Best Professions For Each Class

World of Warcraft has changed a lot since vanilla launched all the way back in 2004. After leveling in World of Warcraft Classic for just a few hours, players will likely arrive at the first small city or town that offers some profession options.

This choice impacts how to make money and what perks the player can offer their dungeon group or guild. But players can only select two main professions, and choosing the best WoW Classic profession can be a difficult choice. Players diving back into the vanilla experience in WoW Classic should take some time to carefully select the profession that best matches their class.

Updated November 22, 2024 by Erik Petrovich: The WoW Classic best professions can vary depending on which class you chose in character creation. For most Caster classes, for example, Enchanting and Tailoring are naturally suited to your needs, while Melee classes can get a lot of use out of Mining and Blacksmithing. Though Engineering is undoubtedly the most useful profession in WoW Classic, it’s not necessarily the best for every class (and not for players who don’t want to spend money). This guide to the best WoW Classic professions for every class has been updated to provide some more information for each class’ recommended professions and why you should follow these suggestions.

Best Mage Profession

Enchanting + Tailoring

The best WoW Classic professions for Mages are expensive early on, but payoff in the long run. Since mages wear cloth, Tailoring is a great option and gives these players the chance to sew some great gear while waiting for dungeon drops.

The bind on pickup items make a big difference before acquiring Tier sets. Enchanting lets Mages add the best buffs to those freshly made clothes, as well.

Best Priest Profession

Tailoring + Enchanting

Priests are in the same boat as Mages. Tailoring and Enchanting provides a lot of upgrades while leveling for this class specifically, especially the Enchanter’s ability to craft Wands.

Tailoring + Enchanting is best for all the same reasons as it is the best WoW Classic profession for Mages, but a case can also be made for Herbalism + Alchemy. Those extra mana potions are going to come in handy very frequently while leveling and raiding.

Best Rogue Profession

Engineering + Mining

Engineering and Mining is one of the best profession combinations in WoW Classic for melee classes (especially for players who care about PvP).

Engineering is a very expensive profession, as materials tend to be in high demand thanks to the popularity of this WoW Classic profession combo. But the benefits are well worth it with BiS gear, great PvP consumables, and useful gadgets – taking mining should help offset the costs for your materials.

Best Hunter Profession

Engineering + Mining

Engineering is almost essential for a Classic era Hunter. The access to Goblin Jumper Cables, plus their own Feign Death ability, will save the day in a lot of dungeons and raids. Goblin Jumper Cables have a high chance to resurrect a target. With Engineering, you’ll be able to craft ammo for your Gun, too.

As an alternative for this best Hunter profession in WoW Classic, Leatherworking + Skinning is a very strong combo for the leveling experience, since it allows Hunters to craft leather armor early for upgrades, and mail armor later on (which Hunters can wear after learning the skill at Level 40).

Best Warlock Profession

Enchanting + Tailoring

Like all the caster classes, the best Warlock profession WoW Classic players can choose is Enchanting + Tailoring.

Bind on pickup robes are just too appealing to pass up during leveling and the early endgame dungeon grind, and you’ll want to get a Wand as soon as you can, which Enchanters can craft.

Another benefit of taking this profession combo is that you can level Enchanting by Disenchanting certain Tailored items.

Best Druid Profession

Herbalism + Alchemy

Pairing up Herbalism with the Druid travel form is a smart (and very profitable) play and will make that first mount price tag a lot less daunting. Druids can harvest Herbalism nodes without shapeshifting back to their normal form, which makes them significantly faster at gathering than any other class.

Tauren Druids also gain +15 to Herbalism thanks to the Cultivation racial bonus. You can justify taking other WoW Classic profession combos if you don’t play a Tauren Druid, but if you do go with Azeroth’s beefiest race, there’s little reason to not take Herbalism at the very least.

Best Warrior Profession

Blacksmithing + Mining

Much like the cloth classes sticking with Enchanting and Tailoring, the plate classes like the Warrior will likely be drawn to Blacksmithing and Mining. This is a strong combination and offers the potential to make a lot of money at the Auction House and craft some powerful armor while waiting for Dungeon or Raid drops.

Blacksmithing also lets players craft useful equipment attachments like a Shield Spike, an essential part of a Paladin Tank’s threat management kit. Sharpening Stones will speed up the leveling process, and you can sell extra Mining materials on the AH for a profit.

Best Paladin Profession

Blacksmithing + Mining

Paladins should take the same advice as Warriors. Blacksmithing and Mining is the best Paladin WoW Classic profession for the same reasons – you can craft your own upgrades while leveling, create your own weapons, make helpful Blacksmith consumables and attachments, and make a bit of a profit on the side.

An alternative for Paladins is Tailoring and Enchanting, if you decide to go the Holy Paladin healer spec. You will be able to craft your own Cloth armor and healer gear, and enchant that gear to maximize your Holy healing output.

Best Shaman Profession

Leatherworking + Skinning

Just like Hunters, Shamans are stuck in Leather until level 40, when they unlock Mail. Taking Leatherworking and Skinning ensures that you will be able to have consistent upgrades throughout your leveling journey, as Leatherworking eventually lets you craft Mail gear as well

Skinning is a great way to make money in the early game, as skins tend to sell for more than most crafting materials to vendors. If you want to make some of the best Shaman gear, pick Leatherworking and Skinning and eventually spec into Elemental Leatherworking.