- Author: Nevermore
- Date: March 23, 2022
- Updated: November 30, 2023
- Expansion: WoW Classic
Welcome to Warcraft Tavern’s 1-300 Mining Guide! In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to max out Mining, from gathering routes to trainer locations.
Mining Trainer Locations
Leveling Mining 1-300
Once you find the closest Mining Trainer and grab your trusted Mining Pick, turn on the Find Mineral ability from your skill book and get ready to embark on a long journey. Make sure to empty your bags! Mining can be entirely optimized by choosing good farming hours (depending on the server population) and optimal farming spots.
When it comes to mining, there are two ways to level up the profession. Firstly, you level it up by gathering ore and gems from mining nodes throughout the whole world. The second way is to level up the profession through (Smelting), an ability gained only by Miners that allows them to turn Ore into Bars. Both ways are valid and entirely doable, but for the sake of performance and showcasing the best and most optimal route, you will need to combine both Mining and Smthing.
All you need to get started is a Mining Pick and to find the closest Mining Trainer. To smelt ore into bars, you simply need to be near a forge and have the requisite ores in your bags. Then, open your Spellbook, click the General tab, and click the Smelting skill.
Keep in mind that every single vein can be mined several times until it is completely depleted. Don’t forget this, as if you don’t deplete a vein, you might leave valuable goods behind for other players, while also preventing the respawn of a new mining node. However, even if every single vein can be mined several times, you will only gain 1 skill point from each individual vein, no matter how many times you may be able to mine it. Each vein will offer several materials, ranging from the very ore themselves to precious jewels and stones. Mines and caverns will almost always provide spawn nodes for ore veins, those are the best places to check.
List of Mining Nodes available
In the lists below, you can find images of all the vein types to assist you in identification, and a list of which gems appear in which vein types.
Copper – Malachite, Shadowgem, Tigerseye
Tin – Jade, Shadowgem, Lesser Moonstone, Moss Agate, Blood Shard (can only be mined in the Barrens, used for the quest quest)
Silver – Shadowgem, Lesser Moonstone, Moss Agate
Iron – Aquamarine, Jade, Lesser Moonstone, Citrine
Gold – Jade, Lesser Moonstone, Citrine
Mithril – Aquamarine, Citrine, Black Vitriol, Star Ruby
Truesilver – Aquamarine, Citrine, Star Ruby
Dark Iron – Black Diamond, Blood of the Mountain, Black Vitriol
Small Thorium – Large Opal, Blue Sapphire, Star Ruby, Black Vitriol
Rich Thorium – Arcane Crystal, Azerothian Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Huge Emerald, Large Opal, Star Ruby
Most gems you find are only used in crafting and can be bought or sold in the AH cheap. However, a few gems are extremely rare and therefore valuable:
Arcane Crystal – Anywhere from 20-40g depending on your server. The drop rate is approximately 3%
Azerothian Diamond – Anywhere from 40-100g depending on your server. The drop rate is approximately 1%.
Blood of the Mountain – Anywhere from 50-150g depending on your server. The drop rate is approximately 1%.
In the following lists, you can find the location(s) of uncommon and special veins, and learn the purpose of each special vein.
Mining Routes
Starting routes will be separate for both Alliance and Horde, each faction having specific starting zones with an abundance of available nodes to be mined. These zones will mainly consist of 1-150 zones, after which the zones will be shared.
Alliance Gathering Routes
1-75
1-75 will consist of gathering Copper Ore/Tin Ore and smelting Copper Ore into Copper Bars.
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore (1-3 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore (Mine, several spawn points)
- Copper Ore (Several spawn points)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore (Several spawn points)
- Copper Ore (Mine, several spawn points)
- Copper Ore (2-3 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Copper Ore (Mine, 3-4 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1 node, frozen lake)
- Copper Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore (2-3 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore ( Mine, 4-5 nodes)
- Copper Ore (2 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
Teldrasill does not offer any ore veins, so we will have to look towards Darkshore to find ore.
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore/Silver Ore (1 node, possible spawn point for Silver Ore)
- Copper Ore
- Copper Ore/Silver Ore (1 node, possible spawn point for Silver Ore)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Tin Ore/Copper Ore (2 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore/Tin Ore (3 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
As mentioned at the beginning of the section, we will combine Mining from the ore veins and the process of Smelting to level up our Mining faster. You can smelt Copper Ore up until you reach 47 skill points before the ability turns green. After which you can choose to keep smelting Copper Ore until you consume everything that you have gathered so far from the routes or choose to sell the ore directly on the Auction House. Depending on the realm’s economy.
You can gain skill points even if the Copper Ore Smelting bar turned green, up until you reach 65 skill points. Choosing to mine up until you reach 30 skill points and then smelting everything will give you enough raw materials to start smelting Bronze Bars as they require both Copper Bars and Tin Bars.
Once we reach 65 points, we have the choice of mining Tin Ore to reach 75 skill points. Don’t forget to go to the closest mining trainer in order to learn Journeyman Mining once you reach 50 Skill Points!!
Alternatively, you can choose to buy copper ore from the auction house and smelt it until you reach 70 skill points and buy 10 to 15 Tin bars to smelt Bronze bars once you reach 65 skill points in order to reach 75 skill points. However, that choice can be better applied to high-level players that wish to level up mining only through Smelting and have the necessary gold to buy every material from the Auction House instead of mining it themselves.
Copper Ore can be found throughout all the starting areas, making it the most widespread ore that can be mined. You will stumble across Copper Ore in many regions, we chose to show you the most optimal routes which can be followed in starting zones that display low-level mobs. You will also be able to find plenty of Copper Ore in the following regions:
- The Barrens
- Loch Modan
- Westfall
- Redridge Mountains
- Silverpine Forest
- Stonetalon Mountains
- Duskwood
- Thousand Needles
- Ashenvale
- Hillsbrad Foothills
- Wetlands
- Desolace
- Alterac Mountains
- The Deadmines
- Wailing Caverns.
75-150
75-150 will consist of mining Tin Ore, Silver Ore, Smelting Tin Bars, Smelting Bronze Bars, Smelting Silver Bars
Tin ore can be mined efficiently up until you reach 125 skill points! You can abuse this in order to level up your skill points fast. Remember all those Copper Bars we created? We will use them to create Bronze Bars once we acquire a stack or two of Tin Ore.
Keep in mind that Silver Ore Veins just like Gold Ore Veins have a random spawn location and you will often stumble across them randomly. They usually occupy a node that is generally used by a different type of ore such as Copper Ore in Darkshore or Iron Ore in Arathi Highlands and Hillsbrad Foothills.
Silver Ore spawn locations: Alterac Mountains, Arathi Highlands, Ashenvale, Badlands, Darkshore, Desolace, Duskwood, Dustwallow Marsh, Feralas, Hillsbrad Foothills, Loch Modan, Redridge Mountains, Searing Gorge, Silverpine Forest, Stonetalon Mountains, Stranglethorn Vale, Swamp of Sorrows, Tanaris, The Barrens, The Hinterlands, Thousand Needles, Westfall, and Wetlands
Routes for Tin Ore:
- Tin Ore (Mine, 4-5 nodes)
- Tin Ore (2 nodes in the area)
- Tin Ore (Mine, several nodes, around 4-5 in the area)
- Tin Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Tin Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Tin Ore (4-5 nodes around the area)
- Tin Ore (1-3 nodes around the area)
- Tin Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Tin Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Tin Ore (1-3 nodes)
- Tin Ore/Copper Ore (Cave, 3 nodes)
- Tin Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Tin Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Tin Ore (2-3 nodes)
- Tin Ore/Copper Ore (4-5 nodes)
- Tin Ore (2 nodes)
- Tin Ore (1 node)
- Tin Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Tin Ore (2 nodes)
- Tin Ore (Several nodes spread several hundred feet apart from each other)
- Tin Ore (Several nodes spawned 50 feet apart from each other)
- Tin Ore (Several nodes spawned throughout the area)
- Tin Ore (Several nodes spawned throughout the area, especially next to the hills and the bridge that goes towards Stonewatch Keep
Tin ore spawns in Ashenvale in a very spread manner, you will be able to find nodes several feet apart from each other.
- Tin Ore (4 nodes)
- Tin Ore (2 nodes)
- Tin Ore (several nodes spawned around the ridge)
- Tin Ore (3-4 nodes in the area)
- Tin Ore (several spawn nodes in the area)
- Tin Ore (3 nodes)
- Tin Ore (6 possible nodes in the area of the lake)
- Tin Ore (huge amount of possible spawn nodes, between 9-10, but around 5 to 6 active at one time)
- Tin Ore (4-5 nodes around the lake)
- Tin Ore (4-5 nodes around the lake)
- Tin Ore (several spawn nodes around the area with a long distance between each other)
- Tin Ore (several spawn nodes around the area with a long distance between each other )
- Tin Ore (2 nodes)
You can also choose to mine in The Barrens, however, you might find it quite difficult considering it is full-fledged Horde territory filled with both a lot of Horde players and NPCs.
Just like Ashenvale, The Barrens has a large concentration of mining nodes, most of them being Tin Ore Veins. They are spread throughout the whole map, often replacing Copper Ore veins.
- Tin Ore (4-5 nodes in the area)
- Tin Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Tin Ore (2-3 nodes)
- Tin Ore (Several nodes spread in the area)
- Tin Ore (Several nodes spread in the area)
- Tin Ore (Several nodes spread in the area)
- Tin Ore (3-4 nodes)
- Tin Ore (Large amount of Tin Ore nearby Wailing Caverns)
- Tin Ore (3-4 nodes)
- Tin Ore (2-3 nodes)
- Tin Ore (Several nodes spread in the area)
- Tin Ore (Several nodes spread in the area)
- Tin Ore (Several nodes spread in the area)
- Tin Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Tin Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Tin Ore (1 node)
Now that we showed you the routes for Tin Ore, you have two choices. You can choose to mine as much Tin Ore and Silver Ore that you can find up until you level up your skill to 125 or you can choose to mine around 4 stacks of Tin Ore and turn them into Tin Bars. By choosing the second method you will be able to utilize the Copper Bars that you previously created and turn them and the Tin Bars into Bronze Bars.
By the time you reach 90 skill points, Smelting Bronze Bars will now be seen as green in the Smelting skill. You can keep continuing to smelt Bronze Bars until the bar turns grey but it will require a larger amount of Tin Bars. You should also smelt any Silver Ore that you find, as it will guarantee a skill point at this level.
Once you reach 100 Smelting Silver Bars will turn to yellow, at 115 Bronze Bars will be grayed out while Silver Bars will turn into green. At this point, you can safely return to mine more Tin Ore. Once you reach 125 skill points, you will be granted the ability to mine Iron Ore! Remember to go train Expert Mining at the nearest Mining Trainer once you reach 125. You can safely mine Iron Ore up until you reach 150 skill points
Routes for Iron Ore:
- Iron Ore (1-3 possible spawn nodes)
- Iron Ore (5-6 possible spawn nodes)
- Iron Ore (3-4 possible spawn nodes)
- Iron Ore (4-5 possible spawn nodes)
- Iron Ore (2-3 nodes)
- Iron Ore (5 possible spawn nodes along the ridges)
- Iron Ore (3 nodes)
- Iron Ore (5 possible nodes in the area)
- Iron Ore (Cave, multiple possible spawn nodes inside the cave and above it on the mountain side)
- Iron Ore (2-3 nodes)
- Iron Ore/Gold Ore/Silver Ore (possible spawn node for all of those 3 type of nodes, 3-4 nodes in the area)
- Iron Ore/Gold Ore/Silver Ore (possible spawn nodes for all of those 3 type of nodes, 3-4 nodes in the area)
- Iron Ore (2-3 spawn nodes in the area)
- Iron Ore (1-2 nodes on the upper side of Dun Garok)
- Iron Ore (2-3 nodes on the lower side of Dun Garok)
In Ashenvale we will present a bit of a different situation, the spawn nodes or Iron Ore are randomized to some extent. For example, you will be able to find several Iron Ore nodes all around Warsong Lumber Camp and the roads that lead to it. You will also find a lot of nodes spawned near the edges of the mountains that span around the Kanyewood Retreat. We will however attempt to offer you a precise location and a possible route just like in the other zones.
- Iron Ore (Randomized number of nodes in the vicinity)
- Iron Ore (Randomized number of nodes in the vicinity)
- Iron Ore (Randomized number of nodes in the vicinity)
- Iron Ore (Randomized number of nodes in the vicinity)
- Iron Ore (Randomized number of nodes in the vicinity)
- Iron Ore (Randomized number of nodes in the vicinity)
- Iron Ore (Randomized number of nodes in the vicinity)
- Iron Ore (Randomized number of nodes in the vicinity)
- Iron Ore (Randomized number of nodes in the vicinity)
- Iron Ore (Randomized number of nodes in the vicinity)
- Iron Ore ( 4 nodes scattered in the area)
- Iron Ore (Cave complex, large amount of nodes all around it)
- Iron Ore (nodes all around the ridge of the mountain side)
- Iron Ore (2-3 nodes)
- Iron Ore (4-5 nodes in the area, several feet apart)
- Iron Ore (several nodes scattered around the ridge of the area)
- Iron Ore/Mithril Ore (Huge amount of spawn nodes above HammerFall)
- Iron Ore (Below HammerFall, large amount of spawn nodes)
- Iron Ore (Across the ridge of the mountain side)
- Iron Ore (North east of the lake, next to the Troll Village, multiple spawn nodes)
- Iron Ore (South of the Troll Village, multiple spawn nodes, including Gold Ore Veins)
- Iron Ore (Cave system, multiple spawn nodes)
- Iron Ore (2-3 nodes along the main road and mountain side)
Wetlands has four main spots for Iron Ore:
- Iron Ore (Several nodes at the excavation site)
- Iron Ore (3-4 nodes at the Orc Encampment)
- Iron Ore (Several spawn nodes next to the Dwarven Camps)
- Iron Ore (Several spawn nodes, cave)
- Iron Ore/Gold Ore (Huge amount of the nodes all around the Troll ruins area)
- Iron Ore (2-3 nodes close to the road)
- Iron Ore/Gold Ore (4-5 nodes, cave)
- Iron Ore (several nodes spread throughout the area)
- Iron Ore (cave, huge amount of nodes in the area)
- Iron Ore (several nodes spread through the area)
- Iron Ore (2 caves, huge amount of nodes in the area)
- Iron Ore (Cave, nodes can be found in the cave and all around it)
- Iron Ore (several nodes spread far apart from each other in the area)
- Iron Ore (2-3 nodes)
- Iron Ore (2 nodes)
We have now shown you some of the optimal routes for Iron Ore. You can also find Iron ore in Desolace, Thousand Needles, Alterac Mountains, Badlands, Swamp of Sorrows, Dustwallow Marsh, Tanaris, Feralas, Uldaman, Razorfen Kraul, the Hinterlands, Searing Gorge.
150-225
150-225 will consist of mining Iron Ore, Smelting Gold Bars, Mining Gold Ore, Mining Mithril Ore
You can mine Iron Ore up until you reach 175 skill points. Alternatively, you can buy Gold Ore from the Auction House and smelt it into Gold Bars up until 185 skill points once you reach 155 skill points.
Once you reach 175 you will be able to finally mine one of the most expensive materials in World of Warcraft, Mithril.
Mithril can be found in a multitude of places, although, you will have to expect heavy competition for this Ore. Keep in mind, Mithril Veins have randomized spawning locations. We will display the maps as routes, however, we will not be able to pinpoint the exact number of possible spawn nodes but we will leave insights as to which areas of the zone have higher density nodes.
Mithril Ore routes:
In Tanaris, Mithril Ore has multiple possible spawn nodes, we will mention them in the list as “Clusters” due to the multitude of possible spawn locations.
- High cluster of nodes at The Noxious Lair
- High cluster of nodes at The Noxious Lair
- Possible spawn node west of Gadgetzan
- Mithril Ore spawn point near the ruins
- Possible Mithril Ore spawn point south of Steamwheedle Port
- High cluster east of The Caverns of Time
- High cluster below of The Caverns of Time
- Cluster next to the Hive
- Cluster around the Hive
- High cluster near the mountain side of Uldum
- High cluster next to the entrance of Un’Goro Crater
- High cluster next to the entrance of Un’Goro Crater
High concentration next to Hiri’Watha
High concentration next to Shadra’Alor
Huge concentration of veins next to Skull Rock
Medium amounts of veins next to Seradane but dangerous area
High concentration next to Shaol’Watha in Jintha’Alor
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
Medium nodes next to the Pillar of Ash
Small amount of nodes next to the ruins of Thaurissan
Large amount of nodes all around Dreadmaul Rock and inside its caves
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
Swamp of sorrows has a few nodes that span across the ridge of the mountains to the north side of the map.
You can find two nodes in the lake next to the Temple.
You will find a high quantity of Mithril deposits in the cave to the south side of the Temple of Atal’Hakkar.
The only downside of the cave found to the south side of the Temple is that the Mithril veins can sometimes be replaced by Iron Ore veins and Gold Ore Veins.
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
Eastern Plaguelands displays a small circle in which you can find Mithril vein deposits. However, the spawn nodes can be replaced by other veins such as Truesilver or Iron Ores.
- Mithril Ore/Truesilver Ore/Iron Ore
- Mithril Ore/Truesilver Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore/Iron Ore
- Mithril Ore
You will find several spawn points of Mithril deposits all around the Ruins of Andorhal, however, same as with Eastern Plaguelands, many of the nodes will be replaced by another type of nodes.
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
You will find several spawn nodes to the east side of Winterspring, however, some of the nodes will be replaced by Thorium Veins, which in fact, is very good news for us! There are multiple spawn points for Mithril in the area, a rough estimate would be around 20 possible spawn nodes.
- Mithril Ore/Thorium Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore /Thorium Ore
- Mithril Ore
You can find several isolated spawn nodes throughout Feralas. But you will have 3 main caves that you will want to farm as much as possible. Those sites have a very large amount of possible spawn nodes and will lend you a lot of Mithril.
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
Besides those main spots, you can also find Mithril in Desolace, Azshara, Badlands, Searing Gorge, Alterac Mountains, Silithus, Dustwallow marsh, Blasted Lands, Un’Goro Crater, Stonetalon Mountains, Thousand Needles, Hillsbrad Foothills, Maraudon, Uldaman.
Sadly, you can not gain skill points by Smelting Mithril, you will have to level up Mining from 175 up until 230. Once you reach 225 you will have to train Artisan Mining at the nearest Mining Trainer.
Will consist of mining Mithril Ore, Truesilver Ore, Dark Iron Ore, Thorium Ore. Sadly, you can not use Smelting to advance in skill points any longer. However, once you reach 230 you can start mining Truesilver Ore veins and Dark Iron Ore Veins. Truesilver Vein deposits have randomized spawning locations (much like Gold and Silver) and can be found throughout the same routes presented earlier for Mithril. They do share common spawn nodes.
Truesilver deposits can also be found in: Winterspring, Burning Steppes, Eastern Plaguelands, The Hinterlands, Un’Goro Crater, Azshara, Tanaris, Western Plaguelands, Badlands, Searing Gorge, Blasted Lands, Silithus, Feralas, Stranglethorn Vale, Arathi Highlands, Desolace, Alterac Mountains, Dustwallow Marsh, Hillsbrad Foothills, Swamp of Sorrows, Maraudon, and Stonetalon Mountains.
One type of ore you can abuse to level up Mining without having to travel far and wide is Dark Iron ore. You can effectively mine it up until 270. It is a faster option than farming Thorium, even if it is available to you after reaching 250 skill points.
Dark Iron Ore Routes:
Burning Steppes is one of the two main zones in which you can find Dark Iron Ore deposits. They are spread throughout the entirety of the map, but you can usually find clumps of them in Dreadmaul Rock, along with Mithril Ore.
Searing Gorge is the second zone in which you will find Dark Iron Ore deposits. They are spread through the whole map, you will find clumps of nodes in The Cauldron and East to the Thorium Point to the West Side of it. As we mentioned earlier, you can effectively farm Dark Iron Ore up until 270 skill points, after which you will be able to finally farm Thorium.
Thorium comes into two variants, there are Small Thorium Veins and Rich Thorium Veins. You can mine Rich Thorium Veins can only be mined when you reach 275 skill points. Thorium can be found only in a couple of places in Azeroth:
The following places are: Winterspring, Eastern Plaguelands, Azshara, Burning Steppes, Un’Goro Crater, Western Plaguelands, Alterac Valley, and Dire Maul, Silithus, Blasted Lands, Searing Gorge, Tanaris, The Hinterlands, Feralas, and Blackrock Spire
The only issue with Thorium is that it has a set respawn timer of 15 minutes and a very randomized spawn rate. Generally speaking, you will often find very few nodes of Thorium, as they do not spawn in large amounts. Not only this but you will face fierce competition for it.
Routes for Rich Thorium:
- Thorium Ore (Possible 5 spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (Possible 6 spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (10 possible spawn nodes, only a few at a time)
- Thorium Ore (6-8 possible spawn nodes, again, only a few at a time)
- Thorium Ore (6 possible spawn nodes, a few at a time)
- Thorium Ore (Large area that can spwan Thorium nodes, few spawns at a time, impossible number of estimated spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (Cave, multiple spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (above Hearthglen, 4-5 possible spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (1 node)
- Thorium Ore (1 node)
- Thorium Ore (5 possible spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (6 possible spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (6 possible spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (6 possible spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (2 possible spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (5 possible spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (8 possible spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (3 possible spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (4-5 possible spawn nodes in the middle of the map)
- Thorium Ore (6 possible spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (1 possible node)
Routes for Small Thorium Veins:
As Small Thorium Veins are far more spread and have a more randomized spawn mode than Rich Thorium Veins, we will display routes with an estimated density of spawned nodes.
The highest density of thorium can be found in the cave to the east side of Marshal’s Refuge. A medium-density can be found to the south side of the center of the map.
Silithus displays small thorium veins all around the edges of the map with a slightly higher concentration of nodes at certain small locations marked by circles on the map.
Image
Small Thorium Veins share spawn nodes with Mithril and Dark Iron Ore, you can find them scattered throughout the whole map but with a higher density in Dreadmaul Rock.
Image
Searing Gorge offers 2 caves with a high density of possible spawn nodes for Small Thorium Veins. You can also find spawn nodes around Thorium Point.
Western Plaguelands has the highest concentration of thorium around the road that leads to Hearthglen and the forest around it. There is also one small cave to the north side of the map which offers a high respawn rate of thorium ore veins.
Unlike Rich Thorium Veins, Small Thorium Veins in Eastern Plaguelands have a very randomized spawn location. They are quite hard to catch but they will spawn around the two main spots presented on the map.
Blasted Lands has two main zones with concentrated spawn locations of Small Thorium Ore Veins, both of those zones are caves. You can also find three nodes that spawn in the vicinity of The Dark Portal and some possible spawn locations near Dreadmaul Hold.
Horde Gathering Routes
1-75
1-75 will consist of gathering Copper Ore/Tin Ore and smelting Copper Ore into Copper Bars.
- Copper Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Copper Ore(Mine, 3-4 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore (Along the canyon and inside it 4-5 nodes)
- Copper Ore (2 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore (2 nodes)
- Copper Ore (2-3 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore (3 nodes)
Steps 5 through 9 will include random spawns that can be anywhere between 1-2 nodes at each point, with sometimes even more. At each location, you will find Copper Ore.
- Copper Ore (2-3 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Copper Ore (2 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Copper Ore
- Copper Ore
- Copper Ore
- Copper Ore
- Copper Ore
- Copper Ore (2-3 nodes)
- Copper Ore (Random spawn locations with nodes that can be found all throughout the ridge of the mountain side)
- Copper Ore (3-4 possible spawn nodes that can be found at the lake)
- Copper Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Copper Ore (2-3 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1-3 nodes along the ridge)
- Copper Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Copper Ore (3-4 nodes, cave)
- Copper Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore (2-3 nodes)
- Copper Ore (2 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore (Mine, 3-4 nodes)
- Copper Ore (1 node)
- Copper Ore (2-3 nodes, random spawn)
As mentioned at the beginning of the section, we will combine both Mining from the ore veins and the process of Smelting to level up our Mining faster. You can smelt Copper Ore up until you reach 47 skill points before the ability turns green. After which you can choose to keep smelting Copper Ore until you consume everything that you have gathered so far from the routes or choose to sell the ore directly on the Auction House. Depending on the realm’s economy.
You can gain skill points even if the Copper Ore Smelting bar turned green, up until you reach 65 skill points. Choosing to mine up until you reach 30 skill points and then smelting everything will give you enough raw materials to start smelting Bronze Bars as they require both Copper Bars and Tin Bars.
Once we reach 65 points, we have the choice of mining Tin Ore to reach 75 skill points. Don’t forget to go to the closest mining trainer in order to learn Journeyman Mining once you reach 50 Skill Points!!
Alternatively, you can choose to buy copper ore from the auction house and smelt it until you reach 70 skill points and buy 10 to 15 Tin bars to smelt Bronze bars once you reach 65 skill points in order to reach 75 skill points. However, this choice mostly applies to high-level players that wish to level up mining only through Smelting and have the necessary gold to buy every material from the Auction House instead of mining it themselves.
Copper Ore can be found throughout all the starting areas, making it the most widespread ore that can be mined. You will stumble across Copper Ore in many regions, we chose to show you the most optimal routes which can be followed in starting zones that display low-level mobs.
You will also be able to find plenty of Copper Ore in the following regions:
The Barrens, Loch Modan, Westfall, Redridge Mountains, Silverpine Forest, Stonetalon Mountains, Duskwood, Thousand Needles, Ashenvale, Hillsbrad Foothills, Wetlands, Desolace, Alterac Mountains, The Deadmines, and Wailing Caverns
75-150
75-150 will consist of mining Tin Ore, Silver Ore, Smelting Tin Bars, Smelting Bronze Bars, Smelting Silver Bars
Tin ore can be mined efficiently up until you reach 125 skill points! You can abuse this in order to level up your skill points fast. Remember all those Copper Bars we created? We will use them to create Bronze Bars once we acquire a stack or two of Tin Ore.
Keep in mind that Silver Ore Veins just like Gold Ore Veins have a random spawn location and you will often stumble across them randomly. They usually occupy a node that is generally used by a different type of ore such as Copper Ore in Darkshore or Iron Ore in Arathi Highlands and Hillsbrad Foothills.
Silver Ore spawn locations: Alterac Mountains, Arathi Highlands, Ashenvale, Badlands, Darkshore, Desolace, Duskwood, Dustwallow Marsh, Feralas, Hillsbrad Foothills, Loch Modan, Redridge Mountains, Searing Gorge, Silverpine Forest, Stonetalon Mountains, Stranglethorn Vale, Swamp of Sorrows, Tanaris, The Barrens, The Hinterlands, Thousand Needles, Westfall, and Wetlands
Routes for Tin Ore:
The Barrens has a large concentration of mining nodes, most of them being Tin Ore Veins. They are spread throughout the whole map, often replacing Copper Ore veins.
- Tin Ore (4-5 nodes in the area)
- Tin Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Tin Ore (2-3 nodes)
- Tin Ore (Several nodes spread in the area)
- Tin Ore (Several nodes spread in the area)
- Tin Ore (Several nodes spread in the area)
- Tin Ore (3-4 nodes)
- Tin Ore (Large amount of Tin Ore nearby Wailing Caverns)
- Tin Ore (3-4 nodes)
- Tin Ore (2-3 nodes)
- Tin Ore (Several nodes spread in the area)
- Tin Ore (Several nodes spread in the area)
- Tin Ore (Several nodes spread in the area)
- Tin Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Tin Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Tin Ore (1 node)
- Tin Ore (2-3 nodes in the area)
- Tin Ore (2-3 nodes in the area)
- Tin Ore (3-4 nodes around the farm and bridge)
- Tin Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Tin Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Tin Ore (Several nodes, Cave)
- Tin Ore (3 nodes spread throughout the ravine)
- Tin Ore (1 node)
- Tin Ore (2-3 nodes)
- Tin Ore (Several nodes spread throughout the area)
- Tin Ore (Large amount of nodes, mine)
- Tin Ore (2-3 nodes)
You can also choose to mine in Ashenvale, however, you might find it quite difficult considering the level of the mobs and the fact that it is a major contested territory.
Tin ore spawns in Ashenvale in a very spread manner, you will be able to find nodes several feet apart from each other.
- Tin Ore (4 nodes)
- Tin Ore (2 nodes)
- Tin Ore (several nodes spawned around the ridge)
- Tin Ore (3-4 nodes in the area)
- Tin Ore (several spawn nodes in the area)
- Tin Ore (3 nodes)
- Tin Ore (6 possible nodes in the area of the lake)
- Tin Ore (huge amount of possible spawn nodes, between 9-10, but around 5 to 6 active at one time)
- Tin Ore (4-5 nodes around the lake)
- Tin Ore (4-5 nodes around the lake)
- Tin Ore (several spawn nodes around the area with a long distance between each other)
- Tin Ore (several spawn nodes around the area with a long distance between each other )
- Tin Ore (2 nodes)
Now that we showed you the routes for Tin Ore, you have two choices. You can choose to mine as much Tin Ore and Silver Ore that you can find up until you level up your skill to 125 or you can choose to mine around 4 stacks of Tin Ore and turn them into Tin Bars. By choosing the second method you will be able to utilize the Copper Bars that you previously created and turn them and the Tin Bars into Bronze Bars.
By the time you reach 90 skill points, Smelting Bronze Bars will now be seen as green in the Smelting skill. You can keep continuing to smelt Bronze Bars until the bar turns grey but it will require a larger amount of Tin Bars. You should also smelt any Silver Ore that you find, as it will guarantee a skill point at this level.
Once you reach 100 Smelting Silver Bars will turn to yellow, at 115 Bronze Bars will be grayed out while Silver Bars will turn into green. At this point, you can safely return to mine more Tin Ore. Once you reach 125 skill points, you will be granted the ability to mine Iron Ore! Remember to go train Expert Mining at the nearest Mining Trainer once you reach 125. You can safely start mining Iron Ore up until you reach 150 skill points
Routes for Iron Ore:
- Iron Ore (2 nodes)
- Iron Ore (2 nodes)
- Iron Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Iron Ore (1-2 nodes)
- Iron Ore (4 nodes)
- Iron Ore (2 nodes)
- Iron Ore (Cave, multiple possible spawn nodes inside the cave and above it on the mountain side)
- Iron Ore (2-3 nodes)
- Iron Ore/Gold Ore/Silver Ore (possible spawn node for all of those 3 type of nodes, 3-4 nodes in the area)
- Iron Ore/Gold Ore/Silver Ore (possible spawn nodes for all of those 3 type of nodes, 3-4 nodes in the area)
- Iron Ore (2-3 spawn nodes in the area)
- Iron Ore (1-2 nodes on the upper side of Dun Garok)
- Iron Ore (2-3 nodes on the lower side of Dun Garok)
In Ashenvale we will present a bit of a different situation, the spawn nodes or Iron Ore are randomized to some extent. For example, you will be able to find several Iron Ore nodes all around Warsong Lumber Camp and the roads that lead to it. You will also find a lot of nodes spawned near the edges of the mountains that span around the Kanyewood Retreat. We will however attempt to offer you a precise location and a possible route just like in the other zones.
- Iron Ore (Randomized number of nodes in the vicinity)
- Iron Ore (Randomized number of nodes in the vicinity)
- Iron Ore (Randomized number of nodes in the vicinity)
- Iron Ore (Randomized number of nodes in the vicinity)
- Iron Ore (Randomized number of nodes in the vicinity)
- Iron Ore (Randomized number of nodes in the vicinity)
- Iron Ore (Randomized number of nodes in the vicinity)
- Iron Ore (Randomized number of nodes in the vicinity)
- Iron Ore (Randomized number of nodes in the vicinity)
- Iron Ore (Randomized number of nodes in the vicinity)
- Iron Ore ( 4 nodes scattered in the area)
- Iron Ore (Cave complex, large amount of nodes all around it)
- Iron Ore (nodes all around the ridge of the mountain side)
- Iron Ore (2-3 nodes)
- Iron Ore (4-5 nodes in the area, several feet apart)
- Iron Ore (several nodes scattered around the ridge of the area)
- Iron Ore/Mithril Ore (Huge amount of spawn nodes above HammerFall)
- Iron Ore (Below HammerFall, large amount of spawn nodes)
- Iron Ore (Across the ridge of the mountain side)
- Iron Ore (North east of the lake, next to the Troll Village, multiple spawn nodes)
- Iron Ore (South of the Troll Village, multiple spawn nodes, including Gold Ore Veins)
- Iron Ore (Cave system, multiple spawn nodes)
- Iron Ore (2-3 nodes along the main road and mountain side)
Wetlands has four main spots for Iron Ore:
- Iron Ore (Several nodes at the excavation site)
- Iron Ore (3-4 nodes at the Orc Encampment)
- Iron Ore (Several spawn nodes next to the Dwarven Camps)
- Iron Ore (Several spawn nodes, cave)
- Iron Ore/Gold Ore (Huge amount of the nodes all around the Troll ruins area)
- Iron Ore (2-3 nodes close to the road)
- Iron Ore/Gold Ore (4-5 nodes, cave)
- Iron Ore (several nodes spread throughout the area)
- Iron Ore (cave, huge amount of nodes in the area)
- Iron Ore (several nodes spread through the area)
- Iron Ore (2 caves, huge amount of nodes in the area)
- Iron Ore (Cave, nodes can be found in the cave and all around it)
- Iron Ore (several nodes spread far apart from each other in the area)
- Iron Ore (2-3 nodes)
- Iron Ore (2 nodes)
We have shown you some of the optimal routes for Iron Ore, you can also find Iron ore in Desolace, Thousand Needles, Alterac Mountains, Badlands, Swamp of Sorrows, Dustwallow Marsh, Tanaris, Feralas, Uldaman, Razorfen Kraul, the Hinterlands, Searing Gorge.
150-225
150-225 will consist of mining Iron Ore, Smelting Gold Bars, Mining Gold Ore, Mining Mithril Ore
You can mine Iron Ore up until you reach 175 skill points. Alternatively, you can buy Gold Ore from the Auction House and smelt it into Gold Bars up until 185 skill points once you reach 155 skill points. Once you reach 175 you will be able to finally mine one of the most expensive materials in World of Warcraft, Mithril. Mithril can be found in a multitude of places, although, you will have to expect heavy competition for this Ore.
Keep in mind, Mithril Veins have randomized spawning locations, we will display the maps as routes, however, we will not be able to pinpoint the exact number of possible spawn nodes but we will leave insights as to which areas of the zone have higher density nodes.
Mithril Ore routes:
In Tanaris, Mithril Ore has multiple possible spawn nodes, we will mention them in the list as “Clusters” due to the multitude of possible spawn locations.
- High cluster of nodes at The Noxious Lair
- High cluster of nodes at The Noxious Lair
- Possible spawn node west of Gadgetzan
- Mithril Ore spawn point near the ruins
- Possible Mithril Ore spawn point south of Steamwheedle Port
- High cluster east of The Caverns of Time
- High cluster below of The Caverns of Time
- Cluster next to the Hive
- Cluster around the Hive
- High cluster near the mountain side of Uldum
- High cluster next to the entrance of Un’Goro Crater
- High cluster next to the entrance of Un’Goro Crater
High concentration next to Hiri’Watha
High concentration next to Shadra’Alor
Huge concentration of veins next to Skull Rock
Medium amounts of veins next to Seradane but dangerous area
High concentration next to Shaol’Watha in Jintha’Alor
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
Medium nodes next to the Pillar of Ash
A small number of nodes next to the ruins of Thaurissan
A large number of nodes all around Dreadmaul Rock and inside its caves
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
Swamp of sorrows has a few nodes that span across the ridge of the mountains to the north side of the map.
You can find two nodes in the lake next to the Temple
You will find a high quantity of Mithril deposits in the cave to the south side of the Temple of Atal’Hakkar.
The only downside of the cave found to the south side of the Temple is that the Mithril veins can sometimes be replaced by Iron Ore veins and Gold Ore Veins.
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
Eastern Plaguelands displays a small circle in which you can find Mithril vein deposits. However, the spawn nodes can be replaced by other veins such as Truesilver or Iron Ores.
- Mithril Ore/Truesilver Ore/Iron Ore
- Mithril Ore/Truesilver Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore/Iron Ore
- Mithril Ore
You will find several spawn points of Mithril deposits all around the Ruins of Andorhal, however, same as with Eastern Plaguelands, many of the nodes will be replaced by another type of nodes.
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
You will find several spawn nodes to the east side of Winterspring, however, some of the nodes will be replaced by Thorium Veins, which in fact, is very good news for us!
There are multiple spawn points for Mithril in the area, a rough estimate would be around 20 possible spawn nodes.
- Mithril Ore/Thorium Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore /Thorium Ore
- Mithril Ore
You can find several isolated spawn nodes throughout Feralas. But you will have 3 main caves that you will want to farm as much as possible. Those sites have a very large amount of possible spawn nodes and will lend you a lot of Mithril.
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
- Mithril Ore
Besides those main spots, you can also find Mithril in Desolace, Azshara, Badlands, Searing Gorge, Alterac Mountains, Silithus, Dustwallow marsh, Blasted Lands, Un’Goro Crater, Stonetalon Mountains, Thousand Needles, Hillsbrad Foothills, Maraudon, Uldaman.
Sadly, you can not gain skill points by Smelting Mithril, you will have to level up Mining from 175 up until 230. Once you reach 225 you will have to train Artisan Mining at the nearest Mining Trainer.
225-300
225-300 will consist of Mining Mithril Ore, Truesilver Ore, Dark Iron Ore, Thorium Ore. Sadly, you can not use Smelting to advance in skill points any longer.
Once you reach 230 you can start mining Truesilver Ore veins and Dark Iron Ore veins. Truesilver veins deposits, much like Gold Ore Veins or Silver Ore Veins have randomized spawning locations. They can be found throughout the same routes presented earlier for Mithril. They do share common spawn nodes.
Truesilver deposits can also be found in: Winterspring, Burning Steppes, Eastern Plaguelands, The Hinterlands, Un’Goro Crater, Azshara, Tanaris, Western Plaguelands, Badlands, Searing Gorge, Blasted Lands, Silithus, Feralas, Stranglethorn Vale, Arathi Highlands, Desolace, Alterac Mountains, Dustwallow Marsh, Hillsbrad Foothills, Swamp of Sorrows, Maraudon, and Stonetalon Mountains.
One type of ore you can abuse to level up Mining without having to travel far and wide is Dark Iron ore. You can effectively mine it up until 270. It is a faster route than farming Thorium, even if it is available to you after reaching 250 skill points.
Dark Iron Ore Routes:
Burning Steppes is one of the two main zones in which you can find Dark Iron Ore deposits. They are spread throughout the entirety of the map, but you can usually find clumps of them in Dreadmaul Rock, along with Mithril Ore.
Searing Gorge is the second zone in which you will find Dark Iron Ore deposits. They are spread through the whole map, you will find clumps of nodes in The Cauldron and East to the Thorium Point to the West Side of it. As we mentioned earlier, you can effectively farm Dark Iron Ore up until 270 skill points, after which you will be able to finally farm Thorium.
Thorium comes into two variants, there are Small Thorium Veins and Rich Thorium Veins. You can mine Rich Thorium Veins can only be mined when you reach 275 skill points. Thorium can be found only in a few places in Azeroth:
Winterspring, Eastern Plaguelands, Azshara, Burning Steppes, Un’Goro Crater, Western Plaguelands, Alterac Valley, and Dire Maul, Silithus, Blasted Lands, Searing Gorge, Tanaris, The Hinterlands, Feralas, and Blackrock Spire
The only issue with Thorium is that it has a set respawn timer of 15 minutes and a very randomized spawn rate. Generally speaking, you will often find very few nodes of Thorium, as they do not spawn in large amounts. Not only this but you will face fierce competition for it.
Routes for Rich Thorium:
- Thorium Ore (Possible 5 spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (Possible 6 spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (10 possible spawn nodes, only a few at a time)
- Thorium Ore (6-8 possible spawn nodes, again, only a few at a time)
- Thorium Ore (6 possible spawn nodes, a few at a time)
- Thorium Ore (Large area that can spwan Thorium nodes, few spawns at a time, impossible number of estimated spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (Cave, multiple spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (above Hearthglen, 4-5 possible spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (1 node)
- Thorium Ore (1 node)
- Thorium Ore (5 possible spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (6 possible spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (6 possible spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (6 possible spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (2 possible spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (5 possible spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (8 possible spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (3 possible spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (4-5 possible spawn nodes in the middle of the map)
- Thorium Ore (6 possible spawn nodes)
- Thorium Ore (1 possible node)
Routes for Small Thorium Veins:
As Small Thorium Veins are far more spread and have a more randomized spawn mode than Rich Thorium Veins, we will display routes with an estimated density of spawned nodes.
The highest density of thorium can be found in the cave to the east side of Marshal’s Refuge. A medium-density can be found to the south side of the center of the map.
Silithus displays small thorium veins all around the edges of the map with a slightly higher concentration of nodes at certain small locations marked by circles on the map.
Small Thorium Veins share spawn nodes with Mithril and Dark Iron Ore, you can find them scattered throughout the whole map but with a higher density in Dreadmaul Rock.
Searing Gorge offers two caves with a high density of possible spawn nodes for Small Thorium Veins. You can also find spawn nodes around Thorium Point.
Western Plaguelands has the highest concentration of thorium around the road that leads to Hearthglen and the forest around it. There is also one small cave to the north side of the map which offers a high respawn rate of thorium ore veins.
Unlike Rich Thorium Veins, Small Thorium Veins in Eastern Plaguelands have a very randomized spawn location. They are quite hard to catch but they will spawn around the two main spots presented on the map.
Blasted Lands has two main zones with concentrated spawn locations of Small Thorium Ore Veins, both of those zones are caves. You can also find three nodes that spawn in the vicinity of The Dark Portal and some possible spawn locations near Dreadmaul Hold.
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