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Mining Routes
Where the veins stand, zone by zone, from Copper to Rich Thorium.
These guides cover Mining from the first Copper vein to the Thorium cap on vanilla-era realms such as WoW Forever. Each one takes an ore and its skill range: Copper at 1–65 in Elwynn, Dun Morogh, Durotar and Tirisfal; Tin and Silver at 65–125 in Redridge, the Wetlands, the Barrens and Hillsbrad; Iron and Gold at 125–175 in Arathi, Desolace and Thousand Needles; Mithril and Truesilver at 175–245 in the Hinterlands, the Badlands and Tanaris; Thorium from 245 in Un'Goro Crater, Winterspring, Silithus and the Burning Steppes.
Start with the Mining 1-300 leveling guide for trainer ranks and smelting bridges, then open the route for your ore, such as the Mithril ore mining route or the Thorium mining route. Every route gives the loop in numbered stops, what the ore sells for and honest gold per hour, from roughly 0.8–2 gold on Tin to roughly 30–60 on a Thorium circuit with an epic mount. Herb routes that share these zones are in the Herbalism hub.
In ForeverBot you tick Mining in Professions, keep Remember nodes on and press Start: the bot rides between known veins, mines what your skill can open, loots and sells when the bags are full.
Mining Routes
Tin Ore Mining Route: Redridge, Wetlands, the Barrens and Hillsbrad (Mining 65–125)
A tin ore mining route for Mining 65–125: loops through Westfall, Redridge, the Wetlands, the Barrens, Stonetalon and Hillsbrad, with Silver veins as a bonus.
Gold Farming Routes
Tanaris Gold Farming Route: Wastewander Bandits, Pirates and Desert Ore (40–50)
A tanaris gold farming route for levels 40–50: Wastewander bandits and pirates for Mageweave, desert beasts for leather and Mithril in the hills near Gadgetzan.
Mining Routes
Mithril Ore Mining Route: Hinterlands, Badlands and Tanaris (Mining 175–250)
A mithril ore mining route for Mining 175–250: loops through the Hinterlands, Badlands, Searing Gorge and Tanaris, with Truesilver bonuses and gold per hour.
Mining Routes
Mining 1-300 Leveling Guide: Ore, Smelting, Trainers and Zones for Every Range
A mining 1-300 guide for vanilla realms: the ore at each skill range, smelting stops, Expert and Artisan training, the best zones and honest hours to 300.
Mining Routes
Iron Ore Mining Route: Arathi, Desolace, Stranglethorn and Thousand Needles (Mining 125–175)
An iron ore mining route for Mining 125–175: loops through Arathi, Desolace, Stranglethorn, Thousand Needles and Alterac, with Gold veins as the bonus.
Gold Farming Routes
Hinterlands Farming Route for Levels 44–50: Leather, Troll Cloth, Mithril and Herbs
A hinterlands farming route for levels 44–50: wolves and owlbeasts for leather, Witherbark trolls for cloth, Mithril and herbs near Aerie Peak and Revantusk.
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Gold Farming Routes
Arcanite Transmute Profit: Alchemy Gold at 60 with Thorium and Arcane Crystals
Arcanite transmute profit for level 60 alchemists: sourcing Thorium and Arcane Crystals, the flasks and potions that sell, and an honest daily gold routine.
Mining Routes
Copper Ore Farming Routes: Elwynn, Dun Morogh, Durotar, Mulgore and Tirisfal (Mining 1–65)
A copper ore farming route for Mining 1–65 through all five starter zones: kobold mines, trogg caves, the Venture Co. mine, where tin begins, and ore vs bars.
Herbalism Routes
Winterspring Farming Route: Icecap, Mountain Silversage and Winterfall (55–60)
A winterspring farming route for levels 55–60: Icecap and Mountain Silversage by the frozen lake, Winterfall furbolgs, chimaera, yetis and Rich Thorium.
Mining Routes
Thorium Ore Mining Route Guide for Vanilla-Era Realms
A thorium ore mining route through six vanilla zones, Silithus to the Burning Steppes: small vs rich veins, where Arcane Crystals hide, honest gold per hour.
Gold Farming Routes
Elwynn Forest Gold Farming Route (Levels 5–12)
A lap of elwynn forest gold farming for levels 5–12: wolves, two kobold mines, lake murlocs and Hogger's gnolls, with a map and honest silver-per-hour numbers.
Herbalism Routes
Eastern Plaguelands Plaguebloom and Thorium Loop (53–60)
A hill-hugging eastern plaguelands farming loop for Plaguebloom and Thorium from Light's Hope Chapel: route map, gold per hour, Plaguehound packs to skip.
Gold Farming Routes
Burning Steppes Farming: Dark Iron Dwarves, Thorium and Fire Essence (52–58)
A burning steppes farming loop for 52–58: Dark Iron dwarves at the quarry, flamekin for Essence of Fire, Thorium and Firebloom, with a map and honest gold per hour.
Mining Routes
Azshara Mining Route: Rich Thorium, Black Lotus Spawns and Timbermaw (50–55)
An azshara thorium route for levels 50–55: Rich Thorium along the cliffs, the zone's few Black Lotus spots, naga and blood elf ruins for Runecloth.
Frequently asked questions
What level do I need to farm Thorium?
Small Thorium Veins open at 250 Mining and Rich Thorium Veins at 275, after Artisan Mining at 200 skill and level 35. The veins do not check your level, but the mobs beside them do, so the full circuit suits level 55 and above. At 50–54, keep to the Winterspring slopes and the quiet edges of Azshara and Eastern Plaguelands.
When do I need Expert and Artisan Mining?
Journeyman at 50 skill and level 10 raises the cap to 150, Expert at 125 skill and level 20 raises it to 225, and Artisan at 200 skill and level 35 takes you to 300. Train each rank about ten points before the cap, because a vein mined at the cap gives no skill. Fewer trainers teach Artisan, so find yours early.
Should I smelt my ore or sell it?
Sell most of it, especially on a fresh realm, where crafters pay the most for raw ore. Smelt when you need skill at the start of a new ore range, when you need bars for your own Blacksmithing or Engineering, or to free bag space. Buyers often prefer ore because they smelt it themselves.