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

Mists of Pandaria Skinning Leveling Guide (1-600)

This guide provides a step-by-step approach to leveling Skinning from 1 to 600 in World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria. Skinning is a straightforward gathering profession that pairs well with Leatherworking. You’ll need a Skinning Knife (purchased from a trade goods vendor) and access to skinnable beasts. The guide focuses on efficient zones and mobs for each skill range, with approximate times based on consistent farming.

General Tips

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

• Enchant Gloves - Gathering: If possible, apply this enchant to increase skinning speed.

• Faction Hubs: Use neutral or faction-specific areas to avoid PvP conflicts on PvP servers.

• Bag Space: Keep plenty of bag space for leather, scraps, and other items.

• Pair with Leatherworking: Skinning materials are directly used for Leatherworking, making them a natural pair.

• Check Auction House: If you’re not using the leather, sell it for profit to fund other professions.

Leveling Breakdown

Skinning 1–75 (Classic Zones)

Recommended Zone: Elwynn Forest (Alliance) or Durotar (Horde)
Mobs: Boars, Wolves, Scorpids, Crocolisks
Materials: Light Leather, Ruined Leather Scraps

• Start in your faction’s starting zone. Kill and skin low-level beasts like Plainstriders in Durotar or Wolves in Elwynn Forest.

• Skinning low-level mobs yields Light Leather and Ruined Leather Scraps. You’ll need around 50–60 successful skins to reach 75.

• Alternative Zones: Tirisfal Glades (Horde) or Westfall (Alliance) for slightly higher-level mobs like bears or coyotes.

• Time Estimate: 30–45 minutes.

Skinning 75–150 (Classic Zones)

Recommended Zone: Northern Barrens (Horde) or Loch Modan (Alliance)
Mobs: Zhevras, Raptors, Bears, Crocolisks
Materials: Light Leather, Medium Leather

• Move to Northern Barrens (Horde) and skin Zhevras or Raptors around Crossroads, or head to Loch Modan (Alliance) for Bears and Crocolisks.

• At around 100 skill, you’ll start getting Medium Leather. You may need to skin 80–100 mobs to progress.

• Tip: Avoid mobs that are too low-level (gray difficulty), as they may not grant skill points.

• Alternative Zones: Wetlands or Redridge Mountains for Alliance; Mulgore for Horde.

• Time Estimate: 45–60 minutes.

Skinning 150–225 (Classic Zones)

Recommended Zone: Thousand Needles or Stonetalon Mountains
Mobs: Cougars, Thunder Lizards, Wyverns
Materials: Medium Leather, Heavy Leather

• Thousand Needles is ideal due to the high density of Thunder Lizards and Cougars. Skinning these yields Heavy Leather starting around 175.

• Stonetalon Mountains offers Wyverns and Bears with decent spawn rates.

• Skin approximately 100–120 mobs to reach 225.

• Tip: Use a mount to move quickly between mob spawns to maximize efficiency.

• Alternative Zones: Southern Barrens or Hillsbrad Foothills.

• Time Estimate: 1–1.5 hours.

Skinning 225–300 (Classic/Outland)

Recommended Zone: Un’Goro Crater or Hellfire Peninsula
Mobs: Devilsaurs, Raptors (Un’Goro); Boars, Ravagers (Hellfire)
Materials: Heavy Leather, Knothide Leather

• Un’Goro Crater is excellent for Devilsaurs and Raptors, which drop Heavy Leather and occasionally rare hides like Devilsaur Leather.

• At 275, consider moving to Hellfire Peninsula (Outland) for Boars and Ravagers, which yield Knothide Leather.

• You’ll need to skin around 120–150 mobs to reach 300.

• Tip: Un’Goro’s circular layout makes it easy to farm in a loop.

• Alternative Zones: Felwood or Zangarmarsh.

• Time Estimate: 1.5–2 hours.

Skinning 300–375 (Outland)

Recommended Zone: Nagrand
Mobs: Talbuks, Clefthooves, Elekk
Materials: Knothide Leather, Knothide Leather Scraps

• Nagrand is the best zone for this range due to the high density of Talbuks and Clefthooves. These mobs drop Knothide Leather consistently.

• Skin 150–200 mobs to reach 375. Focus on the open plains near Oshu’gun for fast respawns.

• Tip: Group with others if competition is high, as these mobs are popular for skinning and quests.

• Alternative Zones: Terokkar Forest (Wolves, Warp Stalkers) or Blade’s Edge Mountains.

• Time Estimate: 2–2.5 hours.

Skinning 375–450 (Northrend)

Recommended Zone: Sholazar Basin
Mobs: Gorillas, Crocolisks, Worms
Materials: Borean Leather, Borean Leather Scraps

• Sholazar Basin has a high density of Gorillas (near Frenzyheart Hill) and Crocolisks (along rivers). These drop Borean Leather.

• Skin approximately 200–250 mobs to reach 450. The zone’s compact layout makes farming efficient.

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

• Alternative Zones: Borean Tundra (Rhinos, Mammoths) or Dragonblight (Wolves, Bears).

• Time Estimate: 2.5–3 hours.

Skinning 450–525 (Cataclysm Zones)

Recommended Zone: Twilight Highlands
Mobs: Highland Elk, Worgs, Dragons
Materials: Savage Leather, Savage Leather Scraps

• Twilight Highlands is ideal for Highland Elk and Worgs, which drop Savage Leather. The zone also has Dragons for rare hides.

• Skin 250–300 mobs to reach 525. Focus on the areas near Highbank (Alliance) or Dragonmaw Port (Horde).

• Tip: Use flight paths to reset mob spawns if an area becomes depleted.

• Alternative Zones: Mount Hyjal (Bears, Stags) or Uldum (Crocolisks).

• Time Estimate: 3–3.5 hours.

Skinning 525–600 (Pandaria)

Recommended Zone: Valley of the Four Winds
Mobs: Mushan, Yaks, Turtles
Materials: Exotic Leather, Sha-Touched Leather

• Valley of the Four Winds is the best zone for Mushan and Yaks, which drop Exotic Leather. Turtles near Halfhill also yield high amounts.

• Skin 300–350 mobs to reach 600. The open fields and high mob density make this zone ideal.

• Tip: Combine skinning with questing in Pandaria to maximize experience and efficiency.

• Alternative Zones: Krasarang Wilds (Crocolisks, Tigers) or Jade Forest (Tigers, Panthers).

• Time Estimate: 3.5–4 hours.

Total Time Estimate

• Approximate Total: 15–20 hours, depending on mob density, competition, and your efficiency.

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

Additional Notes

• Skill Point Thresholds: You gain skill points by skinning mobs within your skill range. Mobs too low (gray) won’t grant points, while orange/yellow mobs are ideal.

• Rare Hides: Occasionally, you’ll get rare items like Pristine Hide or Sha-Touched Leather. Save these for crafting or sell them on the Auction House.

• Trainer Locations: Visit a Skinning 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 addons like GatherMate2 or Routes to track mob locations and optimize farming paths.

Sample Farming Route (Valley of the Four Winds, 525–600)

1. Start at Halfhill and head west to the Mushan fields.

2. Move south to the Yak herds near the river.

3. Loop north to the Turtle spawns along the cliffs.

4. Return to Halfhill to sell or bank leather, then repeat.

5. Avoid overpopulated areas by checking nearby sub-zones like The Heartland.

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

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