Level Up Your Herbalist Gaming with These Tips and Tricks
In the many professions in WoW Cata, choosing the right one is linked to how you want to build your character.
For this article, we will focus on Herbalism.
What is Herbalism?
Herbalism is a profession in World of Warcraft Cataclysm that primarily gathers herbs for crafting items such as potions. These items are important because they can earn players some cata gold when sold through an Auction House.
For those who choose to have Herbalism as a profession, having a supply of herbs can also net them some cash in the same way, especially if you have rare herbs like Golden Lotus and Twilight Jasmine.
Herbalism Perks and Bonuses
Choosing the Herbalist profession, like all other professions, has perks and bonuses. Herbalists acquire the Lifeblood buff which gives HP-related bonuses capping at 400 HP/second for HP regeneration and a 2000 Healing buff over five seconds at maximum Skill Level (525).
Basic Leveling Up Guide
Herbalists gain levels through gathering herbs throughout the game. However, if your Skill Level is low, some gathered herbs may not even be used for crafting until you reach the required threshold.
This section will guide you through the basic requirements needed to level up your Herbalism, including which herbs to pick and areas to gather them.
Level 1 – 75
As a starting point, gathering herbs like Earthroot, Peacebloom, and Silverleaf will gain some levels. You can find these herbs in common areas like The Lost Isles and Gilneas.
Level 75 – 150
Gathering herbs such as Mageroyal, Briarthorn, Bruiseweed, and Stranglekelp scales the leveling process. These herbs can be found in Ashenvale, Redridge Mountains, Darkshore (except Bruiseweed), and Ghostlands.
Level 150 – 230
Herbs that scale the leveling process are Liferoot, Kingsblood, Fadeleaf, Goldthorn, and Khadgar’s Whisker. These herbs are found in Swamp of Sorrows, Badlands (except Liferoot), Feralas (except Goldthorn), and The Hinterlands.
Level 230 – 285
Sungrass can be found in Eastern Plaguelands, The Hinterlands, Badlands, and Feralas.
Level 285 – 325
After training Herbalism, you can go to Hellfire Peninsula to gather the following herbs: Golden Sansam, Mountain Silversage, Blindweed, and Dreamfoil.
Level 325 – 350
You can gather Felweed, Dreaming Glory, and Terocone in The Botanica, Terokar Forest, and Shadowmoon Valley.
Level 350 – 400
You can gather Goldclover and Tiger Lily in the Borean Tundra, Azjol-Nerub, and Howling Fjord.
Level 400 – 425
Adder’s Tongue can be gathered in Shalozar Basin.
Level 425 – 500
You can head over to Mount Hyjal to gather Stormvine, Cinderbloom, and Azshara’s Veil. For optimum gathering, obtain a Flight Master’s License before heading out to this zone.
This can be taught by Flight Trainers in Stormwind City, Hellfire Peninsula, Dalaran, Shadowmoon Valley, Shalozar Basin, Borean Tundra, Orgrimmar, and The Storm Peaks.
Level 500 – 525
Gathering Whiptail in Uldum caps off the leveling process of the Herbalist profession. Like the previous region, equipping the Flight Master’s License will greatly help with gathering the herb.
Best Second Profession for Herbalism
The most paired profession with Herbalism is Alchemy. This is because alchemists can utilize the resources into three distinct crafted items: potions, elixirs, and flasks, each with their unique properties.
Elixirs provide buffs over time; potions provide a temporary statistical buff, or a permanent health recovery; and flasks provide a longer buff over time, even persisting until death. Alchemists can sell their items for gold to buy cata items in the Auction House.
Another profession that can be paired with Herbalism is Inscription. This profession uses Glyphs to provide buffs. While Inscription only produces one crafted item, the material needed to produce the item requires ink, which can be produced from Milling the gathered herbs.
No matter what you choose, either profession will greatly benefit from Herbalism.
Best Race and Class for Herbalism
The Druid class is highly recommended for Herbalism, especially in higher Skill Levels where using flight is essential. This is because Druids can gather resources even during Flight Mode.
As for race, the Tauren race has a unique racial benefit called “Cultivation” which adds +15 to the Herbalism skill. This is allows you to get herbs faster than other races.
This race and class combo is made for the Herbalism profession
Tips and Tricks for Herbalism
There are numerous ways to optimize Herbalism, even without being a Tauren Druid. Here are some examples of getting the most out of Herbalism.
- Use nodes. This is essential in knowing which part of the map has herbs that have a decent spawn rate. The only disadvantage to this: everyone uses it. You can find other nodes within the map that have fewer Herbalists. Knowing nodes also helps after obtaining the Flight Master’s License, or when in Druid Flight Mode.
- Use available mounts. Some mounts, like the Sky Golem, do not disrupt gathering herbs even when mounted.
- Visit Herbalism Trainers after reaching a specific Skill Level.
