Alchemy keeps its Classic core in Forever, but a few things changed. Healing Potions now belong to First Aid, many utility elixirs have been renamed Draughts, and oils make 2 per craft. This guide has the full 1–300 route, the best class pairings, the recipes worth keeping, and the parts we haven't been able to test yet.
TL;DR: take Herbalism with it. Level on cheap elixirs up to 150, then on mana potions and Fire Power. Everything above 225 is the Classic route and hasn't been tested on the beta, so treat it as a plan rather than proof.
The basics in Forever
- Ranks: Alchemy uses the same four ranks as Classic Era: Apprentice (75), Journeyman (150), Expert (225) and Artisan (300). The cap is still 300.
- Character level to train: Zockify lists Journeyman at level 10, Expert at 20 and Artisan at 35. SenseOS notes that the client files don't contain level requirements, so these numbers are unconfirmed until launch.
- Slots: you get two primary professions. Cooking, First Aid and Fishing are secondary, so you can learn all three on top.
- Unlearning: open the profession window (K) and click the red X. Your skill and every recipe you know are gone.
Trainers: Expert is taught by Ainethil in Darnassus or Doctor Herbert Halsey in the Undercity. Artisan is taught by Kylanna Windwhisper at Feathermoon Stronghold or Rogvar in Stonard.
Leveling path by skill range
This is Zockify's route (updated Oct 22). Go by the recipe colours rather than the exact numbers. Orange gives a point every time; once a recipe turns yellow or green, move on to the next one.
| Skill | Craft | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1–10 | Minor Arcane Elixir or Elixir of Minor Force | |
| 10–55 | Elixir of Minor Defense | About 45 crafts |
| 55–65 | Minor Mana Potion | |
| 65–90 | Elixir of Minor Fortitude | |
| 90–120 | Elixir of Wisdom | |
| 120–130 | Lesser Mana Potion | |
| 130–150 | Fire Oil | About 20 crafts. Oils make 2 each in Forever |
| 150–165 | Elixir of Fire Power | |
| 165–180 | Mana Potion | |
| 180–195 | Elixir of Lesser Fortitude (world-drop recipe), or Lesser Invisibility followed by Elixir of Agility | |
| 195–215 | Elixir of Defense or Nature Protection Potion | |
| 215–230 | Greater Mana Potion | |
| 230–250 | Draught of Detect Undead | ⚠️ not beta-tested |
| 250–265 | Elixir of Greater Agility | ⚠️ not beta-tested |
| 265–285 | Superior Mana Potion (recipe from Ulthir or Algernon) | ⚠️ not beta-tested |
| 285–300 | Elixir of Greater Defense (needs Stonescale Oil; recipe from Soolie Berryfizz or Kor'geld) | ⚠️ not beta-tested |
We're not listing material counts or trainer costs. The sources we checked don't agree, and the beta prices don't tell us much.
Best class & profession pairings
- Alchemy + Herbalism is the usual pairing, because you gather all your own reagents.
- Mages, Warlocks, Priests and Druids burn through mana potions and elixirs, so this suits them.
- Healers and tanks: remember that Healing Potions moved to First Aid. If raw healing potions are all you need, First Aid now covers that, and it doesn't take a primary slot.
- Transmutes: the endgame Legionite Bar is an alchemy transmute (SenseOS). Expect it to be in demand from crafters once launch players reach the top tiers.
Key recipes & rewards
- Mana Potions (Minor up to Superior) for every caster.
- Draughts: many of the utility elixirs were renamed. Check your recipe book when you train.
- Oils (Fire Oil and the like) make 2 per craft now.
- Elixir of Defense / Greater Defense: tank consumables.
- Mana Well: your first camp object, unlocked at skill 20.
Your camp objects
Forever adds Camping. A cook places a Basic Campfire, and each player can add one profession object to it. A camp holds 3 objects, and the objects share a 1-hour cooldown. Sit at the camp for 1 minute and you become rested and pick up the buffs. Camp buffs don't stack with the class buffs they copy. You get the first object at skill 20. The more advanced objects come from Blueprints that drop from dungeon bosses.
Alchemy objects: Mana Well (first, at skill 20), Fermenter, Alchemy Laboratory.
Legacy points
Per SenseOS, a crafting profession gives 1 Legacy point each at 150, 225 and 300, so 3 in total. Each character can spend 16 points at launch. The Professions tree has Working Overtime, Bountiful Harvest, Bartering, Performance Bonus, Master Chef, Luremaster and Dedicated Study. Hitting 300 also opens up the profession's Certification: 1,000 Merchant's Favor for an account-wide title.
Gold tips
- Don't trust beta prices. goldcap lists beta AH data, but beta economies don't look like live ones.
- Consumables move every raid night. Mana potions and defensive elixirs are the safe bets.
- Herbs can go into Waylaid Crate: Herbs for Merchant's Favor (see our gold guide). If herbs are cheap, crafting and selling may earn more.
- The Bartering Legacy perk lowers vendor prices. If you buy a lot of vials, it's worth looking at.
Common mistakes
- Expecting Healing Potions from your Alchemy trainer. They've moved to First Aid.
- Leveling past 225 before launch data is in. That range is untested in Forever.
- Forgetting that Expert needs both the level requirement and the skill. Zockify lists level 20, but that isn't confirmed.
FAQ
Is Alchemy still worth it without Healing Potions? Yes. Mana potions, elixirs, flasks and transmutes are still Alchemy's.
Can I level Alchemy without Herbalism? Yes, but you'll be buying every herb.
Are there new herbs for Alchemy? The data adds Marefoil, Demonsage and Death Lotus. Where they grow isn't known yet.
Sources
Images: the header and milestone card were made by Systematic with the Systematic wallpaper and brand colours. The third image is a camping screenshot © Blizzard Entertainment, from Blizzard News.
This is a fan guide written by Systematic for the community. World of Warcraft © Blizzard Entertainment. We're not affiliated with Blizzard. Everything here comes from the beta and the launch client, and things can change before the Nov 4 launch. If you spot something that's off once the game is live, or you have a better route, post it below!
