WoW Classic Skinning Guide
Skinning is one of the primary and gathering professions in WoW Classic. Our Skinning leveling guide provides a focused and efficient path to leveling Skinning from 1 to 300 in World of Warcraft Classic Era, Hardcore, and the 20th Anniversary Edition (aka WoW Classic Fresh). Follow this WoW Classic Skinning guide to quickly reach max Skinning skill.
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WoW Classic Skinning Leveling 1-300
To level Skinning in WoW Classic, you’ll need to collect skill points. You’ll receive skill points by skinning dead animals. The frequency with which you receive a skill point depends on your current skill level.
In general, you can simply level Skinning passively while leveling your character by skinning every possible mob.
When leveling Skinning, you can find the highest possible level mobs that you can skin with your current skill using this rule of thumb:
- Up to skill level 100: (Skinning Skill/10)+10 – For example, if you are at skill level 40, you can look for mobs up to level 14.
- From skill level 100: Skinning skill/5 – For example, if you are at skill level 150, you can look out for mobs up to level 30.
Also, note that the time it takes to skin a carcass increases depending on your skill level. While the process only takes 2 seconds as an apprentice, it takes 3 seconds as an artisan (even if you are skinning the same animal).
Are you lagging in skill level or do you want to power level skinning later? Immediately afterwards you will find tips for areas where you can find suitable mobs for your skill level.
Note: To be able to skin animals, you need a 
Skinning Knife in your inventory (does not have to be equipped). You can purchase Skinning Knife from many Trade Supplies vendors.
Leveling Skinning from 1-75 (Apprentice) in WoW Classic
To level Skinning from 1-75 in WoW Classic Era, Hardcore, or Fresh, follow these steps:
- 1-50 :
Elwynn Forest & 
Durotar- Elwynn Forest: Kill wolves and boars around Goldshire.
- Durotar: Kill boars, scorpions, and raptors found almost throughout the area. For example, you can start in the south at Sen’jin, then head towards Orgrimmar and skin everything you can get your hands on.
- 50-75 : Westfall & The Barrens
- Westfall: Kill and skin boars and coyotes around Sentinel Hill.
- The Barrens: Stay in the area around The Crossroads. Here you’ll find tons of raptors, lions, and plains striders to skin.
Learn Journeyman Skinning from a Skinning trainer in any major city. It costs 5 
. This allows you to level Skinning up to 150.
Leveling Skinning from 75-150 (Journeyman) in WoW Classic
To level Skinning from 75-150 in WoW Classic Era, Hardcore, or Fresh, follow these steps:
- 75-105 : Loch Modan & The Barrens
- Loch Modan: Skin bears, boards, and crocolisks east and west of The Loch.
- The Barrens: Continue to stay in The Barrens as there is plenty of wildlife there for you to skin. Head towards Ratchet to encounter higher-level mobs.
- 105-150: Hillsbrad Foothills
- 105-125: Skin the lions and bears you find throughout the area. Some of them might still be too high for your level.
- 125-150: Continue to stay in the Hillsbrad Foothills and skin. Now you should be able to skin almost any wild animal you come across.
Learn Expert Skinning from a Skinning trainer. It costs 50 . This allows you to level Skinning up to 225.
Leveling Skinning from 150-225 (Expert) in WoW Classic
To level Skinning from 150-225 in WoW Classic Era, Hardcore, or Fresh, follow these steps:
- 150-200: Alterac Mountains
- 150-175: Skin the yetis until you reach 175.
- 175-200: Continue to stick to the Yetis and also take out the mountain lions that come your way.
- 200-225: Alterac Mountains & The Hinterlands
- Stay in the Alterac Mountains until you reach skin level 210.
- Then go to The Hinterlands. Start in the west and traverse the area towards the east as the wildlife level increases.
Learn Artisan Skinning from a Skinning trainer. It costs 5 
. This allows you to level Skinning up to 300.
Leveling Skinning from 225-300 (Artisan) in WoW Classic
To level Skinning from 225-300 in WoW Classic Era, Hardcore, or Fresh, follow these steps:
- 225-250: The Hinterlands: Continue to stay in the Hinterlands until you reach 250.
- 250-300: Un’Goro Crater
- 250-275: Go to Un’Goro Crater. Stick to the eastern and western borders first and kill Pterrordaxes there.
- 275-300: Now you can skin almost anything in the crater. Do this until you reach 300.
You have now reached the maximum Skinning level in WoW Classic.
How to Increase the Skinning Skill Above 300
The skill level cap for skinning – like that of all other professions in WoW Classic – is 300. However, for some opponents that you can skin, you need a higher skill level. These are primarily various raid bosses such as Onyxia in Onyxia’s Lair or Nefarian in the Blackwing Lair.
You can get your skill level above 300 with the following items:
| Item | Skill Bonus | Source |
|---|---|---|
 Enchant Gloves - Skinning | Skinning +5 |  Formula: Enchant Gloves - Skinning drops in Arathi Highlands |
 Pip's Skinner | Skinning +10 | The Beast in Blackrock Spire |
 Zulian Slicer | Skinning +10 | High Priest Thekal in Zul’Gurub |
WoW Classic Skinning Trainer Locations
You can learn Skinning from Skinning trainers, who you can find in all capitals and various other cities. You can, for example, go to one of the following Skinning trainers to learn the profession:
Horde Skinning Trainers
- Killian Hagey in Undercity (70.6 59.2)
- Kulleg Stonehorn in Feralas (74.4 43.0)
- Malux in Desolace (23.2 69.8)
- Mooranta in Thunder Bluff (44.6 42.8)
- Rand Rhobart in Tirisfall (65.6 60.0)
- Thuwd in Orgrimmar (63.2 45.2)
- Yonn Deepcut in Mulgore (45.6 57.8)
Alliance Skinning Trainers
- Balthus Stoneflayer in Ironforge (39.6 32.6)
- Eladriel in Darnassus (64.2 21.8)
- Helene Peltskinner in Elwynn Forest (46.2 62.2)
- Maris Granger in Stormwind City (67.8 49.0)
- Radnaal Maneweaver in Teldrassil (42.0 50.0)
- Wilma Ranthal in Redridge Mountains (88.8 71.0)
You don’t have to go to different trainers for the individual levels (Apprentice, Journeyman, Expert, Artisan), as is the case with some other WoW Classic professions. You can learn any skill level from any Skinning trainer.