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.
Melee elixirs like Mongoose and Giants for every raid, at a gold cost, with skill-ups costing herbs.
Best partner: Engineering
Scores for Alchemy| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●●●●● 5 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●○○○ 2 |
|---|
| Gold | 20 | ●●●●● 5 |
|---|
| Utility | 15 | ●●●○○ 3 |
|---|
Weighted score 3.95, which is A tier.
Self-use at 60, 5 of 5: Mongoose, Grizzly, Ferocity, Brute Force and Giants are melee raid consumables that cost gold; new elixir effects unverified.
Leveling help, 2 of 5: Potions sell for some gold but skill-ups cost herbs and nothing upgrades kill speed.
Utility, 3 of 5: Transmutes are an occasional convenience; Mana Well clashes with 
Blessing of Wisdom.
Gold, 5 of 5: 4.15 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why 
Engineering beside it: Engineering's stuns pair with potions.
It is not S: it scores 2 of 5 on leveling help, and its 3.95 is 0.30 short of S.
Strengths
- Self-use at 60, 5 of 5
- Gold, 5 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
Grenades and Net-o-Matic cover the 
Shaman's lack of hard crowd control, in raids and while leveling.
Best partner: Mining
Scores for Engineering| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●●●●○ 4 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●●●○ 4 |
|---|
| Gold | 20 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Utility | 15 | ●●●●● 5 |
|---|
Weighted score 3.55, which is B tier.
Self-use at 60, 4 of 5: Grenades, Sapper and BoP goggles are usable by Shamans; the Thrown satchels are not.
Leveling help, 4 of 5: Grenades (3 s stun) and Net-o-Matic fill the Shaman's missing hard CC while leveling.
Utility, 5 of 5: Net-o-Matic and stun bombs fill the gap left by no hard crowd control; Jumper Cables and Repair Bot add, though 
Reincarnation reduces Cables' value.
Gold, 1 of 5: 1.95 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why 
Mining beside it: Metal feeds its explosives.
It is not A: it scores 1 of 5 on gold, and its 3.55 is 0.20 short of A.
Strengths
- Self-use at 60, 4 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
Bandages and healing potions trim downtime in raids and leveling, with little utility beyond that.
Best partner: Herbalism
Scores for First Aid| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●●●●○ 4 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●●●○ 4 |
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| Gold | 20 | ●●●○○ 3 |
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| Utility | 15 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
Weighted score 3.35, which is B tier.
Self-use at 60, 4 of 5: Bandages and healing potions are buyable raid consumables.
Leveling help, 4 of 5: Bandages and potions cut downtime.
Utility, 1 of 5: Shamans already cleanse poison and disease with totems, so Anti-Venom and poultices add little.
Gold, 3 of 5: 2.65 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why 
Herbalism beside it: Healing potions need herbs.
It is not A: it scores 1 of 5 on utility, and its 3.35 is 0.40 short of A.
Strengths
- Self-use at 60, 4 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 First Aid guide · Back to the chart
Leveling mail and buyable BoE pieces, with Classic 
Enhancement BiS gauntlets and legs unverified.
Best partner: Skinning
Scores for 
Leatherworking| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●●●●○ 4 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●●●● 5 |
|---|
| Gold | 20 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Utility | 15 | ●○○○○ 1 |
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Weighted score 3.20, which is C tier.
Self-use at 60, 4 of 5: Dragonscale, Ironfeather, Volcanic, Stormshroud, Devilsaur mail pieces and Skycaller's Mail Boots are BoE (buyable); Classic Enhancement BiS gauntlets/legs and which are mail is unverified.
Leveling help, 5 of 5: Leather until 40, then LW mail from level 40 (Rare, BoP patterns); recipes yellow 25 skill earlier and Camp Tent; the guide pairs it with 
Skinning.
Utility, 1 of 5: Camp Tent rested XP helps leveling only.
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 3.20 is 0.05 short of B.
Strengths
- Self-use at 60, 4 of 5
- Leveling help, 5 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 fast for this Shaman, so skins flow while leveling, and Camp Chair adds crit.
Best partner: Leatherworking
Scores for Skinning| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●●●●○ 4 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●●●● 5 |
|---|
| Gold | 20 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Utility | 15 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
Weighted score 3.20, which is C tier.
Self-use at 60, 4 of 5: Camp Chair +2% crit to all spells and attacks.
Leveling help, 5 of 5: Enhancement is the best Shaman leveler and kills beasts fast; leather feeds Leatherworking.
Utility, 1 of 5: Field Guide and Trapper's Workbench are minor.
Gold, 1 of 5: 2.05 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Leatherworking beside it: Leather feeds mail-era LW pieces.
It is not B: it scores 1 of 5 on gold, and its 3.20 is 0.05 short of B.
Strengths
- Self-use at 60, 4 of 5
- Leveling help, 5 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 Skinning guide · Back to the chart
Stat food it can buy for raids, plus about 5% more kill XP while leveling (fan-sourced).
Best partner: Engineering
Scores for 
Cooking| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●●●●○ 4 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●●●○ 4 |
|---|
| Gold | 20 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Utility | 15 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
Weighted score 2.95, which is C tier.
Self-use at 60, 4 of 5: Stat food is buyable and used each raid.
Leveling help, 4 of 5: About +5% kill XP for 15 minutes (fan-sourced).
Utility, 1 of 5: Campfire kits are minor.
Gold, 1 of 5: 1.80 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Engineering beside it: Food is minor; the spec's best primary does most.
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 Cooking guide · Back to the chart
Totem relics only enchanters get, but their melee stats are undocumented and leveling gain is small.
Best partner: Alchemy
Scores for 
Enchanting| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●●●●○ 4 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●○○○ 2 |
|---|
| Gold | 20 | ●●●○○ 3 |
|---|
| Utility | 15 | ●○○○○ 1 |
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Weighted score 2.85, which is C tier.
Self-use at 60, 4 of 5: Totem relics are BoP and enchanter-only but their stats are not documented for melee.
Leveling help, 2 of 5: Disenchanting greens gives some gold; relics at 20 and 40 help 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 Alchemy beside it: Needs no gatherer; Alchemy supplies elixirs.
It is not B: it scores 2 of 5 on leveling help, and its 2.85 is 0.40 short of B.
Weaknesses
- Leveling help, 2 of 5
- Utility, 1 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 Enchanting guide · Back to the chart
Herb sales and Find Herbs fund leveling, but nothing it makes helps a melee Shaman.
Best partner: Alchemy
Scores for Herbalism| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●●●○ 4 |
|---|
| Gold | 20 | ●●●●● 5 |
|---|
| Utility | 15 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
Weighted score 2.55, which is D tier.
Self-use at 60, 1 of 5: Nothing a melee Shaman uses.
Leveling help, 4 of 5: Find Herbs and herb sales turn travel into income.
Utility, 1 of 5: Greenhouse and herb tracking 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 2.55 is 0.20 short of C.
Strengths
- Leveling help, 4 of 5
- Gold, 5 of 5
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
Buyable weapons suit it, but Wheel Strength overlaps 
Strength of Earth Totem, so gains stay small.
Best partner: Mining
Scores for 
Blacksmithing| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●●●●○ 4 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●○○○ 2 |
|---|
| Gold | 20 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Utility | 15 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
Weighted score 2.45, which is D tier.
Self-use at 60, 4 of 5: BS weapons (BoE, buyable) suit a weapon-based spec; Wheel Strength clashes with Strength of Earth Totem so gains little.
Leveling help, 2 of 5: BoP chain boots and belts at 40-50 help little; not a stated leveling pairing.
Utility, 1 of 5: Anvil and Master Forge are minor; Sharpening Wheel overlaps Strength of Earth Totem.
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 1 of 5 on gold, and its 2.45 is 0.30 short of C.
Weaknesses
- Leveling help, 2 of 5
- 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 Blacksmithing guide · Back to the chart
Ore sells and feeds gadgets, but Lodestone's Attack Power clashes with 
Blessing of Might.
Best partner: Engineering
Scores for Mining| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Self-use at 60 | 40 | ●●○○○ 2 |
|---|
| Leveling help | 25 | ●●○○○ 2 |
|---|
| Gold | 20 | ●●●●● 5 |
|---|
| Utility | 15 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
Weighted score 2.45, which is D tier.
Self-use at 60, 2 of 5: Lodestone Attack Power 90 clashes with Blessing of Might and helps melee only a little.
Leveling help, 2 of 5: Ore sells; Mining and Blacksmithing is the guide's alternative.
Utility, 1 of 5: Lodestone and Rock Garden are minor.
Gold, 5 of 5: 3.75 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Engineering beside it: Ore feeds Engineering gadgets.
It is not C: it scores 2 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 2.45 is 0.30 short of C.
Weaknesses
- Self-use at 60, 2 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
Fishing returns little for the leveling time, and Fish Bowl overlaps 
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; the spec's best primary does most.
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
Nothing 
Tailoring makes upgrades a Shaman; cloth sales and bags are the only gain.
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: Shamans wear mail; nothing Tailoring makes.
Leveling help, 2 of 5: Cloth sells and bags help space; nothing upgrades a Shaman.
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; the spec's best primary does 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