Professions

With Cataclysm, the profession benefits have received an overhaul, bringing some equality in terms of raiding benefits. However, because of the stat shift that we saw go into place with 4.0.1, there is one profession that currently stands out as a “best” option—Leatherworking. The comparative difference is enough that I think it’s likely that a nerf will be incoming, but in the meantime, I would recommend picking up Leatherworking along with another profession of your choosing. Below are the *RAIDING* benefits offered by each profession (excluding secondary professions and any fun/profitable benefits):

Alchemy

  • Mixology (+80 Int for Flask of the Draconic Mind)
  • 40% to potion gains with Alchemist Stone
  • (Supplemental Gain) Can Make Flask Cauldrons
  • (Supplemental Gain) Increased flask duration (2 hours instead of 1 hour)

Blacksmithing

  • 2 additional sockets (potential +80 Int)

Enchanting

  • 2 ring enchants (potential 2 x +40 Int = +80 Int)

Engineering

  • Synapse Springs: 480 Intellect for 12 seconds = Constant 96 Int
  • Z50 Mana Gulper: 20% more mana from Mythical Mana Potions
  • Nitro Boots have a questionable gain at this point since they now can backfire
  • (Supplemental Gain) Entry-level BOP epic helm

Herbalism

  • Lifeblood: 240 Haste for 20 seconds (2min CD) = Constant 40 haste

Inscription

  • Felfire Inscription (+80 Int gain from the Reputation shoulder enchant)

Jewelcrafting

  • 3 Jewelcrafting gems (+81 Int total gain assuming 3 x Brilliant Chimera’s Eye)
  • (Supplemental Gain) Potential stat gains which aren’t available through other professions (+80 crit / +80 haste / +80 spirit)
  • (Supplemental Gain) Entry-level BOP Int/Spirit trinkets (which do not appear to be unique, so you can use 2 Int trinkets if you so choose)

Leatherworking

  • Draconic Embossment (+130 Int to bracers versus +65 haste or +50 Spirit)

Mining

  • No raiding benefit for Resto Shaman

Skinning

  • Master of Anatomy (+80 crit rating)

Tailoring

  • Darkglow Embriodery (Constant 67 mp5 versus +50 Int)
  • Lightweave Embriodery (Constant 145 spellpower versus +50 Int)

For a more in-depth look at the benefits of each profession, including Fun, Ultility, and Money-making benefits, please check out Keeva’s Healers’ Cataclysm Profession Guide.

 

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Consumables

Level 85 Flasks:

  1. Flask of the Draconic Mind – With the removal of spellpower as a stat, throughput will now be achieved through this straight Int flask. With Int being our most valuable stat, this flask is highly recommended.
  2. Flask of Flowing Water – Although this flask only affects regen, the substantial chunk it provides makes it an option for healers with limited gear options who are running into longevity problems.
  3. Flask of Enhancement – For use by Alchemists only, this Flask provides a reduced benefit to users and has the benefit of not being consumed upon use. It is not recommended for raiding as the gain is 240 less than the aforementioned flasks.

Level 85 Elixirs:

Bear in mind that you can only have (1) Battle Elixir and (1) Guardian Elixir active at any given time. Elixirs also do not persist through death, so they are rarely viable alternatives to a flask. That being said, if the alternative is nothing OR an elixir, please do choose the elixir!

  1. Elixir of the Master (Battle)
  2. Elixir of Mighty Speed (Battle)
  3. Ghost Elixir (Battle)
  4. Elixir of the Cobra (Battle)

Level 85 Mana Restore Options:

  1. Potion of Concentration – With over double the mana gain as the next option, in exchange for 10 seconds of non-casting, this will be my mana restore option of choice for starting Cata raids.
  2. Mythical Mana Potion – Ideal for those fights where there is no downtime, this potion provides the second-best reliable option for mana restore.
  3. Mighty Rejuvenation Potion – At slightly less mana restore than the Mythical Mana Potion (~20% less), the Mighty Rejuv potion also restores HP, useful for dungeons or while questing. This potion is not recommended for raiding.
  4. Mysterious Potion – Although this potion has the potential to restore more mana than the Mythical Mana Potion, because of its unreliability, it isn’t a recommended option for raiding.

Munchies for the Hungry Raider:

  1. Seafood Magnifique Feast – The new “Fish Feast”, this is usable by anyone *BUT* can only be obtained through the That’s A Lot of Bait guild achievement. It provides +90 stam and +90 to your next highest stat (likely Int).
  2. Fortune Cookie – Useful for those times when you don’t have a Seafood Feast available, this cooking item can be used by anyone but requires a Scribe’s Mysterious Fortune cookie to make. It provides +90 stam and +90 to your next highest stat (likely Int).
  3. Severed Sagefish Head – the best alternative until your guild obtains the Seafood Magnifique Feast, this provides +90 Stam and +90 Int.
  4. Delicious Sagefish Head – like the Flask of Flowing Water, this food should only be used by those raiders with limited gear options who are running into mana issues.
  5. Goblin BBQ – made by engineers but useable by anyone with sufficient cooking level, this multi-player feast will provide +60 stam and +60 to your highest stat (likely Int).
  6. Broiled Dragon Feast – the non-engineering alternative to the Goblin BBQ, this multi-player feast will provide +60 stam and +60 to your highest stat (likely Int).
  7. Pickled Guppy – The lesser-quality version of Severed Sagefish.
  8. Whitecrest Gumbo – The lesser-quality version of Delicious Sagefish.