How much a profession helps this spec, leveling 1 to 60 and then in level-60 dungeons and raids. Gear the spec never wears and consumables it never uses count for nothing.
The subjects are all twelve professions: six crafting, three gathering and three secondary.
Each entry names its best partner: the primary profession that does the most for this spec beside it. The spec's best pair is its best-ranked primary and that entry's partner.
A forecast. Forever's item stats aren't public yet, so gear scores rest on what each item binds to and on Classic's values; raid gear counts from 9 Dec, when raids open.
Forever moved the healing potions from 
Alchemy to 
First Aid, and its camp items' buffs don't stack with the matching class buffs: both change the Classic answer for many specs.
Each criterion is scored against fixed anchors, then rescaled within this spec's twelve so the best scores 5 and the worst 1. A criterion whose twelve scores span one point or less keeps them as scored.
The rubric: each criterion scored 1 to 5| Criterion | Weight | What it measures |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | Measured against these anchors, then rescaled so the best of the twelve scores 5 and the worst 1. It makes bind-on-pickup gear or items this spec wears or uses in raids and can't get any other way, or consumables it uses every raid night that would cost real gold to buy: 5. Useful self-made items it could also buy on the auction house, or one bind-on-pickup piece that is a modest upgrade: 3. Nothing this spec wears or uses at 60: 1. |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | Measured against these anchors, then rescaled so the best of the twelve scores 5 and the worst 1. Upgrades this spec's gear or kill speed throughout 1–60, or turns its own kills and travel into income or supplies as it levels: 5. Helps for part of the climb, or saves some gold and downtime: 3. Takes time and gold while leveling and gives this spec nothing back until 60: 1. |
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| Gold | 20 | Not scored here: the profession's score on the Professions for Gold: Settled list, rounded half up, then rescaled with the other criteria. It is the same on every spec's list. |
|---|
| Utility | 15 | Measured against these anchors, then rescaled so the best of the twelve scores 5 and the worst 1. Something no other profession gives this spec, used often: Jumper Cables, transmutes, a camp item it relies on: 5. An occasional convenience: 3. None: 1. |
|---|
An entry’s tier comes from its weighted score. A tier set by hand instead says why in its write-up. Within a tier,
the best score comes first.
- S 4.25 or more
- The best choice for this purpose. Strong on the criteria that count most, with no real weakness.
- A 3.75 or more
- Very strong. A little behind S, or one clear weakness.
- B 3.25 or more
- Good. Does the job well without special effort.
- C 2.75 or more
- Workable. About average on the rubric; nothing stands out either way.
- D 2.25 or more
- Weak. It works, but you will feel the gap; pick it for other reasons.
- F below 2.25
- Poor for this purpose. Avoid it unless something else decides for you.
- The game rules of the stated build. The list is re-rated on a patch that moves a score.
- A character that levels 1 to 60 and then runs dungeons and raids as this spec; raids count from 9 Dec.
- The profession is leveled alongside the character, reaching 300 at or soon after 60.
- No Legacy perks.
- Gathering, crafting, the auction house and vendors only.
Rated from the client data and our research, before anyone has played it at this level on this build. Where the data stops, the write-up says what it assumed.
Choose a profession on the chart to see why it sits where it does.
Shot, scopes and gadgets that fill the kit's missing interrupt and root, and upgrade ranged damage while leveling.
Best partner: Mining
Scores for 
Engineering| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●●●●● 5 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●●●○ 4 |
|---|
| Gold | 20 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Utility | 15 | ●●●●● 5 |
|---|
Weighted score 3.95, which is A tier.
Self-use at 60, 5 of 5: Crafted shot (30-245) feeds the ammo a 
Hunter still burns (1,600 to 275 in one Deadmines run), plus scopes (Sniper 260, SAF-T Ultra Precision BoP schematic) and BoE epic rifles; scope effect on Forever weapons is unverified.
Leveling help, 4 of 5: Shot from skill 30, Crude/Standard Scope at 90-135, Moonsight (170, req 24) and Mithril Heavy-bore (240, req 39) upgrade ranged damage while leveling.
Utility, 5 of 5: Net-o-Matic, Shrink Ray, Jumper Cables, Dragonlings and Repair Bot; the Hunter has no interrupt or root and these fill the kit.
Gold, 1 of 5: 1.95 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why 
Mining beside it: Metal feeds shot, scopes and rifles.
It is not S: it scores 1 of 5 on gold, and its 3.95 is 0.30 short of S.
Strengths
- Self-use at 60, 5 of 5
- Leveling help, 4 of 5
- Utility, 5 of 5
What would move it: Its gold score follows the Professions for Gold: Settled list; a better reading there would lift it.
Read the Engineering guide · Back to the chart
Raid potions and flasks for its own use, but they cost gold and herbs and speed no kills.
Best partner: Herbalism
Scores for Alchemy| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●●●●○ 4 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●○○○ 2 |
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| Gold | 20 | ●●●●● 5 |
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| Utility | 15 | ●●○○○ 2 |
|---|
Weighted score 3.40, which is B tier.
Self-use at 60, 4 of 5: Mongoose, Greater Agility, Giants, Frenzy-line potions and Natural flasks are raid consumables that cost gold to buy; flask zone limits and effects are unverified.
Leveling help, 2 of 5: Potions sell for some gold but skill-ups cost herbs and nothing upgrades kill speed.
Utility, 2 of 5: Transmutes and Free Action are conveniences; whether potions work on pets is unverified.
Gold, 5 of 5: 4.15 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why 
Herbalism beside it: Herbs feed its elixirs.
It is not A: it scores 2 of 5 on leveling help, and its 3.40 is 0.35 short of A.
Strengths
- Self-use at 60, 4 of 5
- Gold, 5 of 5
Weaknesses
- Leveling help, 2 of 5
- Utility, 2 of 5
What would move it: Better leveling help for this spec, from a patch or from item stats once Forever publishes them, would lift it; relative scores also move when another profession's evidence changes.
Read the Alchemy guide · Back to the chart
Bandages and potions cut leveling downtime, but the raid consumables are all buyable.
Best partner: Herbalism
Scores for First Aid| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●●●○○ 3 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●●●○ 4 |
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| Gold | 20 | ●●●○○ 3 |
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| Utility | 15 | ●●○○○ 2 |
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Weighted score 3.10, which is C tier.
Self-use at 60, 3 of 5: Bandages, healing potions and Stamina kit are buyable raid consumables.
Leveling help, 4 of 5: Bandages and potions cut downtime for a lone leveler.
Utility, 2 of 5: Other players' heals land on pets; Anti-Venom and poultices fill gaps; potions on pets unverified.
Gold, 3 of 5: 2.65 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Herbalism beside it: Healing potions need herbs.
It is not B: it scores 3 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 3.10 is 0.15 short of B.
What would move it: Better self-use at 60 for this spec, from a patch or from item stats once Forever publishes them, would lift it; relative scores also move when another profession's evidence changes.
Read the First Aid guide · Back to the chart
Quivers and ammo pouches house the shot a Hunter burns, with mail from 40, though Forever stats are unverified.
Best partner: Skinning
Scores for 
Leatherworking| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●●●●○ 4 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●●●○ 4 |
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| Gold | 20 | ●○○○○ 1 |
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| Utility | 15 | ●○○○○ 1 |
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Weighted score 2.95, which is C tier.
Self-use at 60, 4 of 5: Quivers and ammo pouches (to Scarlet 280, BoP pattern) house the ammo a Hunter burns; Devilsaur (Rare BoE), mail from 40 and Core Armor Kit add more, though Forever stats are unverified.
Leveling help, 4 of 5: Leather until 40, then LW mail (Rare, BoP patterns), quivers from 55 and recipes yellow 25 skill earlier; the vault's stated leveling pair with 
Skinning.
Utility, 1 of 5: Camp Tent rested XP helps leveling only; a Light Leather bag is not a quiver.
Gold, 1 of 5: 1.65 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Skinning beside it: Beast kills feed leather.
It is not B: it scores 1 of 5 on gold, and its 2.95 is 0.30 short of B.
Strengths
- Self-use at 60, 4 of 5
- Leveling help, 4 of 5
Weaknesses
- Gold, 1 of 5
- Utility, 1 of 5
What would move it: Its gold score follows the Professions for Gold: Settled list; a better reading there would lift it.
Read the Leatherworking guide · Back to the chart
Beasts die constantly under a Hunter and pet, so leather income and Leatherworking supply come easily.
Best partner: Leatherworking
Scores for Skinning| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●●●○○ 3 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●●●● 5 |
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| Gold | 20 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Utility | 15 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
Weighted score 2.80, which is C tier.
Self-use at 60, 3 of 5: Camp Chair +2% crit to all attacks; exclusive with Moonkin Aura.
Leveling help, 5 of 5: Hunters and their pets kill many beasts; skinning turns them into leather income (a corpse skins once), feeding Leatherworking.
Utility, 1 of 5: Field Guide and Trapper's Workbench (a trap) are minor.
Gold, 1 of 5: 2.05 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Leatherworking beside it: Leather feeds quivers and armor.
It is not B: it scores 3 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 2.80 is 0.45 short of B.
Weaknesses
- Gold, 1 of 5
- Utility, 1 of 5
What would move it: Better self-use at 60 for this spec, from a patch or from item stats once Forever publishes them, would lift it; relative scores also move when another profession's evidence changes.
Read the Skinning guide · Back to the chart
Stat food is buyable, though beast meat cooks into a fan-sourced +5% kill XP food while leveling.
Best partner: Engineering
Scores for 
Cooking| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●●●○○ 3 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●●●○ 4 |
|---|
| Gold | 20 | ●○○○○ 1 |
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| Utility | 15 | ●●○○○ 2 |
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Weighted score 2.70, which is D tier.
Self-use at 60, 3 of 5: Stat food is buyable and used each raid.
Leveling help, 4 of 5: Beast meat from its kills cooks into food with +5% kill XP for 15 minutes (fan-sourced).
Utility, 2 of 5: Campfire kits and Cookie's Feast are occasional conveniences.
Gold, 1 of 5: 1.80 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Engineering beside it: Food is minor; Engineering does the most.
It is not C: it scores 3 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 2.70 is 0.05 short of C.
Weaknesses
- Gold, 1 of 5
- Utility, 2 of 5
What would move it: Better self-use at 60 for this spec, from a patch or from item stats once Forever publishes them, would lift it; relative scores also move when another profession's evidence changes.
Read the Cooking guide · Back to the chart
Ore sells and feeds Engineering metal, but adds no kill speed and Lodestone clashes with 
Blessing of Might.
Best partner: Engineering
Scores for Mining| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●●○○○ 2 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●●○○ 3 |
|---|
| Gold | 20 | ●●●●● 5 |
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| Utility | 15 | ●○○○○ 1 |
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Weighted score 2.70, which is D tier.
Self-use at 60, 2 of 5: Lodestone Attack Power 90 clashes with Blessing of Might; Toughness is absent.
Leveling help, 3 of 5: Ore feeds Engineering metal and sells; adds no kill speed.
Utility, 1 of 5: Lodestone and Rock Garden are minor camp items.
Gold, 5 of 5: 3.75 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Engineering beside it: Metal feeds Engineering, the Hunter's best profession.
It is not C: it scores 2 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 2.70 is 0.05 short of C.
Weaknesses
- Self-use at 60, 2 of 5
- Utility, 1 of 5
What would move it: Better self-use at 60 for this spec, from a patch or from item stats once Forever publishes them, would lift it; relative scores also move when another profession's evidence changes.
Read the Mining guide · Back to the chart
Own-gear enchants are Classic-standard and buyable, and little else it makes fits a Hunter's kit.
Best partner: Engineering
Scores for 
Enchanting| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●●●○○ 3 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●○○○ 2 |
|---|
| Gold | 20 | ●●●○○ 3 |
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| Utility | 15 | ●○○○○ 1 |
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Weighted score 2.45, which is D tier.
Self-use at 60, 3 of 5: Own-gear enchants are Classic-standard and buyable; relics and staves are not Hunter items.
Leveling help, 2 of 5: Disenchanting greens and enchanting leveling gear helps a little.
Utility, 1 of 5: Enchanted Lute copies 
Mark of the Wild; Arcane Salvager minor.
Gold, 3 of 5: 2.55 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Engineering beside it: Needs no gatherer; Engineering does the most for a Hunter.
It is not C: it scores 3 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 2.45 is 0.30 short of C.
Weaknesses
- Leveling help, 2 of 5
- Utility, 1 of 5
What would move it: Better self-use at 60 for this spec, from a patch or from item stats once Forever publishes them, would lift it; relative scores also move when another profession's evidence changes.
Read the Enchanting guide · Back to the chart
Melee weapons are buyable anyway, and its BoP mail at 40-50 is the only real draw.
Best partner: Mining
Scores for 
Blacksmithing| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●●●○○ 3 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●●○○ 3 |
|---|
| Gold | 20 | ●○○○○ 1 |
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| Utility | 15 | ●○○○○ 1 |
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Weighted score 2.30, which is D tier.
Self-use at 60, 3 of 5: Survival uses melee weapons, and BS weapons are BoE and buyable; the chain it makes is mail.
Leveling help, 3 of 5: BoP chain Officer/Sentinel/Prefect boots, gloves and wristguards at 40-50 are mail Hunters wear from 40.
Utility, 1 of 5: Sharpening Wheel, Anvil and Master Forge are minor.
Gold, 1 of 5: 2.05 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Mining beside it: Ore feeds its smithing.
It is not C: it scores 3 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 2.30 is 0.45 short of C.
Weaknesses
- Gold, 1 of 5
- Utility, 1 of 5
What would move it: Better self-use at 60 for this spec, from a patch or from item stats once Forever publishes them, would lift it; relative scores also move when another profession's evidence changes.
Read the Blacksmithing guide · Back to the chart
Nothing a Hunter wears or uses, so its worth is herb income while leveling.
Best partner: Alchemy
Scores for Herbalism| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●●○○ 3 |
|---|
| Gold | 20 | ●●●●● 5 |
|---|
| Utility | 15 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
Weighted score 2.30, which is D tier.
Self-use at 60, 1 of 5: Nothing a Hunter wears or uses; Lifeblood is absent.
Leveling help, 3 of 5: Find Herbs and herb sales turn travel into income.
Utility, 1 of 5: Greenhouse seeds and Incense Candle are minor.
Gold, 5 of 5: 4.00 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Alchemy beside it: Alchemy turns herbs into raid elixirs.
It is not C: it scores 1 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 2.30 is 0.45 short of C.
Weaknesses
- Self-use at 60, 1 of 5
- Utility, 1 of 5
What would move it: Better self-use at 60 for this spec, from a patch or from item stats once Forever publishes them, would lift it; relative scores also move when another profession's evidence changes.
Read the Herbalism guide · Back to the chart
Costs time, gives little back, and Fish Bowl clashes with 
Blessing of Kings.
Best partner: Engineering
Scores for 
Fishing| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●●○○○ 2 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Gold | 20 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Utility | 15 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
Weighted score 1.40, which is F tier.
Self-use at 60, 2 of 5: Fish Bowl +8% all stats clashes with Blessing of Kings.
Leveling help, 1 of 5: Costs time, gives little back.
Utility, 1 of 5: Lures and camp items are minor.
Gold, 1 of 5: 2.25 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Engineering beside it: No material link; Engineering is the best primary.
It is not D: it scores 2 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 1.40 is 0.85 short of D.
Weaknesses
- Self-use at 60, 2 of 5
- Leveling help, 1 of 5
- Gold, 1 of 5
- Utility, 1 of 5
What would move it: Better self-use at 60 for this spec, from a patch or from item stats once Forever publishes them, would lift it; relative scores also move when another profession's evidence changes.
Read the Fishing guide · Back to the chart
Hunters wear mail, so 
Tailoring offers no upgrade or ammo bag, only cloth and bags.
Best partner: Engineering
Scores for Tailoring| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●○○○ 2 |
|---|
| Gold | 20 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Utility | 15 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
Weighted score 1.25, which is F tier.
Self-use at 60, 1 of 5: Hunters wear mail; Faction Banner Spirit is useless and quivers do not fit reagent bags.
Leveling help, 2 of 5: Cloth sells and bags help space; nothing upgrades a Hunter.
Utility, 1 of 5: Reagent bags are minor; non-soul reagent bags untested.
Gold, 1 of 5: 1.85 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Engineering beside it: Tailoring does little; Engineering does the most.
It is not D: it scores 1 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 1.25 is 1.00 short of D.
Weaknesses
- Self-use at 60, 1 of 5
- Leveling help, 2 of 5
- Gold, 1 of 5
- Utility, 1 of 5
What would move it: Better self-use at 60 for this spec, from a patch or from item stats once Forever publishes them, would lift it; relative scores also move when another profession's evidence changes.
Read the Tailoring guide · Back to the chart