WoW Forever Engineering Specializations: Gnomish vs Goblin

Beta caveat: built from beta data ahead of launch on 4 Nov UTC / 5 Nov AEDT. [Classic-based] = Classic Era data Forever may change; [Unconfirmed] = to recheck at launch. Where sources disagree, we say so.

Gnomish vs Goblin at a glance

Quest data is from Questing.wiki’s Forever records and Wowhead Forever. The Wowhead Forever guide also gives level 30 and 200 skill for both chains.

The quest chain, step by step

1. Reach level 30 and Engineering 200.
2. Take an introduction quest from an Engineering trainer. You get a Manual of Engineering Disciplines to deliver.
3. Bring it to the spec trainer. Right-click the Pledge of Secrecy to sign it, then hand it back.
4. Turn in the finished items for Show Your Work.

Who offers the introduction

Spec trainers and follow-up quests

Coordinates are from Questing.wiki. Wowhead’s Forever guide puts Tinkmaster at 70.6, 50.4 and Nixx at the same 52.4, 27.2. Check Tinkmaster on the map at launch. [Unconfirmed]

Hand-in shopping lists

Forever tooltips on Wowhead show bigger outputs than Classic for these crafts. Questing.wiki’s Forever plan (checked 30 Sep) still uses 2 per craft for Big Iron Bomb and Solid Dynamite. Sources conflict, so we show both counts. Buy for the higher one. [Unconfirmed]

Raw materials, Goblin

At the higher (Questing.wiki) count you need 30 Iron Bar, 40 Heavy Blasting Powder, 10 Silver Contact, 10 Solid Blasting Powder, 10 Silk Cloth, 10 Wool Cloth, plus 5 Bronze Framework and 5 Whirring Bronze Gizmo. With the Forever tooltip outputs it drops to about 21 Iron Bar, 14 Heavy Stone, 2 Silver Bar, 8 Solid Stone, 7 Silk Cloth, 8 Bronze Bar, 2 Medium Leather and 10 Wool Cloth, counting the parts too.

Raw materials, Gnomish

With Forever outputs: 9 Mithril Bar, 4 Bronze Bar, 3 Iron Bar, 1 Gold Bar (for a Gold Power Core), 1 Weak Flux, 1 Medium Leather, 1 Wool Cloth, 4 Heavy Leather, 1 Jade and 1 Citrine. At 1 per craft, double the tubes and dummies: 18 Mithril Bar and 8 Heavy Leather.

You also need the Schematic: Accurate Scope. Our recipes page lists Mazk Snipeshot (Stranglethorn Vale) and Super-Seller 680 (Desolace), at 20s to 21s 5c. Tools: Blacksmith Hammer, Arclight Spanner, and a Gyromatic Micro-Adjustor for the scope.

Part outputs from Forever tooltips: Heavy Blasting Powder 2 per Heavy Stone, Silver Contact 6 per Silver Bar, Solid Blasting Powder 2 per 2 Solid Stone, Gold Power Core 4 per Gold Bar. Bronze Framework, Whirring Bronze Gizmo, Bronze Tube, Iron Strut and Gyrochronatom make 2 each. [Unconfirmed]

What each spec unlocks

Most of these schematics come from the spec trainer and need the membership card. Only three tooltips print a spec line in Forever. The rest follow Classic, where they were spec-only. [Classic-based]

Goblin

Gnomish

Wowhead’s guide lists both teleport recipes at skill 285, but the item tooltips ask for 260. The tooltip skill above is what you need to use the item. Check the recipe skill at your trainer. [Unconfirmed]

Membership card and renewal

• Show Your Work gives a membership card. Its tooltip shows Duration: 14 days.
• Wowhead says the card lets you learn schematics sold only by your spec trainer.
• Renew it with the Membership Card Renewal quest. The Forever quest text asks for 2 gold (#3644 to #3647).
• Wowhead says renewing also sends a package by mail. It can hold unique schematics, such as Schematic: Pet Bombling (Goblin) or Schematic: Lil' Smoky (Gnomish).

What changed in WoW Forever vs Classic

• Bigger craft outputs: Forever tooltips show 3 Big Iron Bombs and 3 Solid Dynamite per craft (Classic tooltips: 2). Sheep, tubes, scopes and dummies show 2 (Classic: 1). [Unconfirmed]
• New schematics: classicwowforever.com counts 77 new Engineering schematics, 39 of them at Artisan skill.
• Gadgetzan upgrade: the new Schematic: EZ-Thro Field Transporter: Gadgetzan (Engineering 300) uses an Ultrasafe Transporter: Gadgetzan and an EZ-Thro Shell. The result is a level 55 trinket with 3 charges. Since the Ultrasafe needs Gnomish, this reads as a Gnomish path. Whether the new trinket itself needs a spec is [Unconfirmed]
• Mount Hyjal transporter: EZ and SAF Field Transporter: Mt. Hyjal (level 60, 3 charges) sends you to Kaylaena’s Workshop. Its text says it mixes goblin and gnomish tech. Spec need [Unconfirmed]. [Beta data, may change at launch]
• Riverglades goblin trainer: Wowhead lists Melbin Powderfuse, a Master Goblin Engineer in Riverglades (77.6, 50.8), teaching “Goblin Recipes”. [Beta data, may change at launch]
• Shared new gear: Ultralight Goblin Glider and Gnomish Poultryizer are Merchant’s Favor schematics from Fritz Fizzle in Three Corners. Their tooltips show no spec line. See Merchant’s Favor.
• Camp objects for every engineer: Reagent Bot (20), Repair Bot (140) and Anarchist’s Workbench (300). See Camping.

Can you switch or unlearn?

No Forever source documents a spec-only reset. The Forever intro quest text warns that membership “prevents joining the other discipline”. [Unconfirmed]

• Blizzard says you can unlearn a whole profession with the “X” in the Professions tab (K).
• In Classic, the only way across was to drop Engineering, relearn it, level back to 200 and redo the other chain. [Classic-based]
• Gear marked “Requires Goblin Engineer” or “Requires Gnomish Engineer” stops working if you no longer have that spec.
• Dropping Engineering wipes your skill and every schematic. Weigh that before you test it.

Which one should you pick?

The picks are our view, not a source claim. Many players simply choose the spec whose teleport or trinket they want most.

Tips

• Craft the hand-in items as you level past 190. Check which ones also give skill-ups in the 1–300 guide.
• Keep the finished items in your bags. Don’t use them before the turn-in.
• Goblin players: combine the trip to Nixx with Gadgetzan quests. See Tanaris.
• Horde Gnomish players: Oglethorpe is in Booty Bay. See Stranglethorn Vale.
• Pair Engineering with Mining. Farm bars with ore farming.
• Set a reminder to renew your card every 14 days if you still buy spec schematics.

Related: Engineering guide, Engineering recipes, Blacksmithing specializations, Leatherworking specializations, best professions, gold making, all professions.

FAQ

Can I switch Engineering specs?

No Forever source documents a spec-only reset, and the quest text says membership prevents joining the other discipline. In Classic you had to drop Engineering, level back to 200 and redo the other chain. [Classic-based] Level fast with the Engineering guide. [Unconfirmed]

Do I need a spec to reach 300?

No. The 1–300 route skips spec schematics, so you can level first and pick later. See the Engineering 1–300 guide.

What level and skill do I need to pick a spec?

Level 30 and Engineering 200. The level comes from Forever quest records; the 200 skill is Classic-derived. [Classic-based] Check trainer stops on crafting trainers.

Which spec is cheaper to unlock?

Gnomish. It needs 6 Mithril Tubes, 1 Accurate Scope and 2 Advanced Target Dummies, about 9 to 18 Mithril Bar plus a few parts. Goblin needs 20 bombs, 20 dynamite and 5 sheep. Farm bars with ore farming.

Does the membership card expire?

Yes. Its Forever tooltip shows a 14-day duration, and the renewal quest asks for 2 gold. You need it to learn schematics sold only by your spec trainer. See Engineering recipes.

Which spec is better for PvP?

Goblin is our usual pick for Sapper Charge burst and The Big One stun. Gnomish brings Net-o-Matic, Mind Control Cap and Rocket Boots for control. See the PvP hub.