WoW Classic Weaponsmith Guide: Master All Specializations

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Blacksmithing in World of Warcraft Classic offers players the ability to forge powerful weapons and armor. Upon reaching a certain skill level and character level, Blacksmiths face a pivotal choice: specializing in either Armorsmithing or Weaponsmithing. This guide delves deep into the path of the Weaponsmith, providing a comprehensive overview of the specialization, its prerequisites, the quests involved, exclusive recipes, and strategic considerations for aspiring masters of offensive metalcraft in Classic Era WoW.

Introduction to Weaponsmithing in WoW Classic

Weaponsmithing stands as one of the two primary specializations available to high-level Blacksmiths in WoW Classic. Its core purpose is to grant access to a unique arsenal of powerful weapon recipes, enabling the creation of potent offensive gear. Unlike Armorsmithing, which focuses on crafting mail and plate armor, often with defensive properties like Fire Resistance crucial for early raids, Weaponsmithing is dedicated to the art of forging instruments of war. This specialization proves particularly beneficial for melee-focused classes seeking specific, high-quality weapon types, and can provide significant upgrades throughout the leveling process and into the endgame.

Prerequisites

Players whose Blacksmithing skill falls short will need to consult a general Blacksmithing leveling guide to reach the required 200 skill points before proceeding.

Weaponsmith vs. Armorsmith: A Quick Look

The choice between Weaponsmithing and Armorsmithing, available upon reaching Blacksmithing skill 200 and character level 40, represents a fundamental divergence in crafting focus. Weaponsmithing centers on offensive power, providing access to a wide array of weapons. Armorsmithing, conversely, emphasizes defense and utility, notably through the creation of Fire Resistance gear essential for navigating the dangers of raids like Molten Core and Blackwing Lair.

This decision impacts not only the type of gear a player can craft for themselves but also their potential contributions to a raid group – offering either potent weapon options and debuffs or crucial survival gear. Furthermore, the choice influences potential avenues for gold-making, as each specialization caters to different market demands.

Overview of Sub-specializations

The journey of a Weaponsmith does not end with the initial specialization. Upon mastering the basics, players can delve deeper by choosing one of three distinct sub-specializations: Axesmith, Hammersmith, or Swordsmith. Each path unlocks an exclusive set of recipes tailored to that specific weapon type, allowing for true mastery in a chosen field of weapon crafting.

Becoming a Weaponsmith: "The Way of the Weaponsmith" Quest

Achieving the Weaponsmith specialization requires completing a specific quest chain, starting with a crucial, often overlooked, dialogue step.

Starting the Journey: The Prerequisite Dialogue

• Horde: Speak to Krathok Moltenfist located in the Valley of Honor, Orgrimmar.
• Alliance: Speak to Myolor Sunderfury located in the Great Forge, Ironforge.

During the conversation with the appropriate NPC, select the dialogue option explicitly stating, "I wish to become a weaponsmith". This step flags the character's intent and unlocks the ability to receive the actual specialization quest from the nearby trainer. Failure to complete this dialogue is a common reason players find themselves unable to start the questline, as the quest giver will not offer "The Way of the Weaponsmith" without this prerequisite conversation having taken place.

Picking up the Quest: "The Way of the Weaponsmith"

After successfully declaring their intention to Krathok or Myolor, players should seek out the nearby Weaponsmith trainer to formally accept the quest:

• Horde: Speak to Borgosh Corebender, located near Krathok Moltenfist in Orgrimmar.
• Alliance: Speak to Ironus Coldsteel, located in the Great Forge, Ironforge.

These trainers will offer the quest titled "The Way of the Weaponsmith".

Quest Objectives: The 12 Required Weapons

The core task of "The Way of the Weaponsmith" involves acquiring and presenting a specific set of 12 crafted weapons to the quest giver.

Crafting vs. Buying the Quest Items

This opens up several pathways:

1. Craft Them Yourself: Gather the necessary materials and recipes, and forge the weapons using your own Blacksmithing skill.
2. Commission Crafting: Ask another skilled Blacksmith to craft the items for you, potentially providing them with the materials or paying a fee.
3. Auction House Purchase: Buy the completed weapons directly from the Auction House.

The choice between crafting and buying hinges on a player's resources and the server's economy. Crafting requires a significant investment in gathering materials or purchasing them, plus acquiring the necessary recipes (two of which are limited vendor stock). Buying from the Auction House offers convenience but can be expensive, especially if demand for these specific quest items is high. Players should assess material costs versus Auction House prices to determine the most efficient route for their situation.

Common Pitfalls

• Missing the Initial Dialogue: As stressed earlier, failing to speak with Krathok Moltenfist or Myolor Sunderfury before visiting the quest trainer is the most frequent roadblock.
• Insufficient Level/Skill: Ensure character level is 40+ and Blacksmithing skill is 200+ before attempting any part of the specialization process.

Quest Materials and Recipes

Whether crafting the weapons yourself or commissioning them, understanding the material requirements and recipe sources is essential.

Total Materials for "The Way of the Weaponsmith"

Crafting all 12 weapons required for the specialization quest demands a substantial collection of resources gathered primarily through Mining and Skinning, along with vendor-purchased flux.

Learning the Recipes

Acquiring the knowledge to craft the four types of weapons needed involves both trainer-taught recipes and vendor-purchased plans:

Heavy Mithril Axe

Source: Taught by Expert/Artisan Blacksmithing trainers.
Skill Required: 210 Blacksmithing.
Materials: 12x Mithril Bar, 2x Citrine, 1x Solid Grinding Stone, 4x Heavy Leather.

Big Black Mace

Source: Taught by Expert/Artisan Blacksmithing trainers.
Skill Required: 230 Blacksmithing.
Materials: 16x Mithril Bar, 1x Black Pearl, 4x Shadowgem, 1x Solid Grinding Stone, 2x Thick Leather.

Plans: Massive Iron Axe

Source: Sold by specific vendors; Limited Supply. This means the vendor may not have the plans in stock when visited, requiring players to wait for a restock or seek alternatives.
Vendors:

• Jaquilina Dramet (Alliance & Horde): Located at Nesingwary's Expedition camp in northern Stranglethorn Vale.
• Vharr (Horde Only): Located at Grom'gol Base Camp in northern Stranglethorn Vale.

Alternative: Can be purchased from the Auction House if unavailable from vendors.
Materials: 14x Iron Bar, 2x Strong Flux, 2x Heavy Grinding Stone, 4x Gold Bar, 2x Heavy Leather.
Skill Required: 185 Blacksmithing.

Plans: Moonsteel Broadsword

Source: Sold by a specific vendor; Limited Supply. Similar to the Massive Iron Axe plans, availability is not guaranteed.
Vendor: Zarena Cromwind (Alliance & Horde): Located inside the Old Port Authority building in Booty Bay, Stranglethorn Vale.
Alternative: Can be purchased from the Auction House.
Materials: 8x Steel Bar, 2x Strong Flux, 2x Heavy Grinding Stone, 3x Lesser Moonstone, 3x Heavy Leather.
Skill Required: 185 Blacksmithing.

Choosing a Path: Weaponsmith Sub-specializations

Specialize Your Craft

Choose your path as an Axesmith, Hammersmith, or Swordsmith to unlock powerful recipes tailored to your preferred weapon type.

View Specialization Guides

Upon successfully completing "The Way of the Weaponsmith" and officially becoming a Weaponsmith, the journey allows for further refinement. Players gain the opportunity to specialize in one of three distinct disciplines: Axesmithing, Hammersmithing, or Swordsmithing. This choice is significant, as it grants access to a unique suite of powerful, exclusive recipes specific to the chosen weapon type.

Finding the Trainers

Players seeking to specialize further must travel to this snowy zone (map coordinates approx. 62.35, 36.69 for Everlook town) and locate the house containing the three masters:

• Axesmith Trainer: Kilram
• Hammersmith Trainer: Lilith the Lithe
• Swordsmith Trainer: Seril Scourgebane

Sub-specialization Quests (Dungeon Objectives)

Each Master Smith trainer offers a unique quest that serves as the final step to mastering their respective craft. These quests require players to venture into challenging, high-level dungeons to retrieve a specific item from a designated mob. It's generally understood that a character level of 50 or higher is needed to accept these quests. Successfully completing these dungeon objectives demands not only Blacksmithing prowess but also competence in group PvE content.

Axesmith Quest

Quest Name: Snakestone of the Shadow Huntress
Objective: Obtain an item from Shadow Hunter Vosh'gajin.
Location: Lower Blackrock Spire (LBRS), located within Blackrock Mountain between the Burning Steppes and Searing Gorge.
Target Notes: Vosh'gajin is a troll boss within LBRS, typically found accompanied by two Smolderthorn Shadow Priest adds. Standard strategy involves controlling (CC) or quickly eliminating the adds before focusing on Vosh'gajin. Key abilities to watch for include Curse of Blood and Hex.

Hammersmith Quest

Quest Name: Sweet Serenity
Objective: Obtain an item from the Crimson Hammersmith.
Location: Stratholme (Living side), accessed via the main gate (aka Service Gate or East Gate) in northwestern Eastern Plaguelands.
Target Notes: The Crimson Hammersmith is an optional boss located within the Scarlet Bastion area of Stratholme Live. He is summoned by clicking on a set of Blacksmithing Plans found lying on the floor, potentially near Cannon Master Willey's area. The Hammersmith himself possesses no significant mechanics and is a straightforward kill once summoned.

Swordsmith Quest

Quest Name: Corruption
Objective: Obtain an item from the Black Guard Swordsmith.
Location: Stratholme (Undead side), accessed via the side gate (aka Festival Lane entrance) in northern Eastern Plaguelands, which requires the Key to the City. (The Key drops from Magistrate Barthilas on the Live side).
Target Notes: The Black Guard Swordsmith is a summoned mini-boss. Sources suggest two potential summoning methods: simply clicking a scroll found on the ground in a chapel area (possibly near Baroness Anastari), or accepting a quest ("Weapons Up For War") from a dwarf NPC within that chapel, then clicking the scroll. The quest method may be necessary for repeated farming, requiring abandoning and re-accepting the quest between instance resets.

Completing these dungeon-based quests represents the final hurdle to becoming a Master Smith. It requires not just the prerequisite profession skill but also the ability to navigate challenging end-game dungeons and work effectively within a group to defeat the target mobs.

Exclusive Weaponsmith Recipes

Weaponsmithing unlocks a variety of powerful weapon recipes, with further exclusivity granted by choosing a sub-specialization.

General Weaponsmith Recipes

These recipes can be learned and crafted by any Blacksmith who has chosen the Weaponsmith specialization.

Axesmith Exclusive Recipes

These potent axes require specialization as an Axesmith.

Hammersmith Exclusive Recipes

These mighty maces require specialization as a Hammersmith.

Swordsmith Exclusive Recipes

These fine blades require specialization as a Swordsmith.

Weaponsmith vs. Armorsmith: In-Depth Comparison

Choosing between Weaponsmithing and Armorsmithing is a significant decision with long-term implications for a character's capabilities and role.

Pros and Cons (Detailed)

Weaponsmithing

Pros:

• Grants access to powerful, sometimes Best-in-Slot (BiS) weapons for various classes.
• Offers unique raid utility through weapons like Nightfall (+spell damage debuff) and Annihilator (armor reduction debuff).
• Provides strong PvP options like Hammer of the Titans (stun proc).
• Iconic items like Arcanite Reaper can be highly profitable early in a server's lifecycle.

Cons:

• Offers no benefits for crafting armor.
• The most potent recipes are gated behind sub-specializations (Axe/Hammer/Sword).
• Top-tier recipes often require rare plans, significant reputation grinding (Thorium Brotherhood), or expensive/rare materials (Arcanite, raid drops).
• Some signature weapons lose relevance as new content phases unlock better alternatives (e.g., Arcanite Reaper vs. Alterac Valley rewards).

Armorsmithing

Pros:

• Enables crafting of essential Fire Resistance gear, crucial for Molten Core and Blackwing Lair progression, particularly for plate wearers.
• Can craft potential BiS armor pieces like Lionheart Helm and Titanic Leggings, highly valued by DPS Warriors.
• Offers useful utility items like Stronghold Gauntlets (disarm immunity for PvP).
• Provides a broader range of useful armor crafts without needing further sub-specialization.

Cons:

• Provides no specialized weapon crafting options.
• Some of the most valuable recipes (Lionheart Helm, Titanic Leggings) are rare world drops, making them difficult or expensive to obtain.
• Fire Resistance gear has limited use outside of specific raid encounters.

Class Recommendations

The optimal choice often depends on the player's class and intended role:

Warriors

Both specializations offer strong benefits.

Weaponsmithing: Highly recommended for weapon upgrades. Axesmith synergizes well with Orc racial (+Axe Skill) and offers Annihilator/Nightfall utility. Hammersmith is favored by some for Fury or PvP builds (TBC context emphasizes this). Swordsmith pairs well with Human racial (+Sword Skill). Arcanite Reaper is a major early goal.

Armorsmithing: Excellent choice for DPS Warriors targeting Lionheart Helm/Titanic Leggings and for tanks needing Fire Resistance gear.

Note: Engineering is frequently recommended alongside either Blacksmithing spec for Warriors due to its utility and PvP advantages.

Paladins

Similar to Warriors, both specs are viable.

Weaponsmithing: Provides strong weapon choices. Axesmith for Arcanite Reaper, Hammersmith for PvP stuns, Swordsmith for tanking or Retribution (Human racial synergy). Paladins can also serve as Nightfall wielders for raid utility.

Armorsmithing: Offers crucial Fire Resistance gear for raiding.

Note: Engineering is also often suggested for Paladins for utility, particularly ranged pulling tools.

Hunters

Can benefit from Weaponsmith-crafted weapons (e.g., Blackfury polearm used as stat stick) or serve as raid utility by wielding Nightfall (Axesmith).

Rogues

May find weapon upgrades through Swordsmithing or Hammersmithing.

Gold Making Potential & Key Items

Profitability in Blacksmithing often hinges on accessing rare or high-demand recipes:

• Weaponsmith: Can achieve significant early profits by crafting and selling highly sought-after weapons like the Arcanite Reaper, Annihilator, or Nightfall. The Persuader also holds potential due to its crafting complexity. However, this profitability often requires obtaining rare plans or achieving high reputation levels quickly. The value of items like the Arcanite Reaper tends to decrease as players acquire better gear from raids or PvP. General weapon crafts are typically less profitable than these specialized, high-end items.
• Armorsmith: Can generate substantial income by crafting Lionheart Helm or Titanic Leggings, provided the rare plans are acquired. Crafting and selling Fire Resistance gear (like the Dark Iron set) offers a consistent income stream during Molten Core and Blackwing Lair progression phases.

Choosing Your Sub-specialization: Axe vs. Hammer vs. Sword

Selecting a weapon sub-specialization further refines a Weaponsmith's craft, unlocking the most potent recipes for a specific weapon type. This choice is highly dependent on individual circumstances and goals.

Pros and Cons of Each Path

Axesmith

Pros:

• Grants access to the iconic Arcanite Reaper (powerful pre-raid 2H), the raid-utility powerhouses Annihilator (armor debuff) and Nightfall (spell damage debuff).
• Excellent synergy with Orc racial (+Axe Skill).
• Often considered the most valuable specialization for raid contribution.
• Potentially most profitable early on due to Arcanite Reaper demand.

Cons:

• Requires completing the LBRS quest objective.
• Nightfall requires Exalted reputation with the Thorium Brotherhood, a significant grind.

Hammersmith

Pros:

• Access to Hammer of the Titans, providing a valuable stun proc for PvP.
• Can craft the potentially profitable Persuader, though material costs are high and involve soulbound items.
• Favored for some PvP builds and potentially Fury Warriors (especially in TBC context).

Cons:

• Requires completing the Stratholme Living quest objective.
• Generally considered less impactful for PvE raid utility compared to Axesmith in Classic.

Swordsmith

Pros:

• Crafts powerful swords like Arcanite Champion, Blackguard, Blazing Rapier, and Corruption.
• Excellent synergy with Human racial (+Sword Skill).
• Offers strong options for PvE DPS and potentially tanking (TBC context emphasizes tanking sword).

Cons:

• Requires completing the Stratholme Undead quest objective.
• Lacks the unique raid-wide utility debuffs offered by Axesmith.

Recommendations for Warriors

The optimal choice depends heavily on race, spec, and focus:

• Arms: Axes (Axe Specialization talent, Orc racial, Arcanite Reaper) or Swords (Sword Specialization talent, Human racial, Arcanite Champion) are common choices. Hammers less optimal unless prioritizing PvP stun.
• Fury: Axes (Orc racial, Annihilator) or Hammers (TBC guides favor Hammersmith for Fury) are strong considerations. Swords remain viable, particularly for Humans.
• Protection: Swordsmith offers potential threat generation benefits (based on TBC analysis). Axesmith provides raid utility via Annihilator.

Recommendations for Paladins

Similar considerations apply:

• Retribution: Axes (Arcanite Reaper), Swords (Human racial, Arcanite Champion), or Hammers (PvP stun) are all viable depending on goals and race. Can effectively wield Nightfall for raid support.
• Protection: Swordsmith is mentioned as potentially useful (TBC context).
• Holy: Primarily benefits indirectly, perhaps by wielding Nightfall if needed for raid composition.

Leveling Tips for Aspiring Weaponsmiths

Leveling Blacksmithing from 1 to 300 is a resource-intensive process. Here are some tips to make the journey smoother for those aiming for Weaponsmithing.

Efficient Blacksmithing Path (1-300 Overview)

While numerous guides offer slightly different paths, the general progression involves crafting items that provide skill-ups efficiently. Key milestones include learning Journeyman (skill 50+, level 10+), Expert (skill 125+, level 20+), and Artisan (skill 200+, level 35+) ranks from appropriate trainers. Prioritize crafting recipes marked as Orange in the profession window, as these guarantee a skill point. Yellow recipes offer a good chance, while Green recipes rarely grant points and should generally be avoided unless necessary for specific goals. Focus on cost-effective crafts, such as grinding stones (Rough, Coarse, Heavy, Solid, Dense) which are often needed for later recipes, and items utilizing vendor-bought materials like Flux or Green Dye.

The Importance of Mining

Key resources include Copper, Tin, Iron, Mithril, and Thorium ores, as well as Rough, Coarse, Heavy, Solid, and Dense Stones. Leveling Mining concurrently with Blacksmithing ensures a steady supply of base materials.

Incorporating Quest Items into Leveling

Players intending to become Weaponsmiths can strategically craft the 12 required quest weapons (4x Moonsteel Broadsword, 4x Massive Iron Axe, 2x Heavy Mithril Axe, 2x Big Black Mace) during their Blacksmithing leveling journey.

• Planning: Check the skill requirements for each recipe (Heavy Mithril Axe: 210; Big Black Mace: 230; Massive Iron Axe: 185; Moonsteel Broadsword: 185).
• Integration: As skill levels approach these thresholds, consider crafting the quest items instead of potentially cheaper, but less useful, leveling recipes. For instance, one suggested path crafts Moonsteel Broadswords and Massive Iron Axes around skill 193-200, Heavy Mithril Axes around 214, and Big Black Maces around 234.
• Trade-offs: Crafting these items while leveling might require using recipes that are Yellow or Green, potentially needing more material investment per skill point compared to the absolute most efficient (Orange) leveling recipe at that moment. However, this approach saves the significant gold cost of purchasing the finished weapons from the Auction House or other players later. Players must weigh the potential extra material cost during leveling against the future gold savings.

Material Farming Routes (Optional)

For those leveling Mining alongside Blacksmithing, efficient farming routes are crucial. Guides exist detailing optimal paths for Thorium, Mithril, and various Stones. Consulting these can significantly speed up material acquisition.

Changing Specialization in Classic Era

Choosing a Blacksmithing specialization in WoW Classic Era (patch 1.12) is a weighty decision due to the difficulty of changing paths later.

The Process (Weaponsmith <-> Armorsmith)

The steps involved are:

1. Open the character's skill book and unlearn Blacksmithing. This removes the profession and all learned recipes, including the specialization.
2. Visit a beginner Blacksmithing trainer and re-learn Apprentice Blacksmithing.
3. Level Blacksmithing skill from 1 back up to at least 225. This requires gathering or buying all the necessary materials again.
4. Once skill 225 is reached (and character level is 40+), visit Krathok Moltenfist (Horde) or Myolor Sunderfury (Alliance) and declare the intent to pursue the new desired specialization (e.g., "I wish to become an Armorsmith" if previously Weaponsmith).
5. Proceed with the questline for the newly chosen specialization.

Changing Sub-specialization (Axe/Hammer/Sword)

The available information suggests that changing the weapon sub-specialization (e.g., from Axesmith to Swordsmith) within Weaponsmithing follows the same arduous process in Classic Era: unlearning the entire Blacksmithing profession and releveling it. Methods involving trainer fees or specific items like "Soothsaying for Dummies" were introduced in later expansions (TBC/Wrath) and do not apply to Classic Era Blacksmithing.

The immense cost in time and resources associated with releveling Blacksmithing from scratch makes the initial choice of specialization (and sub-specialization) in Classic Era incredibly important. Players should carefully consider their long-term goals before committing to a path.

Conclusion

The path of the Weaponsmith in WoW Classic is a demanding yet rewarding specialization for Blacksmiths. It requires meeting specific level and skill prerequisites, undertaking a multi-part quest involving the acquisition of numerous crafted items, and potentially delving into high-level dungeons to achieve true mastery through sub-specialization in Axes, Hammers, or Swords.

Weaponsmiths gain access to an array of powerful and often exclusive weapon recipes, ranging from iconic pre-raid powerhouses like the Arcanite Reaper to raid-utility staples like Nightfall and Annihilator, and PvP-focused tools like the Hammer of the Titans. However, accessing these top-tier crafts often necessitates significant investment in rare plans, reputation grinding, and costly materials.

The choice between Weaponsmithing and its counterpart, Armorsmithing, as well as the subsequent selection of a weapon sub-specialty, should be made thoughtfully, considering the player's class, race, intended role (DPS, tank, PvP), raid needs, and tolerance for farming or gold expenditure. While potentially profitable through niche markets, Weaponsmithing, like Blacksmithing overall in Classic, demands dedication and strategic planning to be truly successful. For those willing to make the commitment, the ability to forge some of Azeroth's most potent offensive instruments offers a unique and valuable contribution to any adventurer's journey.

Appendix: Resources

• General Blacksmithing Leveling: Guides from sites like Wow-Professions or Icy Veins provide detailed leveling paths.
• Mining Leveling: Essential for supplying materials.
• Dungeon Guides: Information on LBRS and Stratholme (Live, Undead) is crucial for sub-specialization quests.
• Community Resources: Class-specific Discord servers (e.g., Warrior, Paladin) or general Blacksmithing communities can offer advice and discussion.
• Addons: Tools like TomTom or Questie can assist with finding NPC/object locations using coordinates. Item tooltip addons can help identify material uses.