In WoW TBC Classic, Blacksmithing caps at skill 375 and is leveled almost entirely by crafting gear from bars you smelt with Mining. You push classic recipes to 300, then switch to Fel Iron and Adamantite bars for the 300-375 Outland grind. At skill 200 you choose Armorsmith or Weaponsmith, and Weaponsmiths pick a sword, axe, or mace path later on.

Quick facts

  • Skill cap: 375 (up from 300 in classic).
  • Best gathering pair: Mining — you'll burn through huge amounts of ore and bars.
  • Trainers: learn Master Blacksmithing (up to 375) from Outland trainers, most notably in Honor Hold (Alliance) and Thrallmar (Horde) in Hellfire Peninsula, plus Shattrath.
  • First specialization (~skill 200): Armorsmith or Weaponsmith — pick one, it's changeable but costs gold to swap.
  • Weapon sub-spec: Weaponsmiths later choose Swordsmith, Axesmith, or Hammersmith for exclusive weapon patterns.

Leveling path at a glance

  1. 1-300 (classic): follow the standard Copper → Bronze → Iron/Steel → Mithril → Thorium route. Rough Sharpening Stones, bronze gear, and Mithril items carry most of this range.
  2. 300-315: craft Fel Iron items such as Fel Iron plate and rods from Fel Iron Bars.
  3. 315-375: move to Adamantite Bars — Adamantite weapons, Felsteel pieces, and sharpening/weightstones fill out the top end.
  4. Cap: keep an eye on which craft is still orange/yellow so every swing gives a skill point.

Which specialization should I pick?

Pick Armorsmith if you're a plate tank or want to sell high-end BoP plate sets. Pick Weaponsmith if you play or supply a melee DPS — its sub-paths (sword, axe, mace) unlock powerful bind-on-pickup weapons. Both gate their best epics behind quest lines and rare pattern drops, so choose based on your class or your market.

Is Blacksmithing worth it in TBC?

Yes, if you're a plate or melee class. Blacksmithing shines for self-sufficient gearing — strong pre-raid weapons and armor, plus permanent socket-adding items later. As a pure gold-maker it's slower than gathering, because bars are expensive and many top recipes are BoP. Its real payoff is equipping yourself with gear that rivals dungeon drops.

Do I need Mining with Blacksmithing?

Practically, yes. Every bar you smith comes from ore, and buying it all off the auction house gets pricey fast. Running Mining alongside Blacksmithing keeps you supplied with Fel Iron, Adamantite, and Khorium and saves a large chunk of gold over the full grind to 375.

What are the best Blacksmithing items to make?

The standout crafts are the specialization epics — high-end BoP plate for Armorsmiths and the sword, axe, and mace patterns for Weaponsmiths. Felsteel gear, Adamantite weapons, and consumables like sharpening stones and weightstones stay useful for raiders and are steady sellers.

If you'd rather skip the ore grind and jump straight to a finished, well-specced Blacksmith, PewPewShop offers profession coaching and rent-a-pro progression help from vetted human players — a fast way to plan your route or have an experienced player guide you to 375.