WoW Herbalism

Herbalism is an almost necessary requirement for alchemy. You're going to find herbs all around the world, so why not get this skill and take advantage of it? Alchemy is a great skill that allows you to generate all sorts of instant and temporary potions to improve a character's effectiveness.

Finding Plants

Once you've acquired the basics, you're ready to go. Herbalism requires no additional items to use. Be sure to keep a lot of empty bag space for all the herbs you're about to pick up. If you get a lot of extra herbs that you can't use, you can store them in the bank or sell them to other players.

After you have learned the beginning-level herbalism, you will gain the "Find Herbs" ability, which will display nearby herbs as yellow dots on your mini-map. To use it, simply drag the icon down to your action bar and press the corresponding button. Be sure to pay attention to keeping it active otherwise you may miss important plants!

If while adventuring you spot a yellow dot on your mini map, you've found a plant! Move your cursor over to your mini-map and hold it over the dot. A small window will appear and display the name of the plant. If you decide you want to harvest it, begin running toward it. Watch out for any monsters in your path that may attack you.

Plants can be found underwater and even in caves.

Getting the Goods

To learn a talent, mouse over the talent first and decide if it is right for you. Talent are difficult to unlearn, so you should be sure before you commit to one. Also keep in mind that you cannot learn every single talent, so you should make a choice about which Talent or what category of Talent you want to learn.

Approach the plant. Once you're close enough, the action cursor will light up and you can begin harvesting. If you fail on your first attempt, try again. All plants have a minimum skill requirement before you can attempt to harvest them. If your skill is too low, you won't be able to collect the herbs. Once you're successful, a window displaying the contents of the plant will open. Each plant usually contains one to three herbs. Right-click the herbs in this window to move them to your backpack. After you collect the herbs, the plant disappears.

Plant Skill Levels

Each plant requires a minimum skill in herbalism to harvest. Depending on the level of the plant, you may gain skill levels when you succeed in gathering. The further away your skill is from the level of the plant, the less likely you are to receive a skill increase. The skill required to successfully use a plant also corresponds to the regions it can be found in. Easier plants are found in the lower-level areas, and more difficult plants in the higher-level zones.

Party Herbalism

If you're in a party with more than one herbalist, share the plants you find with them.

Multiple people can gain skill off the same plant if the first person avoids picking the herbs off the plant. After the plant's contents box appears, simply press "Escape" to stand up, and the second person can then gather and have a chance to raise his or her skill.

Don't pick plants while fighting. Wait until the party is safe before moving over to the plant.

If you're a Warlock or Hunter you can send your pet in to attack a monster standing on a herb, loot the herb, then run!

Don't run off to a plant by yourself without letting the other party members know. If there are monsters in the way, ask the party to clear them for you. Basically, don't do anything to jeopardize the safety of the party while you collect plants.

There is an enchant that can increase your Herbalism skill allowing you to pick higher level Herbs

Herbalism is a great way to make money. Sell Herbs to other players in the Auction House.

Some vendors sell herbs, rarely. You can also find Herbs in some chests. Some monsters commonly drop herbs.

Sometimes Bloodvine drops from enemies or can be harvested from Zul'Gurub herbs if the player has a Blood Scythe.

Tailors can create special herb carrying bags that have extra slots to carry Herbs.