World of Warcraft/Professions/Alchemy

In alchemy, a character creates potions for healing, replenishing mana (the amount of magical energy a caster possesses), increasing run speed, etc. Alchemy requires inexpensive and easy to acquire herbs at the starting levels of the profession. As an alchemist increases their skill level, they require more expensive herbs; the up side is, these more expensive herbs can be used to make more effective and more potent potions. For example, a low level alchemist creates a minor healing potion and can heal themselves for 70-90 health. As they increase in level they learn can learn to make a lesser healing potion which heals from 140-180 health. The alchemist can keep all the potions they create for their own use, but they can also sell some or all of them at the auction house.

Skills are gained by learning recipes. These can be bought from your trainer or dropped off monsters as treasure.