World of Warcraft Classic. A 15-year-old game that brings players back to the nostalgia of their younger years. A game where you can cut down swaths of enemies using your preference of up close and personal melee combat prowess or devastating magic. A game where the gods bless their worshipers with righteous holy power, giving them the ability to smite their foes with divine wrath or mend their allies' grievous wounds.
A game where picking flowers is one of the most profitable professions the world has ever known. In comparison to the epic proportions of World of Warcraft Classic's scope, daisy-picking can appear somewhat out of place. But don't be fooled. Herbalism is perhaps the best way to make a ton of bank. Herbs are a necessary material for every end game potion that raids will need. And with that high demand comes many paying customers. Once you've become a flower finding artisan, here are the places you'll want to frequent to make the most of your dainty hobby. By the way, you're going to want your epic mount for this.
Updated by Kristy Ambrose, November 16th, 2020: With the release of the Phase 6 patch looming on the horizon, collecting those high-level mats is more important than ever before. Consumables are essential for victory in both PVP and endgame raiding, but it's not all about catering to level 60s. We're rocking our lowbie alts as well, so the following routes include additions that cover both low and high-level areas, not only for herbs and resources but also to grind that Herbalism level up.
15 Hillsbrad Foothills
This is a great place for lower-level players to gather various herbs, but higher level players often find themselves here for beginner herbs that are extremely useful. Specifically, Brairthorn and occasionally Mageroyal, because these plants occasionally yield the precious Swifthistle. As the name suggests, Swiftthisle is the main component in potions that increase your character's speed. Not only handy when exploring, but virtually essential in PVP situations.
14 Arathi Highlands
While it may be a mid-level zone, Arathi Highlands has a high density of useful herbs. Goldthorn, Khadgar's Whisker, and Fadeleaf are what you're looking for here, and you'll find each of them in abundance.
While you're herbing, be on the lookout for the elemental spawns at the three locations in the middle of your route circles. These elementals drop charms that warriors need in order to complete their class quest for the Whirlwind Axe. In order to get their hands on this weapon as soon as possible, they are willing to pony up some gold.
13 The Hinterlands
While Purple Lotus and Sungrass are the most common herbs in this zone, they aren't your primary focus. Instead, you'll be searching for the elusive Ghost Mushrooms. This rare herb only spawns in two zones, the Hinterlands and Desolace. Along the way, you'll also be on the lookout for Goldthorn, Khadgar's Whisker, and Fadeleaf. The hard to find Ghost Mushrooms only grow in caves and dens, so you'll be doing some hiking on foot through Skulk Rock.
The respawn timer on them is approximately ten minutes, and you ought to be able to find about 3 every spawn. If you happen to be a Rogue or Druid, Ghost Mushrooms also spawn in abundance inside the instance Maraudon. Stealthing through it can be a great alternative option to waiting around in the Hinterlands.
12 Maraudon
When a Herbalist is looking for Ghost Mushrooms, they often head to the Hinterlands, but that's not the only option. Maraudon in Desolace is probably the best place in Azeroth for farming Ghost Mushrooms, putting the relatively small crop in the Hinterlands to shame. Roll for them if you're exploring the dungeon in a group, or log on to your level 60 and venture into this mid-level dungeon on your own. This dungeon is vast, consisting of three different branches and an option to teleport to the more isolated areas, so a map is helpful.
11 Silithus
Here you'll find Golden Sansam, Dreamfoil, and, most importantly, the highly prized Black Lotus. There's hardly ever competition in this zone as there's really no reason to be here before the release of phase 5 and the opening of Ahn'Qiraj. Just about the only reason to come to Silithus is to farm Black Lotus.
However, there's one small problem. Most of the spawns are located inside hive caverns that are swarming with unavoidable elites. If you want to get your hands on these hard to farm lotuses, you're going to need some friends. This will cut into your profit margins a bit as you'll need to split the loot for their time, but at around 120 gold a lotus you'll still be making some decent money.
10 Felwood
Felwood is home to a large variety of expensive late-game herbs. While there aren't any Black Lotuses, you will find Gromsblood, Golden Sansam, Plaguebloom, Dreamfoil, and Arthas' Tears.
While you're farming this menagerie of plant life, you can also spend some time grinding the satyrs for Felcloth. If you've got your Cenarion Beacon in your inventory, you can also weave some mob kills into your routes so that you'll have the Cenarion Plant Salves you need for your Songflower Serenade buff come raid night.
9 Western Plaguelands
Here you'll only find the aptly named Plaguebloom, as well as Arthas' Tears. Unless you've also got mining, WPL doesn't have much else to offer. Also, the route is so small that you'll end up waiting patiently for respawns. For these reasons, WPL is only good to visit in short bursts, while the other zones are seeing high levels of competition.
As mentioned prior, gathering professionals that take mining and herbalism may find this spot more reliable, as you can gather herbs in between checking on Hearthglen and the cave to the northeast for rich thorium vein spawns.
8 Zul'Gurub
If you play a Warlock, and you're putting together raiding gear, it will have to include the complete Bloodvine Set. This set doesn't drop, it has to be made by a tailor, and what do you need to make it? The main component is a herb called Bloodvine, and it's only found in one place in Azeroth, the raid dungeon of Zul'Gurub. This herb wasn't available until the raid was released in Phase 4, and only herbalists in possession of a Blood Scythe, a special tool also only found in ZG, can harvest it. This rare herb is usually collected by the guild and delivered to a high-level tailor who can complete the Bloodvine Set for the Warlocks.
7 Burning Steppes
Like WPL, the Burning Steppes is a great zone to frequent if you have both herbalism and mining. Unlike WPL, the Burning Steppes is home to Black Lotus spawns. While this results in a higher profit ceiling, it also brings unwanted competition. Besides the magnificent Black Lotus, you will also find Dreamfoil, Mountain Silversage, Golden Sansam, and Firebloom here.
Again, herbers who also took mining will see much better returns, as there are many mithril deposit spawns as well as the occasional rich thorium vein. To prevent this article from becoming too repetitive, the same is true for every remaining entry on this list.
6 Swamp Of Sorrows
This zone is great for all kinds of herbs, but as your character gets closer to max level you'll note that some are more essential than others, and those will be your main focus here eventually. Herbs like Plaguebloom, Blindweed, and Mountain Silversage are essential for higher-level potions, such as Major Health and almost anything that increases spell power. There are specific routes marked if that makes it easier, but the area is rich enough that you can make your own or just wander randomly while grinding or questing.
5 Azshara
Believe it or not, Azshara has the highest density of herb nodes of every zone in the game. Here you'll find the less desirable Purple Lotus and Sungrass, as well as the more highly prized Golden Sansam, Mountain Silversage, and Dreamfoil. While it may have the highest density of nodes, they are spread pretty widely across the zone.
Furthermore, the absence of Black Lotuses from the zone makes it a bit less desirable for the most competitive herbers. As a result, Azshara has just as many herbs and quite a bit less competition than other zones. It's the perfect spot to farm when the server is especially busy.
4 Un'goro Crater
While also bereft of Black Lotus spawns, Un'goro Crater has the most available spawns for Golden Sansam, Mountain Silversage, and Dreamfoil. As is the case with Azshara, the deficit of Black Lotus here can actually be seen as a benefit due to the presence of less traffic. If you happen to have skinning, the devilsaurs that roam the zone can be scouted out and killed alongside your herb gathering.
If not, the fire elementals at Fire Plume Ridge require no specific skillset for dropping their Elemental Fires. While it's often camped, stopping by during your herbing runs is the perfect way to avoid any downtime.
3 Winterspring
This is a unique zone, as it is the one and only home to Icecap. This valuable herb is a component of Major Mana Potions and spellcaster mana flasks. As this is the only place to gather the herb, it's also home to a high level of competition. Couple that with the presence of Black Lotuses in the area and it's unlikely that you'll ever have Winterspring herbs all to yourself.
Thankfully, there are other things to do in the area. While waiting for spawns you can farm juju's for raid consumables if you're Horde, or grind Wintersaber Trainer rep if you're Alliance. There's also always Timbermaw reputation to grind which is available to both factions.
2 Eastern Plaguelands
Eastern Plaguelands is the only zone where you can find every high-level herb your flower-filled heart desires. It's more likely you'll come across Plaguebloom and Arthas' Tears, but Mountain Silversage, Golden Sansam, and Dreamfoil also spawn across the zone. And, of course, there's also a number of Black Lotuses.
While it's the best zone to farm herbs on paper, this also draws huge amounts of competition. So much competition, in fact, that it's probably not advisable to farm here unless you're online at a time when most of the server is busy with real life. So call in sick to work tomorrow and boot up some Classic WoW. When the boss man asks what's wrong, just let him know not to worry. After all, you're going to spend the day gathering up some natural herbal remedies.
1 Alterac Mountains
Most northern herbing routes trace a path through Winterspring and focus on Icecap, a handy plant that can be used to make certain high-level potions. However, there's one other plant that's similar and much rarer, Wintersbite. It doesn't have many uses, but it is essential if you're going to make Frost Oil. This potion isn't consumed but applied to a weapon, temporarily giving it the ability to throw random frost bolts. Count on the warriors in your guild to start asking for it when running Molten Core.