Mining is one of the primary and gathering professions in WoW Classic. As a miner, you can mine ores, stones, and gems from mineral deposits and also smelt ores.

Mining can be combined well with the Blacksmithing and Engineering professions, as they require a lot of stones, bars, etc. for their recipes. But mining products are also required for a few Alchemy and Enchanting recipes.

This WoW Classic Mining guide explains where you can learn Mining in the WoW Classic era, what’s special about Mining in SoD, and how to effectively level Mining from 1-300.

Where To Learn Mining in WoW Classic?

You can learn Mining from Mining trainers, who you can find in all capitals and various other cities. You can, for example, go to one of the following Mining trainers to learn the profession:

Horde Mining Trainers

• Brek Stonehoof in Thunder Bluff (34, 57)
• Krunn in Durotar (52, 41)
• Makaru in Orgrimmar (73, 26)
• Brom Killian in Undercity (56, 37)
• Johan Focht in Silver Forest (43.40)
• Pikkle in Gadgetzan in Tanaris (51.28)

Alliance Mining Trainers

• Dank Drizzlecut in Dun Morogh (69, 55)
• Matt Johnson in Duskwood (74.55)
• Geofram Bouldertoe in Ironforge (50, 26)
• Gelman Stonehand in Stormwind (51, 17)
• Yarr Hammerstone in Dun Morogh (50, 50)
• Pikkle in Gadgetzan in Tanaris (51.28)

You don’t have to go to different trainers for the individual levels (Apprentice, Journeyman, Expert, Artisan), as is the case with some other WoW Classic professions. You can learn any skill level from any Mining trainer.

You can also learn  Smelt Bronze,  Smelt Tin,  Smelt Silver,  Smelt Iron,  Smelt Gold,  Smelt Steel,  Smelt Mithril,  Smelt Truesilver, and  Smelt Thorium from any Mining trainer. These skills allow you to create bars from the ores you collect.

Important: In order to work as a Miner, you also need a  Mining Pick. You can buy a  Mining Pick from trade supplies vendors.

What’s Special About Mining in WoW Classic: SoD?

The Season of Discovery (SoD for short) is the second season in WoW Classic. WoW Classic: SoD is divided into several phases. Phase 1 started on November 30, 2023, and runs for several weeks. In phase 1 the maximum level is 25.

For SoD Phase 1, the level requirement for Mining Expert has been increased to level 26 (normally level 20). This means that in phase 1 the max Mining skill level is 150 (Journeyman). In phase 1 it will therefore not be possible to bring Mining to the maximum skill level. The following ores, stones, and gems are available in phase 1:

How to Level Mining in WoW Classic?

As with all professions in WoW Classic, the same applies to mining: You receive skill points by carrying out a specific activity (e.g. mining ores, etc.). The frequency with which you receive a skill point depends on your current skill level. Please note the following color code:

• Orange: You are guaranteed to always gain a skill point.
• Yellow: You often gain a skill point.
• Green: You rarely gain a skill point.
• Gray: You no longer gain skill points.

You can level up Mining by mining deposits. These typically spawn near hills, cliffs, mountain ranges, and at zone boundaries in caves or mines.

You can also level up Mining by smelting ores. However, this is actually only possible up to a skill level of 185.

Leveling Mining from 1-75 (Apprentice) in WoW Classic

To level Mining in WoW Classic from 1-75, follow these steps:

• 1-65: Copper Veins
• 65-75: Tin Veins & Silver Veins

Note: Starting at 50, learn Journeyman Mining from a trainer at any time before you reach 75.

1-65: Copper Veins – Alliance

•  Night Elf:
  • Darkshore: On both sides along the main path through the area, both on the coast and to the east on the mountain edge.
•  Dwarf &  Gnome:
  • Dun Morogh: Veins are distributed throughout the area and along the mountainous border. There are also reliable spawns in the Gol’Bolar Quarry, at Helm’s Bed Lake, and around Kharanos.
  • Loch Modan
•  Human:
  • Elwynn Forest: In the mines, on the narrow ridges south of the main path and along the coastline southeast of Goldshire.
  • Westfall: Along the coast, in the Jangolode Mine, in the Gold Coast Quarry, and in the mine that leads to the Deadmines (Tin Veins as well)

The following map shows the Copper ore farming route in Dun Morogh:

1-65: Copper Veins – Horde

The following map shows the Copper Ore farming route in Durotar:

65-75: Tin Veins & Silver Veins

• Hillsbrad Foothills: Lots of Tin Veins, especially in the caves/mines and on the area borders.
• The Barrens: Lots of Tin Veins.
• Redridge Mountains: Many Tin Veins in the northwestern part of the area.
• Duskwood: Many Tin Veins particularly on the outer edge of the mountain ranges surrounding the Twilight Groove in the center of the area. The Vul’Gol Ogre Mound is also worth it.

The following maps show the Tin Ore farming routes in the Redridge Mountains and The Barrens:

Leveling Mining from 150-225 (Expert) in WoW Classic

To level Mining from 150-225 in WoW Classic, follow these steps:

• 150-175: Iron Deposits & Gold Veins
• 175-225: Mithril Deposits & Truesilver Deposits

Note: Starting at 200, learn Artisan Mining from a trainer at any time before you reach 225.

150-175: Iron Deposits & Gold Veins

• Alterac Mountains: The Ruins of Alterac in particular are a lucrative farming spot.
• Arathi Highlands: Various caves with a dense spawn rate, and the area boundaries are also lucrative.
• Badlands: Good spawns along cliffs and area borders.
• Hillsbrad Foothills: Some reliable Iron Deposits, particularly in the Yeti cave at Darrow Hill and in the Dun Garok area.
• Stranglethorn Vale: Some caves and the troll ruins with good spawns, as well as the area north and northeast of Booty Bay.

175-225: Mithril Deposits & Truesilver Deposits

• Badlands: Mithril Deposits spawnen tendentiell eher im Osten. Außerdem ist die Dustbelchgrotte in der südwestlichen Ecke ein guter Anlaufpunkt.
• Burning Steppes: At Dreadmaul Rock to the east there are many caves with reliable Mithril Deposit spawns.
• Tanaris: Particularly along the territory borders, as well as in the caves of the Gaping Chasm, the Noxious Lair, and the Dunemaul Compound.
• The Hinterlands: Particularly along the cliffs and the area borders.

The following maps show the Mithril Ore farming routes in the Hinterlands and Tanaris:

Leveling Mining from 225-300 (Artisan) in WoW Classic

To level Mining in WoW Classic from 225-300, mine Small Thorium Veins and Rich Thorium Veins.

225-300: Small Thorium Veins & Rich Thorium Veins

• Winterspring: A high number of Thorium spawns along the area borders and in caves throughout the area.
• Silithus: Among other things, along the area borders.
• Un’Goro Crater: Particularly at the area borders and in the Fire Plume Ridge area, but also in the rest of the area due to its size.
• Eastern Plaguelands

The following maps show the Thorium Ore farming routes in Un’Coro Crater and Winterspring:

You have now reached the maximum Mining level in WoW Classic.

What Mining Veins Are There in WoW Classic?

The following mineral veins exist in WoW Classic:

• Copper Vein
• Tin Vein
• Silver Vein
• Iron Deposit
• Gold Vein
• Mithril Deposit
• Truesilver Deposit
• Dark Iron Deposit
• Small Thorium Vein
• Rich Thorium Vein
• Small/Large Obsidian Chunk

Copper Vein

• Skill required: 1 25 50 100
• Ore:  Copper Ore
• Stone:  Rough Stone
• Gems:  Malachite,  Tigerseye,  Shadowgem
• Areas: Alterac Mountains, Ashenvale, Darkshore, Desolace, Dun Morogh, Durotar, Duskwood, Elwynn Forest, Hillsbrad Foothills, Loch Modan, Mulgore, Redridge Mountains, Silverpine Forest, Stonetalon Mountains, The Barrens, Thousand Needles, Tirisfal Glades, Westfall, Wetlands

Tin Vein

• Skill required: 65 90 115 165
• Ore:  Tin Ore
• Stone:  Coarse Stone
• Gems:  Moss Agate,  Shadowgem,  Jade,  Lesser Moonstone
• Areas: Alterac Mountains, Arathi Highlands, Ashenvale, Darkshore, Desolace, Duskwood, Hillsbrad Foothills, Loch Modan, Redridge Mountains, Silverpine Forest, Stonetalon Mountains, Stranglethorn Vale, The Barrens, Thousand Needles, Westfall, Wetlands

Silver Vein

• Skill required: 75 100 125 175
• Ore :  Silver Ore
• Stone: –
• Gems:  Moss Agate,  Shadowgem,  Lesser Moonstone
• Areas: Alterac Mountains, Arathi Highlands, Ashenvale, Badlands, Darkshore, Desolace, Duskwood, Dustwallow Marsh, Feralas, Hillsbrad Foothills, Loch Modan, Redridge Mountains, Searing Gorge, Silverpine Forest, Stonetalon Mountains, Stranglethorn Vale, Swamp of Sorrows, Tanaris, The Barrens, The Hinterlands, Thousand Needles, Westfall, Wetlands.

Iron Deposit

• Skill required: 125 150 175 225
• Ore:  Iron Ore
• Stone:  Heavy Stone
• Gems:  Jade,  Lesser Moonstone,  Citrine,  Aquamarine
• Areas: Alterac Mountains, Arathi Highlands, Ashenvale, Badlands, Blasted Lands, Desolace, Duskwood, Dustwallow Marsh, Feralas, Hillsbrad Foothills, Searing Gorge, Stonetalon Mountains, Stranglethorn Vale, Swamp of Sorrows, Tanaris, The Hinterlands, Thousand Needles, Wetlands.

Gold Vein

• Skill required: 155 180 205 255
• Ore :  Gold Ore
• Stone: –
• Gems:  Jade,  Lesser Moonstone,  Citrine
• Areas: Alterac Mountains, Arathi Highlands, Ashenvale, Azshara, Badlands, Blasted Lands, Burning Steppes, Desolace, Duskwood, Dustwallow Marsh, Eastern Plaguelands, Felwood, Feralas, Hillsbrad Foothills, Searing Gorge, Silithus, Stonetalon Mountains, Stranglethorn Vale, Swamp of Sorrows, Tanaris, The Hinterlands, Thousand Needles, Western Plaguelands, Wetlands, Winterspring.

Mithril Deposit

• Skill required: 175 200 225 275
• Ore:  Mithril Ore
• Stone:  Solid Stone
• Gems:  Citrine,  Aquamarine,  Star Ruby,  Black Vitriol
• Areas: Alterac Mountains, Arathi Highlands, Azshara, Badlands, Blasted Lands, Burning Steppes, Desolace, Dustwallow Marsh, Eastern Plaguelands, Felwood, Feralas, Hillsbrad Foothills, Searing Gorge, Silithus, Stonetalon Mountains, Stranglethorn Vale, Swamp of Sorrows, Tanaris, The Hinterlands, Thousand Needles, Western Plaguelands, Winterspring.

Truesilver Deposit

• Skill required: 230 255 280 330
• Ore:  Truesilver Ore
• Stone: –
• Gems:  Citrine,  Aquamarine,  Star Ruby
• Areas: Alterac Mountains, Arathi Highlands, Azshara, Badlands, Blasted Lands, Burning Steppes, Desolace, Dustwallow Marsh, Eastern Plaguelands, Felwood, Feralas, Searing Gorge, Silithus, Stonetalon Mountains, Stranglethorn Vale, Swamp of Sorrows, Tanaris, The Hinterlands, Un’Goro Crater, Western Plaguelands, Winterspring.

Dark Iron Deposit

• Skill required: 230 255 280 330
• Ore:  Dark Iron Ore
• Stone: –
• Gems:  Black Vitriol,  Blood of the Mountain,  Black Diamond
• Areas: Searing Gorge, Burning Steppes, Molten Core, Blackrock Depths.

Small Thorium Vein | Ooze Covered Thorium Vein

• Skill required: 250 275 300 350
• Ore:  Thorium Ore
• Stone:  Dense Stone
• Gems:  Star Ruby,  Black Vitriol,  Blue Sapphire,  Large Opal,  Azerothian Diamond
• Areas: Winterspring, Silithus, Un’Goro Crater, Swamp of Sorrows, Blasted Lands, Tanaris, Felwood, Western Plaguelands, The Hinterlands, Burning Steppes, Eastern Plaguelands, Searing Gorge.

Rich Thorium Vein | Ooze Covered Rich Throium Vein | Hakkari Thorium Vein

• Skill required: 275 290 300 350
• Ore:  Thorium Ore
• Stone:  Dense Stone
• Gems:  Star Ruby,  Blue Sapphire,  Large Opal,  Arcane Crystal,  Huge Emerald,  Azerothian Diamond,  Souldarite (Zul’Gurub only)
• Areas: Azshara, Burning Steppes, Eastern Plaguelands, Silithus, Un’Goro Crater, Western Plaguelands, Winterspring, Zul’Gurub.

Small/Large Obsidian Chunk

How to Smelt Ores in WoW Classic?

As a miner, you can smelt ores found in WoW Classic and produce bars from them. In the following table, you can see which Mining skill you need to smelt the respective ores, what exactly you need, and what you get in the end.

Also note that in order to smelt there must be a forge nearby.

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