Welcome to the ultimate Classic WoW Mining guide! Whether you’re a budding Blacksmith, an aspiring Engineer, or simply looking to make some gold, Mining is an essential profession in Classic World of Warcraft. This comprehensive Mining Guide Classic will take you through the fastest and most efficient routes to level your Mining skill from 1 to 300.
Mining pairs exceptionally well with Blacksmithing and Engineering. If you’re interested in leveling these professions alongside Mining, be sure to check out our Classic Blacksmithing leveling guide and Classic Engineering leveling guide.
If you’re still on your journey to level 60, consider using Zygor’s 1-60 Leveling Guide. It’s a fantastic resource to speed up your leveling process and get you ready for end-game content faster.
Find Your Classic Mining Trainer
To begin your Mining journey, you’ll need to learn the profession from a Mining Trainer. Here’s a list of trainers for both the Horde and Alliance factions. Click on the links to see their exact locations.
Horde Mining Trainers
Alliance Mining Trainers
Classic Mining Leveling Guide: 1-300
Let’s dive into the best zones and routes to level your Classic WoW Mining profession efficiently. Remember to purchase a Mining Pick from a Mining Supply vendor near any trainer. You don’t need to equip it, just keep it in your inventory!
Leveling Mining: 1 – 65
Every starting zone is abundant with Copper Ore. Choose any starting zone that suits your faction.
Note for Night Elf players: Teldrassil lacks Copper Ore. You’ll need to travel to Darkshore to begin your Mining training and leveling.
Durotar (Horde): High-level players should venture into the Venture Co. Mine. Clearing both the mine and the area beyond it on the mountainside will yield approximately 8 Copper Veins. Navigating the exit can be tricky initially, so refer to the map provided (note: this map is for reference and not in-game). Explore every corner of the cave for maximum ore. Lower-level characters should avoid the caves for safety.
Mulgore (Horde): This zone provides a peaceful mining experience, ideal for starting out.
Tirisfal Glades (Horde): Similar to Mulgore, Tirisfal Glades offers readily available Copper Ore. Low-level players should avoid the caves.
Elwynn Forest (Alliance): A classic starting zone for Alliance, Elwynn Forest is rich in Copper.
Darkshore (Alliance): Darkshore offers two excellent routes for Copper mining. The respawn rate is quick, allowing you to stick to these routes. If competition is high, alternate between the two while mining Copper in between.
Dun Morogh (Alliance): The snowy peaks of Dun Morogh are another great starting point for Alliance miners.
Leveling Mining: 65 – 125
Visit a trainer to learn Journeyman Mining (requires Mining level 50).
Zones in this range offer Tin Ore, Copper Ore, and Silver Ore.
At skill level 75, you can smelt Silver Ore. Smelting Silver Ore into bars can be profitable. Consider buying Silver Ore and selling the bars at the Auction House.
Hillsbrad Foothills: Low-level players should avoid the caves marked in red and focus on the general zone.
Redridge Mountains: Low-level players should steer clear of both caves and stick to the eastern side of Redridge for safer mining. While the respawn rate is generally good, the cave marked on the map usually contains two Tin Veins, making it worthwhile for higher-level characters to explore.
Ashenvale: The southern route in Ashenvale is richer in Tin and Copper. If the southern route is crowded, the northern route serves as a viable alternative, though slightly less abundant.
The Barrens: This expansive zone offers ample opportunity to mine Tin and Copper.
Leveling Mining: 125 – 175
Train Expert Mining at a trainer (requires Mining level 125).
Zones in this range feature Iron Ore, Tin Ore, and Gold Ore.
At skill level 155, you can smelt Gold Ore. Smelt approximately 30 Gold Ore to reach level 175. Similar to Silver, smelting Gold Ore into bars can be profitable at the Auction House.
Arathi Highlands: There are four caves marked on the map. Thoroughly explore each cave, as mining veins are often located deep inside. Low-level players should avoid all four caves. Low-level Alliance players should take a detour south of Hammerfall to avoid higher-level Horde areas.
Desolace: Desolace offers a vast landscape to find Iron and Tin, spread throughout the zone.
Thousand Needles: Explore the higher elevations and mesas in Thousand Needles for Iron and Tin deposits.
Leveling Mining: 175 – 245
Remember to train Artisan Mining at level 225 (requires Mining level 200)!
Zones in this bracket contain Mithril Ore and Truesilver Ore.
The Hinterlands: Lower-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: Players below level 60 should avoid the four caves marked in red due to higher-level mobs.
Leveling Mining: 245 – 275
Zones in this range offer Mithril Ore, Truesilver Ore, and Thorium Ore.
Un’Goro Crater: The two caves marked in red contain 2-3 mineral veins. Lower-level players should exercise caution in the southern cave based on level, gear, and class.
Blasted Lands: The cave marked in red typically contains two mining nodes and is worth exploring. Avoid the caves at Jaednar, especially Shadow Hold, unless you have stealth capabilities.
Felwood: Felwood provides a darker, yet resource-rich environment for Mithril and Thorium.
Leveling Mining: 275 – 300
Congratulations, you’re in the final stretch! Zones now offer Thorium Ore and Mithril Ore. You can now also mine Rich Thorium Veins!
Un’Goro Crater (Rich Thorium): This route is similar to the previous Un’Goro route but now includes Rich Thorium Veins. The red line area is populated with level 57-58 elites. Players with weaker gear should avoid this section unless they have stealth. With practice, you can navigate while only aggroing a few mobs.
Eastern Plaguelands:
- The cave’s mobs are manageable for most classes, making it worth clearing.
- Most classes can access the initial part of the cave without aggro. Deeper exploration depends on your gear.
- Elites patrol the gorge, but they are often avoidable. Expect to kill one or two occasionally.
- This area is challenging and not recommended for most players without experience in mob avoidance or strong gear.
Winterspring: The two caves marked in red contain level 50 mobs. Lower-level players should avoid them based on their gear and level.
Burning Steppes: The Burning Steppes offer a fiery landscape to conclude your Mining journey.
Congratulations on reaching Mining level 300! If you have feedback or suggestions for improvement, please send feedback.
