The Burning Crusade Professions Overview Guide
Best Professions for Druids
Restoration
Restoration Druid Healing Guide
Tailoring is extremely useful for getting the best gear possible early on in TBC. Both the Whitemend Wisdom and Primal Mooncloth sets are high on Healing Power with added set bonuses. While the Whitemend set can be bought and used on non-Tailors, the Primal Mooncloth set does require Tailoring.
Leatherworking, similar to Tailoring, comes with a decent healing set of gear: Windhawk Armor, which requires Leatherworking to equip. Later on, in Phase 5, Leather Chestguard of the Sun is another Leatherworking item that will be of great value.
Alchemy doesn't play a crucial role for Resto Druids early on in TBC; however, in Phase 5 Redeemer's Alchemist Stone will be one of the best trinkets to have.
Enchanting is required to enchant your own rings. For Restoration Druids, Enchant Ring - Healing Power on both rings adds a fairly substantial 40 Healing Power in total. Additionally, Enchanters can use Disenchant on unwanted gear/items to obtain Enchanting materials.
Feral Tank
In this section, recommended professions are divided into two categories: (1) professions which are valuable for the entirety of TBC, and (2) professions which become valuable in later phases. It is important to stress that in TBC, none of the personal profession benefits for feral druids are so overpowered that you can't compete successfully without them. So don't stress out about picking the absolutely optimal profession choice, as all of the options listed below are perfectly fine even at a high level of play.
Feral Druid Tank Guide
Engineering allows the player to use various consumables like Super Sapper Charge and Gnomish Flame Turret which add damage, particularly in AoE situations. They can also craft Deathblow X11 Goggles starting in Phase 2, providing a strong helmet option
Enchanting is required to enchant your own rings. For Feral Druids, Enchant Ring - Striking and Enchant Ring - Stats provide a reasonable boost, effectively buffing a ring by around one phase, such as a Phase 1 ring becoming as powerful as a Phase 2 ring. Additionally, Enchanters can use Disenchant on unwanted gear/items to obtain Enchanting materials.
Leatherworking is required to craft and use various Leatherwork-exclusive armor pieces. These are primarily of use in earlier phases, but throughout the expansion, new recipes are added, which keep the profession viable. Additionally, Phase 4 of TBC Classic marks the introduction of Greater Drums of Battle, which can be used while shapeshifted without a cast time. Therefore, Feral Druids can use these new drums efficiently, and are thus viable candidates for the single Leatherworker that is required in each party (due to the Tinnitus debuff). In their final form, drums are by far the highest raid DPS consumable.
Jewelcrafting, early on in TBC, is a fairly mediocre profession from a min-max point of view, as it offers only a handful of unique gems (which are not outstanding for Feral DPS) and a few on-use trinkets which do not compete with Phase 1 alternatives. In Sunwell, however, Jewelcrafters can craft the BoP necklace Hard Khorium Choker, which is best in slot for the phase by a significant margin.
Feral DPS
Feral Druid DPS Guide
Engineering allows the player to use various consumables like Super Sapper Charge and Gnomish Flame Turret which add damage, particularly in AoE situations. Unfortunately, due to Feral's reliance on Wolfshead Helm, the Engineering goggles, Deathblow X11 Goggles, are not really of any use.
Enchanting is required to enchant your own rings. For Feral Druids, Enchant Ring - Striking and Enchant Ring - Stats provide a reasonable boost, effectively buffing a ring by around one phase, such as a Phase 1 ring becoming as powerful as a Phase 2 ring. Additionally, Enchanters can use Disenchant on unwanted gear/items to obtain Enchanting materials.
Leatherworking is required to craft and use various Leatherwork-exclusive armor pieces. These are primarily of use in earlier phases, but throughout the expansion, new recipes are added, which keep the profession viable. Additionally, Phase 4 of TBC Classic marks the introduction of Greater Drums of Battle, which can be used while shapeshifted without a cast time. Therefore, Feral Druids can use these new drums efficiently, and are thus viable candidates for the single Leatherworker that is required in each party (due to the Tinnitus debuff). In their final form, drums are by far the highest raid DPS consumable.
Jewelcrafting, early on in TBC, is a fairly mediocre profession from a min-max point of view, as it offers only a handful of unique gems (which are not outstanding for Feral DPS) and a few on-use trinkets which do not compete with Phase 1 alternatives. In Sunwell, however, Jewelcrafters can craft the BoP necklace Hard Khorium Choker, which is best in slot for the phase by a significant margin.
Balance
Balance Druid DPS Guide
Tailoring will be extremely useful in getting the best gear possible early on in TBC. Both the Wrath of Spellfire and Spellstrike Infusion sets are high on spell power with added set bonuses. While the Spellstrike set can be bought and used on non-Tailors, the Spellfire set does require Tailoring. Both of these sets require lots of expensive materials. In later phases, it becomes less useful, but there are strong Tailor-specific pieces throughout TBC.
Enchanting is required to enchant your own rings. For Balance Druids, Enchant Ring - Spellpower on both rings will give a decent boost of 24 spell power in total. Additionally, Enchanters can use Disenchant on unwanted gear/items to obtain Enchanting materials.
Leatherworking, similar to Tailoring, is required to craft and use a few pieces of decent gear early on, such as Windhawk Armor. Additionally, Leatherworking is required to use powerful group-buffing drums like Drums of Battle.
Best Professions for Hunters
Hunter DPS Guide
Leatherworking is the best profession to pick up early in the expansion, especially if you are going to be using the Leatherworking Drums for your group. Leatherworkers can craft and use powerful sets like Primal Intent, which will be BiS early on in TBC. In later phases, new recipes are added to try to keep Leatherworker-specific gear relevant, but other professions are generally better.
Engineering provides multiple benefits to Hunters. The Gnomish Battle Chicken provides Battle Squawk, which will benefit our pets and melee weaving by providing 5% haste to melee attacks. Additionally, Super Sapper Charge and Goblin Sapper Charge help in AoE situations, which is where Hunter is really lacking.
Blacksmithing will be a niche pick for the majority, but the reason this is one of our best options is due to Mooncleaver. With melee weaving being much more impactful and easier to perform in TBC, you will see a noticeable DPS increase if done correctly.
Enchanting is a great option from Phase 3, as you can enchant both your rings with the Enchanter-exclusive Enchant Ring - Stats.
Best Professions for Mages
Mage DPS Guide
Engineering is basically a must-have for any Mage who wants to do well. It allows you to use Super Sapper Charge, Goblin Sapper Charge, and Adamantite Grenade, all of which will be a significant portion of your overall raid DPS. In Phase 2, Engineers can craft Destruction Holo-gogs, and in Phase 5, they can be upgraded to Annihilator Holo-Gogs.
Tailoring is the second profession you should use alongside Engineering in Phase 1 specifically. This allows you to craft and use the Wrath of Spellfire set, which is not only pre-raid best in slot but also the full Phase best in slot. In the latter phases, Tailoring drops off a bit, but there are still new recipes introduced throughout the expansion.
Enchanting becomes the second-best profession for Mages from Phase 2, replacing Tailoring. The Enchanter-only ring enchant Formula: Enchant Ring - Spellpower adds a total of +24 Spell Damage.
Best Professions for Paladins
Protection
Listed below are the three professions that provided the most utility and benefit for Protection Paladin tanks. Note that players may only have TWO professions at any given time, so it is up to the player to choose their professions. In general, the preferred professions for Paladin tanks are Engineering and Enchanting.
Protection Paladin Tank Guide
Engineering allows you to use powerful explosives like Super Sapper Charge & Goblin Sapper Charge, which are useful for getting a large burst of threat when running into a large pack of mobs, allowing your caster DPS to instantly begin casting AoE abilities. They also provide strong gear like Goblin Rocket Launcher and Tankatronic Goggles. The goggles are available starting in Phase 2.
Enchanting provides access to ring enchants that only the Enchanter can use in the form of Enchant Ring - Spellpower. Additionally, Enchanters can use Disenchant on unwanted gear/items to obtain Enchanting materials. Paladin Tanks will be in high demand in dungeons, so it is possible to leverage having the right to keep and disenchant leftover loot, providing an additional source of income.
The two above are the recommended Professions to choose as Protection Paladin, although you can gain some benefit from Jewelcrafting, as they gain access to a variety of trinkets and powerful gems that can give them an edge on threat generation and survivability, such as Figurine - Living Ruby Serpent and Figurine - Dawnstone Crab for trinkets, and Falling Star and Don Julio's Heart for gems.
Retribution
Blacksmithing and Engineering are your go-to specs for a Retribution Paladin, but there are some other options as well.
Retribution Paladin DPS Guide
Blacksmithing is the #1 specialization for Retribution Paladin. You will want this for Lionheart Champion and later Lionheart Executioner, which will last you into Tier 6. The skill is used almost completely for the weapon, so in Tier 6 (after you replace it), it’s possible to actually replace this at that point. There are a few items that are craftable in T6 and SWP, so you may still want to keep this.
Engineering allows you to use powerful explosives like Super Sapper Charge & Goblin Sapper Charge, which are useful for getting a large burst of threat when running into a large pack of mobs.
Jewelcrafting has a few decent BoP crafted items in T6 and SWP, but before that, its primary use is gold making.
Leatherworking USED to be used for drums. You should have this as an option in case your melee group doesn't have a drummer for the group. Outside of drums, there's some pre-bis gear from leatherworking, and various BOP crafted items through T5, T6, and SWP. Overall, these items are not extremely useful, so not using this profession is not the worst thing now.
Holy
Enchanting is a great choice as one of your two professions. The second option is a bit more up in the air and dependent on your own personal situation.
Holy Paladin Healing Guide
Enchanting provides access to ring enchants that only the Enchanter can use in the form of Enchant Ring - Spellpower. Additionally, Enchanters can use Disenchant on unwanted gear/items to obtain Enchanting materials. Paladin Tanks will be in high demand in dungeons, so it is possible to leverage having the right to keep and disenchant leftover loot, providing an additional source of income.
Engineering allows you to use powerful explosives like Super Sapper Charge & Goblin Sapper Charge, which are useful for getting a large burst of threat when running into a large pack of mobs, allowing your caster DPS to instantly begin casting AoE abilities. They also provide strong gear like Justicebringer 2000 Specs with Phase 2 and Justicebringer 3000 Specs with Phase 5. The goggles are available starting in Phase 2.
Alchemy adds the addition of Redeemer's Alchemist Stone; however, this will not release until the Sunwell patch towards the end of TBC Classic.
Tailoring gives great, but expensive, sets such as Whitemend Wisdom and Primal Mooncloth
Leatherworking, just like Tailoring, gives great, but expensive, sets such as Windhawk Armor, and gives you access toDrums of Restoration
Best Professions for Priests
Healing
Priest Healing Guide
Tailoring provides access to incredibly powerful Tailoring-only armor that will last well into later raid tiers. The Mooncloth Tailoring specialization allows the Tailor to craft and use Primal Mooncloth Belt, Primal Mooncloth Shoulders, and Primal Mooncloth Robe. Tailoring tends to pair well with Enchanting, as Tailoring does not require reagents from a gathering profession.
Enchanting provides access to ring enchants that only the Enchanter can use in the form of Enchant Ring - Spellpower and Enchant Ring - Healing Power. Additionally, Enchanters can use Disenchant on unwanted gear/items to obtain Enchanting materials.
Engineering allows you to use powerful explosives, which are a great way to contribute to the raid DPS as a healer, as well as craft the Powerheal 4000 Lens Lens in Phase 2 and the Powerheal 9000 Lens in Phase 5. Apart from that, Rocket Boots Xtreme Lite is a must-have if your guild is interested in speedrunning raids.
Shadow
Shadow Priest DPS Guide
Tailoring offers by far the greatest output gain out of all professions. As you level it throughout TBC content, you get to choose 1 out of 3 specializations—Shadoweave Tailoring is the one from which Shadow Priest may benefit, allowing the use of the powerful Shadow's Embrace set, which is BiS in Phase 1, and still among the best in Phase 2. In later phases, Tailoring drops off, though there are new recipes introduced that keep it somewhat relevant.
Enchanting benefits are rather straightforward—you gain 12 spell power per ring, totalling 24 points. The recipe, Enchant Ring - Spellpower, has a trivial reputation requirement, and the material cost is very forgiving, but it can only be used on the Enchanter's own rings. Additionally, Enchanters can use Disenchant on unwanted gear/items to obtain Enchanting materials.
Engineering is required to craft and use various explosives and gadgets, most notably the Super Sapper Charge, a powerful AoE consumable frequently used in PvE. In Phase 2, Destruction Holo-gogs are available, which are very powerful, and are upgradeable in Phase 5 to Annihilator Holo-Gogs.
Best Professions for Rogues
Rogue DPS Guide
Leatherworking offers a very powerful party-wide buff from Drums like Drums of Battle, though the Tinnitus debuff means you only need one drummer per group.
Enchanting is required to enchant your own rings with Enchant Ring - Stats (generally preferred by Sword Rogues and only available from Phase 3) or Enchant Ring - Striking (generally preferred by Dagger Rogues), which offers a solid benefit throughout the expansion.
Engineering offers a powerful helmet, Deathblow X11 Goggles, starting in Phase 2, which is about on par with Deathmantle Helm from that phase. PvP players will definitely prefer the goggles for the increased stealth detection that they offer. Unfortunately, the explosives like Super Sapper Charge are in a shared cooldown group with Leatherworking Drums, so it is not recommended to take both Engineering and Leatherworking.
Blacksmithing is used to craft and use a powerful mainhand weapon for Phase 1 of Burning Crusade, the Dragonmaw. Despite being a mace, this weapon is on par with the best available swords in Phase 1. This can be upgraded to Dragonstrike in Phase 3, but by then, there are a lot of other good options.
Jewelcrafting allows the player to use some Epic gems with increased stats compared to what non-Jewelcrafters can use, for a small benefit. PvP-focused players will find jewelcrafting attractive due to the Figurine - Nightseye Panther trinket, which offers an oh-so-important increase to stealth level to reduce the chance enemies have to detect the rogue in stealth. In Phase 5 of TBC, Jewelcrafters will gain access to a very powerful necklace, Hard Khorium Choker.
Best Professions for Shaman
Enhancement
As with most classes, there are several options available, depending on how much time and effort you want to invest and what you plan on doing with your character. It should be noted that contrary to popular belief, Blacksmithing is NOT a recommended profession for Enhancement Shaman. The weapons crafted from this, such as Dragonmaw, offer a weapon speed that, unfortunately, is very limited to match in the offhand, since these weapons are main-hand only.
Enhancement Shaman DPS Guide
Your non-negotiable profession will be Leatherworking. From there, we recommend Enchanting, but there are some other viable options as well.
Leatherworking: The Shaman is most likely going to be responsible for bringing Greater Drums of Battle to their group, since you are already providing a lot of utility for the raid, you might as well pick up leatherworking for some extra party haste. Along with this, you'll be able to provide some of your Pre-Raid and Phase Best-in-Slot gear.
Enchanting provides access to ring enchants that only the Enchanter can use in the form of Enchant Ring - Stats. Additionally, Enchanters can use Disenchant on unwanted gear/items to obtain Enchanting materials.
Engineering allows you to use powerful explosives, which are a great way to add more to your DPS, as well as craft a powerful headpiece in Phase 2. Unfortunately, explosives will share the same cooldown with Drums from leatherworking, making it less attractive than Enchanting, but still viable.
Jewelcrafting provides access to more powerful gems that only Jewelcrafters can use, while also being able to craft Hard Khorium Choker in the final phase. It is only truely recommended to choose this closer to the end of the expansion
Restoration
Restoration Shaman Healing Guide
Leatherworking is required to craft and use various pieces of mail and leather armor, which are great for Shamans, particularly early in the expansion. Additionally, it is required to use drums such as Drums of Battle and, in later phases, Greater Drums of Battle, which will further increase your group buff utility.
Enchanting allows the player to enchant their rings with special Enchanter-only enchants like Enchant Ring - Healing Power. This provides a "free" +40 Healing Power throughout the expansion. Additionally, Enchanters can use Disenchant on unwanted gear/items to obtain Enchanting materials.
Tailoring, similar to Leatherworking, allows the player to craft and use Tailor-specific gear, such as the Primal Mooncloth set. The Tailoring gear is particularly powerful in the early phases, but there are some strong pieces introduced in later phases as well. Unlike Leatherworking, there is no additional benefit like Drums.
Elemental
Elemental Shaman DPS Guide
Leatherworking is required to craft and use various pieces of mail and leather armor, which are great for Shamans, particularly early in the expansion. Additionally, it is required to use drums such as Drums of Battle and, in later phases, Greater Drums of Battle, which will further increase your group buff utility.
Enchanting allows the player to enchant their rings with special Enchanter-only enchants like Enchant Ring - Spellpower. This provides a "free" +24 Spell Damage throughout the expansion. Additionally, Enchanters can use Disenchant on unwanted gear/items to obtain Enchanting materials.
Tailoring allows the player to craft and use Tailor-specific gear, as well as receive the benefit of the set bonus from Tailored sets like Spellstrike Infusion. The Tailoring gear is quite powerful in the early phases, but there are some strong pieces introduced in later phases as well. Unlike Leatherworking, there is no additional benefit like Drums.
Best Professions for Warlocks
Warlock DPS Guide
Tailoring provides a lot of the Warlocks' Pre-BiS and BiS; nearly all casters will want the Spellstrike Infusion set, and in early phases, Warlocks will want pieces of Shadow's Embrace or Wrath of Spellfire depending on specialization. These items either require you to have the correct Tailoring specialization to equip them, or Tailoring in general to enjoy the set bonus. In the latter phases, Tailoring drops off a bit, but there are still new recipes introduced throughout the expansion.
Enchanting is, after Tailoring, the most beneficial profession for Warlocks for increasing DPS. Enchanting allows you to enchant your rings; Enchant Ring - Spellpower is the go-to enchant for casters, increasing your total Spell Damage by 24 if both rings are enchanted.
Engineering is required to craft and use various explosives and gadgets, most notably the Super Sapper Charge, a powerful AoE consumable frequently used in PvE. In Phase 2, Destruction Holo-gogs are available, which are very powerful, and are upgradeable in Phase 5 to Annihilator Holo-Gogs.
Jewelcrafting allows you to craft your own Epic gems before they are available to the masses. Don Julio's Heart is the go-to gem for casters, at least until hit gems are out. Note that these gems are unique-equip - this means you can only get 1 of each, which diminishes the benefit.
Best Professions for Warriors
DPS
Blacksmithing and Engineering are your go-to specs for a DPS Warrior, but there are some other options as well.
Warrior DPS Guide
Blacksmithing is very good for DPS Warriors, as it gives amazing items for both Fury and Arms with Dragonmaw, and Lionheart Champion.
Engineering allows you to use powerful explosives like Super Sapper Charge & Goblin Sapper Charge, which are useful for getting a large burst of threat when running into a large pack of mobs.
Enchanting just provides a simple 4 all-stats to each of your rings Enchant Ring - Stats, nothing flashy.
Protection
Blacksmithing and Enchanting are your go-to specs for a Tank Warrior.
Protection Warrior Tank Guide
Engineering is full of unique and interesting gadgets that can improve your gameplay in TBC. Similar to Classic, you'll be using explosives such as the new and improved Super Sapper Charge to deal extra damage to enemies and generate AoE threat. As a tank, you also get access to the trinkets Gnomish Poultryizer or Goblin Rocket Launcher, depending on your specialization, which provide 45 stamina each and can be stacked for a massive HP boost as soon as you hit lvl 70
Enchanting is technically the second-best profession after Engineering, and provides +8 to all stats thanks to the Enchant Ring - Stats. That being said, it's a fairly minor amount of stats, and it can be replaced by any profession, such as Blacksmithing if you wish to craft weapons, or gathering professions to sustain Engineering.
Blacksmithing is a good option should you want to swap to either Arms or Fury, as it gives amazing items for both specs with Dragonmaw, and Lionheart Champion.
What professions do you plan on leveling during The Burning Crusade? Let us know in the comments down below!
