Alchemy has received some updates to how it's leveled and utilized in The War Within. Now that Alchemy is tied to Khaz Algar and most recipes are time-gated, it can be daunting for players looking to hop into this Profession to try and make some coin. Here, we’ll discuss which Alchemy spec you should choose and dive into the new Profession mechanics in The War Within.
Where can you learn Alchemy?
Much of the Alchemy trainers are now relocated to Khaz Algar and most of the recipes you can learn come from this expansion alone. You can find a trainer in Dornogal, within the Isle of Dorn zone, and the City of Threads in Azj-Kahet.
How do you level Alchemy?
This profession is done through your daily cooldowns with Wild Experimentation and Meticulous Experimentation, which is also your primary source of crafting recipes. Other than that, you can unlock a few recipes by buying them from your trainers and leveling up your skill level.
Why level Alchemy?
Alchemy is the only source of powerful consumables like Potions and Flasks that are integral to raiding. Flasks give out long-lasting combat buffs to make DPSing easier, while Potions are weaved in damage rotations so that they can maximize their damage. These potions are usually sold in bulk amounts, which can be a nice and steady source of income for Alchemists.
Of course, they can also produce other consumables that are welcome in many raid groups like Cauldrons that allow party members to restock on any Potions and Flasks of their choice. This profession even lets you craft your own Trinket that provides its own combat buffs.
Transmutations are a bit more volatile, but are highly profitable for players who know when they’re valuable. Gems like Blasphemite are quite valuable and can be a nice source of gold due to their prevalence in many crafting recipes.
Which Specialization Should You Choose?
Currently, there are four different specializations for Alchemy: Fantastic Flasks, Alchemical Mastery, Potent Potions, and Thaumaturgy. We’ll get into detail about what each spec does for your crafting venture.
Fantastic Flasks
Since the return of Flask items in The War Within and Phials contributing bonus stats for all other Professions, this spec focuses on enhancing these consumable effects. Flasks now give more long-term combat buffs while Phials are an integral crafter requirement to crafting better gear.
Alchemical Mastery
This specialization is a generalist tree for Alchemy, as it focuses on providing a wide Crafting bonus for any type of Alchemy items. This also gives you wider access to Alchemy recipes that are normally hidden by daily cooldowns. Alchemy Mastery is a good start when learning this Profession as it helps you identify the herbs exclusive to The War Within.
Potent Potions
Potent Potions, as the name implies, is built around gaining better crafting output of Potions. This spec allows you to craft multiple potions for the same number of components for one potion, essentially doubling your Potion output for less effort and raw materials. Perfect for when you want to sell Potions in bulk.
Thaumaturgy
Thaumaturgy is a new specialization introduced in The War Within. It involves creating alchemical reagents used for most Alchemy crafting, namely Volatile, Mercurial, Ominous, and Glowing reagents. This spec allows you to break down raw materials into the reagents you need.
Best Overall Specialization
As of now, Alchemical Mastery is a great starter choice for both new and experienced Alchemy players. It’s the most general crafting class, with a wide selection of recipes. Not only that but with the bonus to Horticulture, you have better access to herbs that are more difficult to get. This is an easy spec to get into and is a good long-term investment for crafting other Alchemy items in the long run.
If you have to pick a sub-specialization after Alchemical Mastery, Fantastic Flask is a good option, as the Phials you craft will always be relevant for most of the game. Crafters will be relying on Phials since these provide Profession stat boosts like Ingenuity, Crafting Speed, Finesse and other vital crafting stats.
In the end, however, World of Warcraft is also prone to economic trends based on certain factors, with World’s First races causing certain Potions, Flasks, and raw materials to be extremely popular and profitable. While Alchemical Mastery is a great starting point, it’s best to keep an eye out for news on what’s popular so that you can immediately capitalize on certain trends.
