Let’s face it, Cataclysm is expensive, so it doesn’t hurt to have a good WoW Gold Guide to look at when you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed. But to get you started, I’m going to share with you the top 4 ways to make gold in Cataclysm.

WoW Gold Guide Part 1: Farming

This is the most basic, least risky, but also the most time consuming way of all the ways to make gold in Cataclysm. However, it is also the first chapter of any WoW Golden Guide. Any material used for farming is valuable, so don’t destroy anything in your bags unless it’s gray vendor trash. Cloth, leather, meats, elemental items, and even feathers are extremely valuable to crafters. You should check your auction house or your WoW Gold Guide to see which ones are in demand. Remember, there are several types of each item, depending on the level of the item, and surprisingly, lower level items are often more valuable.

WoW Gold Guide Part 2: Gathering

I’m keeping this section separate because these ways to earn gold in Cataclysm actually require you to choose specific professions. Herbalism and mining are two of the most profitable professions in World of Warcraft because many players are too lazy, impatient, or just too busy to go out and collect the materials themselves. Or they have two craft professions and are willing to spend countless gold coins to reach the maximum level. Again, don’t overlook the lower level items. They are needed in massive quantities for many players trying to level up professions. Do some research and find out what is in high demand on your server.

WoW Gold Guide Part 3: Crafting

This is a long-term investment that can cost you a lot of time and gold if you don’t get it right. The highest yielding professions are probably Alchemy and Jewelcrafting, due to the high demand for gems and potions in late game raids. Don’t let this discourage you from leveling a profession that is better suited to your armor class, like tailoring, leatherworking, or blacksmithing. Every profession has something valuable to contribute to the economy. Anything you can provide that is in short supply can be valuable, including leg enchantments, belt buckles, or bags. Find out what is most valuable in your economy and take advantage of it.

WoW Gold Guide Part 4: The Auction House

The difference between this strategy and the first 3 is that it doesn’t take a lot of time out of your day, but it MAY be the riskiest if you don’t know what you’re doing. This is where a quality WoW Gold Guide really comes in handy. You have to do a LOT of research, find out where you can buy certain items extremely cheaply and resell them for much more. I would recommend getting auction house plugins to help with some of the research. However, knowing exactly what to buy, how low to pay, and how high to sell is the hardest part of this strategy.