Gathering ProfessionLevel 1–300 Guide & Perks
Skinning
Harvest pelts and hides from slain beasts and dragonkin across Azeroth.
Beasts of the Wild grants +5% damage to Beasts and Dragonkin; rare hides unlocked.
Profile Summary
Skill Cap:300 (Artisan)
Perk System:Combat Passive
1–300 Gathering Progression & Resource Nodes
1
Starting ZonesApprentice Skinner
Skill 1 – 75Target Resource Nodes:
Light LeatherRuined Leather ScrapsLight Hide
Recommended Zones:
DurotarElwynn ForestDun MoroghMulgoreTirisfal GladesTeldrassilLoch Modan
Route Tip: Target boar, wolf, and cat dens in starting zones. Beast corpses can be skinned once all loot is cleared.
2
Midgame ZonesJourneyman Skinner
Skill 75 – 150Target Resource Nodes:
Medium LeatherMedium Hide
Recommended Zones:
Redridge MountainsDuskwoodAshenvaleHillsbrad FoothillsThe Barrens (Southern)Wetlands
Route Tip: Wetlands crocolisks and Duskwood wolves provide dense concentrations of skinnable beasts.
3
Midgame ZonesExpert Skinner
Skill 150 – 205Target Resource Nodes:
Heavy LeatherHeavy Hide
Recommended Zones:
Stranglethorn Vale (Northern)Arathi Highlands (Raptors)Thousand Needles (Wyverns)Desolace
Route Tip: Northern STV raptor and panther quests provide natural, high-volume skinning opportunities.
4
Midgame ZonesArtisan Skinner (Early)
Skill 205 – 250Target Resource Nodes:
Thick LeatherThick Hide
Recommended Zones:
Stranglethorn Vale (Southern)Feralas (Yetis & Hippogryphs)Tanaris (Hyenas & Basilisks)The Hinterlands
Route Tip: Feralas yetis and Gordunni apes drop thick leather reliably while yielding solid vendor trash and silver.
5
Endgame ZonesMaster Artisan Skinner
Skill 250 – 300Target Resource Nodes:
Rugged LeatherRugged HidePristine HideDevilsaur Leather
Recommended Zones:
Un’Goro Crater (Devilsaurs/Raptors)Western PlaguelandsEastern PlaguelandsWinterspring (Yetis/Chimaeras)
Route Tip: Un’Goro Crater is the pinnacle skinning ground for Devilsaur Leather and high-level Rugged Leather.
High-Value Rare Drops & Endgame Materials
Devilsaur Leather
Devilsaurs & Tyrant Devilsaurs (Un’Goro Crater)Crafts Devilsaur Gauntlets and Devilsaur Leggings (Best-in-Slot pre-raid melee DPS set).
Pristine Hide of the Beast
The Beast (Upper Blackrock Spire)Turn-in item for Breastplate of the Bloodthirst and Cap of the Scarlet Savant.
Core Hound Leather
Ancient Core Hounds & Magmadar (Molten Core)Requires Finkle’s Skinner (310 skinning skill); crafts Core Armor and Molten Core belts.
Black Dragonscale
Black Dragonkin in Burning Steppes & Upper Blackrock SpireCrafts the Black Dragonscale Mail set (+Fire Resistance and Hit rating for Hunters and Shamans).