Discovery Discovery is a mechanic used to learn certain Alchemy and Inscription recipe s . Alchemy . You have a small chance to discover a recipe from a specific list of discoverable recipes every time that you perform a transmutation or that you make a potion , elixir , or flask that was introduced in the Burning Crusade or Wrath of the Lich King . The discovered recipe is learned automatically . Non - factors include physical location , level , and skill level . When you discover a recipe , your character will perform an animation , and a message describing your discovery will be visible to nearby players of both factions . Burning Crusade recipes . Cauldron recipes . The Cauldron recipes will only be discovered when making a related item . For example , producing enough Major Shadow Protection Potion s will allow you to discover the corresponding Cauldron of Major Shadow Protection . It appears that discoveries of cauldron recipes occur with a much higher frequency than other discoveries . Comments on Thottbot for the cauldron recipes report that only 1 - 5 batches seem to be required before the discovery is made . One estimate for the discovery rate is 30 % . Note : there appears to be no Cauldron of Major Holy Protection . Non - Cauldron recipes . For the non - Cauldron recipes , the following requirement applies : Discovery of Wrath of the Lich King recipes . Elixir and potion recipes . Performing Northrend Alchemy Research causes an elixir or potion recipe to be discovered . Unlike in Burning Crusade , where discoveries were made by creating elixirs or potions , Research is the only confirmed way to discover WotLK elixir or potion recipes . Transmutation recipes . When performing , one of the eternal elemental transmutations , or one of the epic gem transmutations , there is a high probability of discovering a new eternal elemental transmutation recipe . Performing one of the lower level transmutations will not give a discovery . Alchemy discovery myths . Based on reported examples of discoveries : It is believed by many alchemists that transmutations are discovered while transmuting and that new potions and flasks are discovered while making potions , flasks , or elixirs . However , there are several reports of discovering a transmutation recipe while making an elixir or potion , and vice versa . It may be the case that the item made doesn ' t affect what is discovered at all , or it may be that the chance of discovering a new transmutation is reduced when making a potion . The exact chance to discover a new recipe is not known , and cannot be known without disclosure from Blizzard or extensive analysis collected from logs . From discussion on the official World of Warcraft professions forum , and via comments about the recipes on third - party web sites , most players believe the discovery chance is tiny . One estimation was 0 . 01 % prior to patch 2 . 1 . In the patch notes for 2 . 1 , the discovery rate was described as being increased significantly . However , the new chance is still not known . One estimate is 0 . 1 % , but there is no evidence for that number . Immediately prior to the release of patch 2 . 1 , Blizzard introduced a hot fix to prevent discoveries from occurring . This was reportedly to prevent an exploit where alchemists who repeatedly tried to create potions with no bag space would still make discoveries even though no potion was created nor potion ingredients consumed . Patch 3 . 3 . 0 introduced a bug which prevented discovery through , however this bug was corrected in Patch 3 . 3 . 3 . Inscription . Inscription recipes can be discovered from three sources :