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World of Warcraft’s expansion, Dragonflight, has resurrected professions from an early grave. Following through on many players' pleas, Blizzard implemented a greater importance on professions and offered more rewarding and diverse gameplay to go along with it.
Related:World Of Warcraft: Dragonflight - Complete Guide To Alchemy
One such revived profession isMining, a gathering profession that many trades rely on for its ability to gather needed resources. While it still features you flying around the map to chase down nodes on your mini-map, there are new tricks and twists to spice up the grind. Here’s everything you need to know before you set out on your journey.
Overview
Mining is all aboutgathering raw resources in the form of oresaround the Dragon Isles. Many professions, includingBlacksmithing,Jewelcrafting, andEngineering, all require the trade goods that Mining is responsible for finding.
Raw ores usually sell at a decent rate on the Auction House, but if you’d like to make equipment yourself,pairing Mining with Blacksmithingis a classic combination. However, if you have multiple characters, you can dedicate one as your gathering character and pick upHerbalismas your secondary profession tofind both herbs and oresduring your farming route.
While there are many different trainers around the Dragon Isles that can teach you Mining, your main trainer will beSekita the Burrowerin Valdrakken. This trainer gives you the opportunity to dounique Mining queststhat reward you with points to pour into a specialization later on.
Once you’ve learned the appropriate skill, you may begin gathering ores at any time, though you should pick upMining equipmentfirst. Unless you have another character with appropriate professions that can make the gear, you’ll want tosearch the Auction Housebefore you begin. By equippingone tool and two accessories, you gain a boost to stats that’ll let you find higher-quality ores and increase your gathering speed.
Engineering
Basic Ores
While you soar around the Dragon Isles to look for mining nodes, you’ll want to keep your eyes open forthree different resources. However,you’ll only be able to find two as a depositto directly mine.
Rarity
Serevite Ore
Found on top of and around mountains, or on the coast of rivers and lakes. Can be found as its own deposit.
Common
Draconium Ore
Found on top of mountains and in treacherous areas, such as lava floes. Can be found as its own deposit.
Uncommon
Khaz’gorite Ore
Only found while mining Serevite or Draconium deposits.Cannot be found as its own deposit.
Rare
When you begin at level one, you areguaranteed a rank up from mining any deposit. You’ll find that the early ranks fly by quickly, but as you level up further, specific deposits will begin to offerless and less of a chance to grant experience.
If you’re having trouble finding Draconium, go toThe Waking Shores. There, you should be able to findRock Wallsthat can be demolished with your pickaxe. These open small caverns or expansive caves that often harbor the rarer Draconium deposits.
After level 60,you’ll no longer be able to level upyour Mining skill from basic ores alone. Instead, you’ll have to turn your attention tomodified oresto reach max rank.
Ore Modifiers
Modified ores are new to Dragonflight, wreathing a deposit in one of five special effects. While most of them only serve to benefit you, two of them areextraordinarily dangerousunder the wrong circumstances.
Titan Touched
N/A
If specialized, miners can harvest Titan Touched ores for a 15 percent boost tospeedand a three percent boost tosecondary stats.
Primal
If specialized, miners can harvest Primal ores for a chance todeal bonus Elemental damagewhen attacking for two minutes.
Hardened
Hardened ores take longer to mine.
If specialized, miners can harvest Hardened ores for a buff thatreduces their damage takenby five percent for two minutes.
Rousing Earth
Molten
Molten ores apply a DoT that will inflict50 percent to 70 percentof your health in Fire damage.
If specialized, miners can harvest Molten ores for a passive retaliation against attacking enemies bydealing Fire damage. This effect lasts two minutes.
Rousing Fire
Upon reaching level 60, you’ll want to target modified ores. Thesegive you the experience needed to reach level 100in Mining and secure further points for your specialization. However, you should expect the grind to slow dramatically due to how much more rare modifiers are around the Isles.
Pay attention to any mobsthat might be around Molten ores and be sure to be atfull healthbefore mining! The DoT damage can and will kill you if you aren’t wary of it.
Related:World Of Warcraft: Dragonflight - Marksmanship Hunter PvP Guide
Specializations
As you grow as a miner, you’ll be able to specialize within a certainMining talent treeupon level 25. You can use points ofDragon Isles Mining Knowledgeto activate a myriad of perks within three distinct specializations.
Mining Process
Mining Processis the first specialization, and it’s a good pick for those seeking toget more out of every node. As you increase your skill, you can find more resources or even find a certain gem whenever you mine a deposit.
Metallurgy
Metallurgyrelates to how well you can mine deposits. The general talent will allow you togather while mountedon your drake, and the unique spin-offs offer the chance to refine Serevite, Draconium, and Khaz’gorite intohigher quality ore, improving the equipment made with them.
Mastering The Elements
The third specialization,Mastering the Elements, is what allows you to pick up theunique buffsfrom modified ores. In addition, you’ll generally be more efficient at gathering modified ores than basic ones, and the negative effects from Hardened and Molten will be less of a problem for you.
Gathering Knowledge
You can find Dragon Isles Mining Knowledge in a number of ways. You can gain a point forevery new orethat you discover upon first mining it, and whenever you receive resources from a deposit, you have a chance at receivingIridescent Ore Fragmentsor a completedIridescent Ore. You can study both of these items for one or three Knowledge respectively.
In addition, you may receive more Knowledge quite easily through quests given to you either from your trainer or theArtisan’s Consortium. These will often require you to gather a certain resource through Mining, such asRousing Earth, and you’ll gain consumable items that grant you more points.
It’s quite likely that you won’t be able to gain enough Knowledge to specialize in all three trees at first, so you can pick whichever path sounds the most appealing to you. However, if you continue to keep at the grind, it is possible to eventually gather enough Knowledge tounlock every talent currently implemented.
