Herbs, Pigments & Inks... Oh, my!

By Keldesh Updated: 2022/04/12

This Is A User-Submitted Guide!

Wowhead only updates official guides, so information might not be up-to-date.

Inscription

Sorry it's taken so long to get BFA and Shadowlands updated here. I have started to level my main herbalist / inscriptionist, and once she hits max level I will add in things such as herbing routes, and the likes.

not

Herbalism 1-525
Inscription to 600

Converting Herbs to Pigments to Inks

Ink

Amount

Pigment

Herbs

Moonglow Ink
~~Ivory Ink~~

2
1

Alabaster Pigment
Alabaster Pigment

Earthroot

Peacebloom

Silverleaf

Midnight Ink
Hunter's Ink

2
1

Dusky Pigment
Verdant Pigment

Briarthorn
Mageroyal

Swiftthistle
Stranglekelp

Bruiseweed

Lion's Ink
Dawnstar Ink

2
1

Golden Pigment
Burnt Pigment

Kingsblood
Liferoot

Wild Steelbloom

Grave Moss

Jadefire Ink
Royal Ink

2
1

Emerald Pigment
Indigo Pigment

Dragon's Teeth
Khadgar's Whisker

Goldthorn

Fadeleaf

Celestial Ink
Fiery Ink

2
1

Violet Pigment
Ruby Pigment

Blindweed
Gromsblood
Arthas' Tears

Firebloom
Purple Lotus

Ghost Mushroom
Sungrass

Shimmering Ink
Ink of the Sky

2
1

Silvery Pigment
Sapphire Pigment

Icecap
Dreamfoil

Sorrowmoss
Golden Sansam

Mountain Silversage

Ink

Amount

Pigment

Herbs

Ethereal Ink
Darkflame Ink

2
1

Nether Pigment
Ebon Pigment

Nightmare Vine
Felweed
Ragveil

Ancient Lichen
Mana Thistle
Terocone

Dreaming Glory
Netherbloom

Ink

Amount

Pigment

Herbs

Ink of the Sea
Snowfall Ink

2
2

Azure Pigment
Icy Pigment

Adder's Tongue
Goldclover
Talandra's Rose

Deadnettle
Icethorn
Tiger Lily

Fire Leaf
Lichbloom

Ink

Amount

Pigment

Herbs

Blackfallow Ink
Inferno Ink

2
2

Ashen Pigment
Burning Embers

Azshara's Veil
Stormvine

Cinderbloom
Twilight Jasmine

Heartblossom
Whiptail

Ink

Amount

Pigment

Herbs

Ink of Dreams
Starlight Ink

2
2

Shadow Pigment
Misty Pigment

Desecrated Herb
Rain Poppy

Fool's Cap
Silkweed

Green Tea Leaf
Snow Lily

Ink

Amount

Pigment

Herbs

Warbinder's Ink
War Paintsx4

2
10

Cerulean Pigment
Cerulean Pigment

Fireweed
Frostweed

Gorgrond Flytrap
Starflower

Nagrand Arrowbloom
Talador Orchid

Felblight

Withered Herb

Obtained through Tanaan Jungle*

Ink

Amount

Pigment

Herbs

Roseate Pigment
Sallow Pigment

Yseralline Seed
Aethril
Felwort

Dreamleaf
Fjarnskaggl

Foxflower
Fjarnskaggl

Ink

Amount

Pigment

Herbs

Ultramarine Ink
Crimson Ink
Viridescent Pigment

1
1
1

Ultramarine Pigment
Crimson Pigment
Viridescent Pigment

Riverbud
Star Moss
Akunda's Bite

Siren's Pollen
Sea Stalk

Winter's Kiss
Anchor Weed

Maroon Ink

Maroon Pigment

Zin'anthid

Ink

Amount

Pigment

Herbs

Luminous Ink
Umbral Ink
Tranquil Ink

1
1
1

Luminous Pigment
Umbral Pigment
Tranquil Pigment

Death Blossom
Marrowroot

Rising Glory
Vigil's Torch

Widowbloom
Nightshade

MageroyalDusky PigmentVerdant PigmentFarming Herbs

Elwynn Forest and Durotar

Ink: Moonglow Ink

Pigment: Alabaster Pigment

Herb: Peacebloom

Location: Best locations are Elwynn Forest and Durotar. You will also want to grab any Silverleaf while farming.

Pretty much circle the zone picking any herbs you find. Spawn time is pretty fast and you will probably be able to continue nonstop until you get all you need.

Hillsbrad Foothills

Ink: Midnight Ink

Pigment: Dusky Pigment

Herb: Mageroyal

Location: Head to Hillsbrad Foothills. This is a the best spot to get these. Linger close to the mountains and grab up some Briarthorn as well.

This is the best path to take. Will get you more than you need. Widen the path a bit to pickup a few extra if you want.

Northern Stangletorn

Ink: Lion's Ink

Pigment: Golden Pigment

Herb: Kingsblood

Location: Northern Stangletorn is a great farming area for these. You can also go up and down the river and pick some Liferoot as well.

Northern Stranglethorn is packed with herbs. Pretty much can't go two feet without stepping on another herb. You really don't need a pathing drawn out from this, but will give you guys one so you know what areas to skip.

Eastern Plaguelands

Ink: Jadefire Ink

Pigment: Emerald Pigment

Herb: Khadgar's Whisker

Location: A good farming location for these is Eastern Plaguelands. Even better if you are also gathering for Violet Pigment as well.

The herbs are just about all over the zone. Just make a nice loop and by the time you get back to Light's Hope most of the herbs have respawned.

Good thing about this path is it's the same on for Sungrass. Usually if you see a Sungrass a Khadgar's Whisker is next to a near by tree.

Eastern Plaguelands

Ink: Celestial Ink

Pigment: Violet Pigment

Herb: Sungrass

Location: Eastern Plaguelands is a good place to farm these. They are usually located pretty close to Khadgar's Whisker, which are needed for Emerald Pigment.

The herbs are just about all over the zone. Just make a nice loop and by the time you get back to Light's Hope most of the herbs have respawned.

Good thing about this path is it's the same on for Sungrass. Usually if you see a Sungrass a Khadgar's Whisker is next to a near by tree.

Winterspring

Ink: Shimmering Ink

Pigment: Silvery Pigment

Herb: Icecap

Location: Suggest these because you can only farm them in Winterspring, and there's a lot of them along with a fair share of Mountain Silversage.

These are all over this zone, and have a fast respawn rate. Depending on how much you need you can just make a large circle around Everlook and up to the Hidden Grove and grab Mountain Silversage as well.

Zangarmarsh

Ink: Ethereal Ink

Pigment: Nether Pigment

Herb: Ragveil

Location: Head to Zangarmarsh to farm these. This seemed to the best for mass farming of Outland herbs.

These have a bad respawn rate. If you are farming for pigments pick all herbs you come across. Otherwise you will be circling many many many times. Stay near the edge and you'll find several Dreaming Glory as well.

Howling Fjord

Ink: Ink of the Sea

Pigment: Azure Pigment

Herb: Goldclover

Location: These can be found in multiple zones in Northrend, but I like to farm these in Howling Fjord as I am usually the only on in the zone farming. If they are being over farmed head to Sholazar Basin and farm the herbs there.

You may also want to grab Tiger Lily while near water. You will also be getting Deadnettle as well when you pick other herbs. Don't worry it can be milled. As mentioned prior if there are others farming here head to Sholazar Basin and go up and down the rivers.

Mount Hyjal

Ink: Blackfallow Ink

Pigment: Ashen Pigment

Herb: Cinderbloom

Location: Best place I found was in the South West area of Mount Hyjal near Seat of the Chosen, Doom's Vigil, and The Forge of Supplication, but only if you haven't completed the Cultiest quests because of phasing. Otherwise, hit up Uldum and farm Whiptail along the water.

There are two paths in this one. If you hadn't quested much and the Regrowth hadn't started to regrow. If you have start the first few quests into the chain that begins with Commander Jarod Shadowsong, but not completed it then stick to the path circling Seat of the Chosen, Doom's Vigil, The Forge of Supplication. You will have little dealing with mobs.

Jade Forest

Ink: Ink of Dreams

Pigment: Shadow Pigment

Herb: Green Tea Leaf

Location: These are located all over, but the best place I found was The Jade Forest. You can also pick up Rain Poppy when you head around the rivers and pools.

This is another zone you don't really need a path for, but is nice to know. There are two different paths. One mainly focuses on getting Green Tea Leaf, which will take you around the entire zone. The other has you stick close to the river that is connected to Pearlfin Village so you can also pick up a lot of Rain Poppy.

Your Garrison

Ink: Warbinder's Ink

Pigment: Cerulean Pigment

Herb: Frostweed

Location: Best place to farm these are your Garrison. If you are level 3 garden you can select which herbs, and once you have a trading post you can trade 20 to 50 Garrison Resources for a stack of 5 herbs.

Your garden can be set to only have one herb grown if you would like. I tend to set it to Frostweed to use for Alchemical Catalyst, which I use for transmuting.

Azsuna

Ink:

Pigment: Roseate Pigment

Herb: Aethril

Location: Azsuna is a good place to farm herbs. You simply follow the path around the upper right part of the zone.

I found getting more herbs without a lot of competition was better than getting the higher end herbs in Suramar. Azsuna is a good place to farm herbs. There is little mob aggro and seems to have a lot of herbs with little competition.

Suramar

Ink:

Pigment: Sallow Pigment

Herb: Starlight Rose

Location: This herb is found in Suramar. It is a expansion max level, and seems to often be over farmed.

I don't care much for this zone, but the Starlight Rose can get you some good results. This zone does seem to be over farmed, and is expansion max level. So if you are lower level than that I would suggest sticking with the Azsuna path. In Suramar you will be circling the Falanaar area just up below the Moon Guard Strong Hold in the upper left area of the zone.

Tiragarde Sound

Ink: Ultramarine Ink and Crimson Ink

Pigment: Ultramarine Pigment and Crimson Pigment

Herb: Riverbud and Winter's Kiss

Location: The river edges and mountains, in Tiragarde Sound, are the best places to get herbs with little agro.

Going up and down the banks of rivers between Norwington and Hatherford will yeild you a lot of Riverbud and even some Siren's Pollen. You can head to the glacier area south of Kennings Lodge and all along the cliffs you'll find Winter's Kiss.

Zuldazar

Ink: Ultramarine Ink and Crimson Ink

Pigment: Ultramarine Pigment and Crimson Pigment

Herb: Sea Stalk

Location: I didn't find as quick of a location with Horde as I did Alliance, but for little aggro running along most of the coastline in Zuldazar got me a lot of herbs during a farming session.

If you are looking for an easy way with little aggro, picking Sea Stalk along the beach of Zuldazar is a pretty easy way. It's not fast, but most places (depending on faction) there is little to no aggro. If you are okay with aggro you can go to the Seeker's Outpost that has a camp of Nagos and Murlocs. There are a lot of Sea Stalk in that area.

Nothing Yet

Ink: Luminous Ink and Umbral Ink

Pigment: Luminous Pigment and Umbral Pigment

Herb: nothing yet

Location: I have not leveled my herbalist at this time. Will get something posted once she is leveled.

Rare Ink Percentages

Be aware that these percentages are not exact. They are the percentages shown on Wowhead that are calculated from all user submitted data.

Pigments

Herbs

Percent

Herbs

Percent

50%

25%

49%

25%

25%

50%

25%

49%

24%

49%

25%

49%

24%

50%

25%

49%

24%

49%

24%

25%

50%

25%

50%

25%

49%

Pigments

Herbs

Percent

Herbs

Percent

52%

25%

50%

25%

49%

25%

48%

24%

Pigments

Herbs

Percent

Herbs

Percent

50%

25%

50%

25%

50%

25%

25%

25%

Pigments

Herbs

Percent

Herbs

Percent

50%

25%

50%

25%

25%

25%

Pigments

Herbs

Percent

Herbs

Percent

50%

25%

25%

25%

25%

24%

Pigments

Herbs

Percent

Herbs

Percent

No Item
Item was removed from Live

Pigments

Herbs

Percent

Herbs

Percent

Pigments

Herbs

Percent

Herbs

Percent

Pigments

Herbs

Percent

Herbs

Percent

Ink Merchants

Expansion

Ink

Rare

TBC

Wrath

Cata

Mist

Warlords

No Inks

Legion

Roseate Pigment

No Inks

BFA

Shadownlands

Merchant

Location

Dalaran

Darnassus

Ironforge

Orgimmar

Orgimmar

Orgimmar

Silvermoon City

Stormwind

Stormwind

The Exodar

Thunder Bluff

Under City

Useful Items

Item

Obtain

Benefits

Herbalist's Spade

Purchased

Gives +10 to Herbalism

Boon of the Harvester

Purchased

Harvested Goods from your enemies from the Broken Isles

Gnomish Army Knife

Engineering

Gives +10 to Herbalism

Ultimate Gnomish Army Knife

Engineering

Gives +10 to Herbalism

Ultimate Gnomish Army Knife

Engineering

Gives +10 to Herbalism

Mist-Piercing Goggles

Engineering

Allows you to see additional herbs in Pandaria

Sky Golem

Engineering

Flying mount that allows you to gather herbs without dismounting

Mechanized Lumber Extractor

Toy

If the Sky Golem is a bit hard to get. You can earn this by collecting 300 toys.

Pattern: Herbalist's Gloves

Leatherworking

Gives +5 to Herbalism

Riding Crop

Leatherworking

Increases mount movement speed by 10% up to character level 70

Formula: Enchant Gloves - Advanced Herbalism

Enchanting

Gives +5 to Herbalism

Gatherer

Enchanting

Gives +5 to Herbalism

Enchant Gloves - Legion Herbalism

Enchanting

Increases herb gathering in the Broken Isles and Argus

Formula: Enchant Gloves - Riding Skill

Enchanting

Increases mount movement speed by 2% up to character level 70

Forager's Gloves

Drop

Increases herb gathering in Pandaria

Gorepetal's Gentle Grasp

Drop

Increases herb gathering in Draenor

Leystone Hoofplates

Blacksmithing

Increases speed while mounted in the Broken Isles by 20% for 2 hrs.

Demonsteel Stirrups

Blacksmithing

Allows interaction while mounted in the Broken Isles for 2 hrs.

Mithril Spurs

Blacksmithing

Increases mount movement speed by 4% up to character level 70

Skybreaker Whip

Quest

Increases mount movement speed by 4% up to character level 70

Enchant Gloves - Kul Tiran Herbalism

Enchanting

Increases speed of herb gathering on Kul Tiras and Zandalar

Enchant Gloves - Zandalari Herbalism

Enchanting

Increases speed of herb gathering on Kul Tiras and Zandalar

Monel-Hardened Hoofplates

Blacksmithing

Increasing speed while mounted in Kul Tiras or Zandalar by 20% for 2 hrs

Monel-Hardened Stirrups

Blacksmithing

Allows you to interact while mounted in Kul Tiras or Zandalar for 2 hrs

GarrisonsCrate of SalvageBag of Salvaged GoodsBig Crate of SalvageHerb Garden Level 1Herb Garden Level 2Herb Garden Level 3Garrison ResourcesClearing the GardenClearing the GardenDraenic SeedsHerbalismFiona / Shadow Hunter RalaFiona / Shadow Hunter RalaGarrison Resources

Merchant

Cost

Cost for 200

Pyxni Pennypocket

16 Garrison Resources

3200 Garrison Resources

Ribchewer

20 Garrison Resources

4000 Garrison Resources

Talgaiir the Ironrender

20 Garrison Resources

4000 Garrison Resources

Tai'tasi

24 Garrison Resources

4800 Garrison Resources

Tradesman Portanuus

24 Garrison Resources

4800 Garrison Resources

Trader Yula

32 Garrison Resources

6400 Garrison Resources

Elder Surehide

32 Garrison Resources

6400 Garrison Resources

Krixel Pinchwhistle

40 Garrison Resources

8000 Garrison Resources

Mass MillingSamantha ScarletNicholas Mitrik

NOTE: You do not need to have a Level 3 Town Hall or be Level 100 to use these NPCs. You will just need to find a player willing to invite you to their garrison when the NPC is visiting them. Using the in-game Group Finder tool has been very useful for many people.

Herb

Cost

Recipe

Talador Orchid

20 Cerulean Pigment

Technique: Mass Mill Talador Orchid

Nagrand Arrowbloom

20 Cerulean Pigment

Technique: Mass Mill Nagrand Arrowbloom

Starflower

20 Cerulean Pigment

Technique: Mass Mill Starflower

Gorgrond Flytrap

20 Cerulean Pigment

Technique: Mass Mill Gorgrond Flytrap

Fireweed

20 Cerulean Pigment

Technique: Mass Mill Fireweed

Frostweed

20 Cerulean Pigment

Technique: Mass Mill Frostweed

NOTE: You can find out the quest for each herb on Aisenfaire'a Comment.

Herb

Item

Recipe

Bulging Nightmare Pod

Mass Mill Dreamleaf

Fjarnskaggl

Fjarnsk

Mass Mill Fjarnskaggl

Mass Mill Starlight Rose

Felwort

Sallow Essence

Mass Mill Felwort

Scribe Au'tehshi

NOTE: This is paid for with gold once you get to the appropriate skill level.

Herb

Item

Recipe

Death Blossom

Mass Mill Deathblossom

Marrowroot

Mass Mill Marrowroot

Rising Glory

Mass Mill Rising Glory

Vigil's Torch

Mass Mill Vigil's Torch

Quit Milling Around

Make sure auto looting is on.

Even out your stacks of herbs into stacks divisible by 5 (i.e., 5, 10, 15 or 20). Put extras in your bank.

Any herbs you are not wanting to mill put in your bank so you don't accidentally mill them.

MillbuttonMillbuttonTSM DestroyingTSM Destroying

Comments

Comment by Sarafena76

Another good spot for Khadgar's Whisker is Cape of Stranglethorn. Also a good location for Fade Leaf.

For Sungrass farming a better location now would be Thousand Needles along the upper area.

Otherwise LOVE your guide and plan on using it a lot! I'm adding it to a list of links I'm putting together for my guild members who are having a difficult time leveling professions.

Comment by happaman

Nice job! Thank you for adding farming paths as well. just made my leveling easier.

Comment by 1090761

Great overview, helps you sort out your inventory whilst still skilling
i think you should still mention the ink traders since some people overlook them or forget about them, it is so much easier to trade your mop-inks for the old ones since in mop herbs are everywhere
Sarana Damir for example

Comment by AndyNDI

Thanks for this guide very easy to understand and neat ! :)

Comment by 1199269

Great guide! It's really amazing.

Comment by Ping

100% excellent! I know exactly what you mean about going back and making a glyph for someone and you have to look all over to find out what herbs you need to mill whatever pigment for that specific ink! I have been meaning to making a quick-reference list of this for myself but never got round to it :)

One thing I would say would be nice is maybe to add milling percentages if there is any difference from one herb to another. eg. Misty Pigment is milled 50% of the time from Fool's Cap, twice as much as the other herbs listed. This info could be useful.

Comment by Ordinator

Really neat guide! I wanted to point out that the Mill Your Way to Millions guide is a bit outdated as it refers to the old version of TSM. While still relevant (and worth linking still) you might want to make a note to anyone who will click-through that the specific addon-related content might not be 100% accurate, but the context still is.

Comment by Mairzedotes

Excellent guide. Thank you for your clarity and helpful tips. Short, sweet, to the point and one of the best guides I've found!

Comment by 1203656

The lake in the northern section of Feralas by Camp Ataya, where you kill noxious whelps is a GREAT resource for blindweed which drops both Violet Pigment and Ruby pigment. If you follow around the edge of the lake, by the time you get back to your starting point, the herbs have begun to repop. A single run around the lake gave me nearly 50 herbs. Make sure you pay attention to the shore on the island in the middle too.

Comment by 1081041

Wonderful guide! Great and quick information, best guide to leveling a profession I've yet to encounter! :)

Comment by jrod69

Great Guide thanks!

Comment by lizymarie

Holy wow... This is a great put-together! Thanks a bunch. Will this be updated once we get more information from WoD?

Comment by eric48487

Great source for instant information when choosing inscription as your first prof or dropping your current for a little milling around...

Comment by Bufe

Panda is awesome for milling and all other things like disenchant.
Full overview in an easy to use interface. 1 button click if you make a macro as described.
All you need to do is to open the panda window once, then click button. After that the window can be closed and you can 1-click a button to mill any type of herb.

It require even stacks, so as this guide says, make sure the stacks are in 5's....5, 10, 20, 25....etc...
If it is 26...then it will stop and refuse to mill if the backslot number that 1 leftover is in is higher than the next stack.
So make sure the stacks are even. this is an awesome addon. Test it and you will see.

Link to updated version here:

http://www.curse.com/addons/wow/panda

Comment by lunamoonraker

For those without the Inscription profession but using the Garrison Scribe's Quarters, you need to modify the macro from 'Milling' to reflect the use of the crafted Cracked Draenic Mortar to mill such as:

#showtooltip Draenic Mortar
/cast Draenic Mortar
/use herbnamehere

Comment by mpwalter

Fantastic guide, and LOVE the farming maps! Only wish I had discovered this sooner.

Comment by Padrin

Great guide! I'd just like to point out one thing about the Useful Items section: the Mechanized Lumber Extractor has the exact same functionality as the Sky Golem, and may potentially be easier/cheaper to obtain for some people.

Comment by AZonaRose

Excellent guide! I've been following it to level my Inscription, and was wondering why there is no current information for Farming herbs in BFA. You end that section with Legion herbs. Would love to see this updated with BFA info!

Thanks again!

Comment by GibbleFenwick

This needs an update. The milling macros no longer work.

This is reportedly due to the major professions interface overhaul that took place for DF.
I was hoping there was a solution to this. And if there is, it would be great if this would be updated accordingly.

On a related note, the Draenic Mortar in WoD content also no longer works. It's been relegated to a grey item.
As a result, non-scribe characters with and inscription building in their garrison no longer seem able to mill for pigments; making that building useless.
Again, I haven't seen a solution, and it would be great if one could be added to the guide.

Herbs, Pigments & Inks... Oh, my!

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