Embarking on your Wrath of the Lich King Classic adventure and looking to maximize your Mining profession? You’ve come to the right place! This comprehensive Wotlk Mining Guide will walk you through the quickest and most efficient routes to level your Mining skill from 1 to 450. Whether you’re a seasoned miner or just starting out, this guide is packed with valuable information, optimal farming locations, and expert tips to help you master Mining in WotLK Classic. Get ready to gather those precious ores and ingots as we delve into the ultimate WotLK Mining leveling strategy!
Mining Trainers in Classic, TBC, and WotLK
To begin your journey, you’ll need to find Mining trainers across Azeroth and Outland to learn new skill ranks as you progress. Here’s where to find trainers for each expansion:
Classic WoW Trainers
Horde trainers:
- Brumman in Orgrimmar
- Krugosh in Orgrimmar
- Beldin Angoram in Undercity
- Furen Longbeard in Thunder Bluff
Alliance trainers:
- Brock Stonefist in Stormwind City
- Gelman Stonehand in Ironforge
- Yarr Hammerstrike in Ironforge
- Dwarf Miner Instructor in Kharanos
The Burning Crusade Classic Trainers
You can learn Apprentice and Journeyman Mining in Classic zones. To learn Expert Mining (225 skill) and Artisan Mining (300 skill), you must visit trainers in Outland or Shattrath City.
- Fono in Shattrath City (Neutral)
- Hanlir in Shattrath City (Neutral)
- Hurnak Grimmord in Hellfire Peninsula (Alliance – Honor Hold)
- Krugosh in Hellfire Peninsula (Horde – Thrallmar)
Wrath of the Lich King Classic Trainers
For Master Mining (375 skill) and Grand Master Mining (450 skill), head to Northrend or Dalaran.
- Jedidiah Handers in Dalaran (Neutral) – Both factions can learn from him.
Horde trainers:
- Jonathan Lewis in Warsong Hold, Borean Tundra
- Brunna Ironaxe in Valiance Keep, Howling Fjord
Alliance trainers:
- Valnus in Warsong Hold, Borean Tundra
- Grumbol Stoutpick in Valiance Keep, Howling Fjord
Leveling Mining Through Smelting (1-340)
If you have ample gold, smelting ores into bars offers a fast track to level Mining up to 340. This method can be quicker than actively mining veins, but it relies on purchasing ores from the Auction House or other players. Keep in mind that smelting recipes become less reliable for skill gains as you level, so the ore quantities listed below are estimates. You might need more ore depending on your luck with skill-ups.
| Skill Range | Method | Approximate Ores Needed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-65 | Smelt Copper Bar | 110-130x Copper Ore | Fastest way to reach skill 65. |
| 65-75 | Smelt Tin Bar | 70x Tin Ore | Tin Bars will be grey after 75, but needed for Bronze. |
| 75-105 | Smelt Bronze Bar | 70x Bronze Bar (Copper & Tin) | Skill gains may slow down near 105. |
| 105-125 | Smelt Silver Bar | 25-35x Silver Ore | Silver Ore can be less common, consider mining. |
| 125-155 | Smelt Iron Bar | 50-65x Iron Ore | Iron Ore is readily available in mid-level zones. |
| 155-175 | Smelt Gold Bar | 20-25x Gold Ore | Gold Ore can be found alongside Iron and Mithril. |
| 175-200 | Smelt Mithril Bar | 40x Mithril Ore | Reach skill 200 and train Artisan Mining! |
| 200-230 | Smelt Mithril Bar | 170-240x Mithril Ore | Continue smelting Mithril for consistent gains. |
| 230-275 | Smelt Thorium Bar | 90x Thorium Ore | Consider Truesilver Bars if Truesilver Ore is cheaper. |
| 275-325 | Smelt Fel Iron Bar | 500x Fel Iron Ore (2 ores per bar) | Fel Iron smelting requires double the ore. |
| 325-340 | Smelt Adamantite Bar | 180x Adamantite Ore (2 ores per bar) | Adamantite smelting to push towards 350. |
Efficient Mining Leveling Routes (1-450)
For those who prefer to actively mine and gather their own materials, these optimized routes will guide you through the best zones and paths to level Mining from 1 to 450. Remember to purchase a Mining Pick from a Mining Supplies vendor and keep it in your inventory (no need to equip it!). Activate “Find Minerals” on your minimap to easily locate mining nodes.
The “Find Minerals” tracking option highlighted on the minimap, essential for locating ore veins while mining in WoW Classic.
Leveling Mining: 1-65 (Copper Ore)
Starter zones are abundant with Copper Ore, making them ideal for the initial levels. Any starter zone will work effectively.
Important Note for Night Elf Players: Teldrassil lacks Copper Ore. Night Elf players should wait until they reach Darkshore to begin Mining.
Durotar (Horde):
An efficient Copper mining route in Durotar, highlighting the Venture Co. Mine cave for higher-level players.
After passing Razor Hill, enter the cave marked on the map before dropping down! High-level players should always explore the Venture Co. Mine, yielding approximately 8 Copper Veins by clearing the mine and the adjacent area. Access the side area from within the mine.
Navigating the Venture Co. Mine exit can be confusing initially. Here’s a map for reference (note: this map is from the Cataclysm expansion, but the layout remains the same). Explore every corner of the cave! Low-level players can skip both caves for safety.
Layout of Venture Co. Mine, useful for navigation within the cave in Durotar and Mulgore.
Mulgore (Horde):
A Copper mining route in Mulgore, suggesting routes around the plains and avoiding caves for lower-level characters.
Tirisfal Glades (Horde):
Copper mining route in Tirisfal Glades, recommending routes near Undercity and caution around caves for low-level players.
Low-level players should avoid both caves in Tirisfal Glades.
Elwynn Forest (Alliance):
Copper mining route in Elwynn Forest, outlining efficient paths around the forest and avoiding deep mine areas.
Darkshore (Alliance):
Copper mining routes in Darkshore, showing two paths with fast respawn rates suitable for continuous mining.
The respawn rate is rapid enough to avoid circling the entire zone. Use these two routes, switching between them if competition arises.
Dun Morogh (Alliance):
Copper mining route in Dun Morogh, indicating efficient paths in the snowy mountains and routes to maximize ore gathering.
Leveling Mining: 65-125 (Tin and Copper Ore)
Visit a trainer to learn Journeyman Mining (requires Mining skill 50). Zones in this range feature Tin Ore, Copper Ore, and occasionally Silver Ore.
Hillsbrad Foothills:
Tin and Copper mining route in Hillsbrad Foothills, recommending routes that avoid high-level cave areas for lower-level miners.
Low-level players should skip the two caves marked in red. Sometimes, Yeti cave nodes may unexpectedly respawn as Mithril or Iron, which you cannot mine yet. If no one else is farming in the zone to reset the nodes, skip the cave.
Redridge Mountains:
Tin and Copper mining route in Redridge Mountains, suggesting routes on the east side and avoiding caves for lower-level players.
Low-level players should avoid both caves and stick to the eastern side of Redridge Mountains.
Ashenvale:
Tin and Copper mining route in Ashenvale, showing routes that include a cave with guaranteed Tin Veins and paths through the forests.
The respawn rate should be sufficient without entering the cave marked, but it contains two Tin Veins, making it worthwhile for higher-level characters.
The Barrens:
Tin and Copper mining routes in The Barrens, outlining both southern and northern routes for varied ore availability and competition.
The southern route has more Tin/Copper, but the northern route provides an alternative if the zone is crowded. The difference between routes is minor.
Leveling Mining: 125-175 (Iron and Tin Ore)
Train Expert Mining (requires level 10) from a trainer. Zones now contain Iron Ore, Tin Ore, and Gold Ore.
Arathi Highlands:
Iron and Tin mining route in Arathi Highlands, highlighting routes around the highlands and caves that should be fully explored.
Four caves are marked on the map. Explore each cave fully as mining veins are often deep inside. Low-level players should avoid all four caves, and Alliance players should detour south of Hammerfall.
Desolace:
Iron and Tin mining route in Desolace, showing paths through the desolate landscape and routes to maximize ore collection.
Thousand Needles:
Iron and Tin mining route in Thousand Needles, recommending routes along the mesas and paths to gather ore efficiently in the canyon areas.
Leveling Mining: 175-245 (Mithril and Truesilver Ore)
Train Artisan Mining between skill level 200 and 225! (Requires level 25 and Mining skill 200). Zones now feature Mithril Ore and Truesilver Ore.
The Hinterlands:
Mithril and Truesilver mining route in Hinterlands, marking a red route with level 62 elites to be avoided by lower-level players.
Low-level players should avoid the red route due to level 62 elites. Consider skipping the cave marked in red as well, depending on your gear and class.
Tanaris:
Mithril and Truesilver mining route in Tanaris, advising players below level 60 to avoid the four marked caves due to mob levels.
Players below level 60 should avoid the four caves marked in red.
Leveling Mining: 245-275 (Mithril, Truesilver, and Thorium Ore)
Zones in this range contain Mithril Ore, Truesilver Ore, and Thorium Ore.
Un’Goro Crater (Small Route):
Mithril, Truesilver, and Thorium mining route in Un’Goro Crater (small route), highlighting caves with mineral veins to explore.
The two caves marked in red contain 2-3 mineral veins each. Lower-level players should likely avoid the southern cave, depending on level, gear, and class.
Blasted Lands:
Mithril, Truesilver, and Thorium mining route in Blasted Lands, showing routes with a garrison armory mine and cave exploration.
The two caves marked in red circles contain numerous mobs. Recommended for level 60 players with good gear or stealth classes. Navigating the Garrison Armory mine can be tricky; refer to the provided map. Alliance players cannot mine inside the Garrison Armory!
Layout of Garrison Armory Mine in Blasted Lands, useful for Horde players navigating the mine effectively.
Felwood:
Mithril, Truesilver, and Thorium mining route in Felwood, recommending cave exploration and caution around Jaednar caves.
The cave marked in red usually has 2 mining nodes and is worth exploring. Skip the other two caves at Jaednar, especially Shadow Hold, unless you have stealth.
Leveling Mining: 275-300 (Thorium and Mithril Ore)
Now you can also mine Rich Thorium Veins! Zones contain Thorium Ore and Mithril Ore.
Un’Goro Crater (Rich Thorium Route):
Thorium and Mithril mining route in Un’Goro Crater (rich route), an expanded route including Rich Thorium Veins and cave explorations.
Similar to the previous Un’Goro route, but now includes Rich Thorium Veins for faster leveling.
Eastern Plaguelands:
Thorium and Mithril mining route in Eastern Plaguelands, marking a red line with level 57-58 elites to be cautious of or avoid.
The red route is filled with level 57-58 elites. Skip this part if poorly geared, unless you have stealth. With practice, you can navigate while aggroing only a few mobs.
Winterspring:
Thorium and Mithril mining route in Winterspring, highlighting caves that may be challenging for lower-level players due to mob density.
Notes for players below level 70:
- The mobs in the first marked cave are manageable for most classes to clear. (Gear dependent)
- Most classes can enter the initial part of the second cave without aggro. Deeper exploration depends on gear.
- Elites patrol the gorge marked third, but most can be bypassed with care. Expect to kill 1-2 occasionally.
- The fourth area is not recommended for most players due to high difficulty and mob density. Class and mob avoidance experience are crucial.
Burning Steppes:
Thorium and Mithril mining route in Burning Steppes, indicating caves filled with level 50 mobs that lower-level players should consider avoiding.
The two caves marked in red are filled with level 50 mobs. Lower-level players should consider skipping them based on gear and level.
Burning Crusade Classic Mining (300-350)
Learn Master Mining from trainers in Shattrath City or Hellfire Peninsula (requires level 40).
Leveling Mining: 300-325 (Fel Iron Ore)
Hellfire Peninsula (Route 1):
Fel Iron mining route in Hellfire Peninsula (Route 1), showing a route with efficient Fel Iron ore gathering locations.
Hellfire Peninsula (Route 2):
Fel Iron mining route in Hellfire Peninsula (Route 2), an alternative route offering similar Fel Iron ore density and gathering efficiency.
Both routes in Hellfire Peninsula offer similar Fel Iron yields. Small Thorium Veins continue to grant skill points up to 345, and Rich Thorium Veins up to 350. If Hellfire Peninsula is crowded or you lack a flying mount, mine Thorium in previous zones up to 325.
Leveling Mining: 325-350 (Adamantite Ore)
Zangarmarsh:
Adamantite mining route in Zangarmarsh, highlighting routes through the mushroom forests and caves that contain Adamantite veins.
Explore both caves marked in red fully to maximize Adamantite node finds.
Terokkar Forest (Flying Mount Route):
Adamantite mining route in Terokkar Forest (Flying Mount Route), designed for flying mounts to access higher areas with Rich Adamantite nodes.
Rich Adamantite nodes in Terokkar Forest spawn in flying-accessible areas (Skettis and above Shattrath City). These are unreachable until skill 350.
Terokkar Forest (Ground Route):
Adamantite mining route in Terokkar Forest (Ground Route), an alternative for players without flying mounts, focusing on ground-level Adamantite nodes.
Use this route if you do not have a flying mount.
Wrath of the Lich King Classic Mining (350-450)
Learn Grand Master Mining from trainers in Northrend or Dalaran (requires level 55).
Leveling Mining: 350-400 (Cobalt Ore)
Borean Tundra:
Cobalt mining route in Borean Tundra, showing efficient routes across the tundra and routes to maximize Cobalt ore gathering.
Howling Fjord:
Cobalt mining route in Howling Fjord, outlining routes through the fjord and paths to efficiently collect Cobalt ore.
Borean Tundra and Howling Fjord are both excellent for leveling to 400. Use the “no flying” routes if you are still leveling and lack a flying mount. Lower-level players should exercise caution in some Borean Tundra caves (depending on level and gear).
Borean Tundra (No Flying Route):
Cobalt mining route in Borean Tundra (No Flying Route), designed for ground mounts and efficient Cobalt gathering without aerial access.
Howling Fjord (No Flying Route):
Cobalt mining route in Howling Fjord (No Flying Route), tailored for ground mounts to efficiently mine Cobalt ore without flying access.
Leveling Mining: 400-450 (Saronite Ore)
Sholazar Basin:
Saronite mining route in Sholazar Basin, highlighting routes through the basin and paths to maximize Saronite ore collection.
Storm Peaks:
Saronite mining route in Storm Peaks, showing an alternative route in case of competition in Sholazar Basin, with paths through the mountainous region.
Sholazar Basin is generally superior for leveling to 450, with an easier-to-follow route. Use Storm Peaks as an alternative if Sholazar Basin is heavily farmed.
