When you start playing WoW chances are you have no idea how the rich players are so rich and no one to show you how to get as rich as them. In this guide I’m going to reveal some secrets to help you achieve much more than you currently are.

When you begin playing World of Warcraft you are going to start in a “newbie” zone. In this zone there will be not crafting trainers. Its ok, you can’t train in mining until level 5 any way. So hunker down and knock the first 5 or 6 levels out and earn some money so you can afford the training and the tools that you will need.

Once you are ready to leave the newbie area you will be ready to train your mining. Simply ask a guard where a mining trainer is and they will point you in the right direction. Find the trainer and purchase the skill then look nearby for a mining or blacksmithing supplier. You will purchase a mining pick from them. The mining pick is the only tool that you will ever need as a miner.

You may initially think that Mining would work well with Engineering, Blacksmithing, or Jewelcrafting because these professions depend on mining as a gathering skill. Don’t choose these though, pick Skinning and go and purchase your skinning knife. Skinning is preferable to Herbalism because with the Herbalism profession you’ll need to track the herbs. You can only track one at a time though which is why Skinning has an advantage (gives you an additional income source).

As you’re now trained up, its time to start making some money. As a newbie you’ll start in a copper zone. Maintain your mineral tracking high and hunt out the golden dots on your minimap. These dots represent mineral deposits which is where you need to head to start your mining. Don’t be surprised if you fail at first in your new profession, it will get easier. Keep on mining until you get a couple of stacks of copper, then take this to the forge. When you smelt it your mining skill will increase which will result in fewer failed mining attempts.

Given you can now make some metal bars you’ll be able to sell them in the AH for gold. The best way to start in the auction house is to simply price your items at the same price as other vendors.

The mining process is the same regardless of which zone you’re in or what level you’re at. The only thing that changes is the quality of the metals you’ll be mining. Just repeat the process of smelting your metals and then selling them in the AH. Sometimes you’ll find you get lucky and you’ll find a gem when mining. Sell these the same way through the AH.

If you chose skinning as your other profession you should also be making some good money with that as well. Combining these two income streams together is very effective. The basic methods mentioned above are a good way to start out mining and ensure you always have some gold.