Updated for Mists of Pandaria

Patch 5.2 notes

There will be a lot of changes coming to Blacksmithing with the 5.2 patch. Among other things:

• New training projects will make getting from 1 to 500 a lot easier, though it looks like you will have to be 85+ to access them, as they are only available in Pandaria. More here. New weapons.
• New raid and PvP blacksmithing recipes have been added, and can be acquired through daily research of Lightning Steel Ingots.
• Seasoned Blacksmiths will be able to find a way to create Lightning Steel Ingots once their realm has unlocked the Thunderforges on the Isle of Thunder. These ingots will allow blacksmiths to recreate powerful weapons from the past, updated for Mists of Pandaria. These power weapons will be bind-on-equip and making them will take a significant amount of dedication.
• For blacksmiths who have lapsed in their trade (i.e., haven’t practiced blacksmithing since the Burning Crusade), there is a (not necessarily cost efficient) way to catch-up. Blacksmiths at your faction’s shrines in the Vale of Eternal Blossoms will be able to teach you training plans for crafting common household items using Ghost Iron Bar.

Blacksmithing can be a nice little moneymaker at the high end and allows you to make several nice weapons and full armor sets at various points while leveling the skill.

You also get, as a self-only ability, the ability to add a gem slot to both your bracers and gloves. You can also make lockpicks (not reusable, but cheap enough,) belt buckles, sharpening stones, and misc. other useful items.

Contents

• Introduction
• Step by Step guide
• Item sets that you can create

Synergistic Profession(s): Mining

No more Specializations: Previously there was a quest where a Blacksmith could specialize in Armorsmithing or Weaponsmithing. With Cataclysm these specializations have been removed and all Blacksmiths will have access to the same recipes from any trainer. Hopefully they, or replacement specializations, will be restored someday. If they do that perhaps they could add more useful mid-level items. As it it, the items available from Blacksmithing could be better, though the Cata gear is pretty nice.

Some of the Cataclysm items are well done. The Redsteel and Hardened Obsidium sets are nice. Some of the higher level stuff is too expensive to create given how easy it is to get better gear with Justice points. Other items, such as gem slots and keys, are certainly useful.

Profession Perk: Blacksmiths can add a gem socket to bracers and gloves. Gems in Mists have twice the value for secondary stats as for primary stats, 360 Haste Vs 160 Str, for example. This gives those two slots more versatility than other profession buffs, especially if your spec values something other than the primary stat.

For PvP that’s 640 PvP Power Vs 320 Str/Ag/Int, a definite bonus.

In addition to gear pieces you can make items (sharpening stones and weightstones) to buff your weapons damage, others items that act as enchants (weapons chains,) rods for enchanters, and a few misc. other useful items.

Want to have a guide to power leveling all of your professions in an in-game window? Get yours here.

Mists of Pandaria will  have a whole new set of items that can be created with Blacksmithing as well as new ores to be dug up. Here’s an early list of what you will be able to make.

• Max skill level will be 600, “Zen Master Blacksmith,” train up at 500.
• Note that many of the items on that MoP list provide 3-5 points of skill each.
• Ores/bars can be expensive, if your not mining them yourself. You might want to work on your mining or make an arrangement with a friendly minor and buy ores/bars from her. Or you can just earn a ton of gold and buy the overpriced mats from the Auction House. Ghost Iron bars will likely become very expensive, see the training note above for patch 5.2.

Congratulations on your 600 Blacksmithing skill!

Lots more Gold from Farming, Gathering, Crafting, the Auction House – Click Here Now.

Items Sets That You Can Make

All of the following sets are Plate, unless otherwise noted. Only sets with at least chest and legs are included. There are various other sets that you can make that have three or four pieces, but that aren’t listed here. Before you sell these pieces make sure you check the Auction House prices. Some are in demand as Transmogrification pieces and might fetch high prices. You can see a few of these sets here.

Links will take you to WoWhead’s search for the appropriate items. Levels are the minimum level needed to equip items.

• Vicious Ornate Plate – Complete Holy Pally PvP set, level 85
• Vicious Pyrium Plate – Complete PvP set for other plate wearers, level 85
• Stormforged, Level 81-83, complete Holy plate set, plus shield
• Redsteel, level 81 to 83, complete DPS set.
• Hardened Obsidium, Tanking, level 81-83, complete set plus shield
• Tempered Saronite, complete tanking set, level 74-78
• Brilliant Saronite, Holy complete set, level 74-78
• Ornate Saronite, complete set, level 74-78
• Savage Saronite, complete set, level 74-78
• Iceguard – chest, legs, helm, level 70, recipes from a Vendor in Karazhan, requires honored with Violet Eye
• Reinforced Cobalt (PvP set) – chest, legs,helm, shoulders, level 73-77
• Enchanted Adamantite – Chest, legs, boots, belt, level 70
• Fel Iron Plate – chest, legs, boots, belt, level 61 to 64
• Radiant (mail) – chest, legs, boots, belt, helm, gauntlets, levels 47-56
• Dark Iron – all, but belt, levels 51 to 60. Includes weapons. view here.

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