How to level Mining in WoW MoP? Mining 1-600 Guide

Mists of Pandaria Mining Leveling Guide (1-600)

This guide provides a step-by-step approach to leveling Mining from 1 to 600 in World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria. Mining is a primary gathering profession that pairs well with Blacksmithing, Engineering, or Jewelcrafting. You’ll need a Mining Pick (purchased from a trade goods vendor) and access to mining nodes. The guide focuses on efficient zones and ores for each skill range, with approximate times based on consistent farming.

General Tips

• Mining Pick: Ensure you have one in your inventory (doesn’t need to be equipped).

• Enchant Gloves - Mining: If possible, apply this enchant to increase mining speed.

• Mounts: Use ground and flying mounts (where applicable) to move quickly between nodes.

• Bag Space: Keep plenty of bag space for ores, stones, and gems.

• Pair with Professions: Mining materials are used in Blacksmithing, Engineering, and Jewelcrafting, making them a natural pair.

• Auction House: Sell excess ores or smelted bars for profit to fund other professions.

• Smelting: Smelting ores into bars can also grant skill points, especially at lower levels or when nodes are scarce.

Leveling Breakdown

Mining 1–75 (Classic Zones)

Recommended Zone: Durotar (Horde) or Elwynn Forest (Alliance)
Ores: Copper Ore
Smelting: Copper Ore → Copper Bar

• Start in your faction’s starting zone. Mine Copper Veins in Durotar (around Razor Hill) or Elwynn Forest (around Goldshire).

• You’ll need to mine or smelt approximately 50–60 Copper Veins to reach 75.

• Smelting Option: Visit a Mining trainer to learn Smelt Copper and smelt Copper Ore at a forge (e.g., Orgrimmar or Stormwind) for skill points up to 65.

• Alternative Zones: Tirisfal Glades (Horde) or Westfall (Alliance).

• Time Estimate: 30–45 minutes.

Mining 75–150 (Classic Zones)

Recommended Zone: Northern Barrens (Horde) or Loch Modan (Alliance)
Ores: Tin Ore, Copper Ore
Smelting: Tin Ore → Tin Bar, Copper + Tin → Bronze Bar

• Move to Northern Barrens (around Crossroads) or Loch Modan (around Thelsamar) for Tin Veins and remaining Copper Veins.

• At around 125, you’ll start collecting Tin Ore. Mine or smelt 80–100 nodes to reach 150.

• Smelting Option: Learn Smelt Tin and Smelt Bronze (requires Copper and Tin). Smelting can supplement skill gains if nodes are contested.

• Alternative Zones: Redridge Mountains or Ashenvale.

• Time Estimate: 45–60 minutes.

Mining 150–225 (Classic Zones)

Recommended Zone: Thousand Needles or Desolace
Ores: Iron Ore, Mithril Ore
Smelting: Iron Ore → Iron Bar, Mithril Ore → Mithril Bar

• Thousand Needles has abundant Iron Veins around the Shimmering Flats. At around 200, you may find Mithril Veins.

• Desolace is another good option with Iron and early Mithril Veins near Maraudon.

• Mine or smelt 100–120 nodes to reach 225.

• Smelting Option: Learn Smelt Iron and Smelt Mithril at a trainer. Smelting Iron is efficient up to 175.

• Alternative Zones: Arathi Highlands or Badlands.

• Time Estimate: 1–1.5 hours.

Mining 225–300 (Classic/Outland)

Recommended Zone: Un’Goro Crater or Hellfire Peninsula
Ores: Mithril Ore, Thorium Ore (Un’Goro); Fel Iron Ore (Hellfire)
Smelting: Mithril Ore → Mithril Bar, Thorium Ore → Thorium Bar, Fel Iron Ore → Fel Iron Bar

• Un’Goro Crater is ideal for Mithril Veins and Thorium Veins (especially around the edges of the zone). Thorium appears around 250.

• At 275, move to Hellfire Peninsula (Outland) for Fel Iron Veins, which are plentiful near the Dark Portal.

• Mine or smelt 120–150 nodes to reach 300.

• Smelting Option: Learn Smelt Thorium and Smelt Fel Iron. Smelting Thorium can help bridge gaps if nodes are scarce.

• Alternative Zones: Felwood (Mithril, Thorium) or Zangarmarsh (Fel Iron).

• Time Estimate: 1.5–2 hours.

Mining 300–375 (Outland)

Recommended Zone: Nagrand
Ores: Fel Iron Ore, Adamantite Ore
Smelting: Fel Iron Ore → Fel Iron Bar, Adamantite Ore → Adamantite Bar

• Nagrand is the best zone for Fel Iron Veins and Adamantite Veins (around 325). Focus on the open plains and areas near Telaar or Garadar.

• Mine or smelt 150–200 nodes to reach 375. Adamantite nodes may yield Eternium Ore as a bonus.

• Smelting Option: Learn Smelt Adamantite. Smelting Fel Iron is efficient up to 350.

• Tip: Use a flying mount to cover Nagrand’s large areas quickly.

• Alternative Zones: Terokkar Forest or Blade’s Edge Mountains.

• Time Estimate: 2–2.5 hours.

Mining 375–450 (Northrend)

Recommended Zone: Sholazar Basin
Ores: Cobalt Ore, Saronite Ore
Smelting: Cobalt Ore → Cobalt Bar, Saronite Ore → Saronite Bar

• Sholazar Basin has a high density of Cobalt Veins and Saronite Veins (around 425). Mine along the rivers and near Frenzyheart Hill.

• Mine or smelt 200–250 nodes to reach 450. Saronite nodes are abundant and may yield gems.

• Smelting Option: Learn Smelt Cobalt and Smelt Saronite. Smelting Cobalt is useful up to 425.

• Tip: Avoid heavily farmed areas by switching to sub-zones like the Nesingwary Base Camp.

• Alternative Zones: Borean Tundra or Grizzly Hills.

• Time Estimate: 2.5–3 hours.

Mining 450–525 (Cataclysm Zones)

Recommended Zone: Twilight Highlands
Ores: Obsidium Ore, Elementium Ore
Smelting: Obsidium Ore → Obsidium Bar, Elementium Ore → Elementium Bar

• Twilight Highlands is ideal for Obsidium Veins and Elementium Veins (around 475). Focus on areas near Highbank (Alliance) or Dragonmaw Port (Horde).

• Mine or smelt 250–300 nodes to reach 525. Elementium nodes may yield Pyrite Ore as a bonus.

• Smelting Option: Learn Smelt Obsidium and Smelt Elementium. Smelting Obsidium is efficient up to 500.

• Tip: Use a flying mount to reset node spawns in less populated areas.

• Alternative Zones: Mount Hyjal or Deepholm.

• Time Estimate: 3–3.5 hours.

Mining 525–600 (Pandaria)

Recommended Zone: Jade Forest
Ores: Ghost Iron Ore, Kyparite Ore
Smelting: Ghost Iron Ore → Ghost Iron Bar, Kyparite Ore → Trillium Bar (with Black/White Trillium Ore)

• Jade Forest is the best zone for Ghost Iron Veins, which are abundant around Dawn’s Blossom and the Arboretum. Kyparite Veins appear around 575.

• Mine or smelt 300–350 nodes to reach 600. Ghost Iron nodes are plentiful and respawn quickly.

• Smelting Option: Learn Smelt Ghost Iron and Smelt Trillium (requires Black and White Trillium Ore, which are rare). Smelting Ghost Iron is efficient up to 600.

• Tip: Combine mining with questing in Pandaria to maximize experience and efficiency. Use a flying mount to cover large areas.

• Alternative Zones: Valley of the Four Winds or Krasarang Wilds.

• Time Estimate: 3.5–4 hours.

Total Time Estimate

• Approximate Total: 16–21 hours, depending on node availability, competition, and your efficiency.

• Factors: Server population, time of day, and whether you’re using a max-level character with a flying mount can significantly affect farming speed.

Additional Notes

• Skill Point Thresholds: You gain skill points by mining nodes or smelting ores within your skill range. Gray nodes/ores won’t grant points, while orange/yellow ones are ideal.

• Gems and Byproducts: Higher-level nodes (e.g., Saronite, Elementium, Ghost Iron) may yield gems or rare ores like Pyrite Ore or Trillium Ore. Save these for crafting or sell on the Auction House.

• Trainer Locations: Visit a Mining trainer in major cities (e.g., Orgrimmar, Stormwind, or Pandaria hubs like Shrine of Two Moons/Seven Stars) to learn higher ranks:

  • Apprentice (1–75)

  • Journeyman (75–150)

  • Expert (150–225)

  • Artisan (225–300)

  • Master (300–375, Outland)

  • Grand Master (375–450, Northrend)

  • Illustrious Grand Master (450–525, Cataclysm)

  • Zen Master (525–600, Pandaria)

• AddOns: Use GatherMate2 or Routes to track node locations and optimize farming paths.

• Toughness Perk: Mining grants the Toughness passive, increasing your stamina as your skill increases, which is useful for survivability while farming.

Sample Farming Route (Jade Forest, 525–600)

1. Start at Dawn’s Blossom and mine Ghost Iron Veins in a clockwise loop around the central area.

2. Move south to the Arboretum for dense node spawns.

3. Head east to Tian Monastery and check the hills for additional nodes.

4. Return to Dawn’s Blossom to sell or bank ores, then repeat.

5. Use a flying mount to skip contested areas and reset node spawns.

This guide should help you efficiently reach 600 Mining while gathering valuable materials for crafting or profit. Happy mining!

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