This guide (up-to-date for patch 3.3.3) will cover training your Skinning levels from 1 to 450 and where to skin while leveling Skinning in World of Warcraft. Skinning is one of the 3 primary gathering professions, and gathering professions tend to provide a strong gold income. Skinning complements the Leatherworking profession very well, as the leather, hide and scale collected from Skinning can be used to make armor. Skinning also grants the passive trait Master of Anatomy, which provides a bonus to a character’s critical strike rating (details at the end of this guide).
This guide also complements the Cooking guide quite well, as many of the beasts that provide food for Cooking are the same beasts you need to kill for Skinning.
In order to skin a beast, you need to have killed it AND looted it. You are also able to skin beasts that other players have killed AND looted. You also need to be carrying a skinning knife (doesn’t need to be equipped). If a beast can be skinned it will have a color coded property that shows this when you hover your mouse pointer over it.
Red – Skinning level not yet high enough to skin this beast
Orange – High chance of increasing Skinning level when skinning this beast
Yellow – Moderate chance of increasing Skinning level when skinning this beast
Green – Low chance of increasing Skinning level when skinning this beast
Gray – No chance of increasing Skinning level when skinning this beast
The following formulas allowyou to calculate the highest level beasts you can skin:
Up to level 100 – (Skinning Level/10)+10, for example, at skinning level 40: 40/10 + 10 = level 14 beasts
Above level 100 – Skinning Level/5, for example, at skinning level 140: 140/5 = level 28 beasts
Skinning Trainers
| Rank | Faction | Trainer | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice Journeymen Expert Artisan |
Alliance | Balthus Stoneflayer | The Great Forge, Ironforge |
| Eladriel | Craftmen’s Terrace, Darnassus | ||
| Gurf | Stillpine Hold, Azuremyst Isle | ||
| Helen Peltskinner | Goldshire, Elwynn Forest | ||
| Jayla | Silverwind Refuge, Ashenvale | ||
| Maris Granger | Old Town, Stormwind | ||
| Radnaal Maneweaver | Northwest of Ban’ethil Hollow, Teldrassil | ||
| Remere | The Traders Tier, The Exodar | ||
| Wilma Ranthal | Stonewatch Falls, Redridge Mountains | ||
| Horde | Dranh | Camp Taurajo, The Barrens | |
| Killian Hagey | The Rogue’s Quarter, Undercity | ||
| Kulleg Stonehorn | Camp Mojache, Feralas | ||
| Malux | Shadowprey Village, Desolace | ||
| Mathreyn | West of the Shepherd’s Gate, Eversong Woods | ||
| Mooranta | Middle Rise, Thunder Bluff | ||
| Rand Rhobart | Southeast of Brill, Tirisfal Glades | ||
| Thuwd | The Drag, Orgrimmar | ||
| Tyn | Walk of Elders, Silvermoon | ||
| Yonn Deepcut | Bloofhoof Village, Mulgore | ||
| Master | Alliance | Dremm | Aldor Rise, Shattrath |
| Jelena Nightsky | Honor Hold, Hellfire Peninsula | ||
| Horde | Irduil | Scryer’s Tier, Shattrath | |
| Moorutu | Thrallmar, Hellfire Peninsula | ||
| Neutral | Seymour | Lower City, Shattrath | |
| Grand Master | Alliance | Frederic Burrhus | Valgarde, Howling Fjord |
| Trapper Jack | Valiance Keep, Borean Tundra | ||
| Horde | Roberta Jacks | Vengeance Landing, Howling Fjord | |
| Tiponi Stormwhisper | Taunka’le Village, Borean Tundra | ||
| Neutral | Derik Marks | Magus Commerce Exchange, Dalaran |
Apprentice Levels (1-75)
Learn Apprentice Skinning from a Skinning trainer
Purchase a Skinning Knife from a Goods vendor
| Levels | Race | What to Skin | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance | |||
| 1-35 | Drenai | Infected Nightstalker Runt Nightstalker |
North of Azure Watch, Azuremyst Isle |
| Dwarves Gnomes |
Crag Boar Elder Crag Boar Snow Leopard |
Around Kharanos and Brewnall Village, Dun Morogh | |
| Humans | Mangy Wolf Rockhide Boar Young Forest Bear |
Around Goldshire, Elwynn Forest | |
| Night Elves | Elder Nightsaber Nightsaber Nightsaber Stalker |
Around Teldrassil | |
| 36-70 | Drenai | Grizzled Brown Bear | Around Blood Watch, Bloodmyst Isle |
| Dwarves Gnomes |
Elder Black Bear Mountain Boar |
North of Thelsamar, Loch Modan | |
| Humans | Coyote Coyote Packleader Young Goretusk |
Around Saldean’s Farm, Westfall | |
| Night Elves | Foreststrider Fledgling Thistle Bear |
Around Auberdine, Teldrassil | |
| Horde | |||
| 1-35 | Blood Elves | Springpaw Stalker | West of Fairbreeze Village, Eversong Woods |
| Elder Springpaw | Around Farstider Reatreat, Eversong Woods | ||
| Orcs Trolls |
Bloodtalon Scythemaw Dreadmaw Crocolisk Elder Mottled Boar Venomtail Scorpid |
North and west part of Durotar | |
| Tauren | Elder Plainstrider Flatland Cougar Flatland Prowler Kodo Calf Prairie Wolf Alpha |
Around Thunder Bluff, Mulgore | |
| Undead | Cursed Darkhound Decripit Darkhound Greater Duskbat |
Around Brill, Tirisfal Glades | |
| Ravenous Darkhound Vampiric Duskbat |
South of Scarlet Monastery, Tirisfal Glades | ||
| 36-70 | Blood Elves | Mistbat Starving Ghostclaw |
North of Tranquillien, Ghostlands |
| Orcs Tauren Trolls |
Fleeting Plainstrider Greater Plainstrider Savannah Huntress Sunscale Lashtail |
Around Crossroads, The Barrens | |
| Undead | Ferocious Grizzled Bear Giant Grizzled Bear Moonrage Whitescalp Mottled Worg |
Along north and central part of the main road through Silverpine Forest | |
Journeyman Levels (76-150)
Learn Journeyman Skinning from a Skinning trainer
| Levels | Race | What to Skin | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance | |||
| 71-100 | Drenai | Elder Brown Bear Enraged Ravager |
West side of Bloodmyst Isle |
| Dwarves Gnomes |
Elder Mountain Boar Grizzled Black Bear Loch Crocolisk Mangy Mountain Boar |
South and east side of Loch Modan | |
| Humans | Goretusk | Around Sentinel Hill, Westfall | |
| Great Goretusk | Around Sentinel Hill, Westfall or Southeast part of Redridge Mountains | ||
| Night Elves | Foreststrider Rabid Thistle Bear Moonstalker |
North of Bashal’Aran or around Grove of the Ancients, Darkshore | |
| 101-130 | All | Ghostpaw Runner Wild Buck |
Northwest of Maestra’s Post, Ashenvale |
| Rabid Dire Wolf Starving Dire Wolf |
North and west edges of Duskwood | ||
| Horde | |||
| 71-100 | Blood Elves | Ghostclaw Lynx Ghostclaw Ravager Vampiric Mistbat |
South and southeast part of Ghostlands |
| Orcs Tauren Trolls |
Barrens Giraffe Hecklefang Hyena Ornery Plainstrider Savannah Prowler Sunscale Screecher Zhevra Runner |
Wide circle around Crossroads, The Barrens | |
| Undead | Bloodsnout Worg Moonrage Bloodhowler |
East of Pyrewood Village, Silverpine Forest | |
| 101-130 | All | Barrens Kodo Hecklefang Snarler Stormsnout Thunderhawk Hatchling |
Around Camp Taurajo, The Barrens |
Expert Levels (151-225)
Level 10 Character required
Learn Expert Skinning from a Skinning trainer
| Levels | What to Skin | Recommended Locations |
|---|---|---|
| 131-155 | Giant Wetlands Crocolisk Highland Lashtail Highland Raptor Higland Scytheclaw Mottled Raptor Mottled Screecher Mottled Scytheclaw Wetlands Crocolisk Young Wetlands Crocolisk |
Around Wetlands |
| Elder Gray Bear Gray Bear Starving Mountain Lion Vicious Gray Bear |
Between Tarren Mill and Hillsbrad Fields, Hillsbrad Foothills | |
| 156-180 | Feral Mountain Lion | Southeast part of Hillsbrad Foothills |
| Snapjaw | Along the river between Southshore and Tarren Mill, Hillsbrad Foothills | |
| Cave Yeti Ferocious Yeti |
The Yeti Cave, Hillsbrad Foothills | |
| 181-210 | Bloodscalp Tiger Elder Stranglethorn Tiger Lashtail Raptor Mistvale Gorilla Panther Saltwater Crocolisk Stranglethorn Raptor Stranglethorn Tiger |
North of Grom’gol Base Camp, Stranglethorn Vale |
Artisan Levels (226-300)
Level 25 Character required
Learn Artisan Skinning from a Skinning trainer
| Levels | What to Skin | Recommended Locations |
|---|---|---|
| 211-250 | Elder Mistvale Gorilla Elder Shadowmaw Panther Jungle Stalker |
Around Gurabashi Arena, Stranglethorn Vale |
| 251-275 | Ashmane Boar Scorpok Stinger Snickerfang Hyena Starving Snickerfang |
Northwest and central parts of Blasted Lands |
| 276-300 | Felbeast Felhound Helboar |
Around The Dark Portal, Blasted Lands |
Master Levels (301-375)
Level 40 Character required
Learn Master Skinning from a Master Skinning trainer
| Levels | What to Skin | Recommended Locations |
|---|---|---|
| 301-315 | Deranged Helboar Starving Helboar |
Southeast and southwest of Honor Hold, Hellfire Peninsula |
| 316-330 | Hulking Helboar Quillfang Ravager Quillfang Skitterer |
West of Falcon Watch, Hellfire Peninsula |
| 331-370 | Clefthoof Bull Talbuk Thorngrazer |
West of Garadar, Nagrand |
Grand Master Levels (376-450)
Level 55 Character required
Learn Grand Master Skinning from a Grand Master Skinning trainer
| Levels | What to Skin | Recommended Locations |
|---|---|---|
| 371-400 | Wooly Rhino Bull Wooly Rhino Calf Wooly Rhino Matriach |
Between Warsong Hold and Amber Ledge, Borean Tundra |
| Shoveltusk Shoveltusk Calf Shoveltusk Forager Shoveltusk Stag |
Around Howling Fjord | |
| 401-450 | Hardknuckle Charger Hardknuckle Forager |
Southeast of Frenzyheart Hill, Sholazar Basin |
| Shardhorn Rhino | North of Nesingwary Base Camp, Sholazar Basin | |
| Shattertusk Bull Shattertusk Calf |
Around The Glimmering Pillar, Sholazar Basin |
Master of Anatomy
This is a passive trait, exclusive to characters that train Skinning, and it provides a critical strike bonus that scales with Skinning levels.
Rank 1: +3 Critical Strike rating (requires Skinning level 75)
Rank 2: +6 Critical Strike rating (requires Skinning level 150)
Rank 3: +9 Critical Strike rating (requires Skinning level 225)
Rank 4: +12 Critical Strike rating (requires Skinning level 300)
Rank 5: +20 Critical Strike rating (requires Skinning level 375)
Rank 6: +40 Critical Strike rating (requires Skinning level 450)
I hoped you found this WoW Skinning Leveling Guide useful and that it has helped you on your way to level 450. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think.
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
i just have one comment that is for humans skinning lvl 1-75 i would have to recommend training on mangy wolves east of goldshire there are a lot of them and they can be killed quite easily also if you have mining there are about 6 ore deposits around there
i want to grind for lvl and farm skins. i need to know where in northrend i can skin alot of beasts that are 75-80. this is a good guide for lvling skinning but i need to know where to get heavy borean leather mainly. i maxed out skinning now just working on leatherworking.
Heavy Borean Leather can only be crafted, so you’ll need to keep skinning Borean Leather. For a list of mobs that can be skinned for Borean Leather, see this page on Wowhead, Wowhead – Borean Leather, and then you can choose the mobs that suit you for level grinding.
its a good guide. thanks a lot
How do you unlearn skinning? I have a mage that does skinning and herbalism and now would like to do alchemy and drop skinning as I don’t need it anymore.
To unlearn a primary profession do the following:
1. Click ‘C’ to bring up your Character Info display.
2. Switch to the Skills tab.
3. Click on the profession you wish to unlearn eg ‘Skinning’.
4. In the bottom part of the display you will now see some information about the profession with a small red icon on the right hand side. Clicking on the icon will unlearn the profession.
Thank you for writing all this down. It helps sooooo much. I’ve put off building up my profession long enough! Its nice to have a guide to go by that tells you where to go and what to skin. THANKS!
how can i make money doing this as a human do you just sell the skins to a npc market?
Don’t sell to NPCs – sell on the Auction House. Leather is obviously needed for leatherworking, but is also used in patterns and plans for other professions like tailoring and blacksmithing
ok thanks
Another excellent guide. I’m Lvl 70 and maxed out skinning at 375 about level 60. Thanks for pointing out where the artisan trainers are…:-)
Nice and clear guide.
Exelent work.
Hey do u know where I can find artic leather? u know the blue one
I’m guessing you’re refering to Arctic Fur. If you follow the link it will show you the mobs in Northrend and Northrend instances that it can be skinned from, but it only drops rarely.
i absolutely love this guide, it got me from level 1-155 in under 1 hour of doing it, this dont sound like much but when you just slop around skinning whatever you find, 100 levels can take a period of a few days (what i use 2 do)
thanks for posting this guide and i will sure stick to it all the way
arctic fur sells for over 2k gold a stack on my server at the moment so as you may gather, im HAPPY!
Thanks for the guide–I’m a tailor and an enchantress but I’m going to drop enchanting for skinning–and it seems I can level up pretty quickly by following your guide.
this is cool i found chest ways to get my profestions up thanks
If you dont plan on getting lw with this prof, try sing herb, you get a heal and a lot, i mean a lot of bank at 80
i would like to know where to farm motes of air to make primal air i cant find any thing that drops it or any vender that sells it please help
Here U can find what you are looking for: http://www.wowhead.com/?item=22572
Note: (Some) Deranged Helboars now require Skinning 305, but starving Helboars *are* skinnable at 300
This guide is amazing!!
Thanks for all your hard work!!!
Anyone know if the crit chance applies to hunters ranged attack?
This guide really helped me. Really great!!!