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Does the WoW Boost Include Professions? A Comprehensive Guide

The short, direct answer is no, character boosts in World of Warcraft do not include any professions or secondary skills. Whether you are using a level 50 boost, a level 60 boost, or the level 70 boost offered in some expansions, your character will not receive any boosted professions. This means you will start at your boosted level with no progress in any of the primary professions (like Alchemy, Blacksmithing, Enchanting, Engineering, Herbalism, Inscription, Jewelcrafting, Leatherworking, Mining, Skinning, or Tailoring) or the secondary skills (like Cooking, First Aid, or Fishing).

The boost is designed to get you into the action quickly, providing you with appropriate gear and levels, but leaving the progression of professions as a player-driven experience. You’ll need to level up your professions from scratch, which allows you to engage with the crafting and resource gathering systems of the game at your own pace. This design choice keeps the in-game economy balanced and ensures that players who invest time in professions are rewarded for their efforts.

Character Boosts: What You Do Get

While professions aren’t part of the package, it’s important to understand what you do receive when using a character boost:

Level Boost: Your character is immediately leveled to the specified level of the boost (e.g., level 50, 60, or 70).
Basic Gear: Your character will be equipped with uncommon-quality gear appropriate for their specialization and boosted level. This gear is intended to provide a baseline for further adventures. Your previous gear will be mailed back to you.
Flying (in most zones): Your character will receive the Artisan Riding skill and the ability to fly in most flight-enabled zones, unless those zones require specific achievements like Pathfinder. If you don’t have a flying mount, you will be given a basic one.
Restrictions: There are specific restrictions, such as a 24-hour lockout from entering dungeons and raids from previous expansions. Additionally, boosting an Allied Race character will prevent you from earning their Heritage Armor.

Understanding the Purpose of Professions

The profession system in World of Warcraft is designed as a long-term progression mechanic. It’s not intended to be an instant gratification feature. Professions offer players a unique way to engage with the game world and economy, allowing them to craft items, gather resources, and contribute to the community. For instance:

Crafting Professions: Players use skills like Blacksmithing, Tailoring, and Alchemy to create weapons, armor, consumables, and other useful items.
Gathering Professions: Players use Mining, Herbalism, and Skinning to gather raw materials from the game world needed for crafting.
Secondary Skills: Skills like Cooking, Fishing, and First Aid offer utility and passive benefits for players.

Professions are not only a source of items but also provide a personal connection to the game, encouraging players to explore the world and interact with its resources.

Why Boosts Don’t Include Professions

The decision to exclude professions from character boosts is primarily aimed at maintaining the integrity of the game’s economy and avoiding the rapid saturation of max-level crafted goods. Here’s why:

Economic Stability: If boosts included maxed-out professions, the crafting economy would be drastically affected, with a sudden influx of high-level crafted items and resources. This would reduce the value of those items and devalue the time and effort players have put into leveling their professions legitimately.
Player Progression: Professions are a core aspect of the player’s journey in World of Warcraft. By making players start from scratch, it encourages them to explore the game’s world, learn its systems, and invest their time in a rewarding way.
Fairness: It would be unfair to players who have already spent considerable time and effort developing their professions if new players could simply bypass that process using a boost.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the relationship between character boosts and professions:

1. Can I level my professions while leveling with a boosted character?

Absolutely. You can start leveling your professions as soon as you boost your character. All the usual profession trainers will be available in game and ready to teach you the basics of any profession you choose.

2. What are the best professions to start with after boosting a character?

The best professions depend on your class and preferences. Gathering professions (Herbalism and Mining) are good for starting out to collect materials that can be used in crafting professions or sold for gold. For crafting, Alchemy and Herbalism are great for casters and Blacksmithing and Mining are useful for plate-wearing classes. Consider which type of gameplay you enjoy the most, crafting or resource collecting.

3. Can I get help leveling my professions?

Yes, most players are willing to help with advice on the best ways to level professions and to also point you to the most efficient locations to gather resources. There are online guides available to help optimize your time in the game.

4. Does the boost include any secondary skills like cooking or fishing?

No, character boosts do not include any secondary skills. You’ll need to level those from scratch as well.

5. Will I be able to use crafted gear immediately after boosting?

Yes, you can, but you’ll need to acquire or craft the gear first. If you didn’t level your professions, you will have to rely on others for gear or buy gear from the auction house.

6. Can I get a refund if I’m unhappy with the lack of professions in a character boost?

Character boosts are permanent and non-refundable. Always confirm the features before using a boost on a character.

7. Are there any professions that are easier to level than others?

Gathering professions like Herbalism and Mining are generally considered easier to level since you just go to the world to gather resources. Crafting professions require a constant collection of resources for leveling and also require recipes to advance.

8. Can I switch professions after boosting?

Yes, you can drop a profession and pick another. However, any progress on the previous profession will be lost.

9. Does buying a boost on a new expansion include a profession boost?

No, any boost associated with a new expansion will not include profession boosts.

10. Are there any in-game items that can help me level professions faster?

Yes, there are some items and consumables that can provide boosts to your profession leveling, but these do not come with the character boost and must be obtained via in-game activities.

11. Do boost restrictions apply to professions as well?

No, the restrictions only apply to dungeons and raids, not professions.

12. Does the level of my professions impact my boosted character’s power?

Indirectly, yes. High-level crafted gear can enhance your character’s power, but it does not come with a boost. You must invest in your professions to obtain this gear.

13. What’s the best way to learn about professions if I am new to WoW?

There are many online resources and guides available to help you learn about each profession. Also, talk with other players in-game for advice on leveling methods and gear.

14. Do character boosts change profession leveling in any way?

No. Boosts do not impact the basic system of professions at all. You start your profession journey as if you’re at level one and must make your way through the leveling system.

15. Can I use gold to buy my way to maxed professions after a boost?

Yes, you can use gold to purchase materials or even crafted goods to help with leveling your professions but it will still take time and some effort to get maxed professions.

Conclusion

While character boosts provide a quick path to higher levels and some starting gear, they do not include any boost to professions. Players will need to engage with the game’s crafting, gathering, and secondary skills from scratch, which provides a sense of progression and encourages them to explore the world. This ensures fairness, maintains economic balance, and allows for meaningful long-term engagement with the game. Understanding this distinction is key when deciding whether to boost a character and planning your gameplay afterwards.

Does the WoW boost include professions?