Since the opening of Ulduar, many players feel that the income from “gold runs”—raids where rewards are sold off for gold—has been steadily decreasing. As a result, the frequency of ordinary or casual runs and guild raids has dropped significantly. For some groups, the market has grown competitive enough to force leaders to change up their approaches to keep members engaged. However, for more seasoned, well-organized raid leaders, the income has remained relatively stable due to their well-established networks, loyal participant bases, and the particular strategies they use to maximize profit.

 

In most large servers, where the demand for powerful gear and rare items remains high, veteran raid leaders can sustain a good income flow despite these challenges. This is especially true as Ulduar's challenging encounters have stabilized, and players have mastered mechanics and optimized gear setups, making runs quicker and more efficient. But what do these raid leaders actually earn, and what methods allow them to consistently draw such significant gold sums? According to an experienced raid leader who has been running gold-based raids consistently, their earnings primarily come from the following sources:

 

1. Dual Wages and Role-Based Bonuses

 

One of the most common and straightforward methods for raid leaders to earn additional gold is through dual wages and bonuses. To maximize earnings, some raid leaders create elaborate compensation systems with multiple bonus categories and high payout amounts, which increase their own personal take significantly. By assigning themselves double wages as the organizer and leader, and by playing crucial roles such as tank or healer, leaders can secure various forms of extra income.

 

This incentive structure makes dual wages common, as it serves as a reward for taking on key roles. Even as Ulduar’s player interest wanes in its later stages, some players continue to support such wage setups out of respect for the time investment and responsibility that these roles require. Some teams use this approach to attract high-quality players, ensuring that the run goes smoothly and maintaining high attendance rates. In these cases, while some players might avoid paying high bonus amounts, raid leaders often have a close circle of reliable players who willingly accept these compensation terms. With a large enough server population, filling slots, particularly for DPS, becomes simple.

 

2. Orange Fragment "Reservation" Bonuses

 

Legendary orange fragments remain one of the most sought-after items in Ulduar, and they are pivotal for building legendary weapons. This demand has led to a steep competition for these fragments in runs. Many players, particularly those with specific character builds, heavily rely on acquiring these items quickly, creating an opportunity for raid leaders to charge additional “reservation bonuses” for access to these fragments.

 

With high demand, fragment slot prices vary depending on competition within the server. Basic reservation prices start at a “2+1” arrangement, where the main raid pool receives 2,000 gold, and the raid leader personally keeps 1,000 gold. Higher-tier groups charge more, with “3+1” or “3+2” arrangements being common for high-demand fragment drops. The Chinese servers have recently increased the fragment drop rates twice, which allows a well-organized raid to consistently yield three to four fragments. On rare occasions, groups can receive as many as six or seven fragments in a single run, significantly boosting the raid's gold pool and the leader’s profits.

 

3. Providing "VIP" Service for High-Spending Players

 

In WoW, the presence of high-spending players, commonly referred to as “whales,” has long driven demand in both regular and competitive content. For these players, the goal is often less about the journey and more about quickly achieving results and obtaining top-tier gear. For seasoned raid leaders, whales represent a steady and lucrative income source. They provide these players with streamlined access to the most desirable items, keeping them engaged with rare drops and exclusive content that would be challenging for casual players.

 

These whales, who prefer to pay for fast results, often require not just any gold run but a high-efficiency team that can guarantee consistent success in obtaining rare loot. The raid leader typically collects a standard gold wage from each run but also arranges for group members to bid up the items. This ensures that the high-spending player still has the winning bid, albeit at a higher price. Furthermore, whales commonly offer tips or additional bonuses to raid leaders as a form of gratitude when they successfully acquire desired gear, thus providing leaders with both direct wages and generous tips.

 

4. Skimming Gold and Profiting from "Reserved" Gear

 

Many high-level raid leaders avoid shady tactics, but some smaller or lower-tier raid groups may resort to skimming methods to further boost their income. This tactic involves modifying raid ledgers by assigning numeric codes instead of names to buyers, or changing item prices to zero. For instance, a raid leader might show that five fragments went for 7,500 gold but might secretly pocket some of this amount by marking other items with “0” in the account ledger. Even at a conservative price of 1,500 gold per fragment, this practice lets them make a significant extra income without raising much suspicion from the other players.

 

Apart from skimming gold, there’s also the potential for private, off-the-books deals involving “passed-over” items. Certain items that don't receive bids may appear to be disenchanted, but, in reality, the leader sells them privately to friends or loyal participants at a discount. This approach allows them to offload useful gear to regular players without giving away potential income.

 

In Conclusion

 

These strategies enable experienced raid leaders to earn upwards of 30,000 gold per Ulduar run. In high-level raid groups, efficient organizing and a reputation for consistency allow them to fill raids swiftly without needing the group finder. Many can simply send a message to their pre-established groups, quickly filling spots for multiple sessions. With a common schedule of morning, afternoon, and evening raids, plus extra sessions over weekends, some full-time raid leaders run as many as 30 sessions each week. Earning millions in gold each month becomes feasible with the right setup and approach.

 

The result of these practices is a robust and highly lucrative operation. Through maintaining a steady flow of players, creating demand for reserved items, and offering unique opportunities for wealthy players, raid leaders have found a way to turn World of Warcraft into a highly profitable endeavor. Their organizational skills and adaptability allow them to keep high earnings even in a challenging market, showing that with enough planning, raiding can be as profitable as it is exciting.