WoW MoP Classic Gold: 12 Gathering Professions Ranked by Profit
With the launch of World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria Classic, players are diving back into one of the most visually stunning and profession-rich expansions in WoW history. Whether you’re a new adventurer or a returning veteran, gold-making is a big part of the experience—and gathering professions remain some of the most consistent ways to line your pockets.
In this guide, we’re ranking all 12 gathering professions based on their gold-making potential in WoW MoP Classic. This list assumes an active server economy and a willingness to put in time gathering and using the Auction House efficiently.
1. Herbalism
Herbalism takes the top spot thanks to the demand for Pandaria herbs like Green Tea Leaf, Fool’s Cap, and Snow Lily. These are essential for Inscription and Alchemy, both high-demand crafting professions. Pairing Herbalism with one of those can double your profit potential. Even without a crafting alt, raw herb stacks sell fast—especially in the first few months of the expansion.
2. Mining
Similar to Herbalism, Mining offers solid returns, especially with Ghost Iron Ore and Kyparite. Smelting Ghost Iron Bars or prospecting ores for rare gems can bring in serious coin. With the return of gem socket gear and Jewelcrafting trinkets, ore prices are likely to stay high for a while.
3. Skinning
While Skinning can be less flashy than the other two primary gathering professions, MoP Classic brings several high-mob-density areas (like the Dread Wastes) that allow you to farm hides quickly. Exotic Leather and Prismatic Scales are needed by Leatherworkers, and farming elites or densely packed mobs can net a steady flow of income.
4. Fishing
Fishing might not seem like a big moneymaker, but it becomes lucrative when you target the right schools. Golden Carp is everywhere, but what you really want are Jewel Danio, Tiger Gourami, and Spinefish. These rare fish are key ingredients in buff food that raiders and PvPers constantly consume.
5. Archaeology
Though not a conventional gold-making profession, Archaeology can surprise you. Rare finds like the [Umbrella of Chi-Ji] or the [Mantid Sky Reaver] can be sold or used for prestige—and some sellable greys are worth hundreds of gold. Not a top-tier method, but good for downtime or completionists.
6. Trapping (from the Brawler’s Guild content)
Not technically a profession, but MoP Classic includes certain unique gathering mechanics—like trapping beasts for cooking ingredients. While not sustainable as a sole income stream, it adds extra gold if you’re already doing dailies in relevant zones.
7. Tillers Farming (Half Gathering, Half Daily)
Tillers farming isn’t traditional gathering, but growing your own herbs or cooking mats through the farm system in Valley of the Four Winds can be profitable. Once fully unlocked, it's essentially a mini-profession that lets you passively generate mats every day.
8. Scavenging (Open World Object Farming)
MoP zones are full of clickable objects—crates, chests, and clickable herbs or relics—that spawn loot. Though not a profession per se, dedicated scavengers can gather items for resale, especially in daily hubs or the Timeless Isle (once released).
9. Cloud Serpent Egg Farming
Collecting Onyx Eggs for Cloud Serpent rep is typically done for mounts, but some players are willing to buy rep turn-ins. If you control a niche, you can sell these or trade them for crafting materials with reputation farmers.
10. Pet Farming
Several MoP zones include pets that can be caged and sold. While pet farming is inconsistent and requires RNG, the right pets (like the Jade Owl or Darkmoon Eye) can be flipped for large amounts of gold.
11. Cooking Ingredient Gathering
With cooking becoming more intricate in MoP, ingredient gathering is useful, but most mats can be bought cheaply. Unless you’re farming in bulk or selling in high-demand windows, it’s not the most reliable for gold.
12. Basic Loot Gathering (Greens, Vendor Trash)
Running old zones and selling vendor trash can generate passive income, but it’s inefficient compared to other gathering methods. Still, it’s an option if you’re just questing and don’t want to invest time into specific professions.
If you’re looking to maximize your time and earnings, Herbalism and Mining are your best bets in MoP Classic. They’re easy to level, pair well with most crafting professions, and have a direct impact on the Auction House economy.
Of course, if you’re short on time or starting late in the expansion, you may also consider supplementing your income through other means. Some players even look to buy WoW MoP Classic Gold directly from trusted marketplaces, especially when gold is needed for epic flying, high-end enchants, or raid preparation. Just make sure to weigh the pros and cons if you’re going down that path—there’s plenty of wow mop classic gold for sale, but it’s still worth learning to earn it yourself first.