Blacksmithing is one of the many primary professions players can choose from in World of Warcraft. This profession takes metals found throughout the world and transforms them into valuable armor, weapons, and other items. Blacksmiths can also do other useful things such as add sockets to items.
Due to the fact that Blacksmithing revolves around forging various metals into items, this profession produces items that are best suited for players that wear metal gear or wield metal (and usually quite sharp) weapons.
Training
the Blacksmithing Profession in World of Warcraft
To learn the Blacksmithing
profession you must seek out a Blacksmithing Trainer. These trainers
can be found in all capital cities and starting zones. If you find you
are having a hard time locating a Blacksmithing Trainer simply speak to
the nearest city guard for a push in the right direction.
Once you have located one of
these trainers they will be able to teach you the Blacksmithing
profession for a small fee and you will gain the title Apprentice and
have a starting potential skill level of 75. From here on out you will
be able to return to a Blacksmithing Trainer every time you earn 50-75
skill points to increase your rank. See the handy chart below for more
information on Blacksmithing skill levels:
border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
width="290">Rank
width="241">Skill
Levels
(The Burning Crusade)
Master (WotLK)
(Cataclysm)
Master
Skilling Up Blacksmithing
Blacksmithing is a production
profession, therefore in order to earn skill levels you will need to
craft items. You can find the various plans available to you by
choosing Blacksmithing from your professions menu. Once you have opened
this menu you will notice that each Blacksmithing plan is color coated
with one of four colors. Each of these colors indicates what chance of
skilling up you have if you create it. Take a look at the chart below
for more information on each of these colors:
border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
width="290">Color
width="241">Skill-Up
Chance
to craft at this time.
skill point will always be gained.
skill point will most likely be gained.
skill point will likely not be gained.
skill point will never be gained.
After you have chosen a plan to
create (hopefully one that will provide you with the highest potential
for a skill up point), you will need to collect the resources needed
for the recipe. Once you have all the materials on hand, you will need
to seek out an anvil. Blacksmiths must be near an anvil to create their
wares. Anvils can be found in all major cities as well as many smaller
outposts.
When you have found an anvil,
stand near it and once again open your Blacksmithing menu using the
professions tab. Select the item you wish to make and click on
"create". Each item will take a few seconds to create. Do not move
during this time or it will stop the creation process. At the end of
the process your brand new item will appear in your bag and you will be
awarded a skill point (when applicable).
Belt Buckles, Keys, and
Whetstones
style="margin: 10px; float: right; width: 220px;"> alt="Blacksmithing" style="border: 0px solid ; width: 220px;">
valuable pieces of armor and weapons are what Blacksmiths are known for.
Besides creating armor and
weapons, Blacksmiths can also produce several other useful items.
Belt
Buckles
Belt Buckles are an item
created by Blacksmith that allows any player (even non-blacksmiths) to
create a socket in a level 60 or higher belt. Blacksmiths can create
their first Belt Buckle at skill level 420. These buckles are useful
and essential for every player to have on their character. Selling belt
buckles can turn a nice profit for any Blacksmith.
Keys
Keys of various sorts can be
created using the Blacksmithing profession. These keys can be used to
open lockboxes found in World of Warcraft. These lockboxes have the
potential to hold valuable items or just plain junk. Without a key
handy, players must rely on a Rogue to open these lockboxes.
Whetstones
Whetstones are handy little
items that only Blacksmiths can create. The Whetstone can be used to
increase the damage of melee weapons for a short period of time.
Enchanting
Rods
Blacksmiths are able to create
several Enchanting Rods. These rods are used by Enchanters in order to
be able to cast their enchants onto items.
Blacksmithing Specializations
style="margin: 10px; float: right; width: 220px;">style="border: 0px solid ; width: 220px;">
is the perfect profession to pair with Blacksmithing.
Previously Blacksmiths in World
of Warcraft were able to choose if they wanted to specialize as an
Armorsmith or a Weaponsmith. Each specialization received certain
benefits and specialty patterns. Like most other profession
specializations these have been removed from the game.
Blacksmithing Perks
Each profession holds it's own
little perks and Blacksmithing is no exception. Those who choose this
profession will find that they are able to add additional sockets
(besides the belt buckle) to their gear. These sockets can be placed in
bracers and gloves and become available at skill level 400. Players
must maintain this skill level of Blacksmithing or the sockets will
become inactive.
Complimentary Profession
As previously noted,
Blacksmithing is a profession that uses the various metals found
throughout the world to create most of its items. It stands to reason
then that Mining, a profession that allows you to collect these metals,
is the perfect choice to go along with Blacksmithing. While it is
possible to level Blacksmithing without Mining, it can turn out to be a
long and costly process. Taking Mining on at least one of your
characters to provide the materials needed for Blacksmithing is highly
recommended.
Feel free to share any
additional information or tips and tricks you may have regarding the
Blacksmithing profession in World of Warcraft using our profession forums!
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