In Legion professions stopped being "press it 200 times and forget about it". They are now quest chains, recipe ranks and a hunt for knowledge all over the world.
Recipe ranks 1/2/3
Almost every Legion recipe exists in three ranks. The item itself does not change with the rank — what changes is the cost of making it.
- Rank 1 — the basic one, expensive in materials.
- Rank 2 — fewer materials (or more product for the same amount).
- Rank 3 — the most profitable, often half the price of the first.
On top of that, the higher ranks keep giving skill points for longer. Levelling to 800 on rank 1 is the slowest and most expensive route; look for rank 2 first.
The rule is simple: find rank 3 for a recipe that sells well and you have effectively doubled your earnings. Everything else is secondary.
Where to get recipes
- The profession quest chain from the trainer in Dalaran is the foundation. It has level requirements, so part of it only opens up at 110.
- World Quests for your profession — they often give rank 2 or 3.
- Dungeons — recipes drop from bosses, including on Mythic.
- Reputations — the quartermasters of the Broken Isles factions, Argus and the Armies of Legionfall.
- Rare mobs and chests out in the open world.
There are no crafting orders in Legion — that is a Dragonflight system. Everything is made with your own hands or through the auction house.
Key materials and Dalaran
- Blood of Sargeras is the universal crafting currency, and it is bound to your character.
- Obliterum raises the ilvl of crafted gear up to 850, and primal obliterum takes 7.3 items up to 935.
- The Obliterum Forge is in Dalaran at roughly 47, 28, next to the blacksmith. The forge and anvil are there as well.
- Illnea Bloodthorn stands by the blacksmiths' building and trades Blood of Sargeras for herbs, ore, leather, fish and meat — 1 blood per stack.
Every profession in one line
| Profession | What it gives |
|---|---|
| Alchemy | Flasks and potions for the raid, transmutes |
| Blacksmithing | 850+ plate, stirrups, sharpening stones |
| Enchanting | Enchants for rings, neck and cloak, illusions |
| Engineering | Goggles, gliders, combat gadgets |
| Jewelcrafting | Gems, rings and class necklaces |
| Leatherworking | Leather and mail, a barding against dazing |
| Tailoring | Cloth, 30-slot bags, carpets |
| Inscription | Vantus Runes, Darkmoon decks, glyphs |
| Herbalism | Herbs for alchemy and inscription |
| Mining | Ore for the blacksmith, jewelcrafter and engineer |
| Skinning | Leather and scales for the leatherworker |
Why bother on 7.3.5
Legendaries are not crafted in Legion, and top-end gear comes from raids and Mythic+ as well. Professions are there for other reasons:
- raid consumables: flasks, potions, food, Vantus Runes, gems, enchants;
- crafted items of 850–935 ilvl, to patch up a failing slot before the start;
- gold — consumables sell constantly, and that is the expansion's main income.
Which pairs to take
- Herbalism + alchemy — the easiest way in, and flasks are always worth something.
- Mining + jewelcrafting — ore goes both into prospecting for gems and into rings.
- Skinning + leatherworking — cheap to level, and hides drop from any hunting you do.
- Enchanting + tailoring — cloth drops on its own, and disenchanting gives you the materials for enchants.
- Two gathering professions — if all you want is gold and you would rather not mess about with quest chains.