WoW Cataclysm Blacksmithing Guide

As one of the most useful primary professions in WoW Classic: Cataclysm, Blacksmithing has a place almost anywhere. Need some plate armor to accompany you into battle? Ask a blacksmith. Looking for a mighty weapon that arouses fear in your enemies? Once again, ask a blacksmith. Want some valuable utility items? You guessed it! Ask a blacksmith. The point is, Blacksmithing is a highly in demand skill. High demand needs high supply!

New blacksmiths will need a guide for their first time at the forge (lest they hit their hand instead of the molten metal), experienced blacksmiths will need a point of reference, and curious minds will want a comprehensive guide to this profession. In this article, you’ll find all of the above. We’ll start with a few reasons to invest in Blacksmithing. Then, the actual guide will start with a leveling tutorial. After your level is at max, you’ll learn about some of the more interesting recipes and where to get them.

Why Blacksmiths Take the Heat

Most IRL blacksmithing projects require a temperature of around 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. While WoW doesn’t require these conditions, that statement should get you thinking about why you want to learn Blacksmithing as one of your two primary professions. What can blacksmiths create that’s unique? How can Blacksmithing help in endgame content? Is this profession viable considering your circumstances? In this section, those three questions will be answered.

Remember the mention of utility items in the introduction? Well, there’s quite a few of them. Some are directed towards certain playstyles or professions, while others can find a purpose in almost anyone’s arsenal. Below, a few of the highlights will be pointed out.

• Obsidium Skeleton Key
  • Consumed on use
  • Can pick locks with up 525 lockpicking skill
• Elementium Rod
  • Used by Enchanters
• Pyrium Weapon Chain
  • Reduces duration of Disarm debuffs
  • Increases hit rating
• Ebonsteel Belt Buckle
  • Adds a socket to a belt

In the last section of this article, you’ll learn where to get the recipes for these items.

Not only can Blacksmithing produce utility items, plate armor and some weapons can also be forged in the same flames. This gear can reach a decent pre-raiding level. When it comes to the real endgame, though, blacksmiths look to their sockets for an advantage. The following abilities prove extremely helpful to serious players.

• Socket Bracer
  • Adds a socket to your bracers
• Socket Gloves
  • Adds a socket to your gloves

With their unique profession ability, blacksmiths will be able to add an extra +100 to their main stat using epic quality gems.

These perks are certainly enticing, but do you have what it takes? Good news is…you do. Any player in WoW can make use of Blacksmithing and find it enjoyable. Toons with the following qualities may find their journey to be more useful or easier, though!

• Plate wearers
  • Plate wearing classes such as Death Knights, Warriors, and Paladins will find the most benefit from Blacksmithing, as they will be able to create their own gear.
• Profession pairing
  • The materials for Blacksmithing can get expensive, so unless you have a fountain of gold, you’ll want to learn Mining.

Feel free to level a new character for this profession or to start it on your main.

Becoming a Master Blacksmith

Still reading? Excellent! You must be interested in learning this profession, then. To start, you’ll need to locate one of the trainers below. Note that your character will need to be level 75 or higher to completely max out the Blacksmithing skill.

• Neutral Trainers
  • Zula Slagfury, Shattrath (69.8, 42.6)
  • Rekka the Hammer, Icecrown (71.8, 20.8)
  • Orland Schaeffer, Dalaran (45.6, 28.2)
  • Onodo, Shattrath (37.6, 31.6)
  • Kradu Grimblade, Shattrath (69.8, 42.4)
  • Imindril Spearsong, Dalaran (44.6, 29.6)
  • Brikk Keencraft, Northern Stranglethorn (29.0, 75.4)
  • Barien, Shattrath (43.6, 65.2)
  • Alard Schmied, Dalaran (45.6, 27.8)
• Alliance Trainers
  • Ironus Coldsteel, Ironforge (50.2, 44.0)
  • Grumnus Steelshaper, Ironforge (50.2, 42.6)
  • Tognus Flintfire, Dun Morogh (45.2, 52.0)
  • Therum Deepforge, Stormwind (63.8, 37.6)
  • Taryel Firestrike, Darkshore (50.8, 19.2)
  • Smith Argus, Elwynn Forest (41.6, 65.6)
  • Rosina Rivet, Howling Fjord (59.6, 63.8)
  • Miall, The Exodar (60.6, 89.6)
  • Marie Holdston, Dustwallow Marsh (64.6, 50.0)
  • Jordan Smith, Stormwind (64.8, 48.2)
  • Humphry, Hellfire Peninsula (56.8, 63.8)
  • Delfrum Flintbeard, Darkshore (38.2, 41.0)
  • Clarise Gnarltree, Duskwood (74.0, 48.4)
  • Brandig, The Storm Peaks (28.8, 74.8)
  • Borgus Steelhand, Stormwind (59.6, 34.6)
  • Blacksmith Calypso, Azuremyst Isle (59.6, 34.6)
  • Bengus Deepforge, Ironforge (53.2, 40.0)
  • Argo Strongstout, Borean Tundra (57.2, 66.6)
• Horde Trainers
  • Traugh, Northern Barrens (51.2, 28.8)
  • Shayis Steelfury, Orgrimmar (75.6, 37.0)
  • Saru Steelfury, Orgrimmar (82.2, 23.0)
  • Rohok, Hellfire Peninsula (53.2, 38.2)
  • Rogg, Orgrimmar (44.6, 77.8)
  • Opuno Ironhorn, Orgrimmar (40.8, 49.4)
  • Okothos Ironrager, Orgrimmar (79.8, 23.8)
  • Kristen Smythe, Howling Fjord (79.2, 29.0)
  • Kelgruk Bloodaxe, Orgrimmar (82.0, 18.4)
  • Karn Stonehoof, Thunder Bluff (40.0, 54.2)
  • Kark Helmbreaker, Orgrimmar (36.0, 82.8)
  • Josric Fame, Dragonblight (75.8, 63.2)
  • James Van Brunt, Undercity (61.6, 30.2)
  • Guillaume Sorouy, Silverpine Forest (43.2, 41.0)
  • Grutah, Shadowmoon Valley (29.6, 31.6)
  • Dwukk, Durotar (52.0, 40.6)
  • Crog Steelspine, Borean Tundra (40.8, 55.2)
  • Borus Ironbender, Dragonblight (36.6, 47.0)
  • Borgosh Corebender, Orgrimmar (79.6, 23.6)
  • Bemarrin, Silvermoon City (79.8, 37.2)
  • Arathel Sunforge, Eversong Woods (59.6, 62.6)

These trainers can help you out until you’re an Illustrious Grand Master at Blacksmithing. At that point, you’ll have maxed out your level at 525, and you’ll be untrainable…obviously.

Before you can start leveling, you’ll need some materials. The approximate shopping list used by this guide is below. Note that you may need more or less of some items depending on your luck. These items can either be gathered by hand or bought in the auction house.

• 150 Rough Stone
• 150 Copper Bar
• 95 Coarse Stone
• 5 Silver Bar
• 140 Bronze Bar
• 105 Heavy Stone
• 5 Gold Bar
• 230 Iron Bar
• 35 Green Dye
• 190 Steel Bar
• 10 Citrine
• 315 Solid Stone
• 60 Mageweave Cloth
• 150 Mithril Bar
• 20 Dense Stone
• 420 Thorium Bar
• 80 Rugged Leather
• 170 Fel Iron Bar
• 10 Netherweave Cloth
• 95 Adamantite Bar
• 320 Cobalt Bar
• 170 Saronite Bar
• 25 Crystalized Air
• 5 Titanium Bar
• 170 Obsidium Bar
• 330 Elementium Bar
• 130 Volatile Earth
• 10 Volatile Fire

Some of these quantities were rounded up for convenience.

It is suggested that you find an area near a bank, a trainer, and the Auction House for leveling your Blacksmithing skill. Your faction’s capital will contain these three things, making Stormwind or Orgrimmar perfect locations. Once you start crafting armor, your bags will fill up quickly. As such, you shouldn’t keep all of the materials with you at all times—just the mats you’ll need immediately. Remember that the amounts you’ll craft according to this guide are just estimates. You may need more or less.

Let’s get started! Unless otherwise stated, these recipes can be found through your normal trainers. Try not to hit your hand…the hammer may barely dent the metal at first, but even a beginner has the strength to break a bone!

At some point, you’ll need some more Solid Grinding Stone.

This recipe is sold by special vendors. Horde players will get it from Rohok, Hellfire Peninsula (53.2, 38.2) and Alliance players will get it from Mari Stonehand, Shadowmoon Valley (36.8, 55.0). It is on a respawn timer, so if you go there and the recipe is not available, just wait around for a bit.

From 455 - 459, you can choose your own path. Make four items using any of the recipes that require 3 Folded Obsidium.

Time to make your own choices again! For 462 - 470, make 8 from your choice of the below.

• Redsteel Belt
  • 32 Folded Obsidium, 8 Volatile Earth
• Stormforged Belt
  • 32 Folded Obsidium, 8 Volatile Earth
• Hardened Obsidium Belt
  • 32 Folded Obsidium, 8 Volatile Earth

Once you reach skill level 512, you should go to a Blacksmithing plan vendor and purchase the plans that fit your circumstances. Need some gear? Buy plans to make that gear! Wanna make gold? Purchase the plans for what sells best on the Auction House! If the Darkmoon Faire is up, there is a quest you can complete once you are at level 520 to finish maxing out your Blacksmithing skill. You can get this quest, titled Baby Needs Two Pairs of Shoes, from the NPC Yebb Neblegear.

Congratulations! You’ve maxed out your Blacksmithing skill. Make sure to sip some Refreshing Spring Water for hydration—the forge gets hot, after all—and then continue on to find some cool recipes.

Interesting Recipes and Where to Get Them

Blacksmithing is fairly simple compared to some other professions when it comes to recipe acquisition. Tailoring, for example, has recipes that must be learned by crafting other recipes. The majority of your recipes will be learned from your trainer. To learn the ones listed below, you must look to specific supply vendors. They’re normally located next to your trainer in major cities.

Now, time to buy those cool recipes mentioned in the beginning…

• Obsidium Skeleton Key
  • Trainer recipe
• Elementium Rod
  • Trainer Recipe
• Pyrium Weapon Chain
  • Costs 20 Elementium Bar
• Ebonsteel Belt Buckle
  • Costs 5 Pyrium Bar

See? That was easy enough!

Concluding Thoughts

Everyone in WoW Cataclysm Classic can benefit from Blacksmithing. Blacksmithing takes a lot of materials to level, but it certainly is worth it. Whether there’s a lock that an Obsidium Skeleton Key could pick, a piece of gear you could really use, or a socket you wish you had, Blacksmithing will be there to help out! Best of all, the recipes you’ll be using can just be outright purchased. So go out there, you Illustrious Grand Master Blacksmith, and make us proud!