WoW Classic Leatherworking

Why Choose Leatherworking in Classic WoW?

Leatherworking is a crafting profession that allows you to create leather and mail armor, armor enhancement kits, and key utility items. It is especially valuable to classes that wear leather (Rogues, Druids) and mail (Hunters, Shamans at level 40+). It provides a direct route to gear upgrades, eliminating the need to rely entirely on dungeon drops or auction house purchases.

In addition to gear creation, Leatherworking is critical in crafting resistance gear required for raids like Molten Core, Blackwing Lair, and Ahn’Qiraj. Players with this profession also benefit economically by selling crafted gear, kits, and rare items to others, particularly when raid preparation is in full swing.

How Leatherworking Works

Leatherworking involves crafting armor and gear primarily using leather obtained through the Skinning profession. Players collect hides and leathers from beasts, which are then used to create armor, bags, kits, and other useful items. Most recipes are learned from trainers, vendors, or quest rewards, while some are world drops or require faction reputation.

Crafting Process

To craft leatherworking items, players open the profession window, select a recipe, ensure they have the correct materials (leather, threads, scales, etc.), and click to craft. Some items require components from other professions like Blacksmithing or Alchemy, making Leatherworking an interactive and interdependent craft.

Where to Train Leatherworking

Apprentice and Journeyman (1–150)

Learned from basic Leatherworking trainers in major cities:

• Alliance: Fimble Finespindle (Ironforge), Telonis (Darnassus), Adele Fielder (Elwynn Forest)
• Horde: Karolek (Orgrimmar), Una (Thunder Bluff), Thuwd (The Barrens)

Expert Leatherworking (150–225)

To advance past 150 skill, you must purchase and read the book “Expert Leatherworking”. This can be bought from:

• Alliance: Allen the Weaver (Stormwind)
• Horde: Karolek (Orgrimmar)

Artisan Leatherworking (225–300)

Artisan-level training is only available from Drakk Stonehand in Aerie Peak, The Hinterlands. You must be level 35 and have 200 Leatherworking skill to train. He can train all three specializations as well (once unlocked).

Leatherworking Specializations

At skill level 200 and character level 40, Leatherworkers can choose a specialization that provides access to exclusive recipes. Once chosen, the specialization is permanent unless you abandon Leatherworking and relevel it from scratch.

Tribal Leatherworking

Best suited for Druids and PvP players, Tribal Leatherworking focuses on agility-based leather gear. It includes:

• Wolfshead Helm
• Stormshroud Armor Set
• Hide of the Wild (BoE Healing Cloak)

This specialization is unlocked via a quest chain starting from Caryssia Moonhunter in Feralas (Alliance) or Se’Jib in Stranglethorn Vale (Horde).

Elemental Leatherworking

Focused on crafting resistance and agility gear, especially useful for Rogues and Hunters. Notable items include:

• Molten Helm
• Inferno Gloves
• Volcanic Armor Set (Fire Resistance)

Begin the quest from Sarah Tanner in Searing Gorge.

Dragonscale Leatherworking

Geared toward Hunters and mail wearers, Dragonscale Leatherworking allows you to craft powerful mail armor. Examples include:

• Black Dragonscale Set
• Blue Dragonscale Shoulders
• Green Dragonscale Armor (Nature Resistance)

Start the quest from Peter Galen in Azshara to unlock this specialization.

Types of Leather and Materials Used

Leatherworking primarily uses leather obtained through the Skinning profession. Each level of content corresponds to different types of leather:

Common Leathers

• Light Leather (low-level zones)
• Medium Leather (levels 20–30)
• Heavy Leather (levels 30–40)
• Thick Leather (levels 40–50)
• Rugged Leather (levels 50+)

Rare and Special Materials

• Devilsaur Leather (Un’Goro Crater)
• Primal Tiger and Panther Hides
• Core Leather (Molten Core)
• Enchanted Leather (requires Enchanting)
• Scales (e.g., Green, Red, Black Dragonscales)

In addition to leather, many recipes require vendor-bought threads, elemental materials (Essence of Fire, Earth, etc.), and sometimes other profession materials like Cure Leather or Arcanite Bars.

Categories of Crafted Items

Leather Armor

Leather armor is the mainstay of this profession. It includes leveling gear, PvP sets, and pre-raid BiS (Best in Slot) pieces. Examples:

• Nightscape Set
• Wicked Leather Armor
• Stormshroud Armor

Mail Armor

Available to Hunters and Shamans after level 40. Notable mail sets include:

• Green Dragonscale Armor (Nature Resistance)
• Black Dragonscale Set (Fire Resistance and DPS boosts)

Armor Kits

These are consumable items that permanently add a small bonus to armor on gear. Widely used by all classes.

• Light Armor Kit: +8 Armor
• Heavy Armor Kit: +16 Armor
• Thick Armor Kit: +24 Armor
• Rugged Armor Kit: +40 Armor

Resist Gear

Resistance gear becomes vital in raid content like Molten Core (Fire), AQ40 (Nature), and Naxxramas (Frost/Shadow). Leatherworkers craft specialized sets using elemental materials and dragonscales. Examples:

• Volcanic Armor (Fire Resistance)
• Green Dragonscale Armor (Nature Resistance)
• Frostsaber Set (Frost Resistance)

BoE Cloaks and Accessories

Leatherworking also includes some valuable BoE (Bind on Equip) items such as:

• Hide of the Wild (Healer cloak)
• Chromatic Cloak (resistance cloak)
• Molten Belt (Fire Resistance)

Notable and Rare Leatherworking Recipes

Some of the most powerful recipes come from rare drops, quest rewards, and reputation grinds.

Dungeon and Raid Drops

• Hide of the Wild: Recipe drops in Dire Maul
• Corehound Belt: Drops from Molten Core
• Flarecore Wraps: MC trash drop, valuable for casters

World Drop Recipes

• Wicked Leather Headband: High-level drop for Rogues
• Chimeric Leggings: Often sold on Auction House, good for PvP

Reputation-Based Recipes

• Hide of the Wild: Requires Revered with Argent Dawn
• Nature Resist Gear: Available from Cenarion Circle (AQ40 prep)
• Corehound Belt: Requires honored with Thorium Brotherhood

Leatherworking and Raiding

Leatherworking plays a major role in raid preparation and survivability. Resistance gear is a major focus during Classic WoW progression, and Leatherworkers are instrumental in helping guildmates prepare for bosses with elemental or poison-based damage. Nature Resistance gear is essential for bosses like Princess Huhuran in AQ40, while Fire Resistance gear is mandatory for Molten Core and Ragnaros.

Leatherworkers are also highly valued for producing consumable armor kits and crafted items that can bridge gear gaps for undergeared raid members or alts. In some cases, BiS items are crafted by Leatherworkers before raid drops become available, making this profession indispensable in the early weeks of a phase release.

Making Gold with Leatherworking

Leatherworking offers multiple paths to profitability:

Sell Pre-Raid Gear

• Wicked Leather Sets for Rogues and Hunters
• Nightscape Tunic for leveling characters
• Frostsaber items for resistance fights

Craft Resistance Gear

Nature, Fire, and Frost resistance sets are in high demand during raid progression. Players will often pay a premium for crafted sets when preparing for AQ40 and Naxxramas.

Sell Armor Kits

Armor kits are low-cost, high-demand items that provide consistent profits. Rugged Armor Kits in particular are commonly used by tanks and PvPers to boost survivability.

BoE Epics and Rares

Items like Hide of the Wild or Chromatic Cloak are in demand and can be sold for significant gold if you acquire the recipe.

Tips for Leveling Leatherworking

• Pair with Skinning to have a constant supply of materials
• Craft gear that can be used or sold on the Auction House
• Unlock your specialization early for exclusive recipes
• Focus on gear and kits in demand (e.g., resistance or leveling sets)
• Use rested areas to maximize time when crafting large batches

If you’re ready to master Leatherworking and unlock every specialization, recipe, and item tier, check out our complete step-by-step WoW Classic Leatherworking Guide (1–300).