The Ultimate Runecloth Farming Guide: Dominate Your Tailoring and Reputation Grinds!
So, you’re after Runecloth, eh? Whether you’re a budding tailor looking to max out your skills, or a reputation hound eager to earn those coveted faction mounts, you’ve come to the right place. Forget wandering aimlessly – let’s get down to brass tacks and uncover the best Runecloth farming locations in World of Warcraft.
The King of Runecloth Farms: Blackrock Depths
Hands down, the Blackrock Depths (BRD) dungeon reigns supreme for efficient Runecloth farming. Located within Blackrock Mountain, accessible from either the Searing Gorge or Burning Steppes, BRD offers a dense concentration of level 50+ humanoid mobs that consistently drop Runecloth.
Here’s why Blackrock Depths is the top choice:
- High Mob Density: BRD is packed with easily killable enemies, minimizing downtime between pulls.
- Consistent Drop Rate: The Runecloth drop rate from mobs within BRD is significantly higher than in most open-world zones. Expect 1-3 Runecloth per kill, and sometimes even more!
- Instance Reset: BRD is a dungeon, which means you can reset it every hour (up to a limit of 10 instances per hour). This allows you to continually farm the same area without competition from other players.
- Gold and Greys: Beyond Runecloth, you’ll also accumulate a decent amount of grey items and vendor trash to supplement your gold income. Plus, keep an eye out for valuable green and blue drops that can be sold on the Auction House.
Optimizing Your BRD Runecloth Farm
To maximize your Runecloth farming efficiency in BRD, consider these tips:
- Class Choice: Classes with strong AoE (Area of Effect) abilities excel at clearing groups of mobs quickly. Hunters, Mages, and Warlocks are particularly well-suited for this task.
- Gear Up: Ensure your character is adequately geared to handle the level 50+ mobs in BRD. Prioritize gear with stats like Intellect, Spellpower, or Attack Power, depending on your class.
- Route Optimization: Plan your route through BRD to minimize travel time and maximize mob density. Popular routes involve clearing the initial sections of the dungeon before resetting.
- Embrace Skinning: If you have the Skinning profession, you can skin many of the beasts within BRD for additional materials and gold.
- Be Mindful of the Instance Limit: Keep an eye on the number of instances you’ve run per hour to avoid being locked out. Efficient farmers may hit the 10 instance/hour limit without even realizing it.
Alternative Runecloth Farming Locations
While BRD is the undisputed champion, here are a few other locations worth considering if you want a change of scenery or are having trouble accessing the dungeon:
- Blackrock Stronghold (Burning Steppes): Located at coordinates (45.5, 35.2), this area is home to many Orcs that drop Runecloth. It’s a decent alternative, especially if you prefer open-world farming.
- Eastern and Western Plaguelands: These zones are teeming with level 50+ undead mobs that have a chance to drop Runecloth. However, the drop rate is generally lower than in BRD.
- Winterspring: This zone offers a variety of humanoid mobs, but the drop rate is inconsistent.
- Felwood: Similar to Winterspring, Felwood contains Runecloth-dropping mobs, but it’s not as efficient as BRD.
Runecloth Farming: A Gold-Making Opportunity
Don’t underestimate the potential of Runecloth farming as a gold-making venture. Even if you don’t need the cloth for tailoring or reputation, you can sell it on the Auction House for a profit. Runecloth prices fluctuate depending on server demand, but it generally remains a consistently sought-after commodity.
Runecloth and Reputation: Gaining Faction Favor
Runecloth can be turned in for reputation with various factions, primarily the core capital city factions (Stormwind, Ironforge, Darnassus, Orgrimmar, Undercity, Thunder Bluff). This is a viable method for obtaining faction mounts and other rewards.
How to Turn in Runecloth for Reputation
- Locate the appropriate NPC: Find the cloth turn-in NPC in the corresponding capital city. These NPCs are usually located near the tailoring trainers.
- Complete prerequisite quests: Before you can donate Runecloth, you must first complete the donation quests for Wool Cloth, Silk Cloth, and Mageweave Cloth.
- Turn in stacks of Runecloth: Each stack of 20 Runecloth will grant you a certain amount of reputation (typically around 350 rep), provided you have completed the previous cloth donation quests.
- Repeat until Exalted: Keep turning in Runecloth until you reach Exalted status with the desired faction. This will require a significant amount of Runecloth (approximately 10,400 Runecloth from Friendly to Exalted).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Runecloth Farming
Here are some frequently asked questions to further enhance your knowledge of Runecloth farming:
1. Where is the best place to farm silk cloth?
The Scarlet Monastery, specifically the Library and Armory wings, is the most efficient place to farm Silk Cloth. These wings are packed with level 34-45 humanoids that have a high Silk Cloth drop rate.
2. Can you go to Outland before level 58?
Yes, you can be summoned to Outland before level 58. While you won’t be able to accept quests or gain experience effectively, it’s technically possible.
3. Why can’t I donate Runecloth?
You can only turn in Runecloth for reputation after you’ve completed the initial donation quests for Wool Cloth, Silk Cloth, and Mageweave Cloth. If you haven’t completed these prerequisites, the option to donate Runecloth won’t appear.
4. What level should I go to Outland?
With the current game balance, it’s generally recommended to wait until level 60-61 before heading to Outland. Leveling in the old world is often faster and more rewarding due to improved quest design and flying.
5. What is the best farmer class in WoW?
While subjective, the Hunter class is often considered the best farming class due to its strong soloing capabilities, pet tanking, and mobility.
6. How much reputation does Runecloth give?
Turning in a stack of 20 Runecloth typically grants 350 reputation with the corresponding faction, provided you’ve completed the prerequisite cloth donation quests.
7. Where do you buy Runecloth in WoW?
You can purchase Runecloth from the Auction House. Prices vary depending on server demand, but you can generally find stacks for around 2 gold per stack.
8. What dungeon drops the most silk cloth?
While the Scarlet Monastery is the best overall location, Gnomeregan is another viable dungeon option for farming Silk Cloth.
9. How much Runecloth do you need to get Exalted?
From Friendly to Exalted, you’ll need approximately 10,400 Runecloth to reach Exalted status with a faction through the turn-in quests.
10. What skill level is Runecloth Bandage?
The regular Runecloth Bandage requires a skill level of 260, while the Heavy Runecloth Bandage requires a skill level of 290.
11. What level is Bolt of Runecloth?
Bolt of Runecloth is crafted by Tailors with a skill level of 250.
12. How long does it take to get Exalted in WoW?
The time it takes to reach Exalted varies depending on your playstyle and efficiency. A casual player might take around a month, while a dedicated grinder could achieve it much faster.
13. Where can I learn Heavy Runecloth Bandage?
You can learn the Heavy Runecloth Bandage from Doctor Gustaf VanHowzen in Theramore Isle (Alliance) or Doctor Gregory Victor in Hammerfall (Horde). This requires skill level 290 and is taught for free.
14. Does Runecloth drop in Outland?
No, Runecloth does not drop in Outland. This is why many players choose to farm it in classic zones like Blackrock Depths.
15. What is the best dungeon for rep farming in Shadowlands?
While not related to Runecloth specifically, for reputation farming in Shadowlands, Magister’s Terrace is a highly efficient dungeon due to its speed and simplicity. However, it does not provide Runecloth.
Conclusion: Embrace the Grind and Reap the Rewards
Runecloth farming can be a tedious but rewarding endeavor. By following this guide and focusing on the most efficient locations like Blackrock Depths, you can significantly reduce your farming time and maximize your gains. Whether you’re pursuing tailoring mastery, faction reputation, or simply looking to make some extra gold, understanding the best farming strategies is essential. Good luck, and happy farming!
For those interested in learning more about how games and learning intersect, be sure to check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. They explore the pedagogical potential of games and gaming culture.