The long-term strategy took shape quickly. The warrior would become a Weaponsmith, necessary for crafting Sulfuras, while the paladin would specialize as an Armorsmith, allowing full coverage of both blacksmithing paths. Eventually, the warrior would abandon Mining and take up Engineering to access lifesaving gadgets-grenades, reflectors, and other tools critical for WoW Classic 20th Anniversary Gold survival in a deathless world.

The Paladin's Beginning

Once the paladin was ready, training began immediately. Devotion Aura increased armor for both players, while Battle Shout enhanced their attack power. Despite minimal gear, the duo performed impressively, and early abilities like Judgment and Blessing of Might further amplified their combat effectiveness.

Countless Defias Thugs fell before the pair finally reached level 6 and turned in their first quests in Goldshire. With the basics in place, it was time to leverage alternate characters for support. Supplies-potions, raw materials, and crafting components-were sent over from the warrior, while the priest crafted several Linen Bags to expand inventory space.

Armed with these resources, Blacksmithing training began in earnest. Sharpening Stones, Copper Bracers, and Copper Maces were crafted, though more copper was still needed to advance. The next task was gathering ore, which was then shipped back to the warrior for the creation of a Copper Chain Vest-a much-needed armor upgrade that wasn't yet available to the paladin.

Mining, Leveling, and Early Crafting

Equipped and prepared, the paladin ventured out again, slaying spiders, kobolds, and bears while mining every visible copper vein. Paladin leveling proved surprisingly forgiving, nearly matching a priest's pace in both damage output and sustainability. Pulling two enemies at once rarely resulted in danger thanks to healing, defense, and buffs.

After defeating Goldtooth and retrieving Bernice's Necklace, more quests were turned in, pushing progress to level 8. Returning to Stormwind allowed for spell upgrades and additional blacksmithing, including the crafting of Copper Chain Pants and Copper Gauntlets-finally creating a proper set of armor.

Exploration continued through Elwynn Forest and into Jasperlode Mine, where new quests were accepted. At level 8, the paladin took on Princess, the notorious pig boss. A Furlbrow's Deed dropped from a Defias Bandit just before the fight, a stroke of rare luck that set a positive tone. The Princess encounter ended in victory, showcasing how self-sufficient and durable the class could be even without superior gear.

The Priest's Chapter

After finishing Westfall's quests and reaching level 10, focus shifted to the priest. The goal: reach level 20 to access Deadmines and farm Wool Cloth for improved bags and crafted gear. The mailbox overflowed with green-quality items for disenchanting-ideal for leveling Enchanting efficiently.

The first task was the elite mob Vagash, handled through a few clever positioning tactics. From there, questing continued into Loch Modan, where crafting and tailoring took center stage. At the tailoring station, several upgrades were produced: Reinforced Linen Cape, Heavy Linen Gloves, Soft Linen Boots, and Green Linen Bracers.

The journey continued via the Deeprun Tram to Stormwind for class quests, followed by a return to Ironforge. After reaching Enchanting 70, a Greater Magic Wand was crafted-though it couldn't be equipped until level 13. Once that milestone was hit, the wand became an instant power boost.

Further progress included completing the Blood Sausage and Mining Supplies quests. The grind was lengthy, but another level-up midway made the process smoother.

Obstacles and Perseverance

Not everything went smoothly. A sudden power outage interrupted gameplay deep within Stone Splinter Valley, though thankfully, no character deaths occurred. Once the connection was restored, the trogg quests were completed, and preparation began for the Hogger Raid, a massive community event that drew enormous participation.

Between larger events, the routine grind resumed. More crafting took place, resulting in Soft-Soled Wool Boots, the first Woolen Bag, and Heavy Woolen Gloves. With resources secured, the priest challenged Hogger solo at level 13-and emerged victorious without potions or backup, a testament to solid preparation and effective class play.

Wrapping Up the Week

Following the Hogger encounter, attention returned to Westfall for familiar territory: Harvest Golems, Defias mobs, and low drop-rate quests. Progress was slow but steady, eventually reaching level 15 and nearly level 16.

After one last set of turn-ins in Stormwind, level 16 was achieved-closing out another week of progress in the Hardcore Crafted Locked challenge. Despite a shorter session, key advancements were made: profession setups finalized, crafting chains established, and essential materials gathered for long-term goals.

With new stability and focus, the next phase promises more consistent updates and deeper content. The foundation for forging Sulfuras has been set-every ore mined, every bracer hammered, and every quest completed brings the challenge one step closer to its fiery endgame. Have enough WoW Classic Fresh Gold to help you complete the challenge.

World of Warcraft can feel overwhelming if you're just getting started-or coming back after years away. With so many versions, expansions, and acronyms floating around, it's easy to feel lost. Retail WoW, Classic WoW, Hardcore, Season of Discovery, Cataclysm Classic, and even anniversary events… where do you even begin?

This guide breaks everything down into simple steps so you can start your journey in Azeroth without confusion. We'll cover the free trial, subscriptions, choosing between Retail and Classic, making your first character, and what to cheap WoW Classic 20th Anniversary Gold expect from the game in 2025.