I have found instance herbing to be a very nice alternative to the slim pickings my herb utopias now provide. Swamp of Sorrows, Felwood and Azshara are barren on my server. The Plaguelands and Un'Goro don't fair much better. Granted, I can't get Every herb through these instances; however, I can stock my reserves with quite a few.
First thing's first, and here's where I could use some clarification as I simply haven't paid attention. /blush An instance can be easily reset by zoning out, right clicking on your portrait and selecting, "Reset all Instances." The problem here is that you are allowed only 5 resets during a certain time frame. That time frame is forty-five minutes or an hour from what I'm told. The reset rule applies to All instances and also applies to your account, rather than your character. In other words, you cannot reset Scarlet Monestary five times on your mage then hop over to Dire Maul and reset five times. You are locked out on all characters for all instances until the timer finishes counting down. As to the exact time you're locked out, I am uncertain. I do know from experience that it is from zone out to zone in. So if I reset at 5:00, 5:15, 5:30, 5:45 and 6:10, I will be allowed to zone back in at 6:00, 6:15, 6:30, 6:45 and 7:10, for example.
For a guide to stealth farming Dire Maul East, check out http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=13463&mid=1154806454223044144
Alright, enough of all that mumbo jumbo, let's get on to the meat and potatoes of this. The rest of the guide consists of very simple information, where to get what, so here goes:
Arthas' Tears - Razorfen Downs
Blindweed - Maraudon
Briarthorn - Razorfen Kraul, Wailing Caverns
Bruiseweed - Blackfathom Deeps, Maraudon, Wailing Caverns
Dreamfoil - Dire Maul East
Earthroot - Wailing Caverns
Fadeleaf - Razorfen Kraul, Scarlet Monestary
Ghost Mushroom - Dire Maul East, Maraudon
Goldthorn - Scarlet Monestary - Cathedral, Razorfen Downs
Grave Moss - Razorfen Downs, Scarlet Monestary
Gromsblood - Dire Maul East
Kingsblood - Scarlet Monestary - Graveyard Wailing Caverns
Liferoot - Scarlet Monestary - Cathedral, Scarlet Monestary - Library, Wailing Caverns
Stranglekelp - Blackfathom Deeps, Maraudon
Mind you, the instances I have listed are completely uncontested. There are other elite areas which may be farmed, but this guide is specific to areas where there is a 100% guarantee of no competition (provided you go solo, naturally). If someone could provide reliable information as to the true time required between resets, it would be greatly appreciated.
Also, I do realize Zul'Gurub has herbs such as Mountain Silversage; however, I have yet to farm this area myself. Rather than give partial information, I will hold off until I can collect educated data. I also did not include the Ally lowbie zones so if anyone would like to fill in those blanks, the list will be more complete. :)
Scarlet Monestary Graveyard has 3 static spawns of Kingsblood / Grave Moss. There are always three nodes and they can be any combination of the two herbs. The spawn points do move around, but there are always three. This is an excellent source for raising Thorium Brotherhood faction via Kingsblood. There is also a static chest spawn in the first room in the upper left-hand corner when you first enter the room. Always surrounded by four mobs, with the chance of a wanderer add. The chest may or may not be locked. A level 60 can easily bypass the mobs to get straight to the graveyard. There is a 50% chance to have a chest spawn in the graveyard, again, could be locked or unlocked.
Scarlet Monestary Armory & Library have static spawns of Fadeleaf in their courtyards, one per zone. The Armory has a 50% chance to spawn a chest in the first courtyard for an extra treat. It may or may not be locked. The Liferoot in the Library is by Houndmaster Loksey and he will have to be disposed of to reach the herb.
Dire Maul East has four guaranteed spawns, 2 Dreamfoil, 2 Gromsblood, in the lower courtyard where Old Ironbark is. The four spawn points do move around the courtyard and some you will need to kill mobs to get or you'll have to pass over. The stealth farming guide has more information about this zone's herbs. There is a low % chance that a Dusty Tome can spawn in the courtyard.
[Edit] Added information about the zone-specific nodes I am certain are static spawns and tossed in a little information about some extra goodies (chests / Dusty Tome). Discovered background text color option . . . had to play with it for I am uber dork.
[Edit] There's no artha's in WC, what was I thinking?!
Edited, Feb 10th 2007 11:58am by Shyanha