Blacksmithing FAQ - Feedback & Comments needed

[Elly]

I'd like some feedback and comments on this Blacksmithing FAQ. If there's anything inaccurate please do point it out and I'll change it, also if I've missed anything too.

Note the links point to the main site - I didn't want to reproduce all that in a forum thread.

Anyway, thanks a lot to those who are able to help.

What are Blacksmiths?

They forge weapons and armour from metal bars which they can augment with jewels. They can temporarily enhance weapon's also. They are usually Miners so that they are able to collect their own materials such as copper ore and gems.
Blacksmithing is a Primary Production Profession.

How do I become one?

You will need to find a Blacksmith Trainer. These are usually located near a forge or anvil. Below is a list of locations with links to maps which pinpoint exactly where the Trainer can be found. You need no money to train as a Blacksmith but you must be at least character level 5 to begin your training.

< Go here for a full list of Blacksmithing Trainers & Suppliers >

After training you will need to buy a blacksmithing hammer at the Blacksmith supplier and if you're a miner too, you'll need a pick to mine for ore.You can train to four levels of proficiency and each has certain prerequisites that must be met before advancing to the next level. The higher proficiency you are, the better items you can craft.

Apprentice
Requires Blacksmith Level N/A
Requires Character Level 5

Allows a Blacksmith to make basic weapons and armor up to a maximum potential skill of 75. Requires stone & metal found with the mining skill. Must be character level 5 before learning.

Journeyman
Requires Blacksmith Level 50
Requires Character Level 10

Allows a Blacksmith to make basic weapons and armor up to a maximum potential skill of 150.

Expert
Requires Blacksmith Level 125
Requires Character Level 20

Allows a Blacksmith to make basic weapons and armor up to a maximum potential skill of 225.

Artisan
Requires Blacksmith Level 200
Requires Character Level 35

Allows a Blacksmith to make basic weapons and armor up to a maximum potential skill of 300.

Armorsmith or Weaponsmith
Requires Blacksmith Level N/A
Requires Character Level 40

Allows smiths to make armor and weapons from skill level of 200.

Axesmith/Hammersmith/Swordsmith
Requires Blacksmith Level N/A
Requires Character Level 45

Sub categories of Weaponsmithing. Allows smiths to make axes, maces or swords from skill level of 250.

How do I get Materials?

The most efficient way is to train as a Miner too so that you are able to collect your own ingredients. You can also trade for the ingredients from NPC traders or other players.

The ore you mine needs to smelted into bars before it can be used in Blacksmithing. You need to find a forge to smelt. Find out about smelting on the Mining page.Other components you will need can be found as loot from monsters or will have to be bought from Blacksmithing and General Suppliers (such as Weak Flux), or traded from other places.

What can I make?

Armor and weapons can be created, including items that can not be found at NPC traders or dropped by monsters. Highly prized therefore. Such as:

• Weapons of particular use to melee characters

• Mail or plate armours so best for Paladin and Warriors (and higher level Shamans)

• Items which can temporarily improve a weapon's damage. (Can not stack with other temporary enhancements.

• A few items needed by other classes and for other Professions (Enchanters rods for example)

When becoming an Apprentice Blacksmith you are automatically given three plans to start you on your way. As you increase your skill level in Blacksmithing you will be able to follow higher level plans, that you must first learn at a trainer for a cost.

The colour of the plan {in your menu} indicates whether you will gain a skill point in Blacksmithing when you create the item. The colour codes are as follows:

• Grey = No skill increase.

• Green = Unlikely to get a Blacksmithing skill point.

• Yellow = Probably get a Blacksmithing skill point.

• Orange = Will receive a Blacksmithing skill point.

• Red = Can not create yet, need a higher skill level in Blacksmithing before being able to.

As long as you have all the required 'ingredients' to follow a plan you will never fail to make the item. You will always create it but you may or may not increase your skill level in Blacksmithing depending on the colour of the plan (as listed above).

< Go here for a list of items that can be made with Blacksmithing >

How do I make Items?

You will need to locate an Anvil before you can create items and these can often be located near Trainers/Suppliers {which can find here }. Occasionally Anvils & Forges are not by Trainers and listed below are such instances where you'll find them on their own.

• Barrens
  Ironzar in Ratchet
  Crossroads, near northern entranceway
  Thorn Hill, East of Crossroads

• Desolace
  Shadowprey Village

• Durotar
  Ula'elek in Sen'jin Village

• Elwynn
  Village shop, Goldshire

• Loch Modan
  Blunderblast Gunsmith, Thelsamar
  Rann Flamespinner, Tailor, Thelsamar

• Redridge Mountains
  Lakeshire

• Stonetalon Mountains
  Sun Rock Retreat

• Stranglethorn
  Grom'gol Base Camp

• Tirisfal Glades
  Brill

• Westfall
  Saldean's Farm

You only need stand next to an Anvil to be able to start Smithing your own items.

You do not need to equip your Blacksmith Hammer, it just needs to be in one of your bags (not your bank) when you wish to create something.

When you trained as an Apprentice Blacksmith the icon on the left would have been placed into your Abilities book {P}. You should move this down to your action bar so you can activate it easily. When activated you will see a list of plans you have learnt which, as long as you have the necessary ingredients, you can make. You simply click on the plan and hit 'create' and your character will do the rest. Once made the item will move to one of your bags.

What are the Blacksmithing Specializations?

When you reach a Blacksmithing skill of 200 and character level of 40 you can choose to specialise in a particular area of blacksmithing. You will need to complete special quests before you can specialise however. The categories are:

• Armorsmith

• Weaponsmith

- Swordsmiths

- Axesmiths

- Hammersmiths

Armorsmith, as you'd expect, enables you to learn how to create very powerful armours and Weaponsmith, powerful weapons. Further specialisation is available to Weaponsmiths when they reach a blacksmithing skill of 250 and character level of 45. They can choose between Sworthsmithing, Axesmithing or Hammersmithing. Choosing any will require you, again, to complete quests first.

To recap basics of Blacksmithing:

• Training as a Blacksmith costs nothing

• Learning Blacksmith plans costs money

• There are Blacksmith specific quests

• Can specialise in Armor or Weapon creating at higher levels

• Can create armour and weapons found by no other method in the game

• It's best to train in the supportive skill Mining so you can collect your own materials for free

• Trainers/suppliers are usually located near forges and anvils

• You need a blacksmithing hammer before you can create anything so carry it with you, don't store it in your bank

• Not all items require you to be near an anvil to create

Any comments gratefully received...

[TROGDOR_the_BURNINATOR]

Anything marked as a "trade good" in blacksmithing doesn't require an anvil to make. That includes grinding and sharpening stones, and iron buckles, among other things. Also, I believe that rogues (don't know about druids/hunters) can wear mail once they hit level 40, so mail armor becomes saleable to them once they reach that level.

One thing I think that should be added is the fact that reagents (metal bars, stone) almost always sells better at the auction house than finished items.

[TheElvesRule]

Sounds good, just say something about the fact that if you're in the profession to make money, look elswhere. The finished product sells for far less then what the materials used to make them sell for. Also the plans are on a rediculously low drop rate, and the going price in the Auction House at this time is just too high for a plan thats going to be used a maximum of 5 times.

I would also add that people shouldn't go into blacksmithing if they're looking to make the best armor or weapons possible, because it just isn't happening. Granted there are some good weapon plans out there, but you can generallly get a better one from an instance or a quest.

[Ghost5745]

Rogues can't wear mail. Only hunters and shamans get the ability to wear mail at 40.

[Hayek]

There're lone anvils at Nijel's point (alliance town) in Desolace and refuge pointe (alliance 'town') in the Arathi highlands as well. Basically, I haven't come across a settlement that hasn't an anvil (or forge, for that matter).

Another remark/question: spells become cheaper (well, you get a bigger discount, the price keeps rising :D) if you buy them from an NPC with a fraction you have a good reputation with (e.g. honoured -> -10%). Does this also apply for Blacksmithing recipes? [can't check it in-game now]

[Nei]

You're right Hayek, you get a reputation discount for Blacksmith plans, too.

Also the line "Training as a Blacksmith costs nothing" doesn't apply anymore, at least it doesn't in the Korean Beta that I played in. There's a small cost involved for learning professions and upgrading to Journeyman/Expert/Artisan level now. I can't remember what they are exactly by heart, but I know for certain you also get reputation discounts on those costs.

[mogwai_rock]

you can actually make money as a smith. Mithril Spurs, Weapon chains, Counterweights and shield spikes all sell pretty well. I have also been selling Truesilver Champions at 50g a pop.

In my view the important thing about being a smith is to learn where to mine effectively and know the best routes.

As a horde this was my route:

Copper - Durotar, Barren, Tirisfal

Tin & Silver - South Barrens, Silverpine (primarily Ambermill and Beren's Peril)

Iron & Gold - Northern Badlands, Arathi

Mithril & Truesilver - The Badlands Mining Run (silly to go anywhere else as its the most time efficient mining route)

Thorium - Un'Goro, Searing Gorge. For rich veins goto the steppes.


For best results use a note marking UI and mark it down everytime you use a mine, then just farm. If you really want the badlands run route then say and i will post it later.

The real money to made from smithing is to level quickly and corner the market. If you can be the first on a server to get Spurs, you will be rich, these sell early on for nearly 2g and quickly drop in price as other smiths catch up. Blue Glittering Axes is another good recipe, easy enough mats, can sell for 3-4g per axe. I recommend coldcalling hunters with them lvl 39-43. I was the first to get the recipe on Arthas and i think i have sold about 20 of them.

Levelling smithing later on is tough, and you need to be in for the long haul to make the best recipes in the game. Oh and find some alchemist friends, you will need them :)

[GreenArmadillo]

As others have noted, Blacksmithing, like all other professions and secondary skills currently in the game, has training costs. Also, as others have pointed out, it might be good to note that Blacksmithing requires a lot more in the way of reagents the smith can't make themselves (e.g. enchanted metals, potions, leather) than most other professions, on top of requirements for rare gems found in ore veins/deposits and the occasional mob (this goes double for weapon recipes). The list of craftable gear also does not list the Armor/Weapon/Sword/Axe/Hammer crafting requirements for some recipes.

I'll also say that this FAQ seems to be geared more towards non-smiths than smiths. Useful stuff to add would include a list of where to obtain the plans for recipes that aren't on trainers (e.g. quest, drop, or time-limited respawn on vendor) and information on the quests such as what the smith needs to save up to join the Mithril Order or complete their specialty quest.

Oh, and everyone who claims it's possible to make money on Smithing... maybe, but the chances that you'll make more than the value you could get for putting your ore in the AH are slim. Main draws to being a smith IMO are being able to make your own gear (once you get the reagents from friends/the AH), and being able to provide green quality items to friends/guildmates. If you're not prepared to spend lots of time mining even if it's not the optimal EXP situation for you, you're probably going to lose money on this trade.

[Wodjel]

Originally Posted by TROGDOR_the_BURNINATOR

One thing I think that should be added is the fact that reagents (metal bars, stone) almost always sells better at the auction house than finished items.

For me that's one of the major problem with professions, how comes you have to build a skill hardly and costly, then dont even get a "plus value" on an item you make compared to the requierd regeants ??

They must explain this to me ....

[Eiger]

One thing I've found is that the anvil in Ratchet doesn't work and hasn't since closed beta. I've sent numerous bug reports to no avail.... Maybe some day they'll fix this...