Wrath of the Lich King has 11 primary professions and 3 secondary professions. You can train two primaries at once, plus all three secondaries — Cooking, First Aid, and Fishing. Primaries split into gathering (Mining, Herbalism, Skinning) and crafting (Alchemy, Blacksmithing, Enchanting, Engineering, Inscription, Jewelcrafting, Leatherworking, Tailoring). Wrath introduced Inscription and lifted the skill cap to 450, the Grand Master tier.
WotLK profession quick facts
- Skill cap: 450 (Grand Master rank, learned at skill 425 from a trainer in Northrend).
- Primaries you can hold: 2 at any time.
- Secondaries you can hold: all 3 — Cooking, First Aid, Fishing.
- New in Wrath: Inscription (glyphs, off-hand items, Darkmoon cards, shoulder enchants).
- Gathering trio: Mining, Herbalism, Skinning — feed the crafting professions and sell well.
- Crafting eight: Alchemy, Blacksmithing, Enchanting, Engineering, Inscription, Jewelcrafting, Leatherworking, Tailoring.
Primary professions in WotLK
| Gathering | Mining, Herbalism, Skinning |
| Crafting | Alchemy, Blacksmithing, Enchanting, Engineering, Inscription, Jewelcrafting, Leatherworking, Tailoring |
| Secondary (all 3) | Cooking, First Aid, Fishing |
Which professions give a bonus at max level?
Every primary profession hands you a self-only perk at high skill, which is why raiders and PvPers pick two crafting professions. Common pairings include Blacksmithing for extra gem sockets, Jewelcrafting for stronger unique gems, Enchanting for ring enchants, Inscription for a better shoulder enchant, and Leatherworking or Tailoring for bracer and cloak bonuses. The perks are roughly balanced, so pick the pair that fits your class.
What are the best professions for making gold in Wrath?
Pure gathering — Mining plus Herbalism (or Skinning) — is the cheapest, fastest way to earn while leveling, since you sell raw mats with no crafting cost. For steadier long-term income, Jewelcrafting (cut gems), Alchemy (flask transmutes and procs), and Inscription (glyphs) tend to move the most volume on the auction house.
Do you need gathering to level a crafting profession?
Not strictly, but it helps a lot. Crafting professions eat huge amounts of ore, herbs, or leather to reach 450, so pairing a craft with its matching gatherer saves you a fortune. A common route is leveling with two gathering skills first, banking mats and gold, then dropping one for the craft you actually want.
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