You train weapon skills in World of Warcraft: Forever from a weapon master in your faction’s capitals: Woo Ping in Stormwind, Buliwyf Stonehand and Bixi Wobblebonk in Ironforge and Ilyenia Moonfire in Darnassus for the Alliance, and Sayoc and Hanashi in Orgrimmar, Ansekhwa in Thunder Bluff and Archibald in the Undercity for the Horde. Each one teaches only certain weapons, so you may have to travel to a second city to learn the one you want.
Once a skill is trained you can equip that weapon type and raise the skill by fighting with it. Below is which weapon master teaches what, where to go for each weapon on each faction, which classes can learn which weapons, and how weapon skill works in Forever. Blizzard’s Deep Dive panel recap says weapon skill “still works as it always has,” and the weapon masters below are the ones Forever launched with, checked November 6.
Every Weapon Master and What They Teach
| Weapon master | City and spot | Teaches |
|---|---|---|
| Woo Ping | Stormwind, Weller’s Arsenal in the Trade District | Crossbows, Daggers, One-Handed Swords, Two-Handed Swords, Polearms, Staves |
| Buliwyf Stonehand | Ironforge, Timberline Arms in the Military Ward | Fist Weapons, Guns, One-Handed Axes, Two-Handed Axes, One-Handed Maces, Two-Handed Maces |
| Bixi Wobblebonk | Ironforge, Timberline Arms in the Military Ward | Crossbows, Daggers, Thrown |
| Ilyenia Moonfire | Darnassus, Warrior’s Terrace | Bows, Daggers, Fist Weapons, Staves, Thrown |
| Sayoc | Orgrimmar, Valley of Honor | Bows, Daggers, Fist Weapons, One-Handed Axes, Two-Handed Axes, Staves, Thrown |
| Hanashi | Orgrimmar, Valley of Honor | Bows, One-Handed Axes, Two-Handed Axes, Staves, Thrown |
| Ansekhwa | Thunder Bluff, Lower Rise | Guns, One-Handed Maces, Two-Handed Maces, Staves |
| Archibald | Undercity, War Quarter | Crossbows, Daggers, One-Handed Swords, Two-Handed Swords, Polearms |
If you get lost, ask a city guard for the weapon master; guards point the way to every trainer.
Where to Go for Each Weapon, by Faction
The lists above leave gaps on both sides, and these are the trips people miss most often.
Alliance:
- Axes, Maces, Fist Weapons and Guns: Ironforge (Buliwyf Stonehand). Stormwind’s weapon master does not teach axes or maces at all.
- Swords and Polearms: Stormwind (Woo Ping).
- Bows: Darnassus (Ilyenia Moonfire) is the only Alliance city that teaches them.
- Crossbows: Stormwind or Ironforge. Thrown: Ironforge or Darnassus.
- Staves: Stormwind or Darnassus. Daggers: any of the three cities.
Horde:
- Swords and Polearms: the Undercity (Archibald) is the only Horde city that teaches them.
- Guns and Maces: Thunder Bluff (Ansekhwa).
- Crossbows: the Undercity (Archibald).
- Axes, Bows, Fist Weapons and Thrown: Orgrimmar (Sayoc or Hanashi).
- Staves: Orgrimmar or Thunder Bluff. Daggers: Orgrimmar or the Undercity.
So a Horde warrior who wants a two-handed sword, or a Horde hunter who finds a good crossbow, has to make the trip to the Undercity, and an Alliance hunter who wants a bow heads to Darnassus.
What Training Costs
Each weapon skill costs about 10 silver at launch, and Polearms cost about 1 gold and need level 20 before Woo Ping or Archibald will teach them. Good reputation with the city’s faction lowers the price a little, as it does with every vendor. Training is one-time: once learned, the skill is yours for good.
Which Classes Can Learn Which Weapons
A weapon master will only teach a skill your class is allowed to use. Blizzard’s Rogue and Warlock deep dive announced one change to these lists for Forever: “Rogues can now learn to equip one-handed axes.” It has not announced others, so the rest of the table below is the original game’s list.
| Class | Weapons it can train |
|---|---|
| Warrior | Every weapon except wands |
| Paladin | One- and Two-Handed Axes, Maces and Swords, Polearms |
| Hunter | Daggers, Fist Weapons, One- and Two-Handed Axes and Swords, Polearms, Staves, Bows, Crossbows, Guns, Thrown |
| Rogue | Daggers, Fist Weapons, One-Handed Axes (new), One-Handed Maces, One-Handed Swords, Bows, Crossbows, Guns, Thrown |
| Shaman | Daggers, Fist Weapons, One- and Two-Handed Axes and Maces, Staves |
| Druid | Daggers, Fist Weapons, One- and Two-Handed Maces, Staves |
| Priest | Daggers, One-Handed Maces, Staves, Wands |
| Mage | Daggers, One-Handed Swords, Staves, Wands |
| Warlock | Daggers, One-Handed Swords, Staves, Wands |
Wands have no weapon master. Mages, Priests and Warlocks start with the skill, and our wand guide covers where to get one. Everyone also has Unarmed and Defense from the start.
How Weapon Skill Works in WoW Forever
- Your skill caps at five times your level, so 300 at level 60. A newly trained skill starts at 1.
- You raise it by fighting. Every hit with that weapon type has a chance to raise the skill. Low skill means more misses and glancing blows, so level a new weapon on easy mobs before you take it into a dungeon.
- Gear gives less weapon skill now. Blizzard’s recap says items with weapon skill “offer less of it per item so they are not always the obvious best choice.”
- Racial weapon specializations are gone. Forever replaced the Human, Dwarf and Orc weapon specializations with other bonuses, as our racial changes story explains, so your race no longer pushes you toward one weapon type.
- Rogues get a weapon talent instead. Hack and Slash combines the old dagger, mace, sword and fist weapon specializations into one talent and adds a bonus for axes, which get the same extra-attack chance as swords.
Caster weapons changed too: Blizzard says spellcaster-oriented weapons “now grant spell damage and healing,” which makes a new staff or dagger a real upgrade for a Mage, Priest or Warlock. If you are still picking a class, our best race and class combos guide helps, and every Forever guide we have is on our World of Warcraft hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I learn Staves in WoW Forever? Alliance: Woo Ping in Stormwind or Ilyenia Moonfire in Darnassus. Horde: Sayoc or Hanashi in Orgrimmar, or Ansekhwa in Thunder Bluff.
Where do I learn Guns? Alliance: Buliwyf Stonehand in Ironforge. Horde: Ansekhwa in Thunder Bluff.
Where do I learn Axes? Alliance: Buliwyf Stonehand in Ironforge. Horde: Sayoc or Hanashi in Orgrimmar.
Where do Horde players learn Swords? Archibald in the Undercity’s War Quarter, the only Horde weapon master who teaches One- and Two-Handed Swords.
Can Rogues use axes in WoW Forever? Yes. Blizzard’s deep dive says Rogues can now learn one-handed axes, and the Hack and Slash talent gives axes the same bonus as swords.
How much does weapon training cost? About 10 silver per skill at launch, with Polearms costing about 1 gold and needing level 20.