If you’re looking to make more gold in World of Warcraft, then mining should be your first option. This mining guide for WoW: Shadowlands will get you familiar with this profession and all its applications. You will learn how to start with it, which routes to take and how to farm the materials, as well as optimize your time for maximum gold-making!
In Shadowlands, mining is one of the best professions to play with and everyone can pick it up right away! Even if you’re a new player in WoW, mining is an excellent way of generating gold while you’re learning the game. It does take a bit of dedication to seek the ore spots, but thanks to our guide, you’ll learn to only go for the most profitable routes. So, let’s begin!
Making Gold with our WoW Mining Guide
Why Do We Use Mining for Gold-Making in WoW?
First of all, I’d like to clear up a few misconceptions. Mining isn’t the fastest way of making gold in World of Warcraft. However, its materials are in high demand in Shadowlands. And that’s because mining is a necessary tool for three other professions in WoW: Blacksmithing, Engineering, and Jewelcrafting.
All of these professions can craft Legendary Items among other things, and require the ores you dig up with mining. We don’t need to explain how crucial Legendaries are in WoW Shadowlands. Just know that mining will be a fundamental building block of the power of many classes for the rest of the expansion.
Next, mining isn’t the most profitable of professions by itself in Shadowlands. It is in the end a gathering profession and good for one thing – farming materials. As we mentioned, those materials are extremely useful, but if you don’t pair mining with another profession, know that you’re not optimizing your gold-making. Blacksmithing is our preferred choice, but Engineering, and Jewelcrafting are both excellent choices as well. You could also sell the raw materials on the Auction House if you want to make some quick gold in WoW.
And lastly, mining isn’t the fastest profession to level up. Experienced players can increase their Skinning and Herbalism skills quicker than mining on average. The ore deposits are scattered around hills and the insides of caves, but that’s not usually a big problem. It does take time to collect each and every one spot on your minimap, so be aware of that. However, there are some things that you could do to speed things up. And that’s what we’ll talk about next!
Are you looking to enter the raiding scene in WoW Shadowlands? Check out the addons you’ll need!
How to Start with Mining in WoW Shadowlands?
Shadowlands WoW Mining Guide Trainer Location in Oribos
First off, you need to pick up mining as a profession. The mining trainer for Shadowlands is located in Hall of Shapes, in Oribos (39, 34). His name is Excavationist Au’fer and you can easily find him by following the first ring-path to the left after you teleport to Oribos.
The exact location is shown in this picture:
Preparations for Mining
Before you set off to one of the zones to farm some ore deposits, you’re going to need a couple of tools.
First, you want to buy either [Mining Pick] or a [Precious Metal Cracker]. If this is your first time playing WoW with mining, know that you can find a [Mining Pick] near every mining trainer in the game. And [Precious Metal Cracker] is just the Shadowlands version of the same item. It does the exact same job and it can be purchased from the vendor next to Excavationist Au’fer.
Then, if you want to significantly speed up your mining leveling, we strongly suggest you to get yourself [Shadowlands Gathering]. This is a very cheap enchant that you can use on your gloves and it shortens the mining process from 3.2 seconds to 1.7 seconds. Farming materials without this bonus is much much slower, so it’s pretty much a must if you’re one for efficiency.
When it comes to classes and gold making, mining doesn’t really require a specific one. And you can certainly run it on any gatherer character with no problem at all. However, we recommend you to use a class that has a tank specialization to avoid getting dazed all the time. Druid is our personal choice, but if you pair mining with Blacksmithing, for example, then plate wearers Warrior and Paladin will be your best choice.
But if you don’t play any of these classes, then using [Comfortable Rider’s Barding] is almost mandatory! This is a mount equipment that you can purchase for a cheap price and it will allow you to pass through mobs without getting dazed. It’s an excellent tool for getting the most out of your time.
Additionally, it’s widely considered the best to use the [Sky Golem] mount as a farming tool. This is a craftable BoE mount from the Engineering profession and you can find it on the Auction House. What makes it an awesome mount is that you can interact with objects, including herbs and ores, without getting dismounted. It is also a flying mount, which will become very important for farming later in the expansion. So unless you’re a druid with a Travel Form, you’d want your character with this tool!
And lastly – addons! Here is an in-depth guide to gold-making and farming materials addons for World of Warcraft, including mining!
What Can You Do with Mining in WoW Shadowlands?
Shadowlands Mining Materials
Unlike materials for skinning, the ores that you need to farm with mining vary from zone to zone. All four covenants in Shadowlands have one unique deposit specific to them, and two basic ones. In Revendreth, for example, you can farm the [Sinvyr Ore], as well as [Elethium Ore] and [Laestrite Ore].
Here are all possible materials for mining in WoW Shadowlands!
Ores:
- Laestrite Ore – Gathered in all locations.
- Elethium Ore – Gathered in all locations.
- Sinvyr Ore – Gathered in Revenedreth.
- Phaedrum Ore – Gathered in Ardenweald
- Oxxein Ore – Gathered in Maldraxxus.
- Solenium Ore – Gathered in Bastion.
Stones:
- Porous Stone – Gathered with all deposits.
- Shaded Stone – Gathered with all deposits.
Other:
- Twilight Bark – Gathered with Phaedrum Deposit in Ardenweald.
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Shadowlands WoW Mining Guide Materials Uses
If you’re asking yourself what can be crafted with the mining materials, here you’ll find your answer. The ores and stones are primarily used for creating weapons and items of green and blue quality. The three professions that we mentioned earlier require all of the different materials, so be aware that everything you gather with mining is of use.
Here are examples of what you can craft with the mined materials:
Blacksmithing:
- Laestrite Ore – Used for crafting all green and blue items, including the different [Crafter’s Mark] (I – IV).
- Elethium Ore – Used for crafting blue items, including [Crafter’s Mark IV].
- Porous Stone – Used for crafting [Porous Sharpening Stone].
- Shaded Stone – Used for crafting [Shaded Sharpening Stone].
The other ores are used for creating [Shadowghast Ingot].
Engineering:
- Laestrite Ore – Required for all of the Engineering recipes.
- Twilight Bark – Required for creating [Bomb Bola Launcher]
The rest of the ores are used for creating items like [Wormhole Generator: Shadowlands] and reagents like [Hydrodynamic Accelerators].
Jewelcrafting:
- Laestrite Ore – Used for many green items like [Deadly Laestrite Band] or [Masterful Laestrite Choker]
All the different ores are then used to craft Jewelcrafting regents for blue-quality items.
WoW Mining Guide in Shadowlands – Locations and Routes
When it comes to choosing a location for your farming, the answer will mostly depend on you. Here we will present to you an optimal set of routes, but know that they might not suit you in particular. Since everyone plays the game differently, one player might be better in farming in Revendreth, while the other in Ardenweald. Additionally, you might need Oxxein Ore, which is only found in Maldraxxus, so there is no point for you to follow our Bastion route.
These are the best locations and routes for farming gold with mining in WoW Shadowlands!
Bastion Route 1 – Left Side
The left side of Bastion can be an incredible source of ores and stones, as long as you follow the route mapped below. If you choose to try it out, you’ll find it optimal and efficient. Bastion can be problematic for miners because of its weird ridges, so it’s crucial to know where you’re going beforehand.
Many deposits will be under these ridges or inside the caves, so make sure to check your minimap regularly to figure out where the particular deposit really is.
Bastion Route 2 – Right Side
The right side of Bastion, however, is equally rich in ore deposits, but more difficult to manage. As you can see, the route constantly goes back and forth because there are lots of ridges full of deposits. You don’t want to continue in one direction and miss on a handful of materials ready to be gathered.
When you reach the river alongside Hero’s Rest, make sure to enter every cave. These sometimes prove to be fantastic spots for mining, so don’t forget about them.
Maldraxxus Route 1 – Left and Upper Side
In Maldraxxus, it’s best to start on the left side as well. Here we mapped a route that begins at the Theater of Pain dungeon, then takes you through all the mountainous terrain on the left side of the map, and also covers a large part of the northern map.
This is definitely a challenging run since the zone is full of normal and elite mobs that will attack you on sight. The terrain can be confusing as well, especially near the northern reaches. So make sure to follow the red line!
Maldraxxus Route 2 – Right and Upper Side
The Maldraxxus zone isn’t the easiest to traverse, but this right side mining route has proven relatively easy. In the middle of the map and near the House of Rituals, the route becomes extremely easy to follow. We recommend it if you aren’t using a tank class or generally have trouble with managing your farming time.
Ardenweald Route 1 – Bottom Side
Ardenweald is perhaps the best zone to level up your mining in, simply because every corner is full of deposits. We’ve chosen this route as a base guide for you to see where you should be checking for materials, but know that making side excursions is also acceptable. A general tip is to start near the entrance to the Mists of Tirna Scithe dungeon and make large circles around Heart of the Forest.
Ardenweald Route 2 – Upper Side
The upper side of Ardenweald is one of the most profitable locations for mining. There are countless ridges and caves, especially in the areas populated with Groms. Many people neglect these spots because there are too many mobs, but that’s precisely the reason why to go and collect the ore there!
Revendreth Route 1 – Left Side
In Revendreth, there is one location worth of mentioning for mining, and that’s the one marked below! You’ll recognize this area because it is scorched by the Light and because it’s the only part of Revendreth without castles! The terrain is actually a canyon, with not too many mobs and a very clean look. Despite its size, this can be one of the best spots for farming gold in WoW.
Revendreth Route 2 – Left Side Extended
And here we have an extended version of the first Revendreth route. Know that this a competitive spot and there are a lot of gold farmers constantly running it down. But on a good day, it can be very profitable!
Conclusion
To make gold with mining in World of Warcraft: Shadowlands requires patience. Since it isn’t the fastest nor the easiest profession to get going, many people simply give up. But that opens the window for the rest of us to make profit!
We hope that our guide helped you out! And if you want more guides on World of Warcraft, check our archive!