First Aid, often an overlooked secondary profession, stands as a crucial asset for any adventurer navigating the perilous lands of Azeroth. It's more than just a means to mend wounds; it's a pathway to increased efficiency, gold savings, and enhanced survivability, particularly in the challenging environment of Classic World of Warcraft. This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough for leveling First Aid from 1 to 300, detailing material requirements, trainer locations, essential quests, and the strategic applications of this vital skill.
Why Every Adventurer Needs a Bandage (or Ten!)
The journey through Azeroth is fraught with danger, and the ability to quickly recover from damage is paramount. First Aid offers a practical solution, allowing characters to patch themselves up, thereby reducing downtime spent eating or waiting for health regeneration. This directly translates into faster leveling, more efficient farming, and fewer costly trips to the spirit healer. The gold saved on consumables like vendor-bought food and potions, or on repair bills from avoidable deaths, can be substantial, especially when saving for significant purchases like mounts or skill training.
While all classes can find value in First Aid, it is particularly indispensable for those lacking inherent healing abilities. Warriors, Rogues, Hunters, and Warlocks, for instance, rely heavily on bandages to sustain themselves during combat and exploration. For these classes, First Aid is not merely a convenience but a fundamental tool for survival and efficiency. Even classes with healing capabilities, such as Priests, Paladins, Druids, and Shamans, can benefit from First Aid. In situations where mana is scarce or needs to be conserved for more critical healing, bandages offer a mana-free way to restore health to themselves or party members.
Getting Started: Apprentice First Aid (Skill 1-75)
The path to becoming a proficient healer begins with basic training, accessible from character level 5.
Finding Your First Menders (Trainers)
Apprentice First Aid trainers are located in all major cities and some starting zone settlements. City guards can provide directions, marking the trainer's location on the map.
- Shaina Fuller: Stormwind City (Cathedral District)
- Dannelor: Darnassus (Craftsmen's Terrace)
- Nissa Firestone: Ironforge (The Great Forge area)
- Michelle Belle: Elwynn Forest (Goldshire, Lion's Pride Inn)
- Byancie: Teldrassil (Dolanaar)
- Thamner Pol: Dun Morogh (Kharanos, inside the inn)
- Fremal Doohickey: Menethil Harbor, Wetlands
- Arnok: Orgrimmar (Valley of Spirits)
- Pand Stonebinder: Thunder Bluff (Spirit Rise)
- Mary Edras: Undercity (Rogues' Quarter)
- Nurse Neela: Tirisfal Glades (Brill, Gallow's End Tavern)
- Rawrk: Durotar (Razor Hill, in the inn)
- Vira Younghoof: Mulgore (Bloodhoof Village)
The Humble Linen Bandage (Skill 1-40)
The first craftable item is the Linen Bandage, requiring 1 x Linen Cloth. Approximately 50 Linen Bandages are needed to reach skill level 40. This recipe is orange (guaranteed skill-up) at skill 1, turns yellow (high chance of skill-up) at 30, green (low chance) at 45, and gray (no skill-up) at 60. Linen Cloth is commonly dropped by humanoid mobs level 1-15.
Graduating to Heavy Linen (Skill 40-75)
At skill level 40, trainers teach Heavy Linen Bandage, which requires 2 x Linen Cloth. Crafting around 45 of these will advance skill to 75. This recipe is orange at 40, yellow at 50, green at 75, and gray at 100.
| Skill Range | Bandage to Craft | Materials per Craft | Approx. Quantity to Make | Total Cloth Needed | Skill-up Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-40 | Linen Bandage | 1 Linen Cloth | ~50 | ~50 Linen Cloth | Orange: 1, Yellow: 30, Green: 45, Gray: 60 |
| 40-75 | Heavy Linen Bandage | 2 Linen Cloth | ~45 | ~90 Linen Cloth | Orange: 40, Yellow: 50, Green: 75, Gray: 100 |
Beyond Basic Boo-Boos: Journeyman First Aid (Skill 75-150)
Upon reaching skill 75 and character level 10, adventurers can learn Journeyman First Aid from any major city trainer or specific regional trainers like Fremal Doohickey in Menethil Harbor.
The Woolen Wonders
75-80: More Heavy Linen Bandages!
To bridge the gap to the next tier of bandages, crafting approximately 15 additional Heavy Linen Bandages (requiring 30 Linen Cloth) is necessary to reach skill 80.
80-115: Wool Bandages & Your First Anti-Venom!
At skill 80, trainers offer two new recipes: Wool Bandage (1 x Wool Cloth) and Anti-Venom (1 x Small Venom Sac, yielding 3 Anti-Venoms per craft). Around 60 Wool Bandages are needed to reach skill 115. The Wool Bandage recipe is yellow upon learning at skill 80, turns green at 115, and gray at 150. Wool Cloth is typically dropped by humanoids in the level 16-30 range. Small Venom Sacs are looted from venomous creatures like spiders and scorpids.
115-150: Heavy Wool Bandages!
At skill 115, trainers teach Heavy Wool Bandage (2 x Wool Cloth). Crafting approximately 60 of these will take skill to 150. This recipe is yellow at 115, green at 150, and gray at 185.
| Skill Range | Item to Craft | Materials per Craft | Approx. Quantity | Total Materials Needed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75-80 | Heavy Linen Bandage | 2 Linen Cloth | ~15 | ~30 Linen Cloth | Continue from Apprentice |
| 80-115 | Wool Bandage | 1 Wool Cloth | ~60 | ~60 Wool Cloth | Learn Anti-Venom from trainer |
| 115-150 | Heavy Wool Bandage | 2 Wool Cloth | ~60 | ~120 Wool Cloth | Learn at skill 115 from trainer |
Reading is Fundamental: Expert First Aid (Skill 150-225)
Reaching skill 150 marks a pivotal point in leveling First Aid. Standard trainers no longer offer advancement; progression to the Expert tier (up to skill 225) is gated by a specific book that must be purchased and read. Character level 20 is required to use this book.
Hitting the Books
The essential item is the book Expert First Aid - Under Wraps, which costs 1 Gold.
The Essential Manuals
- Manual: Heavy Silk Bandage: Costs 22 Silver. Teaches Heavy Silk Bandage, learnable at skill 180.
- Manual: Mageweave Bandage: Costs 50 Silver. Teaches Mageweave Bandage, learnable at skill 210.
Silken Soothers & Magical Mends
150-180: Silk Bandages!
After reading "Expert First Aid - Under Wraps," players can craft Silk Bandage (1 x Silk Cloth), a recipe taught by standard trainers before skill 150. Approximately 50 are needed. The recipe is yellow at 150, green at 180, and gray at 210. Silk Cloth drops from humanoids level 26-40. Scarlet Monastery is a well-known farming spot for Silk Cloth.
180-210: Heavy Silk Bandages!
Reading the Manual: Heavy Silk Bandage unlocks this recipe, which requires 2 x Silk Cloth. Craft around 50. The recipe is yellow at 180, green at 210, and gray at 240.
210-225: Mageweave Bandages!
Reading the Manual: Mageweave Bandage unlocks this recipe (1 x Mageweave Cloth). About 30 are needed to reach skill 225. The recipe is yellow at 210, green at 240, and gray at 270. Mageweave Cloth drops from humanoids level 36-50. Zul'Farrak instance and ogres in Tanaris are good sources.
Strong Anti-Venom (Learnable at Skill 130)
The Manual: Strong Anti-Venom is a rare world drop or can be found on the Auction House. It requires 1 Large Venom Sac to create 3 Strong Anti-Venoms. This offers a significant upgrade for poison removal.
| Skill Range | Item to Craft/Book to Read | Materials per Craft | Approx. Quantity | Total Materials Needed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book | Expert First Aid - Under Wraps | N/A | 1 | N/A | Deneb Walker (A) / Balai Lok'Wein (H) - 1g |
| 150-180 | Silk Bandage | 1 Silk Cloth | ~50 | ~50 Silk Cloth | Trainer (learn before 150) |
| Book | Manual: Heavy Silk Bandage | N/A | 1 | N/A | Same vendors - 22s |
| 180-210 | Heavy Silk Bandage | 2 Silk Cloth | ~50 | ~100 Silk Cloth | Manual |
| Book | Manual: Mageweave Bandage | N/A | 1 | N/A | Same vendors - 50s |
| 210-225 | Mageweave Bandage | 1 Mageweave Cloth | ~30 | ~30 Mageweave Cloth | Manual |
The Healing Gauntlet: Artisan First Aid (Skill 225-300)
Upon reaching First Aid skill 225 and character level 35, the path to Artisan First Aid (up to skill 300) opens via a special quest known as "Triage". This quest is a practical examination of healing skills, rather than a simple recipe purchase.
The Doctor Will See You Now
The Triage quest involves a timed event where the player must save 15 wounded NPC patients using special Triage Bandages provided by the quest giver. If 6 patients die before 15 are saved, the quest is failed. Successfully completing this quest unlocks the Artisan First Aid skill and allows access to recipes for higher-tier bandages.
Triage Quest - Tips for Success
Success in the Triage quest hinges on efficient patient prioritization and quick action:
- Place the quest-provided Triage Bandages (do not use personal bandages) on an easily accessible action bar slot or keybind.
- Enable NPC health bars (Ctrl+V) and consider ticking "Show NPC names" in interface options for better visual clarity.
- Zoom out the camera to a third-person view to see as much of the room and as many patients as possible.
- Stand in the center of the room to minimize movement time between patients.
- Utilize pre-targeting: while bandaging one patient, left-click to select the next patient. As soon as the current bandage cast finishes, immediately activate the Triage Bandage skill to begin healing the pre-selected patient.
- Turn in the quest immediately upon saving 15 patients to avoid accidental failure if another patient dies while waiting.
The Final Stretch
225-240: More Mageweave Bandages!
After completing Triage, continue crafting Mageweave Bandages (1 x Mageweave Cloth). Approximately 30 are needed to reach skill 240.
240-260: Heavy Mageweave Bandages!
Speak to Doctor Gustaf VanHowzen (Alliance) or Doctor Gregory Victor (Horde) to learn the Heavy Mageweave Bandage recipe (2 x Mageweave Cloth). Craft about 30. This recipe is yellow at 240, green at 270, and gray at 300.
260-290: Runecloth Bandages!
Return to the Artisan trainer to learn Runecloth Bandage (1 x Runecloth). Approximately 50 are needed. This recipe is yellow at 260, green at 290, and gray at 320. Runecloth drops from humanoids level 46-60+. Blackrock Depths and Silithus cultists are good farming locations.
290-300: Heavy Runecloth Bandages!
The final recipe, Heavy Runecloth Bandage (2 x Runecloth), is learned from the Artisan trainers. Crafting 15-20 of these will achieve the maximum skill of 300. This recipe is yellow at 290, green at 320, and gray at 350.
| Skill Range | Item to Craft | Materials per Craft | Approx. Quantity | Total Cloth Needed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quest | Triage | N/A (Uses Quest Bandages) | 1 | N/A | Dr. Gustaf (A) / Dr. Victor (H) |
| 225-240 | Mageweave Bandage | 1 Mageweave Cloth | ~30 | ~30 Mageweave Cloth | Manual (previously learned) |
| 240-260 | Heavy Mageweave Bandage | 2 Mageweave Cloth | ~30 | ~60 Mageweave Cloth | Dr. Gustaf (A) / Dr. Victor (H) |
| 260-290 | Runecloth Bandage | 1 Runecloth | ~50 | ~50 Runecloth | Dr. Gustaf (A) / Dr. Victor (H) |
| 290-300 | Heavy Runecloth Bandage | 2 Runecloth | ~15-20 | ~30-40 Runecloth | Dr. Gustaf (A) / Dr. Victor (H) |
Mastering Your Craft: Bandage Efficiency & Anti-Venoms
Understanding how bandages and anti-venoms work is crucial for maximizing their effectiveness.
The Art of the Band-Aid
- Channeling is Key: Applying a bandage to oneself or an ally is a channeled spell, typically lasting 6-8 seconds depending on the bandage type.
- Don't Get Hit! If either the healer or the target takes any damage during the channeling process, the bandage effect will be interrupted, and no healing will occur.
- The "Recently Bandaged" Debuff: Successfully applying a bandage inflicts a 60-second debuff called 'Recently Bandaged' on the target. Another bandage cannot be used on that target until this debuff expires.
Bandage Power
The healing provided by bandages increases significantly with each tier. It's also important to note that the skill required to use a bandage is often lower than the skill required to craft it. This means a player can benefit from higher-tier bandages purchased from the Auction House or provided by a friend/alt before they can make them themselves. This is particularly relevant for "twink" characters who optimize gear at lower levels.
| Bandage Name | Healing Amount | Duration (Cast Time) | Cloth Cost | Skill to Craft | Skill to Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linen Bandage | 66 health | 6 sec | 1 Linen | 1 | 1 |
| Heavy Linen Bandage | 114 health | 6 sec | 2 Linen | 40 | 1 |
| Wool Bandage | 161 health | 7 sec | 1 Wool | 80 | 1 |
| Heavy Wool Bandage | 301 health | 7 sec | 2 Wool | 115 | 1 |
| Silk Bandage | 400 health | 8 sec | 1 Silk | 150 | 125 |
| Heavy Silk Bandage | 640 health | 8 sec | 2 Silk | 180 | 150 |
| Mageweave Bandage | 800 health | 8 sec | 1 Mageweave | 210 | 175 |
| Heavy Mageweave Bandage | 1104 health | 8 sec | 2 Mageweave | 240 | 200 |
| Runecloth Bandage | 1360 health | 8 sec | 1 Runecloth | 260 | 200 |
| Heavy Runecloth Bandage | 2000 health | 8 sec | 2 Runecloth | 290 | 225 |
For rapid application, especially in combat, a macro can be invaluable. This macro stops any current action (like auto-attack or spellcasting) and immediately begins using the specified bandage:
/stopcasting
/use Heavy Runecloth Bandage(Replace "Heavy Runecloth Bandage" with the name of the desired bandage)
The Anti-Venom Arsenal
First Aid also provides the ability to craft anti-venoms to counteract poison effects:
- Anti-Venom (Skill 80): Cures poisons up to approximately level 20. Requires 1 Small Venom Sac.
- Strong Anti-Venom (Skill 130, Manual): Cures poisons up to approximately level 35-49. Requires 1 Large Venom Sac. The manual is a rare world drop.
- Powerful Anti-Venom (Skill 300, Formula): The most potent anti-venom, curing poisons up to level 60. This is extremely valuable in PvP and some PvE encounters.
Learning this requires Honored reputation with the Argent Dawn. The Formula: Powerful Anti-Venom can then be purchased for 10 gold from Argent Dawn Quartermasters:
- Quartermaster Miranda Breechlock (Eastern Plaguelands)
- Argent Quartermaster Lightspark (Western Plaguelands)
- Argent Quartermaster Hasana (Tirisfal Glades, near Undercity for Horde; also appears in WPL for Alliance)
Requires 1 Huge Venom Sac per craft.
First Aid in the Fray: PvP & Raid/Dungeon Utility
The applications of First Aid extend far beyond solo questing, offering significant advantages in both player-versus-player combat and group content.
PvP - Bandage Wars and Poison Control
In PvP, First Aid provides crucial sustain and tactical options:
- Enhanced Survivability: The ability to self-heal allows players, especially those without healing spells, to outlast opponents or recover during lulls in combat.
- Healing During Crowd Control: Opponent-applied crowd control effects like a Rogue's Gouge or Blind, or a Hunter's Feign Death creating distance, can provide windows of opportunity to apply a bandage.
- Powerful Anti-Venom's Impact: The ability to instantly dispel high-level poisons with Powerful Anti-Venom is a game-changer against classes like Rogues (removing Crippling Poison, Blind) and Hunters (removing Viper Sting).
Raids & Dungeons - Easing the Healer's Burden
Even in organized group content with dedicated healers, First Aid remains a valuable tool:
- Mana Conservation for Healers: Players using bandages to heal minor damage reduce the mana expenditure of healers, allowing them to conserve resources for tank healing or more critical situations.
- Clutch Self-Preservation: If healers are incapacitated, out of mana, or overwhelmed, a player's ability to apply a bandage to themselves can prevent death and potentially avert a wipe.
- Specific Encounter Mechanics: Certain raid encounters, like Loatheb in Naxxramas, feature mechanics that severely restrict or penalize traditional healing. In such fights, the entire raid often relies on First Aid bandages and other consumables for survival, making the profession indispensable.
Stocking Your Medical Bag: Cloth Management & Acquisition
Leveling First Aid to 300 requires a significant amount of cloth. Players can choose to farm these materials or purchase them from the Auction House.
The Grand Tally
The approximate total cloth needed for skilling First Aid from 1 to 300 is substantial. Having a clear understanding of these requirements allows for better planning, whether one chooses to farm the materials over time or acquire them through the Auction House.
Becoming a Cloth Baron - Farming Hotspots
Humanoid mobs are the primary source of cloth drops. The type of cloth dropped generally corresponds to the mob's level.
- Westfall (Alliance): Riverpaw Gnolls near Sentinel Hill offer fast respawns.
- Silverpine Forest (Horde): Hillsbrad Worgens are a good source.
- Darkshore (Alliance): Twilight Fanatics.
- Loch Modan: Troggs in the cave connecting to Dun Morogh.
- Wetlands (Alliance favored): Dragonmaw Whelpstealers & Ebon Slavehunters east of Greenwarden's Grove feature hyperspawning mobs.
- Hillsbrad Foothills (Horde favored): Stormpike Engineers at Gavin's Naze have nearly instant respawns.
- Shadowfang Keep (Instance): Efficient for higher-level characters who can clear and reset the instance.
- Scarlet Monastery (Instance): Particularly Cathedral and Armory wings, excellent for AoE farming by higher-level characters.
- Feralas (Alliance or high-level Horde): Grimtotem Marauders near New Thalanar.
- Thousand Needles (Horde favored): Grimtotem Pillagers at Westreach Summit.
- Zul'Farrak (Instance): A popular choice, especially if using a mount inside. Opening Shallow Graves yields additional mobs.
- Tanaris: Dunemaul Ogres and Wastewander bandits.
- Felwood (Southern Part): Deadwood Furbolgs offer a good drop rate and Timbermaw Hold reputation.
- Blackrock Depths (Instance): Widely considered one of the best locations.
- Silithus: Twilight Cultists at Twilight Base Camp/Post (be aware of phasing; Zidormi can switch phases).
- Western and Eastern Plaguelands: Various humanoid camps, such as Hearthglen.
A Word on Cloth Prices & The Auction House
Cloth prices are dynamic, influenced by server economy, current game phase, and demand from professions like Tailoring. Generally, Linen and Wool are inexpensive, while Silk, Mageweave, and especially Runecloth can be more costly.
Conclusion: You're Not Just Healed, You're a Hero!
Achieving 300 skill in First Aid is a testament to an adventurer's dedication to preparedness. From humble beginnings with Linen Bandages to the mastery of Heavy Runecloth Bandages and potent Anti-Venoms, the journey equips players with an invaluable toolkit for survival and support.
First Aid in Classic WoW transcends the simple act of mending wounds; it embodies self-reliance, enhances group effectiveness, and provides a tangible advantage in both PvE and PvP encounters. Whether it's a Warrior shrugging off blows to bandage mid-fight, a Rogue using an Anti-Venom to escape a crippling poison, or an entire raid relying on their medical skills during a challenging boss encounter, First Aid consistently proves its worth. The time and resources invested in this secondary profession pay dividends in saved lives, conserved resources, and ultimately, a more rewarding and successful journey through Azeroth.