World of Warcraft Guides, Lore, Addons & News – Noob to Boss From Azeroth's Newbie to Champion – World of Warcraft Guides
Leatherworking is one of the most valuable professions in WoW Classic, allowing players to craft high-quality leather and mail armor pieces. When combined with Skinning, this profession becomes incredibly profitable and efficient. This WoW Classic Leatherworking 1-300 Guide walks you through every step of leveling Leatherworking from 1 to 300, choosing specializations, and crafting endgame patterns that matter.
Why Choose Leatherworking in WoW Classic?
Leatherworking offers several distinct advantages:
- Self-sufficiency: Pair it with Skinning to gather your own materials
- Profitability: Sell crafted items on the Auction House for significant gold
- Specialized gear: Access to powerful items like the Devilsaur Armor set and Wolfshead Helm
- Class coverage: Useful for Druids, Rogues, Shamans, and Hunters
Best Classes for Leatherworking
| Class | Specialization | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Druid | Tribal or Elemental | Agility/Intellect leather gear, healing pieces |
| Rogue | Tribal | DPS leather armor, stealth utility items |
| Shaman | Dragonscale | Mail armor pieces, resistance gear |
| Hunter | Dragonscale | Mail armor, quivers for leveling |
WoW Classic Leatherworking Trainer Locations
Alliance Trainers
Apprentice & Journeyman (1-150)
- Randal Worth in Stormwind City (/way 68, 49)
- Fimble Finespindle in Ironforge (/way 40, 32)
- Darianna in Darnassus (/way 64, 21)
- Nadyia Maneweaver in Teldrassil (/way 43, 43)
Expert (150-225)
- Telonis in Darnassus (/way 64, 21)
Artisan (225-300)
- Drakk Stonehand in Aerie Peak, Hinterlands (/way 13, 43)
Horde Trainers
Apprentice & Journeyman (1-150)
- Karolek in Orgrimmar (/way 60, 54)
- Arthur Moore in Undercity (/way 70, 58)
- Una in Thunder Bluff (/way 41, 42)
- Chaw Stronghide in Mulgore (/way 45, 57)
Expert (150-225)
- Una in Thunder Bluff (/way 41, 42)
Artisan (225-300)
- Hahrana Ironhide in Camp Mojache, Feralas (/way 74, 43)
Complete Materials List for Leveling 1-300
Before starting, gather these materials (or be prepared to farm/purchase from the Auction House):
| Material | Quantity | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Ruined Leather Scraps | 90 | Early leveling (1-30) |
| Light Leather | 198 | Apprentice recipes |
| Light Hide | 10 | Currying |
| Medium Leather | 113 | Journeyman recipes |
| Medium Hide | 15 | Currying |
| Heavy Hide | 5-40* | Currying, mid-game |
| Heavy Leather | 230 | Expert recipes |
| Thick Leather | 435 | Artisan recipes |
| Rugged Leather | 436 | High-level recipes |
| Coarse Thread | 90 | Various crafts |
| Fine Thread | 116 | Mid-level recipes |
| Silken Thread | 122 | High-level recipes |
| Rune Thread | 42 | Endgame recipes |
| Gray Dye | 37 | Leather dyeing |
| Black Dye | 42 | Rugged gear |
| Salt | 40-135* | Curing hides |
Numbers in parentheses are for those crafting all Cured Hides rather than buying them
Step-by-Step Leatherworking Leveling Path 1-300
Apprentice Leatherworking (Levels 1-75)
Levels 1-30: Light Leather Fundamentals
Craft 30x Light Leather using 90 Ruined Leather Scraps. This recipe provides consistent yellow-difficulty skillups during your earliest levels.
Levels 30-45: Light Armor Kits
Create 18x Light Armor Kit using 18 Light Leather. This step is faster than the previous phase while maintaining good skillup rates.
Levels 45-55: First Cured Hides
Make 10x Cured Light Hide using 10 Light Hide and 10 Salt. This teaches you the curing mechanics you’ll use throughout your profession.
Level 75 requirement: Learn Journeyman Leatherworking from an Expert Leatherworking trainer (character level 10+ required).
Journeyman Leatherworking (Levels 75-150)
Levels 55-85: Embossed Leather Gloves
Craft 30x Embossed Leather Gloves using 90 Light Leather and 60 Coarse Thread. This is your primary recipe for this tier and offers solid progression.
Levels 85-100: Fine Leather Belt
Make 15x Fine Leather Belt using 90 Light Leather and 30 Coarse Thread. Save these belts for combining with Cured Medium Hides later.
Levels 100-115: Cured Medium Hide (Stockpile)
Create 15x Cured Medium Hide using 15 Medium Hide and 15 Salt. These are essential for your next tier, so prioritize accumulating them.
Levels 115-125: Dark Leather Boots
Craft 10x Dark Leather Boots using 40 Medium Leather, 20 Fine Thread, and 10 Gray Dye. This recipe begins introducing dyes to your crafting.
Levels 125-150: Dark Leather Belt
Make 15x Dark Leather Belt using 15 Fine Leather Belt and 15 Cured Medium Hide. This combines your previous creations and provides consistent skillups.
Level 150 requirement: Learn Expert Leatherworking from an Expert trainer (character level 20+ required).
Expert Leatherworking (Levels 150-225)
Levels 150-155: Heavy Leather Preparation
Craft 5x Heavy Leather using 25 Medium Leather. This begins your Heavy Leather phase but is quick to surpass.
Levels 155-160: Cured Heavy Hide Production
Make 5x Cured Heavy Hide using 5 Heavy Hide and 15 Salt. You’ll need 20 total for upcoming recipes, so consider making more if you have materials.
Levels 160-180: Heavy Armor Kit (Primary)
Create 22x Heavy Armor Kit using 110 Heavy Leather and 22 Fine Thread. This is your main recipe for this range and provides consistent orange-difficulty skillups.
Levels 180-190: Barbaric Shoulders
Craft 10x Barbaric Shoulders using 80 Heavy Leather, 10 Cured Heavy Hide, and 20 Fine Thread. This maintains your progression through expert levels.
Levels 190-200: Guardian Gloves
Make 10x Guardian Gloves using 40 Heavy Leather, 10 Cured Heavy Hide, and 10 Silken Thread. This introduces Silken Thread to your crafting rotation.
Levels 200-220: Thick Armor Kit
Create 20x Thick Armor Kit using 100 Thick Leather and 20 Silken Thread. This pushes you through to Artisan-tier requirements.
Level 225 requirement: Learn Artisan Leatherworking from an Artisan trainer (character level 35+ required).
Artisan Leatherworking (Levels 220-300)
Levels 220-230: Nightscape Headband
Craft 11x Nightscape Headband using 55 Thick Leather and 22 Silken Thread. Save 2 headbands if planning Tribal specialization.
Levels 230-250: Nightscape Pants
Make 20x Nightscape Pants using 280 Thick Leather and 80 Silken Thread. Save 2 pants if pursuing Tribal specialization.
Levels 250-260: Rugged Armor Kit
Create 12x Rugged Armor Kit using 60 Rugged Leather. This brief phase transitions you to high-end recipes.
Levels 260-290: Wicked Leather Gauntlets (Main Path)
Craft 32x Wicked Leather Gauntlets using 256 Rugged Leather, 32 Black Dye, and 32 Rune Thread. Purchase the pattern from:
- Alliance: Leonard Porter (Western Plaguelands)
- Horde: Werg Thickblade (Tirisfal Glades)
Alternative if pattern is unavailable: Wicked Leather Bracers (dropped by Legashi Rogue in Azshara, ~5% drop rate)
Levels 290-300: Final Push to 300
Craft 10x Wicked Leather Headband using 120 Rugged Leather, 10 Black Dye, and 10 Rune Thread. Pattern drops from Jadefire Tricksters in Felwood (~2% drop rate).
Alternative recipes if needed:
- Wicked Leather Bracers (224 Rugged, 28 Black Dye, 28 Rune Thread)
- Runic Leather Headband (140 Rugged, 100 Runecloth, 10 Rune Thread)
Leatherworking Specializations: Which Should You Choose?
At skill level 225 with character level 40+, you unlock specialization choices. You can only have one active specialization, though you can change it by unlearning and relearning the profession.
Dragonscale Leatherworking
Dragonscale Focus on Mail armor for Shamans and Hunters
Key Items:
- Dreamscale Breastplate (requires Exalted Cenarion Circle)
- Chromatic Gauntlets
- Blue Dragonscale Leggings
- Red Dragonscale Breastplate
Quest Requirements:
- 2x Tough Scorpid Breastplate (craft from patterns dropped by Wastewander mobs in Tanaris)
- 2x Tough Scorpid Gloves (craft from patterns dropped by Wastewander mobs)
- 10x Worn Dragonscale (dropped by Dragonkin in Swamp of Sorrows)
Quest Turnin: Peter Galen (Azshara) or Thorkaf Dragoneye (Badlands)
Elemental Leatherworking
Elemental Focus on Leather armor with elemental resistances
Key Items:
- Molten Helm (fire resistance)
- Stormshroud Gloves (lightning resistance)
- Living Leggings (healing druid piece)
- Volcanic Breastplate
Quest Requirements:
- 2x Globe of Water
- 2x Heart of Fire
- 2x Core of Earth
- 2x Breath of Wind
Quest Turnin: Peter Galen (Searing Gorge) or Brumn Winterhoof (Arathi Highlands)
Tribal Leatherworking
Tribal Focus on Leather armor with Agility/Intellect stats and the legendary Devilsaur set
Key Items:
- Devilsaur Leggings (dropped by Oozes in Un’Goro)
- Devilsaur Gauntlets
- Wolfshead Helm
- Frostsaber Tunic
- Corehound Belt
Quest Chain: Wild Leather questline in Feralas (starting with Pratt McGrubben or Jangdor Swiftstrider)
Why Choose Tribal? The Devilsaur Armor set is considered BiS for melee DPS players entering raids, making this specialization the most sought-after.
Best Endgame Leatherworking Patterns & Recipes
Pre-Raid BiS (Best in Slot) Items
For Feral Druids:
- Wolfshead Helm (DPS essential, increases attack power in cat form)
- Warbear Harness (tanking item, requires Friendly Timbermaw Hold)
For Hunters & Shamans:
- Dreamscale Breastplate (mail armor, requires Exalted Cenarion Circle)
- Chromatic Gauntlets (mail with resistances, requires Revered Thorium Brotherhood)
For Healing Druids & Shamans:
- Living Shoulders (excellent pre-raid healing piece)
- Living Breastplate (healing-oriented chest armor)
High-Value Craftable Items
| Item | Specialty | Materials | Profit Potential |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devilsaur Leggings | Tribal | Dropped (craft required) | Very High |
| Corehound Belt | Tribal | Easy crafting | High |
| Frostsaber Set | Tribal | Dropped patterns | High |
| Chromatic Gear | Non-specialized | Reputation vendor | Medium-High |
| Core Armor Kit | Non-specialized | Molten Core drops | Medium |
Utility & Specialty Items
For Rogues:
- Nightscape Boots (increases stealth effectiveness, excellent for stealth runs)
- Dark Leather Gloves (increases Lockpicking skill)
For Herbalists:
- Herbalist’s Gloves (sold by Harlown Darkweave, increases Herbalism skill)
For All Players:
- Swift Boots (rare world drop, provides 15-second sprint with 1-hour cooldown)
- Onyxia Scale Cloak (automatically learned after defeating Onyxia, required for Nefarian encounter)
Resistance Pieces
While not optimal for direct combat, resistance gear becomes valuable for specific raid encounters:
- Shifting Cloak (all resistances)
- Molten Helm (fire resistance)
- Stormshroud items (lightning resistance)
- Volcanic pieces (fire resistance)
you can check also our complete WoW Classic Leatherworking Recipes list.
How to Change Leatherworking Specializations
If you’re unsatisfied with your specialization choice, you can change it without completing new quests (though you’ll lose all patterns):
Step-by-step process:
- Open your skill menu (default: ‘K’)
- Locate Leatherworking and click it
- Find the red circle icon next to the profession and unlearn it
- Travel to Steamwheedle Port in Tanaris
- Find Narain Soothfancy inside a hut (/way 65, 18)
- Right-click the book “Soothsaying for Dummies” on the table
- Re-learn Leatherworking with a trainer
- Level back to at least skill 225
- Learn your new specialization from the appropriate trainer
Leatherworking & Skinning: The Perfect Pairing
Leatherworking is best paired with Skinning as your two professions. This combination offers:
- Cost savings: Farm your own materials instead of buying from the Auction House
- Time efficiency: Gather materials while questing and leveling
- Profit maximization: Sell excess skins or finished leather goods
- Self-sufficiency: Never run short on critical crafting materials
If you don’t have Skinning, you’ll need significant gold to purchase all required hides and leathers from the Auction House or other players.Check out Our WoW Classic Skinning Guide to complete your leatherworking.
FAQ: WoW Classic Leatherworking Questions
Do I need to learn all three specializations?
What if I can't find a pattern I need?
Can I train Leatherworking before level 1?
How do I find specific Leatherworking trainers?
Conclusion
Mastering WoW Classic Leatherworking opens doors to exceptional profits, powerful pre-raid gear, and self-sufficiency in material gathering. By following this comprehensive guide, you’ll reach skill level 300 efficiently while making informed decisions about specializations and endgame recipes.
Whether you’re gearing up for raids, making gold, or crafting utility items, Leatherworking remains one of the most valuable professions in WoW Classic. Start today, pair it with Skinning, and build a profitable crafting empire.
