The data used in this article comes from these scribes, to whom I am grateful: Bouldar, ClemSnide, El, Jonathan Wysolovski, Kaliope, Kirana-Mage, nebalee, Noila and Kahari, Redsmiter, Saunder, and Tsark.
Pigments
The table below shows the average number of pigments produced from herbs in each milling-skill group.
| Inscription Skill Required | Known Herbs | Gained from Milling 5 Herbs (Average and Range) | Sample Millings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
| 228 | |
| 25** |
| 136 | |
| 75 |
| 155 | |
| 125 |
| 149 | |
| 175 |
| 142 | |
| 225 |
| 136 | |
| 275 |
| 211 | |
| 325 |
| 159 |
** - Mageroyal is currently still Millable at skill 1. It is assumed this will change to match other herbs in the group.
The number of primary pigments produced is similar for all herbs. Across all milling data collected (1316 samples): 2.71 primary pigments per 5 herbs milled.
Secondary pigments are similar. Across all milling data collected (1088 samples): 0.38 secondary pigments per 5 herbs milled.
Are All Herbs the Same?
For most scribes, the average figures listed above will give a good indication of the amount of pigments they can expect from milling herbs. However there has been plenty of speculation that certain herbs give slightly more pigments. Further investigation suggests that within each skill group, higher-level herbs give slightly more pigments on average.
The table below shows the average number of pigments gained from milling specific named herbs. Herbs are grouped by the milling skill required to mill them, then sorted by their level. ((Herb level can be shown in-game using an addon, or found on sites such as Wowhead.)) Easy-to-read graphs are found below.
Only herbs that have been milled at least 20 times are shown. Data here has been gathered between 25 September and 24 October 2008.
| Milling Skill | Level Range | Herb | Level | Average Pigments per Milling | Sample Millings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | Secondary | |||||
| 1 | 5-10 | 5 | 2.49 | - | 241 | |
| 5 | 2.42 | - | 279 | |||
| 10 | 3.07 | - | 104 | |||
| 25 | 10-20 | 10 | 2.29 | 0.31 | 195 | |
| 15 | 2.5 | 0.25 | 110 | |||
| 15 | 2.33 | 0.23 | 64 | |||
| 20 | 3.01 | 0.51 | 154 | |||
| 20 | 2.86 | 0.63 | 57 | |||
| 75 | 22-30 | 22 | 2.47 | 0.29 | 45 | |
| 22 | 2.46 | 0.29 | 127 | |||
| 24 | 2.93 | 0.56 | 299 | |||
| 30 | 2.96 | 0.59 | 160 | |||
| 125 | 32-39 | 32 | 2.53 | 0.24 | 116 | |
| 34 | 2.47 | 0.24 | 242 | |||
| 37 | 3.38 | 0.63 | 209 | |||
| 39 | 3.33 | 0.54 | 52 | |||
| 175 | 41-50 | 41 | 2.44 | 0.32 | 109 | |
| 42 | 2.53 | 0.3 | 106 | |||
| 44 | 2.71 | 0.38 | 24 | |||
| 46 | 2.48 | 0.25 | 165 | |||
| 47 | 2.83 | 0.56 | 108 | |||
| 50 | 2.67 | 0.54 | 79 | |||
| 225 | 52-58 | 52 | 2.61 | 0.24 | 135 | |
| 54 | 2.46 | 0.22 | 162 | |||
| 56 | 3.01 | 0.52 | 108 | |||
| 57 | 2.84 | 0.51 | 68 | |||
| 58 | 2.75 | 0.57 | 44 | |||
| 275 | 60-70 | 60 | 2.5 | 0.23 | 145 | |
| 60 | 2.51 | 0.24 | 232 | |||
| 60 | 2.43 | 0.27 | 30 | |||
| 65 | 2.37 | 0.24 | 59 | |||
| 68 | 3.0 | 0.95 | 20 | |||
| 70 | 2.9 | 0.47 | 113 | |||
| 70 | 2.35 | 0.65 | 26 | |||
| 325 | 72-80 | 72 | 2.54 | 0.21 | 24 | |
| 72 | 2.61 | 0.15 | 41 | |||
| 77 | 2.85 | 0.62 | 60 | |||
Too many numbers! For the dwarves, I'll draw a picture: The graph below shows the same data, plotted against a "level factor". The level factor shows where in the level range (shown in the table above), each herb is. For example, Peacebloom is level 5, which is the minimum in the skill-1 group, so has a level factor of 0%. Earthroot is level 10, the highest in that group, so has a factor of 100%.
Each pin on the graph shows one milling. The dotted line is the approximate trend-line. The line is drawn upwards, which suggests higher-level herbs in each group will give slightly more pigments per milling on average. However, the pins do not match the line closely. Gnomish statisticians measure how well the line matches the pins using "r-squared". 100% would be a perfect match, and this line is only 40%. So there may be some relationship between level and number of primary pigments, but the evidence is not yet conclusive.
The next graph restricts the data used to the herbs milled at least 100 times (22 herbs).
The relationship improves to give an r-squared of 59%. It seems likely that there is a difference in the average amount of primary pigments produced, between different herbs. An average of about 2.4 primary pigment for the lowest-level herbs in the group, 3.0 for the highest level herbs.
The pattern is clearer for secondary pigments: The trend-line is steeper, which means there is a big difference between the lowest and highest level herbs in each group. Expect more than twice as many secondary pigments from the highest-level herbs. The line also matches the pins more closely. The r-squared is 56%: Still far from perfect, but it seem quite likely that there is a difference in the average amount of secondary pigments produced, depending on the level of the herb: An average of about 0.2 secondary pigment for the lowest-level herbs in the group, 0.6 for the highest.
Limiting the herbs used to those that were milled a lot of times does not improve the result for secondary pigments.
What it Means
The most important conclusion is that we still cannot be certain!
When leveling, Inscribers should always try and buy the cheapest herbs at auction. Leveling depends mostly on primary pigments, which give very similar numbers of pigments. When gathering herbs to create one type of pigment, focus on a zone that entirely (or mostly) contains herbs in the same group. For example, for Alabaster Pigment, gather herbs from starting areas (such as Mulgore or Dun Morogh), where every herb you gather will be Earthroot, Peacebloom or Silverleaf. You can sell the more valuable herbs you gather (such as Earthroot), and use the money to buy cheaper herbs. Alchemists will continue to use a wide range of herbs. You should find that the traditionally cheap herbs will increase in price, while the historically expensive herbs fall in price.
However, Inscribers using a lot of secondary pigments may wish to focus on higher-level herbs within each skill bracket, particularly where these herbs are cheap. The highest-level herbs in each group typically give at least twice as many secondary pigments as the lowest-level herbs in the same group.
Which herbs? The final table lists the level of herbs in each milling-skill group.
| Milling Skill | Herb | Level |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | |
| 5 | ||
| 10 | ||
| 25 | 10 | |
| 15 | ||
| 15 | ||
| 20 | ||
| 20 | ||
| 75 | 22 | |
| 22 | ||
| 24 | ||
| 30 | ||
| 125 | 32 | |
| 34 | ||
| 37 | ||
| 39 | ||
| 175 | 41 | |
| 42 | ||
| 44 | ||
| 46 | ||
| 47 | ||
| 47 | ||
| 50 | ||
| 225 | 52 | |
| 54 | ||
| 56 | ||
| 57 | ||
| 58 | ||
| 275 | 60 | |
| 60 | ||
| 60 | ||
| 65 | ||
| 68 | ||
| 70 | ||
| 70 | ||
| 70 | ||
| 325 | 72 | |
| 72 | ||
| 72 | ||
| 72 | ||
| 75 | ||
| 77 | ||
| 80 | ||
| 80 |
Learn More
- Milling - Introduces Milling herbs, and lists the parts created by different herbs.
- Milling Skill Required - Lists the skill required to mill different herbs and create Pomaces.
- Milling Data - Forum post.
- A look at pigment drop rates for Milling - Kaliope's analysis of Outland herbs.
