Blacksmithing Blacksmithing is a profession and is the art of forging items out of metal s , mineral s , and other trade goods . Blacksmiths utilize bars of metal unearthed and smelted by the mining profession along with various trade and magical goods to produce their wares . A blacksmith can create melee weapons , armor ( mail and plate ) , trade items used as ingredients by other professions ( such as rods for enchanters ) and keys used to unlock a variety of items in the world . Additionally , blacksmiths can craft items that when applied to weapons can provide temporary ( and in some cases , permanent ) buffs to items . While they can create a variety of items , they strangely cannot repair these items when damaged , and must still use the services of a repair vendor . In general , blacksmithing mainly benefits mail and plate wearing classes for the unique armors that can be created . However , most ( if not all ) classes can use a good deal of the weapons produced by blacksmiths . Ideally , blacksmithing would be paired with mining as a second profession . " Mining is not a prerequisite for the blacksmithing profession . " As of patch 3 . 0 . 2 , Blacksmiths can now permanently place a socket on their own bracers and gloves at skill level 400 ( see Socketing below ) . Proficiencies and training . Blacksmithing is taught by various blacksmithing trainers located throughout the world . Prospective blacksmiths must be level 5 . Initial training costs 10 copper , granting the Apprentice level with a potential skill of 75 and access to apprentice blacksmithing plans taught by trainers or found throughout the world . Most recipes require the use of a blacksmith hammer and anvil , however , some ( such as Rough Sharpening Stone , for example ) do not . The following are the required levels and potential skill of each stage of the profession : " Note : Since Patch 4 . 0 . 1 all blacksmithing trainers teach up to highest level of blacksmithing ( Illustrious as of ; except multi - profession trainers in starting areas ) . Weaponsmithing and armorsmithing are taught by trainers in Ironforge and Orgrimmar . Weaponsmithing specialists reside in Everlook . Master level blacksmithing can be learned from respective trainers located in Outland . " Perks . Unlike some other professions , Blacksmithing does not get an additional ability . However , blacksmiths do get to add additional socket s to their gear that are not available to other professions . See the Socketing section below for details . Advancing as a Blacksmith . Crafting items is the only way to progress through the stages . Plans will appear as one of four colors in the profession window , with a certain chance for a skill up ( gaining a point ) : As your blacksmithing skill increases , plans will change from orange to yellow , yellow to green and green to grey . Only by finding higher skill plans can one continue to progress through the stages . Approximately every 5 - 10 points , new plans will become available to learn . These can be learned from trainers , looted from corpses , given as quest rewards or purchased from vendors or the auction house . All plans have a requisite blacksmithing skill to be learned and produced . Additionally , some plans cannot be learned until you have a certain reputation level with a given faction . A blacksmith of level 60 and skill 350 can become a Grand Master for . Trainers are available throughout Azeroth and also in Shattrath City of Outland as of Patch 3 . 1 . In Warlords of Draenor . Unlike previous expansions , to advance to start Draenor Master proficiency ( get past 600 ) you will need to learn from a profession book . Players should encounter various ways of getting the book to get started . Socketing . Blacksmiths can now add sockets to their own bracers and gloves , available at 400 Blacksmithing . A player must maintain at least 400 Blacksmithing or the socket will become inactive . At level 420 , blacksmiths can also create Eternal Belt Buckle , which can be traded to non - blacksmiths and used to create a socket in level 60 or higher belts . Garrison advantages . Having ( small building ) is not required , but it will vastly increase the rate of producing via Work Orders . Also at level 2 with an assigned follower , the player gets access to two 4 hour buffs , and . Players should also consider working toward a level 3 ( for ) . The Barn is classified as a medium building .