Sparkling blue-purple flower in cave in World of Warcraft
Image credit: Em Stonham for The Escapist

Which profession should you pick in World of Warcraft?

Professions can be a lot of fun in World of Warcraft if you’ve got one that suits your playstyle. They’re split into two main categories – gathering and crafting – with secondary professions like Fishing and Cooking available to supplement your gameplay.

Table of Contents
  1. The Escapist recaps
  2. How to pick your profession in World of Warcraft
  3. Ask The Escapist

If you choose your WoW profession wisely, it can add to your experience greatly and make your favorite in-game tasks even more enjoyable. Here’s a guide on how to pick the best WoW profession for Gold making, end-game content, and completionist gameplay. 


The Escapist recaps

  • Picking the best WoW profession will look different for each kind of player, as there are individual benefits to consider for each gathering and crafting option. 
  • Gold-makers should look at Tailoring, Mining, and Herbalism to boost their income via the Auction House. Gathering professions like Mining and Herbalism are much more valuable at the start of an expansion, though.
  • Players hoping to enhance their PvE progression should consider either Alchemy or Engineering. Alchemists can create valuable flasks, while Engineers can access items that help with PvE content, like a mechanical resurrection tool.
  • Folk who enjoy collecting mounts and pets should look at Engineering and Tailoring to boost their collection. 

How to pick your profession in World of Warcraft

Picking the best profession in World of Warcraft requires having a good understanding of what you want to get out of the game.

Are you hoping to make lots of Gold? Find cool gadgets to help out in your next Raid? Collect neat mounts? The best profession changes drastically based on your gameplay focus of choice, and it can change as the game moves along the expansion path, too. 

This article will be updated as the game evolves during The War Within and moves towards Midnight

Best Gold-making WoW profession

Fantasy stone tower with stained glass and purple tree
Selling materials can help you rack up Gold. Image credit: Em Stonham for The Escapist

Currently, Enchanting is the best money-maker in World of Warcraft. It may not be the quickest to level up out of the roster, but it offers the best return on time and Gold. It’s also a good match for Tailoring, which can open up even more crafting possibilities. 

Outside of Enchanting, the gathering professions can offer some Gold-making potential, albeit not as much as they would have during the start of the expansion.

When Midnight releases, make sure to pick up Herbalism and Mining – these professions shoot up in value when a new expansion drops and they can be incredibly lucrative, especially when paired with decent Auction House add-ons to help you track prices. 

Best end-game WoW profession

WoW auctioneers with dragon and NPC inside hall
Profession items can be bought and sold on the Auction House. Image credit: Em Stonham for The Escapist

If you’re someone who enjoys raiding or Mythic+ dungeons, it’s worth picking up either Engineering or Alchemy. The former provides handy items like the Convincingly Realistic Jumper Cables for an easy resurrection, while the latter helps with flasks. 

If you choose to pick up Engineering, a good choice for your second spot is Mining. Alchemy, however, is best paired with Herbalism. Choosing these pairings will help make your profession leveling process even smoother. 

Best collectors WoW profession

Purple ore crystal on snowy ground with bat-like creature
Gathering professions are good, but crafting professions are better for collectors. Image credit: Em Stonham for The Escapist

If you’re a collector who wants to max out their mount and battle pet tabs, the best professions for you to look at are Engineering and Tailoring.

Tailoring provides access to the unique flying carpet mounts – like the Creeping Carpet or the Magnificent Flying Carpet – while Engineering has a number of battle pets and mounts, notably including the Sky Golem mount.

Additionally, Tailoring means that you can craft the Elekk Plushie, which you’ll need to nab some tricky battle pet achievements. 

This combination of professions might not be the most optimal at first glance, as Tailoring and Enchanting usually go together, or Engineering and Mining, for example. They’re the best duo for completionists who want to get as many mounts as possible, though.

Professions can add a new level of depth to the World of Warcraft experience, enhancing end-game content and making collecting mounts a lot more fun, too. They can also be a good source of Gold, provided you pick a decent farming spot and have some Auction House add-ons to help you along the way. 

Ask The Escapist

Which is the best profession in World of Warcraft?

The best profession in WoW would be either Engineering, Alchemy, or Tailoring. The first two are great for progression and the last one is a good money-maker. This can change as the game evolves, though, so make sure to check back for updates. 

Can you change professions in WoW?

Yes, you can change your primary professions in World of Warcraft by unlearning it in the professions tab, freeing up a slot for another choice.

How many professions can you have in WoW?

You can have two primary professions in World of Warcraft, along with secondary professions like Fishing and Cooking.

How do you make Gold through WoW professions?

You can make Gold in World of Warcraft via professions by fulfilling Crafting Orders, selling raw materials on the Auction House, or selling crafted items on the Auction House, like rare transmog items or battle pets.


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Author
Image of Em Stonham
Em Stonham
Senior Features Writer
Em Stonham is a Senior Gaming Features Writer at The Escapist, and they've got more unfinished Steam games in their library than they know what to do with. With a love for both cozy games and grotesque horror, Em specializes in reviews, features, and event coverage - and they'll take any opportunity to yell about the latest rare mount drop they've gotten in World of Warcraft, so, please, don't get them started.
Author
Image of Sam Smith
Sam Smith
Features Editor
Sam is Escapist's Features Editor and has been obsessed with gaming since he first discovered Sonic the Hedgehog in the mid-1990s. Since then, he’s collected nearly every console and adores all things Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox equally. After completing his journalism degree, Sam steered his career towards writing about games and has never looked back, with bylines at Dexerto, GamesRadar, Insider Gaming, Soundsphere, and more. He’s also fully NCTJ accredited. He’s also likely to be that annoying person who keeps beating you in Elden Ring’s Colosseum.