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. |
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| 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.
BoP Archmage robe and belt only a Tailor can craft, with bags and cloth from humanoid kills.
Best partner: Enchanting
Scores for 
Tailoring| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●●●●● 5 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●●●● 5 |
|---|
| Gold | 20 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Utility | 15 | ●●●●○ 4 |
|---|
Weighted score 4.05, which is A tier.
Self-use at 60, 5 of 5: Robe of the Archmage (BoP, 8 each of four Essences) and Belt of the Archmage: BoP, craftable only by a Tailor.
Leveling help, 5 of 5: Silky BoP set (levels 12-25), bags and free cloth from humanoid kills help throughout; no gatherer needed.
Utility, 4 of 5: Reagent bags (to Bottomless 20) and Mooncloth are occasional conveniences.
Gold, 1 of 5: 1.85 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why 
Enchanting beside it: Enchanting disenchants the tailor's greens and adds staff, orb and wand.
It is not S: it scores 1 of 5 on gold, and its 4.05 is 0.20 short of S.
Strengths
- Self-use at 60, 5 of 5
- Leveling help, 5 of 5
- Utility, 4 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 Tailoring guide · Back to the chart
Only an Enchanter can make the BoP staff, orb and wand Frost wants, plus own-gear enchants.
Best partner: Tailoring
Scores for Enchanting| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●●●●● 5 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●●●○ 4 |
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| Gold | 20 | ●●●○○ 3 |
|---|
| Utility | 15 | ●●○○○ 2 |
|---|
Weighted score 3.90, which is A tier.
Self-use at 60, 5 of 5: Radiant Staff (+56 SP), Orb of Mystic Insight, Brilliant Wand and Mighty Intellect/Spell Power enchants: BoP, enchanter-only, and can't be had any other way, plus own-gear enchants.
Leveling help, 4 of 5: Novice's Practice Wand from level 1, wand line and oils help a little (
Mage leveling is not wand-reliant); disenchants tailor greens.
Utility, 2 of 5: Enchanted Lute overlaps 
Mark of the Wild; Arcane Salvager; self enchants.
Gold, 3 of 5: 2.55 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Tailoring beside it: Tailoring adds the BoP robe and the greens it disenchants.
It is not S: it scores 2 of 5 on utility, and its 3.90 is 0.35 short of S.
Strengths
- Self-use at 60, 5 of 5
- Leveling help, 4 of 5
What would move it: Better utility 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
Frost Power elixirs and Frost Protection potions burn every raid night, though skill-ups cost herbs.
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 | ●●●●○ 4 |
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Weighted score 3.70, which is B tier.
Self-use at 60, 4 of 5: Elixir of Frost Power, Flask of Supreme Power and Frost Protection potions are burned each raid night; potions buyable.
Leveling help, 2 of 5: Mana potions and elixirs sell; need herbs; no gear or kill speed for Frost Mage.
Utility, 4 of 5: Transmutes (Arcanite, 
Elemental Fire) and Mana Well (29 mp5) which a group lacking Wisdom wants.
Gold, 5 of 5: 4.15 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why 
Herbalism beside it: Herbalism supplies the herbs for its flasks and elixirs.
It is not A: it scores 2 of 5 on leveling help, and its 3.70 is 0.05 short of A.
Strengths
- Self-use at 60, 4 of 5
- Gold, 5 of 5
- Utility, 4 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
Cloth bandages ease leveling downtime and cover the self-heal Frost does not have.
Best partner: Tailoring
Scores for First Aid| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●●●○○ 3 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●●●● 5 |
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| Gold | 20 | ●●●○○ 3 |
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| Utility | 15 | ●●●●○ 4 |
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Weighted score 3.65, which is B tier.
Self-use at 60, 3 of 5: Healing potions (First Aid only now) and bandages in raids; Frost Mage has no heal of its own.
Leveling help, 5 of 5: Bandages from cloth save downtime and gold with cloth-class low HP.
Utility, 4 of 5: Anti-Venom, poultices and tourniquets are unique cures; the Stamina kit overlaps Fortitude.
Gold, 3 of 5: 2.65 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Tailoring beside it: Tailoring: bandages use cloth and it is the spec's best primary.
It is not A: it scores 3 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 3.65 is 0.10 short of A.
Strengths
- Leveling help, 5 of 5
- Utility, 4 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 First Aid guide · Back to the chart
Frost can buy the caster goggles; the real draw is unique gadgets like Jumper Cables and Cloaking Device.
Best partner: Tailoring
Scores for 
Engineering| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●●●○○ 3 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●○○○ 2 |
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| Gold | 20 | ●○○○○ 1 |
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| Utility | 15 | ●●●●● 5 |
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Weighted score 2.65, which is D tier.
Self-use at 60, 3 of 5: Spellpower Goggles Xtreme/Plus, Master Engineer's, Bloodvine goggles are caster items but BoE, so buyable; stats are Classic-only.
Leveling help, 2 of 5: Gadgets and Rocket Boots help a little, but Mage kills AoE already and gadgets cost metal.
Utility, 5 of 5: Jumper Cables (rez), Repair Bot, Cloaking Device and Rocket Boots are unique and used often.
Gold, 1 of 5: 1.95 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Tailoring beside it: Tailoring adds the BoP robe to the goggles.
It is not C: it scores 3 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 2.65 is 0.10 short of C.
Weaknesses
- Leveling help, 2 of 5
- Gold, 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 Engineering guide · Back to the chart
Nothing Frost wears or uses comes from herbs, which only feed potions.
Best partner: Alchemy
Scores for Herbalism| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●○○○ 2 |
|---|
| Gold | 20 | ●●●●● 5 |
|---|
| Utility | 15 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
Weighted score 2.05, which is F tier.
Self-use at 60, 1 of 5: Makes nothing Frost Mage wears or uses; herbs only feed potions.
Leveling help, 2 of 5: Herb nodes sell while traveling; no gear.
Utility, 1 of 5: Incense Candle (Int) overlaps 
Arcane Intellect, so nothing for a Mage.
Gold, 5 of 5: 4.00 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Alchemy beside it: Alchemy turns the herbs into flasks and elixirs.
It is not D: it scores 1 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 2.05 is 0.20 short of D.
Weaknesses
- Self-use at 60, 1 of 5
- 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 Herbalism guide · Back to the chart
Ore sells while leveling, but Frost gets no gear from it.
Best partner: Engineering
Scores for 
Mining| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●○○○ 2 |
|---|
| Gold | 20 | ●●●●● 5 |
|---|
| Utility | 15 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
Weighted score 2.05, which is F tier.
Self-use at 60, 1 of 5: Nothing Frost Mage wears; ore feeds 
Blacksmithing/Engineering.
Leveling help, 2 of 5: Ore sells while leveling but Frost Mage has no gear gain; starter veins reduced.
Utility, 1 of 5: Lodestone (melee AP) does nothing for Frost Mage.
Gold, 5 of 5: 3.75 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Engineering beside it: Engineering turns the ore into gadgets.
It is not D: it scores 1 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 2.05 is 0.20 short of D.
Weaknesses
- Self-use at 60, 1 of 5
- 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 Mining guide · Back to the chart
Frost conjures its own food, so cooked stat food adds only a little.
Best partner: Tailoring
Scores for 
Cooking| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●●○○○ 2 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●○○○ 2 |
|---|
| Gold | 20 | ●○○○○ 1 |
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| Utility | 15 | ●●○○○ 2 |
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Weighted score 1.80, which is F tier.
Self-use at 60, 2 of 5: Mages conjure their own food and water (Classic knowledge); stat food is a small extra.
Leveling help, 2 of 5: Food plus about +5% kill XP saves some downtime and gold; Mages conjure food.
Utility, 2 of 5: Campfires hold 3 to 10 items; occasional.
Gold, 1 of 5: 1.80 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Tailoring beside it: Tailoring is the spec's best primary.
It is not D: it scores 2 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 1.80 is 0.45 short of D.
Weaknesses
- Self-use at 60, 2 of 5
- Leveling help, 2 of 5
- 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
Skinning offers Frost almost nothing: few skins to find and a camp chair for spell crit.
Best partner: Tailoring
Scores for Skinning| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●○○○ 2 |
|---|
| Gold | 20 | ●○○○○ 1 |
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| Utility | 15 | ●●●●○ 4 |
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Weighted score 1.70, which is F tier.
Self-use at 60, 1 of 5: Nothing Frost Mage wears; Pristine Leather is Scarce loot.
Leveling help, 2 of 5: Humanoid kills drop cloth not skins, so little to skin; Pristine Leather rare.
Utility, 4 of 5: Camp Chair (+2% crit on all spells) is unique and fits Frost Mage; the Moonkin aura overlap is rare.
Gold, 1 of 5: 2.05 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Tailoring beside it: Tailoring is the spec's best gear profession.
It is not D: it scores 1 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 1.70 is 0.55 short of D.
Weaknesses
- Self-use at 60, 1 of 5
- Leveling help, 2 of 5
- Gold, 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
Gives Frost neither gear nor XP while leveling, and the Fish Bowl is occasional.
Best partner: Tailoring
Scores for 
Fishing| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Gold | 20 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Utility | 15 | ●●○○○ 2 |
|---|
Weighted score 1.15, which is F tier.
Self-use at 60, 1 of 5: Fish Bowl overlaps 
Blessing of Kings.
Leveling help, 1 of 5: Fishing gives Frost Mage no gear or XP while leveling.
Utility, 2 of 5: Fish Bowl occasional.
Gold, 1 of 5: 2.25 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Tailoring beside it: Tailoring is the spec's best primary.
It is not D: it scores 1 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 1.15 is 1.10 short of D.
Weaknesses
- Self-use at 60, 1 of 5
- Leveling help, 1 of 5
- 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 Fishing guide · Back to the chart
Armor kits only; Frost cannot wear leather, so a cloth caster gets nothing.
Best partner: Tailoring
Scores for 
Leatherworking| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Gold | 20 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Utility | 15 | ●●○○○ 2 |
|---|
Weighted score 1.15, which is F tier.
Self-use at 60, 1 of 5: Armor kits only; Frost Mage cannot wear leather.
Leveling help, 1 of 5: Takes leather and gold and gives a cloth caster nothing.
Utility, 2 of 5: Camp Tent rested XP and Light Leather reagent bag are occasional.
Gold, 1 of 5: 1.65 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Tailoring beside it: Tailoring is the spec's best gear profession.
It is not D: it scores 1 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 1.15 is 1.10 short of D.
Weaknesses
- Self-use at 60, 1 of 5
- Leveling help, 1 of 5
- 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 Leatherworking guide · Back to the chart
Melee and heavy-armor plans only, with no stones or plate for Frost to use.
Best partner: Tailoring
Scores for Blacksmithing| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Gold | 20 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Utility | 15 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
Weighted score 1.00, which is F tier.
Self-use at 60, 1 of 5: Plate, mail and melee plans only; Frost Mage wears none and uses no stones.
Leveling help, 1 of 5: Costs ore and time while leveling; nothing back for Frost Mage.
Utility, 1 of 5: Sharpening Wheel (Strength) and Anvil do nothing for Frost Mage.
Gold, 1 of 5: 2.05 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Tailoring beside it: Tailoring is the spec's best gear profession.
It is not D: it scores 1 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 1.00 is 1.25 short of D.
Weaknesses
- Self-use at 60, 1 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 Blacksmithing guide · Back to the chart