Welcome to the ultimate Cataclysm Classic Mining leveling guide! Whether you’re a seasoned miner or just starting your journey in Azeroth, this guide will provide you with the fastest and most efficient routes to level your Mining profession from 1 to 525 in Cataclysm Classic.
If you’re still on your journey to level 85, or perhaps starting a new character, consider using a leveling guide to speed up the process. Zygor’s 1-85 Leveling Guide is a popular choice to help you reach max level quicker.
Table of Contents:
Find Your Mining Trainer
No matter which rank of Mining you’re aiming for, trainers are your first stop. They can teach you everything you need to know to progress in your profession.
| Faction | Outland Trainers | Northrend Trainers |
|---|---|---|
| Horde | ||
| Alliance |
Power Leveling Mining through Smelting (Up to 500)
For those with deep pockets, or who prioritize speed, smelting ores can be a surprisingly fast way to level Mining up to 500. You’ll still need to mine a bit to get started, but this method can save you time on travel and node hunting. However, keep in mind that if you need ores for professions like Jewelcrafting, regular mining might be more beneficial.
Important Note: The number of ores listed below are estimates. Skill gains from smelting can be variable, especially with yellow and green recipes. You might need more ores depending on your luck.
| Skill Level | Smelting Recipe | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1-50 | 70x Smelt Copper | Smelt approximately 70 Copper Bars to reach skill level 50. |
| 50-70 | 70x Smelt Tin | Tin Smelting will turn grey after skill level 75, but these bars will be needed later. You can proceed to the next stage even if you don’t hit 70 exactly. |
| 70-90 | 70x Smelt Bronze | Bronze Smelting might not get you all the way to 105. Aim for skill levels 80-90. |
| 90-100 | 10-15x Smelt Silver | Smelt Silver Bars until you reach 100. If Silver Ore is scarce on the Auction House, continue smelting Bronze Bars to reach 100. |
| 100-125 | 40x Smelt Iron | Smelt Iron Bars to reach skill level 125. |
| 125-135 | 20x Smelt Steel | Smelt Steel Bars to reach 135. You’ll need Coal, available from Blacksmithing, Mining, or Trade vendors. |
| 135-150 | 15x Smelt Gold | Smelt Gold Bars to reach 150. If Gold Ore is unavailable, continue smelting Iron Ore. |
| 150-175 | 50x Smelt Mithril | Smelt Mithril Bars until you reach 175. |
| 175-200 | 25x Smelt Truesilver | Smelt Truesilver Bars to reach 200. Truesilver can be harder to come by, so you might need to supplement with more Mithril smelting. Prioritize Mithril smelting first if you have limited Truesilver. For example, if you have 10 Truesilver Ore, smelt Mithril until around 190 skill level. |
| 200-275 | 130x Smelt Thorium | Smelt Thorium Bars to reach 275. |
| 275-325 | 250x Smelt Fel Iron (500x Fel Iron Ore) | Smelt Fel Iron Bars until you reach 325. This requires a significant amount of Fel Iron Ore. |
| 325-340 | 90x Smelt Adamantite (180x Adamantite Ore) | Smelt Adamantite Bars to reach 340. |
| 340-350 | No smelting recipe available | You’ll need to switch to mining ores for this skill range. |
| 350-375 | 60x Smelt Cobalt (60x Cobalt Ore) | Smelt Cobalt Bars to reach 375. |
| 375-400 | Consider Mining or Khorium/Hardened Adamantite Smelting | Mining Cobalt is recommended for this range as other smelting options might be less profitable. If you have cheap Khorium Ore, Smelt Khorium up to 400. Alternatively, Smelt Hardened Adamantite can also be used. |
| 400-425 | 100x Smelt Saronite (200x Saronite Ore) | Smelt Saronite Bars to reach 425. |
| 425-475 | 240x Smelt Obsidium (480x Obsidium Ore) | Smelt Obsidium Bars to reach 475. |
| 475-500 | 200x Smelt Elementium (400x Elementium Ore) | Smelt Elementium Bars to reach 500. |
Efficient Mining Leveling Routes
Don’t forget to activate “Find Minerals” tracking on your minimap! This is crucial for spotting ore veins as you explore.
Mining Skill 1 – 50: Copper Ore
Make sure you purchase a Mining Pick from a Mining Supply vendor near your trainer. You don’t need to equip it, just have it in your inventory.
During this stage, you’ll be focusing on mining Copper Ore.
Durotar Mining Route (Horde)
Alt Text: Durotar Copper Mining Map: Efficient route for mining Copper Ore in Durotar for Horde players in WoW Cataclysm Classic.
Darkshore Mining Route (Alliance)
Alt Text: Darkshore Copper Ore Farming Route: Best locations to farm Copper Ore in Darkshore for Alliance players to level Mining in Cataclysm Classic.
Mining Skill 50 – 100: Tin and Silver Ore
Visit your trainer to learn Mining Journeyman. Now you’ll be mining Tin Ore and Silver Ore.
Hillsbrad Foothills Mining Route
The red zone marked on the map is densely populated with Tin nodes. After clearing this area, venture slightly outside the marked zone (look for yellowish arrows on your minimap) to mine a few more Tin nodes while the nodes inside the red zone respawn. This rotation keeps your mining efficient.
Alt Text: Hillsbrad Foothills Tin and Silver Mining Route: Map showing the optimal path for mining Tin and Silver Ore in Hillsbrad Foothills for WoW Cataclysm Classic Mining Leveling.
Northern Stranglethorn Mining Route
Alt Text: Northern Stranglethorn Mining Map: Route for farming Tin and Silver Ore in Northern Stranglethorn Vale, ideal for leveling Mining 50-100 in WoW Cataclysm Classic.
Mining Skill 100 – 150: Iron and Gold Ore
You’ll be mining Iron Ore and Gold Ore in this section.
Western Plaguelands Mining Route
Alt Text: Western Plaguelands Mining Route: Best areas in Western Plaguelands to mine Iron and Gold Ore for efficient Mining leveling 100-150 in WoW Cataclysm Classic.
Feralas Mining Route
Alt Text: Feralas Iron and Gold Mining Spots: Map of Feralas highlighting the most productive locations for mining Iron and Gold Ore in Cataclysm Classic.
Mining Skill 150 – 200: Mithril and Truesilver Ore
Visit your trainer and learn Mining Expert.
Now you will focus on mining Mithril Ore and Truesilver Ore.
Felwood and Burning Steppes are highly recommended zones due to their straightforward and efficient mining routes. Badlands is also a viable option, but Felwood and Burning Steppes tend to have a higher density of Mithril.
Felwood Mining Route
Alt Text: Felwood Mining Map for Mithril and Truesilver: Optimized route in Felwood to farm Mithril and Truesilver Ore for Mining leveling 150-200 in WoW Cataclysm Classic.
Burning Steppes Mining Route
Avoid entering Dreadmaul Rock cave. There is ample Mithril around the edges of the map. Entering the cave will dismount you, slowing down your mining efficiency.
Alt Text: Burning Steppes Mining Route for Mithril and Truesilver Ore: Efficient path in Burning Steppes to mine Mithril and Truesilver for Cataclysm Classic Mining Leveling 150-200.
Mining Skill 200 – 275: Thorium Ore
Learn Mining Artisan from your trainer.
Your primary ore now becomes Thorium Ore.
Once you reach skill level 275, you can transition to Hellfire Peninsula for Fel Iron or continue mining Thorium in the zones below until you hit 300.
Un’Goro Crater Mining Route
Alt Text: Un’Goro Crater Thorium Ore Mining Map: Best route within Un’Goro Crater to efficiently mine Thorium Ore for WoW Cataclysm Classic Mining Leveling 200-275.
Winterspring Mining Route
Alt Text: Winterspring Thorium Mining Route: Map of Winterspring highlighting the optimal path for farming Thorium Ore to level Mining 200-275 in Cataclysm Classic.
Master Mining (Skill 275-350)
Mining Skill 300 – 325: Fel Iron Ore
Both routes in Hellfire Peninsula are quite similar in terms of Fel Iron yield. Choose the one you prefer or that has less competition.
Small Thorium Veins can still grant skill points up to 345, and Rich Thorium Veins up to 350. If Hellfire Peninsula is crowded or you don’t have a flying mount yet, consider continuing to mine Thorium in the previous zones until you reach Mining skill 325.
Alt Text: Hellfire Peninsula Fel Iron Mining Route 1: One of two efficient routes for mining Fel Iron Ore in Hellfire Peninsula for WoW Cataclysm Mining Leveling 300-325.
Alt Text: Hellfire Peninsula Fel Iron Mining Route 2: Alternative route for farming Fel Iron Ore in Hellfire Peninsula, suitable for Cataclysm Classic Mining Leveling 300-325.
Mining Skill 325 – 350: Adamantite Ore
In Terokkar Forest, you’ll find Rich Adamantite nodes, but they require Mining 350 to mine. These nodes also primarily spawn in areas accessible only with a flying mount, which might not be accessible for lower-level characters. (Skettis and the area above Shattrath City).
The map below highlights two caves marked with red circles. Explore both caves thoroughly, going all the way to the back, as mining nodes might not be visible from the entrances.
Alt Text: Zangarmarsh Adamantite Mining Route: Map showing a route in Zangarmarsh for mining Adamantite Ore, suitable for WoW Cataclysm Mining Leveling 325-350.
The following route requires a flying mount. If you don’t have one, use the route 3 provided below.
Alt Text: Terokkar Forest Adamantite Mining Route (Flying Mount): Efficient route in Terokkar Forest for players with flying mounts to farm Adamantite Ore for Cataclysm Mining Leveling 325-350.
Alternative route for players without a flying mount.
Alt Text: Terokkar Forest Adamantite Mining Route (No Flying Mount): Alternative ground-based route in Terokkar Forest for mining Adamantite Ore for WoW Cataclysm Mining Leveling 325-350.
Grand Master Mining (Skill 350-450)
Visit your trainer and learn Grand Master Mining (requires level 55).
Mining Skill 350 – 400: Cobalt Ore
Both Borean Tundra and Howling Fjord are excellent zones for leveling Mining to 400. If you are still leveling your character and don’t have a flying mount, using the “no flying” routes is recommended. Lower-level players might also want to avoid some caves in Borean Tundra depending on their level and gear.
Alt Text: Borean Tundra Cobalt Mining Route: Efficient path in Borean Tundra for mining Cobalt Ore to level Mining 350-400 in WoW Cataclysm Classic.
Alt Text: Howling Fjord Cobalt Mining Route: Map illustrating a productive route in Howling Fjord for farming Cobalt Ore for Cataclysm Mining Leveling 350-400.
Alt Text: Borean Tundra Cobalt Mining Route (No Flying Mount): Ground route in Borean Tundra for mining Cobalt Ore, ideal for players without flying mounts, for WoW Cataclysm Mining Leveling 350-400.
Alt Text: Howling Fjord Cobalt Mining Route (No Flying Mount): Ground-based route in Howling Fjord for mining Cobalt Ore, designed for players without flying mounts, for Cataclysm Mining Leveling 350-400.
Mining Skill 400 – 450: Saronite Ore
Sholazar Basin is generally considered the better zone for leveling to 450 due to its easier-to-follow route. However, Storm Peaks is a good alternative if Sholazar Basin is heavily farmed.
Alt Text: Sholazar Basin Saronite Mining Route: Recommended path in Sholazar Basin for efficiently mining Saronite Ore to level Mining 400-450 in WoW Cataclysm Classic.
Alt Text: Storm Peaks Saronite Mining Route: Alternative route in Storm Peaks for farming Saronite Ore, useful if Sholazar Basin is crowded, for Cataclysm Mining Leveling 400-450.
Illustrious Mining (Skill 425-525)
Visit your trainer to learn Illustrious Mining.
Now you will be mining Obsidium Ore.
Hyjal generally has a higher concentration of Obsidium compared to Vashj’ir, but it’s also a more popular zone. If Hyjal is heavily farmed, Vashj’ir becomes a comparable alternative. If you choose Vashj’ir, make sure to complete the initial quests to obtain your underwater mount for efficient mining.
Mount Hyjal Mining Route
Alt Text: Mount Hyjal Obsidium Mining Route: Best locations in Mount Hyjal to mine Obsidium Ore for fast Mining leveling 425-475 in WoW Cataclysm Classic.
Vashj’ir Mining Route
Alt Text: Vashj’ir Obsidium Mining Route: Underwater route in Vashj’ir for mining Obsidium Ore, a viable alternative to Mount Hyjal for Cataclysm Mining Leveling 425-475.
Mining Skill 475 – 525: Elementium Ore
Finally, you’ll be mining Elementium Ore to reach the maximum Mining skill of 525.
Twilight Highlands Mining Route
Keep in mind that Rich Elementium Veins require Mining skill 500, and Pyrite Deposits require 525, so you won’t be able to mine these initially. Focus on regular Elementium Veins to start.
Alt Text: Twilight Highlands Elementium Mining Route: Optimal path in Twilight Highlands to mine Elementium Ore and reach Mining skill 525 in WoW Cataclysm Classic.
