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Tier list

Restoration Shaman professions PvE

Best pair for a Restoration Shaman in PvE: Alchemy and Enchanting.

As of · build 1.60.1.70450 · Forecast

This spec's professions are ranked for PvE and for PvP.

How we ranked them

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
CriterionWeightWhat it measures
Self-use at 6040Measured 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 help25Measured 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.
Gold20Not 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.
Utility15Measured 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.

What each tier means

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.

What the ratings assume

  • 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.

Confidence: Forecast

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.

Why each profession is where it is

Choose a profession on the chart to see why it sits where it does.

Alchemy A tier

Flasks and elixirs for raid healing, at a gold cost, with leveling skill-ups eating herbs.

Best partner: Enchanting

Scores for Alchemy
CriterionWeightScore
Self-use at 6040 5
Leveling help25 2
Gold20 5
Utility15 3

Weighted score 3.95, which is A tier.

Self-use at 60, 5 of 5: Mageblood, Cleric's, Distilled Wisdom and Supreme Power flasks are raid consumables that cost gold; new 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 Enchanting beside it: Enchanting's BoP totem relics 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

Weaknesses

  • Leveling help, 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

Enchanting A tier

Enchanter-only BoP totem relics, a mana regen one among them, plus leveling relics at 20 and 40.

Best partner: Alchemy

Scores for Enchanting
CriterionWeightScore
Self-use at 6040 5
Leveling help25 4
Gold20 3
Utility15 1

Weighted score 3.75, which is A tier.

Self-use at 60, 5 of 5: Totem relics (Driftwood Icon 8% mana regen while casting, Ancestral Protection, Totem of Thunder) are BoP and enchanter-only.

Leveling help, 4 of 5: Its totem relics at 20 and 40 are bind-on-pickup leveling gear, Polished Driftwood Icon among them.

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 S: it scores 1 of 5 on utility, and its 3.75 is 0.50 short of S.

Strengths

  • Self-use at 60, 5 of 5
  • Leveling help, 4 of 5

Weaknesses

  • Utility, 1 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

Leatherworking C tier

Strong leveling help and buyable BoE mail pieces, though their mail status is unverified.

Best partner: Skinning

Scores for Leatherworking
CriterionWeightScore
Self-use at 6040 4
Leveling help25 5
Gold20 1
Utility15 1

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); 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

Cooking C tier

Buyable raid food and a modest leveling XP boost (fan-sourced), but a primary does more.

Best partner: Enchanting

Scores for Cooking
CriterionWeightScore
Self-use at 6040 4
Leveling help25 4
Gold20 1
Utility15 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 Enchanting 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

Herbalism C tier

Herb income while leveling, with an Intellect candle that helps only in groups without a Mage.

Best partner: Alchemy

Scores for Herbalism
CriterionWeightScore
Self-use at 6040 2
Leveling help25 4
Gold20 5
Utility15 1

Weighted score 2.95, which is C tier.

Self-use at 60, 2 of 5: Incense Candle Intellect 25 (exclusive with Arcane Intellect) helps only without a Mage.

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 B: it scores 2 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 2.95 is 0.30 short of B.

Strengths

  • Leveling help, 4 of 5
  • Gold, 5 of 5

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 Herbalism guide · Back to the chart

First Aid D tier

A healer heals itself, so bandages help little beyond some leveling downtime.

Best partner: Herbalism

Scores for First Aid
CriterionWeightScore
Self-use at 6040 2
Leveling help25 4
Gold20 3
Utility15 1

Weighted score 2.55, which is D tier.

Self-use at 60, 2 of 5: A healer heals itself.

Leveling help, 4 of 5: A healer needs bandages less.

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 C: it scores 2 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 2.55 is 0.20 short of C.

Strengths

  • Leveling help, 4 of 5

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 First Aid guide · Back to the chart

Engineering D tier

Useful bombs and goggles, but a healer uses fewer, and leveling is slow and metal-hungry.

Best partner: Mining

Scores for Engineering
CriterionWeightScore
Self-use at 6040 2
Leveling help25 2
Gold20 1
Utility15 5

Weighted score 2.25, which is D tier.

Self-use at 60, 2 of 5: Goggles (BoP) and bombs are class-agnostic; a healer uses fewer.

Leveling help, 2 of 5: Healer leveling is slow and explosives cost metal.

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 C: it scores 2 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 2.25 is 0.50 short of C.

Strengths

  • Utility, 5 of 5

Weaknesses

  • Self-use at 60, 2 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 Engineering guide · Back to the chart

Skinning F tier

Skins its kills, but healing levelers kill slowly, and Camp Chair clashes with Moonkin Aura.

Best partner: Leatherworking

Scores for Skinning
CriterionWeightScore
Self-use at 6040 2
Leveling help25 4
Gold20 1
Utility15 1

Weighted score 2.15, which is F tier.

Self-use at 60, 2 of 5: Camp Chair +2% crit applies to heals but clashes with Moonkin Aura.

Leveling help, 4 of 5: Skins its kills, but a healing leveler kills slowly.

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 D: it scores 2 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 2.15 is 0.10 short of D.

Strengths

  • Leveling help, 4 of 5

Weaknesses

  • Self-use at 60, 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 Skinning guide · Back to the chart

Mining F tier

Nothing a caster uses beyond selling ore.

Best partner: Engineering

Scores for Mining
CriterionWeightScore
Self-use at 6040 1
Leveling help25 2
Gold20 5
Utility15 1

Weighted score 2.05, which is F tier.

Self-use at 60, 1 of 5: Nothing a caster uses.

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 D: it scores 1 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 2.05 is 0.20 short of D.

Strengths

  • Gold, 5 of 5

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

Blacksmithing F tier

Little for this spec, since chain is buyable and its weapons are not stat-optimized for casters.

Best partner: Mining

Scores for Blacksmithing
CriterionWeightScore
Self-use at 6040 2
Leveling help25 2
Gold20 1
Utility15 1

Weighted score 1.65, which is F tier.

Self-use at 60, 2 of 5: Chain is buyable and weapons are not stat-optimized for casters, so it gets 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 D: it scores 2 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 1.65 is 0.60 short of D.

Weaknesses

  • Self-use at 60, 2 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 Blacksmithing guide · Back to the chart

Tailoring F tier

Its Faction Banner helps regen unless a Priest casts Divine Spirit; otherwise little.

Best partner: Enchanting

Scores for Tailoring
CriterionWeightScore
Self-use at 6040 2
Leveling help25 2
Gold20 1
Utility15 1

Weighted score 1.65, which is F tier.

Self-use at 60, 2 of 5: Faction Banner Spirit 32 helps a healer's regen unless a Priest casts Divine Spirit.

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 Enchanting beside it: Tailoring does little; the spec's best primary does most.

It is not D: it scores 2 of 5 on self-use at 60, and its 1.65 is 0.60 short of D.

Weaknesses

  • Self-use at 60, 2 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

Fishing F tier

Little payoff beyond minor camp items, and Fish Bowl clashes with Blessing of Kings.

Best partner: Enchanting

Scores for Fishing
CriterionWeightScore
Self-use at 6040 2
Leveling help25 1
Gold20 1
Utility15 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 Enchanting 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