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WoW Comprehensive Mining Guide 1 - 450

This is not a character levelling guide, if you need one of those, I reccomened Dugi's Ultimate WoW Guide or
Joanas' Horde 1-80 or Brian Kopps' Alliance 1-80

Reasons for Mining

  • Great for Profession building, such as Engineering, Blacksmithing or Jewelcrafting
  • Excellent money earner. No seriously, if you consider Mining, you are well on your way to buying your character everything he needs for the entire game while levelling up
  • NEW Passive bonus (since WotLK) which increases Stamina!

I personally think, the less money you spend on materials (mats) while levelling another profession, the better! Or you could team Mining up with Skinning or Herbalism for some fat gold farming abilities!

Quick Index

Mining Trainers: WoW Original, WoW Burning Crusade, WoW Wrath of the Lich King

Mining Ores, Veins & Nodes: WoW Original 1-300, WoW Burning Crusade 300-375, WoW Wrath of the Lich King

Suggested Leveling Areas
WoW Original: 1-65, 66-125, 126-175, 176-250, 251-300
WoW Burning Crusade: 300-330, 330-355, 355-375
WoW Wrath of the Lich King: 350-400, 400-450

Mining Levels & Advantages

  • Aprentice 1-75
    (75-149) Toughness Rank 1 - increases your Stamina by 3
  • Journeyman 50-150
    (150-224) Toughness Rank 2 - increases your Stamina by 5
  • Expert 125-225
    (225-229) Toughness Rank 3 - increases your Stamina by 7
  • Artisan 200-300
    (300-374) Toughness Rank 4 - increases your Stamina by 10
  • Master 275-375
    (375-449) Toughness Rank 5 - increases your Stamina by 30
  • Grand Master 350-450
    (450+) Toughness Rank 6 - increases your Stamina by 50

Handy tip: Please note the overlap, try not to keep going until you cannot level any more, as you will end up mining lots of nodes and not levelling from it. Beware the time waster.

Requirements

  • 1st you will visit a trainer (obviously), see Mining Trainers just below
  • Then pick up a [Mining Pick] from a trade goods vendor
  • Optional, but reccomended, get a friend/guildie or buy from AH either a [Reinforced Mining Bag] or [Mammoth Mining Bag]. Just get what you can afford, then upgrade later on.

Mining Trainers

NB: Take note of where these trainers are, remember to level up as you go so as to not waste time.

World of Warcraft Original

Rank: Apprentice, Journeyman, Expert, Artisan

Alliance
  • Dwarf male, Gelman Stonehand
    The Dwarven District - Stormwind
  • Dwarf male, Yarr Hammerstone
    Steelgrill's Depot - Dun Morogh
  • Dwarf male, Dank Drizzlecut
    Gol'Bolar Quarry - Dun Morogh
  • Dwarf male, Geofram Bouldertoe
    The Great Forge - Ironforge
  • Dwarf male, Kurdram Stonehammer
    Auberdine - Darkshore
  • Dwarf male, Brock Stoneseeker
    Thelsamar - Loch Modan
  • Human male, Matt Johnson
    Darkshire Duskwood
World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade (only)
  • Draenei female, Dulvi
    Azure Watch - Azuremyst Isle
  • Draenei male, Muaat
    Traders' Tier - the Exodar
  • Dwarf male, Prospector Nachlan
    Blood Watch - Bloodmyst Isle
Horde
  • Undead male, Brom Killian
    The War Quarter - Undercity [56, 37]
  • Tauren male, Brek Stonehoof
    Lower Rise - Thunder Bluff [34, 57]
  • Orc male, Krunn
    Razor Hill - Durotar
  • Orc male, Makaru
    Valley of Honor - Orgrimmar [73, 26]
  • Undead male, Johan Focht
    The Sepulcher - Silverpine Forest [43.4, 40.5]
World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade (only)
  • BloodElf male, Belil
    Farstriders' Square - Silvermoon
Nuetral
  • Golblin male, Pikkle
    Gadgetzan - Tanaris



World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade

Rank: Master

Alliance
  • Dwarf male, Hurnak Grimmord
    Honor Hold - Hellfire Peninsula
Horde
  • Orc male, Krugosh
    Thrallmar - Hellfire Peninsula



World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King

Rank: Grand Master

Alliance
  • Dwarf male, Fendrig Redbeard
    Valiance Keep - Borean Tundra [57.5, 66.1]
  • Dwarf male, Grumbol Stoutpick
    Valgarde - Howling Fjord [59.9, 63.9]
Horde
  • Orc female, Brunna Ironaxe
    Warsong Hold - Borean Tundra [42.6, 53.2]
  • Undead male, Jonathan Lewis
    Vengeance Landing - Howling Fjord [79, 29]
Nuetral
  • Human male, Jedidiah Handers
    All That Glitters Prospecting Co., Magus Commerce Exchange - Dalaran [41, 26]



Mining Veins, Ores & Nodes

Here are some of the more common mining nodes you should see while you are levelling up your profession.


World of Warcraft (Mining 1 - 300)




World of Warcraft (Mining 300 - 375)



NEW: World of Warcraft (Mining 350-450)



Suggested Levelling Areas

You will most likely find mineral deposits as you go, make sure to turn on your Mineral Tracking so the colored dots appear on your mini map.

If you are from a higher higher area, you will need to travel back to starting locations to start this gathering profession.


Click Here For The Ultimate WoW Guide

Mining 1-65

Mining [Copper Ore]

You will need to mine approx 30 mining nodes (each node will offer more than 1 [Copper Ore], maybe upto 5)

Mine around 50 copper and then smelt them. We suggest the following areas, try and do quests here as well, otherwise just find copper as you go.

Handy Tip: Make sure to retrain after level 50, to become a Journeyman Miner. Max level for Apprentice is 75!

Handy Tip: Stay close to Hills & Mountain Ranges to find more Ore deposits (nodes)

Horde Mining 1-65

Undead: Follow the Hills!

  • South -> Deathknell - The Undercity - The Bulwark
  • North -> Scarlet Monastery to the coast
  • West then South -> down to Agamand Mills - Deathknell
  • You should get around 30-40 [Copper Ore]

Tauren: Run around the circle of hills!

  • Start somewhere in Mulgore and work your way around the cliffs.
    Don't forget to hit up the Venture Co mines.
    You should get around 40-50 [Copper Ore]

Orc & Troll: Durotar is FULL of copper, but try this small route.

  • West -> From Razor Hill - Quilboar grounds - the river
  • North -> Orgrimmar
  • East -> farmstead
  • South -> drop into the canyon - exit
  • South East -> Razor Hill
  • You should get around 25-30 [Copper Ore] on this route

Alliance Mining 1-65

Human: from Goldshire

  • East -> Goldshire - Crystal Lake - Logging Camp
  • South -> follow river - Elwyn forest and Duskwood
  • North West -> Goldshire (make sure you visit the two mines on this route)
  • You should get around 30-40 copper ore

Night Elves: Darnassus HAS NO ORES! Go to Darkshore & do a figure of 8!

  • East -> Auberdine - cliffs
  • South -> entrance of Ashenvale
  • West -> coast
  • North -> Auberdine
  • East -> Auberdine - cliffs
  • North -> follow the cliffs - edge of map
  • South -> - coast - Auberdine
  • You should get around 40-50 copper ores

Dwarves and Gnomes: Holy cow - Dun Morogh! Just wing it! Seriously, copper is EVERYWHERE!

  • You should easily get around 40-50 [Copper Ore] running around here.

SMELT! (this should get you to 60ish)



Mining 66 – 125

Mining [Tin Ore], [item]Silver Ore[/iten], [Incendicite Ore] and [Lesser Bloodstone Ore]

You will need to mine at least 60 mining nodes

Handy Tip: Mounts are gold from here on out! They just make the whole route and mining experience quicker and easier, and since being able to get them @ level 35, its almost worth getting one before continuing.

NB: You stop getting skill increases from smelting after level 85, but thanks to expansions Blizzard have made, mining on its own is slightly easier to level.

Horde & Alliance (even on PvP servers you can still use these routes and areas)

Other Ores: non-smeltible, Alliance only questable, horde minable

[Incendicite Ore]
The Wetlands - find Thelgan Rock (its near the entrance to Dun Algaz [53,64]
A cave here is full of spiders and a quest called Incendicite. This is an Alliance only quest, but Horde can still mine this ore. Now the ore itself is completely worthless and its only use is to complete the quest, but both Horde & Alliance can mine it from level 65 until about level 125.
The nodes respawn relitively quickly and you can level up your mining in less than an hour (if your the only one in the cave)

[Lesser Bloodstone Ore]
In Arathi Highlands there is a cave just East of Hammerfall. Path co-ords [80,40]. The ore is used as part of another Alliance only chain quest that's started by Corporal Kaleb in Rebel Camp, Stranglethorn Vale. Starting quest is Krazek's Cookery, which takes you to Krazek [27,77] in Booty Bay for Favor for Krazek which is when you mine the [Lesser Bloodstone Ore].



FROM HERE - You can do 1 of the following routes


Route 1 - Start at The Crossroads

  • West -> entrance of Stonetalon Mountains
  • South -> (hugging the cliffs) - Blackthorn Ridge, just north of Razorfen Kraul & to the road & over
  • East then North -> entrance of Dustwallow Marsh
  • North -> Northwatch Hold - Raptor Hills - Quilboar Village
  • West -> The Crossroads

Route 2 - Thousand Needles (from the bottom of the Great Lift)

  • North West -> Camp Ethok - border of Feralas
    then head over to the other side of Thousand Needles
  • South -> head upto Highperch (as there are a couple of Tin / Iron veins here)
  • South -> The Screeching Canyon - Freewind Post - Windbreak Canyon
  • North -> Splithoof Crag - Enter any caves you find - Darkcloud Pinnacle
  • Back -> Great Lift

Repeat Routes 1 & 2 for about 90mins (get 100+ copper, 50-70 Tin and 30-40 Iron)




Click Here For The Ultimate World of Warcraft Guide


Mining 126 – 175

Mining [Iron Ore] and [Gold Ore]

You will need to mine at least 100 mining nodes.

Handy Tip: At level 125, go back to the mining trainer and learn Expert Mining!
Do the Thousand Needle route above, but browse around The Shimmering Flats edge as well this time.

Desolace: Make your way from the your home town to Valley of Spears

  • Valley of Spears -> Kodo Graveyard
  • East -> Magram Village - loop round to Shadowbreak Ravine
  • West -> Mannoroc Coven - Gelkis Village
  • Back -> to your home town

Ashenvale: Full Circle

  • West -> Battleground entrance (go around if your Horde) -> the river
  • North -> up the river (stay close to the bank) -> just before Xavian
  • East -> river -> Saytrnaar -> Forest Song (watch out for those elites)
  • South -> Warsong Logging Camp (go around if your Alliance) -> Felfire Hill -> Demon Fall Canyon
  • West -> Nightsong Woods -> start point

Badlands: Start at Apocryphens Rest - tour Rock Elementals spawn spots

  • South -> Camp Cagg
  • East -> Mirage Flats -> follow cliff face -> Camp Boff -> past Agmonds End
  • North -> past Dustwind Gulch -> Hammertoes Digsite
  • NorthWest -> Angor Fortress
  • West -> follow the cliffs -> Kargath (or just before if Alliance)
  • South -> Apocryphens Rest

Arathi Highlands: from Thandoll Span

  • East -> North -> Boulderfist Hall -> Follow cliffs -> Witherbark Village
  • North -> Hammerfall
    Horde, loop round the back & go West
  • South -> northern cliffs
  • West -> follow cliffs -> Dabyries Farmstead
  • South -> past Refuge Point -> Thandoll Span

Alterac Mountains: from the entrance to the Ruins of Alterac

  • West -> past Growless Cave -> around the ruins ridge -> end
    Drop down to the coast (you can make it down without dying)
  • North -> Dandreds Fold
  • East -> The Uplands, zigzagging between the two cliff faces as you go until you get to Strahnbrad. Now follow the road back to your starting point. If you’re a high enough level, go into the ruins and do a quick sweep.

Stranglethorn Vale: 2 routes here!

  • Route 1
    from Nessingwarys Expedition, follow the hills around the front three sets of ruins (Kalai, Balal and Zuuldaia) then a round the north of the same ruins and return to Nessingwarys Expedition.
  • Route 2
    circle around the Kurzens Compound then head south to Mosh’Ogg Ogre Mound.
    NB:If you’re a high level, then do a sweep of the cave and carry on south to the Ruins of Zulmamwe.

    Keep going south past the Crystalvein Mine & the Ruins of Aboraz. Carry on into the Mistvale Valley, go west toward the main road.

    Now either go to Booty Bay or head back north to your starting point.






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If the answer to both these questions is YES! Then I strongly reccomend Dugi's Ultimate WoW Guide!

This regularly updated guide will help you level from 1-80, as well as teach you how to make 200+ gold/ph. Want to learn more? Check it out for yourself here!









Mining 176 – 250

Mining [Mithril Ore] and [Truesilver Ore]

You will need to mine at least 125 mining nodes.

Handy Tip: When you're mining level is 225, go learn Artisan Mining.

money, Money MONEY! Or in WoWs case gold Gold GOLD! Because Mithril & Truesilver is used in many Engineering recipes, your able to sell most of this for a great profit.



Blasted Lands & Searing Gorge: run around the hills, full circuits, Easy!

  • Just make your way around the hills & mountains in a way that takes you back to your starting location, you can't lose!

Badlands: two good spots here.

  • Camp Cagg do a circuit around it, take in the Rock Elementals spawn points as wekk
  • Lethlor Ravine from the Master Dragonscale Leatherworker go into the Ravine, loop round to the north & back out south past Uldaman back entrance
    you should pick up a good amount of [Mithril Ore]

The Hinterlands: from Aerie Peak

  • South -> along cliff face -> East
  • South -> around the south cliff -> past Jintha’Alor
  • North -> Seradane
  • West -> Aerie Peak

Western Plaguelands: just do circuits of the Ruins of Andorhal

  • Same rule as Blasted Lands & Searing Gorge above

Azshara: from Legash Encampment

  • East -> Bitter Reaches -> Loop around to the north
  • West -> along the coast -> past the Jagged Reef
  • South -> Lagash Encampment

Winterspring: from Timbermaw tunnel entrance

  • East -> along cliffs -> past the Hot Springs -> Starfall Village
  • South -> Lake Kel’Theril
  • West -> along cliffs -> starting point

Stonetalon Mountains: quickly circuit The Charred Vale (can get you 10-15 [Mithril Ore])



Mining 251 – 300

Mining [Thorium Ore]

You will need to mine at least 160 mining nodes.

Ahh Thorium. Fantastic moneymaker. Your also going to score some [Arcane Crystal] from the rich veins, which should sell for around 20g each (depending on your server).

Un’goro Crater: running round and round

  • make circuits around the craters outter rim
  • drop into The Slithering Scar
  • also visit the Fire Plume Ridge
  • Lots of Thorium here, alas everyone knows it, so your sure to be competing for nodes

Winterspring: from Everlook

  • South -> Ice Thistle Hills -> check the yeti cave, then exit
  • South -> Owl Wing Thicket -> check the sourounding hills
  • South -> Frostwhisper and Darkwhisper Gorge’s
    (avoiding the elites)
  • Head to Lake Kel’Theril -> Everlook

Blasted Lands & Searing Gorge: 2 for the price of 1

Eastern Plaguelands: from Tyr’s Hand

  • North -> Lights Hope Chapel -> The Noxious Glade -> Northdale
  • West -> Northpass Tower
  • South -> Blackwood Lake -> Pestilent Scar -> Lake Mereldar -> starting point
    NB:You could make a quick diversion to The Fungal Vale, between Northpass Tower & Blackwood Lake

Western Plaguelands: from The Weeping Cave

  • South -> Gahrrons Withering
  • West -> Dalsons Tears
  • NorthWest -> edge of Felstone Field
  • North (follow cliffs) -> Northridge Lumber Camp -> follow path -> Hearthglen
  • Double Back from the watchtower
  • South (follow the cliffs) -> The Weeping Cave


Click Here For The Ultimate World of Warcraft Guide

Mining 300 - 330 : WoW The Burning Crusade

Mining [Fel Iron Ore]

You will need to mine at least 30 mining nodes.

Hellfire Peninsula: from the Dark Portal

  • Anti-clockwise loop around back of Dark Portal section
  • Continue following mountains around to Zeth'Gor
  • Follow mountain line to Spinebreaker Post -> Expedition Armoury
  • Follow edge of world -> Ravagers
  • North (stick east) -> Hellfire Citadel -> Citadel proper
  • North (skirt Thrallmar) -> world edge
    Head to Forge camps
  • East following the mountains then South
  • Now head back to the Dark Portal to complete your circuit

Hellfire Peninsula: from entrance to Zangarmarsh

  • North (go around all the elite giants) -> loop East -> Temple of Telhamat
    Horde should detour to the south
  • Go into Mag'har Post -> drop into The Pools of Aggonar
    do a circuit of the pools here -> head out
  • South -> Citadel -> south eastern edge of The Great Fissure
    make a clockwise circuit here
  • South -> Stonescythes -> drop into the Den Haal'esh
  • North then East (follow the mountains) -> Ruins of Sha'Naar

NB: You could also mine [Thorium Ore]. Rich Thorium viens will still be green until about 340

Mining 330 - 355 : WoW The Burning Crusade

Mining [Fel Iron Ore] and [Adamantite Ore]

You will need to mine at least 23 mining nodes.

Nagrand: from the entrance to Terokkar Forest

  • West -> past Kil'Sorrow Fortress -> around the back of Telaar -> Oshu'gun
  • Follow the mountains -> Ancestral Grounds
  • East (along the road) -> Telaar -> drop into valley -> Windy Reed Village
  • South -> past Burning Blade Ruins -> strating point

Nagrand: from the entrance to Zangarmarsh

  • East -> past Laughing Skull Ruins -> Throne of Elements
    if your flying, check out the Elemental Plateau for the nodes
  • Go to North side of Garadar -> Halaa
    drop into the valley & collect nodes in the cave
  • Go back up to Sunspring Post -> Ancestral Grounds
  • North -> past Forge Camps -> Warmaul Hill
    You can normally find 2-4 mining nodes in Warmaul Hill

Mining 355 - 375 : WoW The Burning Crusade

Mining [Fel Iron Ore] and [Adamantite Ore]

You will need to mine at least 30 mining nodes.

NB: You could continue grinding out the above routes in Nagrand & now collect Rich Adamantite nodes.

Shadowmoon Valley: 3 different routes to choose from

  • Easiest route: Just follow the main road around in a circuit
  • Flying Route 1: From Sanctum of the Stars
    South (follow Path of Conquest) -> edge of the world.
    South East -> Netherwing Ledge (quick circuit here)
    head to Dragonmaw Fortress -> Wardens Cage -> Snactum of the Stars

  • Flying Route 2: from entrance to Terokkar Forest
    North -> past Shadowmoon Village -> Coilskar point
    Fly to the Shattered Fields -> back of the Altar of Sha'tar
    South -> the Coilskar's -> loop around The Hand of Gul'dan -> The Deathforge
    South West -> Illidari Point
    North -> Legion Hold -> starting location



Mining 350 - 400 : WoW Wrath of the Lich King

Mining [Cobalt Ore]

You will need to mine at least 75 mining nodes.

NB: You could continue to mine in Outlands, but its MUCH quicker in Northrend from 350. Also remember these are only suggested areas.

Zul'drak: Start from Ebon Watch

  • East -> Down & Around -> Above Zeramas -> Just before The Argent Stand
  • North -> Just before Altar of Sseratus
  • East -> Altar of Rhunok -> Make a trip up & around here
  • South -> Zimtorga -> Head down the stairs
  • East -> Just before Kolramas
  • West -> Following the wall
  • North -> Back to the left of The Argent Stand

Mining 400 - 450 : WoW Wrath of the Lich King

Mining [Saronite Ore]

You will need to mine at least 75 mining nodes.

NB: This is a PVP area, and you should watch out for hostile attacks, even from above. This is VERY east route if on a flying mount.

Wintergrasp: Beggining from entrance to Sholazar Basin

  • East -> Staying close to southern mountain range -> Road
  • North -> Following small section of road
  • East -> Go straight right through the middle of the map
  • North -> Heading around tower -> Follow mountain ranges
  • South-West -> Down the the left of mid tower
    (like a V in middle of map)
  • North-West -> Back upto mountain ranges
    (keep following the mountains)
  • South-West -> Over river -> Continue out of area



Reccomended Guides

I have purchased all these guides while playing WoW, (and some others not worth mentioning), and these are the cream of the crop!

So why not have a look to see what they say, and judge for yourself!



Thanks again for taking the time to review/steel/use this mining guide, I hope everything you have found here was useful.

GG
Johnny @ WorldWarcraftGuide.com


Click Here For The Ultimate WoW Guide

Posted by wowguide on Sun, 03/01/2009 - 05:12
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