Full Skinning Leveling Guide 1-450 including:
- Whats Required (tools, bags)
- Skinning Trainers (where & which faction)
- Skinning Levels & Bonuses (Master of Anatomy: + Critical Strike)
- Original World of Warcraft 1-300
- Exp: Burning Crusade - Skinning Guide Outlands 300-375
- NEW: Wrath of the Lich King (WotLK) - WoW Northrend Skinning Guide Horde & Alliance 375-450
Only place you will find it easier than here is by paying for it! And if you do, I totally reccomend: Dugi's Ultimate WoW Guide!
A complete 1-80 levelling guide for both Alliance & Horde as well as some of the best PVP, PVE & Gold tips in the game. Learn from the Pros.
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Hi & Welcome to my Skinning Guide.
I have been levelling skinning with my Orc Hunter since I was level 14. Skinning is a fairly good money earner on Auction House & great to team up with another collection profession like Mining or Herbalism.
Key points for farming Leather are:
- It does not need a tracker on to know what to skin, a skinning icon will appear over looted mobs which are skinable
- Leather is used by Leather Workers, and occasionally by other professions eg. Egnineering & Tayloring
- NEW passive bonus that increases your Critical Strike rating!
I personally took Skinning & Leather Working, but in hind sight I would have taken two farming professions. Yes, I could always change, but I like to make things as well. So fair trade off in my opinion.
Also it does not matter if you are leveling this up as you level your own character, or if you wait until you are of higher level, both methods will take time.
Skinning Levels:
(same basic structure for ALL profession levelling)
Also take note of the passive Profession bonus you get (since WoTLK)
- Aprentice 1-75
(75-149) Master of Anatomy Rank 1 - increases Critical Strike by 3 - Journeyman 50-150
(150-224) Master of Anatomy Rank 2 - increases Critical Strike by 6 - Expert 125-225
(225-229) Master of Anatomy Rank 3 - increases Critical Strike by 9 - Artisan 200-300
(300-374) Master of Anatomy Rank 4 - increases Critical Strike by 12 - Master 275-375
(375-449) Master of Anatomy Rank 5 - increases Critical Strike by 20 - Grand Master 350-450
(450+) Master of Anatomy Rank 6 - increases Critical Strike by 32
Handy tip: Please note the overlap, try not to keep going until you cannot level any more, as you will end up skinning loads of mobs and not levelling from it.
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Where to start:
Requirements - you will need a [Skinning Knife], just needs to sit in one of your bags.
Handy Tip: Grab a leatherworking bag to store extra leather in as you farm. Choose from [Leatherworker's Satchel],[Bag of Many Hides] and [Trapper's Traveling Pack]. You can store you skinning knife,leather goods & motes/primals in these bags as well!
Skinning Trainers - you must obtain the skill before you use it
Take note of where these trainers are, remember to level up as you go.
World of Warcraft Original
Ranks: Apprentice, Journeyman, Expert, Artisan
Alliance
- NightElf male, Radnaal Maneweaver
Northwest of Ban'ethil Hollow - Teldrassil - NightElf female, Eladriel
Craftsmen's Terrace - Darnassus - Human female, Helene Peltskinner
Goldshire - Elwynn Forest - Human female, Maris Granger
Old Town - Stormwind - Dwarf male, Balthus Stoneflayer
The Great Forge - Ironforge - Human female, Wilma Ranthal
Stonewatch Falls - Redridge Mountains - NightElf female, Jayla
Silverwind Refuge - Ashenvale
World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade (only)
- Furblog, Gurf
Stillpine Hold - Azuremyst Isle - Draenei female, Remere
Traders' Tier - The Exodar
Horde
- Undead male, Rand Rhobart
Southeast of Brill - Tirisfal Glades - Undead male, Killian Hagey
The Rogues' Quarter - Undercity - Tauren male, Yonn Deepcut
Bloodhoof Village - Mulgore - Tauren female, Mooranta
Middle Rise - Thunder Bluff - Orc male, Thuwd
The Drag - Orgrimmar - Tauren male, Dranh
Camp Taurajo - the Barrens - Troll male, Malux
Shadowprey Village - Desolace - Tauren male, Kulleg Stonehorn
Camp Mojache - Feralas
World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade (only)
- BloodElf male, Mathreyn (upto journeyman only)
West of Silvermoon entrance - Eversong Woods - BloodElf female, Tyn
alk of Elders - Silvermoon
World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade
Rank: Master
Alliance
- NightElf female, Jelena Nightsky
Honor Hold - Hellfire Peninsula
Horde
- Tauren male, Moorutu
Thrallmar - Hellfire Peninsula
Neutral
- Human male, Seymour
Lower City - Shattrath City
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
Rank: Grand Master
Alliance
- Human male, Trapper Jack
Valiance Keep - Borean Tundra - Human male, Frederic Burrhus
Valgarde - Howling Fjord
Horde
- Taunka female, Tiponi Stormwhisper
Taunka'le Village - Borean Tundra - Undead female, Roberta Jacks
Vengeance Landing - Howling Fjord
Neutral
- Human male, Derik Marks
Legendary Leathers, Magus Commerce Exchange - Dalaran
Leather Types
Here is a list of the leather you would expect to see while skinning your way through the game.
World of Warcraft (Skinning 1 - 300)
- [Ruined Leather Scraps]
expected mob level: 1-16 - [Light Leather]
expected mob level: 1-27 - [Light Hide]
expected mob level: 10-27 - [Medium Leather]
expected mob level: 15-36 - [Medium Hide]
expected mob level: 15-36 - [Heavy Leather]
expected mob level: 25-46 - [Heavy Hide]
expected mob level: 25-46 - [Thick Leather]
expected mob level: 35-63 - [Thick Hide]
expected mob level: 40-59 - [Rugged Leather]
expected mob level: 43-63 - [Rugged Hide]
expected mob level: 47-63
Handy Tip: You can upgrade your leather with Leather Working. Sometimes, I would just get a guildie or friend to do this for me in exchange for some leather goods.
Burning Crusade (Skinning 300 - 375)
Wrath of the Lich King (Skinning 375 - 450)
- [Borean Leather Scraps]
- [Borean Leather]
- [Arctic Fur]
blue rare drop for high epic Leather Working goods
Handy Tip: The best thing about the leather in WotLK is you do not require Leather Working to upgrade scraps to whole Borean Leather, you can just right click and it upgrades on the spot.
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Suggested Leveling Areas
Leveling up as you go, you could follow these guidelines
However, if you are already a higher level, you will need to return to a lower mob area to get started
Skinning 1-25
Horde
- Undead
Hounds around Brill - Orcs and Trolls
Mottled Boars and Scorpids around Sen'Jin Village - Tauren
Prowlers and Plainstriders around Bloodhoof Village
Alliance
- Humans
Boars around Goldshire - Gnomes and Dwarfves
Crag Boars and Wendigo's South of Kharanos - Night Elves
Nightsabers and critters around Dolanaar
Skinning 25-50
Horde
- Undead
Worgs and Moonrage Gluttons around Silverpine - Orcs and Trolls
Boars, Scorpids, Crocolisks and Raptors around Orgrimmar - Tauren
Prowlers and Praire Wolves around Thunderbluff
Alliance
- Human
Prowlers and Bears around Eastvale Logging Camp - Gnomes and Dwarfves
Wolves around Brenwall Village - Night Elves
Moonstalkers and Bears around Auberdine
Skinning 50-100
Horde
- Most Horde races
Plainstriders, Raptors and Prowlers around Crossroads
Alliance
- Humans
Goretusks all around Sentinel Hill - Gnomes and Dwarfves
Bears and Crocolisks around Thelsamar - Night Elves
Moonstalkers and Bears North of Auberdine
Skinning 100-130
Horde
- Most Horde races
Stormsnouts and Thunderhawks around Camp Taurajo
Alliance
- Most Alliance races
Crocolisks and Raptors around Bluegill Marsh and Whelgar's Excavation Site - Alternative
Whelps and boars around Lakeshire
Skinning 130-150
Alliance and Horde
- Bears and Mountain Lions around Hillsbrad Foothills
- Alternatives
Ravagers and Wolves in Duskwood or
Bears, Stags and Ghostpaws in Ashenvale
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Skinning 150-170
Alliance and Horde
- Yeti Cave in Hillsbrad Fields
- Mountain Lions on the "Daggers"
(these are the bits of land between Hillsbrad and Alterac Mountains, one is called Corrans Dagger, so hence the nickname) - Alternatives
Hyenas, Lions, Wyvern and Thunderhawks in Thousand Needles or
Bears, Stags and Ghostpaws in Ashenvale
Skinning 170-180
Alliance and Horde
- Raptors in Arathi Highlands
- Alternative
Turtles and Basilisks in The Shimmering Flats
Skinning 180-220
Alliance and Horde
- Raptors, Panthers and Tigers around Nessingwarys Camp in Stranglethorn Vale
(you could actually get your skinning level all the way to 300 in and around STV as the mobs range from level 34 to level 50) - Alternatives
Raptors and Crocs in Dustwallow Marsh
Thunder Lizards, Kodos, Basilisks, Scorpids and Hyenas in Desolace
Whelps in Swamp of Sorrows
Skinning 220-250
Alliance and Horde
- Raptors and Gorillas around the Gurabashi Arena
- Alternatives
Panthers, Jaguars and Crocs in Swamp of Sorrows
Dragonkin, Coyotes and Ridge Stalkers/Huntresses in Badlands
Wolves around Feathermoon Stronghold in Feralas
Skinning 250-275
Alliance and Horde
- Snickerfangs and Boars in North Blasted Lands
- Alternatives
Silvermanes and Gryphons in The Hinterlands
Stags and Hippogryphs in Azshara
Hippogryphs, Apes, Bears, Wolves, Screechers and Yetis in Feralas
Skinning 275-300
Alliance and Horde
- Jagueros and Gorillas on Jaguero Island
(Large Island to the East of Booty Bay where Princess Poobah is being held) - Alternatives
Yetis, Chimeras and Bears in Winterspring
Bears in Western Plaguelands
Plaguehounds and Plaguebats in Eastern Plaguelands
Turtles by Raventusk Village in The Hinterlands
Turtles and Chimeras in Azshara
Dragonkin, Worgs and Scorpids in Burning Steppes
Skinning 300 to 375 (Burning Crusade)
It used to take as long to go from 300-375 as it did from 1-300, but since WotLK came out, a few skinning upgrades have taken place & you should get through this in no time.
You could level anywhere in Outlands (even Hellfire Peninsula) but you should see your skill going up faster if you travel around to harder mobs.
-
Skinning 300-330
Hellboars & Ravagers around Hellfire Peninsula
-
Skinning 330-350
Talbuk's and Clefthoofs all over Nagrand
(possible to keep going all the way to skinning 375 here unless you want a change of scenery) -
Skinning 350-375
Netherdrakes around Stormspire in Netherstorm
Netherdrakes around Netherwing Fields in Shadowmoon Valley
Raptors and Wind Serpents around Blades Edge Mountains
Skinning 375 to 450 (Wrath of the Lich King)
Once again, it does not matter about which race/faction you are in WotLK, and you could skin in 1 area all the way to 450. But this might help you get there a little bit faster. WoW Skinning 375-450 in Northrend WotLK.
-
Skinning 375-405
Shoveltusks around Howling Fjord
-
Skinning 375-405
Mammoths around Borean Tundra
-
Skinning 405-430
Deer, Infected Grizzly Bears, Wolves and everything else on the Grizzly Hills
-
Skinning 430-450
Giraffes, Mangal Crocolisks, Gorillas and pretty much anything in Sholazar Basin
YOU MADE IT!
This concludes my Skinning guide, by the time you are lvl 450, your passive bonus should help you do that extra DPS in PVE or PVP.
Also, if you are looking for an easy way to level your professions, character, make gold, or anything else, there is are some great guides out there!
Thats right, I have purchased & used these, and here is a list of the TOP GUIDES I reccomend!
But don't just take our word on it, hear what they have to say for themselves and judge for yourself!
- Dugi's Ultimate WoW Guide: Pretty much everything you need to know and everything you didnt think you needed to know!
- Brian Kopps' Alliance 1-80: Pretty good, but still reccomend Dugi's above
- Joanas' Horde 1-80 Lvelling Guide: Still one of the fastest & most impressive guides out there, always upto date and full of fantastic Tips/Tricks
- Don't buy Gold, MAKE IT!: This guy was the 1st to get 1 million gold in WoW, dont beleive me, check it out for yourself. Although, I wouldn't have a clue how to spend all that!
Good luck, and be sure to check my other guides!
GG
Johnny @ WorldWarcraftGuide.com
