Basic Guide to the Blacksmithing Profession in WoW
The basic profession of Blacksmithing in World of Warcraft entails the forging of items mainly made out of metals. Blacksmiths use bars of metal smelted by miners together with various trade and magical goods to create their wares.
A blacksmith can make melee weapons, armor, trade items used as tools by other professions and keys used to unlock chests, dungeons and many other items in the world. Furthermore, blacksmiths can make items that when applied to weapons can provide temporary (and sometimes, permanent) buffs to items. While they can create a variety of items, they strangely cannot repair these items when damaged, and must use the help of a repair vendor.
In general, blacksmithing mainly benefits mail and plate wearing classes for the unique armors that can be created. However, most (if not all) classes can use a good deal of the weapons produced by blacksmiths. Ideally, blacksmithing would be paired with mining as a second profession. Mining is not a prerequisite for the blacksmithing profession.
As of patch 3.0.2, Blacksmiths can now permanently place a socket on their own bracers and gloves at skill level 400
How to Train as a Blacksmith
Blacksmithing is taught by various blacksmithing trainers located throughout the world. Prospective blacksmiths must be level 5. Initial training costs 10 copper, granting the Apprentice level with a potential skill of 75 and access to apprentice blacksmithing plans taught by trainers or found throughout the world. Most recipes require the use of a blacksmith hammer and anvil, however, some (such as Rough Sharpening Stone, for example) do not.
The following are the required levels and potential skill of each stage of the profession:
| Proficiency | Level | Skill |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice | 5 | 1 - 75 |
| Journeyman | 10 | 50 - 150 |
| Expert | 20 | 125 - 225 |
| Artisan | 35 | 200 - 300 |
| Weaponsmith | 40 | 200 - 300 |
| Armorsmith | 40 | 200 - 300 |
| Master | 50 | 275 - 375  |
| Grand Master | 65 | 350 - 450  |
| Illustrious | 75 | 425 - 525 |
Grand Master is only available after installing the expansion Wrath of the Lich King.
Illustrious is only available after installing the expansion Cataclysm.
Since Patch 4.0.1 all blacksmithing trainers teach up to Illustrious level blacksmithing (except multi-profession trainers in starting areas). Weaponsmithing and armorsmithing are taught by trainers in Ironforge and Orgrimmar. Weaponsmithing specialists reside in Everlook. Master level blacksmithing can be learned from respective trainers located in Outland.
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How to Level as a Blacksmith
Crafting items is the only way to progress through the stages. Plans will appear as one of four colors in the profession window, with a certain chance for a skill up (gaining a point)As your blacksmithing skill increases, plans will change from orange to yellow, yellow to green and green to grey. Only by finding higher skill plans can one continue to progress through the stages. Approximately every 5-10 points, new plans will become available to learn. These can be learned from trainers, looted from corpses, given as quest rewards or purchased from vendors or the auction house. All plans have a requisite blacksmithing skill to be learned and produced. Additionally, some plans cannot be learned until you have a certain reputation level with a given faction.
A blacksmith of level 60 and skill 350 can become a Grand Master for 35 . Trainers are available throughout Azeroth and also in Shattrath City of Outland as of Patch 3.1.:
Skill Up Percentages
| Color | Chance |
|---|---|
| Orange | 100% Chance |
| Yellow | 50-75% Chance |
| Green | 50% Chance or less |
| Grey | 0% Chance |