
  5. 230–300 Dreamfoil, Plaguebloom

Money: Raid-week herbs (Dreamfoil, Plaguebloom, Black Lotus) sell fast.

SkinningPairs with Leatherworking

Skin beasts you or others kill.

LEVELING PATH
  1. Skin whatever you kill while questing
  2. Your skill cap is 5 × the mob level
  3. Burning Steppes and Winterspring at the top

Money: Leather and hides sell steadily; great for Hunters and Rogues.

Crafting

BlacksmithingPairs with Mining

Plate, mail and weapons from metal bars.

LEVELING PATH
  1. Rough and Coarse items to 125
  2. Silver and Iron to 200
  3. Mithril pieces to 260
  4. Thorium and Dark Iron to 300

Money: Sharpening stones and sought-after recipe weapons.

LeatherworkingPairs with Skinning

Leather and mail armor and armor kits.

LEVELING PATH
  1. Light Armor Kits to 100
  2. Hillman's and Dark Leather to 175
  3. Thick Leather to 250
  4. Rugged Leather to 300

Money: Armor kits and pre-raid pieces.

TailoringPairs with Enchanting (disenchant what you make)

Cloth armor and bags from cloth you loot.

LEVELING PATH
  1. Linen to 75
  2. Wool to 125
  3. Silk to 175
  4. Mageweave to 250
  5. Runecloth to 300

Money: Bags always sell.

AlchemyPairs with Herbalism

Potions, elixirs and flasks.

LEVELING PATH
  1. Minor Healing to 60
  2. Lesser Healing and Swiftness to 140
  3. Healing and Elixirs to 210
  4. Superior and Greater potions to 300

Money: Raid consumables and transmutes.

EnchantingPairs with Tailoring

Disenchant gear and enchant others' items.

LEVELING PATH
  1. Disenchant greens as you level
  2. Bracer and cloak enchants to 200
  3. Weapon enchants toward 300

Money: Shards, essences and enchanting tips.

EngineeringPairs with Mining

Bombs, gadgets, scopes and goggles.

LEVELING PATH
  1. Rough items to 75
  2. Coarse and Bronze to 150
  3. Mithril and Thorium gadgets to 300

Money: Scopes and explosives; mostly a PvP and utility pick.

Secondary

First AidPairs with Everyone

Bandages from cloth.

LEVELING PATH
  1. Linen to Runecloth bandages
  2. Trainer books at 150 and 225

Money: Saves gold on potions; no real income.

CookingPairs with Fishing

Food that heals and buffs.

LEVELING PATH
  1. Cook what you kill and catch
  2. Recipes from vendors and drops

Money: Buff food sells to raiders.

FishingPairs with Cooking

Catch fish for cooking and rare items.

LEVELING PATH
  1. Fish in each zone you quest in
  2. Lures raise your catch rate

Money: Raid buff fish and Oily Blackmouth.

Money-making basics

  • Take two gathering professions while leveling, then swap one for crafting at max level.
  • Sell raw materials on raid-reset days when demand peaks.
  • Don't vendor greens; sell them or disenchant them.
  • Train only the ranks you need; skill caps rise at 10, 20, 35 and 50.
  • Check prices before crafting: materials often sell for more than the item.
PREVIEW
Skill brackets, zones and recipes aren't confirmed for WoW Forever yet. Profession details (including the new Malleable Essence of Nature crafting material from the raids) aren't fully in the client yet. Icons are read from the WoW Forever client.