Getting started & help
Mail and Plate Proficiency: Who Gets What, When
Found a great plate chest at level 35 and your character refuses to wear it? That is working as intended: mail and plate only unlock at level 40, trained from your class trainer. Here is the whole armour system.
Contents
◆Who wears what
| Class | Cloth | Leather | Plate | Shield | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warrior | yes | yes | yes | from 40 | yes |
| Paladin | yes | yes | yes | from 40 | yes |
| Hunter | yes | yes | from 40 | no | no |
| Shaman | yes | yes | from 40 | no | yes |
| Rogue | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Druid | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Priest | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Mage | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Warlock | yes | no | no | no | no |
Training comes from your class trainer in a capital for a small fee — the same NPC who hands out spell ranks and dual wield.
Why this matters before level 40
- Hunters and shamans level in leather. When planning gear for levels 20-39, look at leather sets rather than dungeon mail.
- Warriors and paladins run mail until 40. Plate drops from Blackfathom Deeps or the Scarlet Monastery go to the bank for now.
- Storage and mule characters are covered in the bank alts guide.
Armour type versus stats
More armour is not always better. Mail and plate carry a higher armour value, but item stats matter just as much:
- For a tank, armour and stamina lead — see the armor mitigation guide and the armour reference.
- For damage, strength, agility and crit matter more — see the secondary stats reference.
- For healing and casting, intellect, spirit and spell power decide — see spell power.
So a hunter past 40 often mixes mail and leather, and a healing paladin may keep mail pieces with intellect. Class BiS breakdowns: warrior, hunter.
Durability and repair
The heavier the armour, the pricier the repair bill. Wear mechanics and where to find a repair NPC are in the durability and repair reference. On x5 rates you die more while levelling, so keep silver on hand.
Heading into a dungeon at 38-39? Check whether mail or plate loot is waiting there. Pushing the last level or two is easier than running it twice: dungeon lists live in the Azeroth dungeon registry.
Related: weapon masters, riding skill, skill training costs, profession trainers.
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FAQ
?When do mail and plate unlock
At level 40 from your own class trainer. Warriors and paladins gain plate, hunters and shamans gain mail. Before 40 those types simply cannot be equipped, even if the item is already in your bag.
?Which class wears which armour
Cloth for mage, priest and warlock. Leather for rogue and druid. Mail from level 40 for hunter and shaman, leather before that. Plate from level 40 for warrior and paladin, mail before that.
?What happens if I equip the wrong armour type
Without the proficiency the item will not equip at all. The limit is hard: anyone can wear cloth, but mail and plate require the trained classes.
?Should a hunter still wear leather after 40
Sometimes, yes. Mail gives more armour, but some strong leather pieces carry better agility-focused stats. Judge by the item's stats, not just by its armour type.
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