Welcome to the most comprehensive Old School RuneScape Smithing guide! Whether you’re just starting your metalworking journey or aiming for the coveted level 99, this guide provides everything you need to efficiently train Smithing in OSRS. We’ll cover the fastest methods, AFK training, profitable options, Ironman strategies, and even Free-to-Play training.
Table of Contents
Low Level Smithing Training (1-40)
Fastest Smithing Methods to Level 99
Free-to-Play (F2P) Smithing Guide
Prefer video? Watch our OSRS Smithing guide here, or continue reading for the in-depth written guide.
Smithing Basics
Smithing in Old School RuneScape is the art of crafting metal items, ranging from powerful weapons and sturdy armor to essential ammunition and useful tools. The fundamental process involves two key steps: first, smelting metal bars at a furnace, and then shaping those bars into desired items using a hammer and anvil.
A significant update to Smithing training arrived in 2005 with the introduction of the Blast Furnace. This specialized furnace significantly accelerates training speeds, becoming the cornerstone of the fastest Smithing methods in OSRS.
Smelting gold bars at the Blast Furnace is widely recognized as one of the most efficient Smithing training methods in the game. For those seeking peak efficiency, hiring runners at the Blast Furnace can push experience rates to over 500,000 XP per hour.
Beyond rapid training, the Blast Furnace also presents lucrative opportunities. Smelting steel bars, for example, can yield profits of around 800,000 GP per hour. For even greater financial returns, rune bars offer the highest profit margin, netting approximately 1.6 million GP per hour.
In 2022, Jagex expanded Smithing training with the Giant’s Foundry minigame. This Old School RuneScape activity provides a unique Smithing experience with competitive XP rates and significant advantages for Ironman accounts.
The Giant’s Foundry involves crafting large swords and offers a slower XP rate compared to Blast Furnace gold smelting. However, it can be a more cost-effective training method. A key feature is the ability to recycle weapons and armor into metal, making it exceptionally beneficial for resource-conscious Ironman players.
Low Level Smithing Training (1-40)
For aspiring smiths just starting out, the journey to level 40 can be approached through questing or traditional training methods.
Questing for Low Level Smithing
One of the most efficient ways to gain early Smithing levels is by completing quests.
For new accounts, completing “The Knight’s Sword” quest is highly recommended. This single quest provides a massive boost, catapulting your Smithing level from 1 to 29 instantly.
“The Knight’s Sword” requires an iron bar to complete. Ironman players can obtain this bar from the wilderness iron bar spawn. Many Hardcore Ironmen opt to complete this quest immediately after account creation for a significant early advantage in Smithing.
For accounts that have already progressed further, a combination of quests can rapidly advance you from level 1 to 39 Smithing:
- The Knight’s Sword
- Sleeping Giants
- Elemental Workshop I & II
- The Giant Dwarf
- Heroes’ Quest
- Freeing Pirate Pete subquest (from Recipe for Disaster)
Regular Low Level Smithing Training
If questing isn’t your preferred method, you can effectively train Smithing from level 1 to 40 through traditional means.
To reach level 40, you will need the following materials:
- 572 Bronze bars
- 1070 Iron bars
- 102 Steel bars
For optimal efficiency, it’s advisable to smith items that require the highest number of bars per item. A recommended training path would be: bronze daggers, bronze scimitars, bronze warhammers, and then bronze platebodies.
Smith bronze platebodies until level 24, at which point you unlock iron warhammers. Bronze platebodies are faster experience than 1 or 2 bar iron items at these levels. Continue with iron platebodies until level 39. To reach level 40, finish by smithing 34 steel warhammers.
If you are concerned about costs, smithing dart tips can recoup some of your investment. However, this requires completion of the “Tourist Trap” quest.
For low-level training, the Varrock anvil is the most conveniently located and recommended anvil due to its proximity to a bank.
Fastest Smithing Methods to Level 99
Once you reach level 40 Smithing, you unlock access to the Blast Furnace, which opens up the fastest Smithing training methods in Old School RuneScape.
Blast Furnace Gold: The XP King
Smelting gold bars at the Blast Furnace is the undisputed champion for rapid Smithing experience.
This method provides up to 380,000 Smithing XP per hour from level 40 all the way to 99, making it the fastest overall. For extreme speed, utilizing 3 runners at the Blast Furnace can push XP rates beyond 600,000 per hour. However, this method is relatively new and finding runners can be challenging.
To effectively smith gold at the Blast Furnace, you will need the following:
- Goldsmith Gauntlets: These gloves are essential, providing a 2.5x experience multiplier when smithing gold.
- Ice Gloves: Highly recommended to handle the hot gold bars. Obtained from the Ice Queen boss. Alternatively, use buckets of water, but this is slower.
- Stamina Potions: Necessary for sustained efficiency due to constant running.
- Gold Ore: The primary ingredient for gold bars.
- 100,000+ Coins: Required to pay the Blast Furnace operating costs.
Let’s break down the Blast Furnace process: The bank is located on the southern wall of the furnace for easy access to supplies.
To the north is the conveyor belt where you deposit gold ore. In between is the bar dispenser where you collect your newly created gold bars.
Before starting, it is highly recommended to use the “Blast Furnace” RuneLite plugin. This plugin provides helpful overlays and indicators to streamline the process.
The first step is to deposit coins into the Blast Furnace coffer. Every 10 minutes, 2,500 coins are deducted if your Smithing level is below 60.
On official Blast Furnace worlds, there is an additional training fee, totaling around 72,000 GP per hour.
Equip your Goldsmith Gauntlets and have Ice Gloves in your inventory. Withdraw a full inventory of gold ore and run to the conveyor belt. Click the belt to deposit the ore, then run south to the bar dispenser and stand on the southern side.
Crucially, keep Goldsmith Gauntlets equipped until you receive the Smithing experience drop. Unequipping them prematurely will significantly reduce your XP gain.
Once you see the XP drop, quickly switch to your Ice Gloves. Click the bar dispenser to withdraw a full inventory of gold bars. If you don’t have Ice Gloves, use a bucket of water on the dispenser before collecting the bars.
Run back to the bank. While running, re-equip your Goldsmith Gauntlets. Bank the gold bars, withdraw more gold ore, and repeat the process.
Platebody Smithing at Anvil
For a less intensive but still fast Smithing method, consider smithing platebodies at an anvil.
Platebody smithing is slower than Blast Furnace gold, but it is more relaxed, requiring less focus and fewer clicks per minute.
Your platebody smithing journey can begin as early as level 18 with bronze platebodies, yielding over 50,000 Smithing XP per hour.
XP rates scale up to around 240,000 per hour with adamant platebodies. Since rune platebodies are unlocked at level 99, adamant platebodies become your primary training method from level 70 to 99. Adamant platebody smithing is currently profitable, making it an excellent and cost-effective way to train.
The Prifddinas anvil is the optimal location for platebody smithing, being only 8 tiles from a bank. This provides the fastest banking and return times.
A close second is the Varrock anvil, which is 10 tiles from the bank and accessible to all players.
The process is straightforward: withdraw a full inventory of bars, with a hammer in your inventory or the Imcando Hammer equipped. Click the anvil and select platebodies. Your character will smith 5 platebodies per inventory. Then, click the bank to deposit the finished platebodies and repeat the cycle. On subsequent inventories, you can simply press spacebar to quickly select and begin smithing platebodies again.
For marginal gains in speed, when returning to the bank, interact directly with the banker NPC instead of clicking on the bank booth. This allows you to access the bank one tile earlier, shaving off a fraction of a second per trip.
While platebodies are the fastest XP at an anvil, you can also smith 3-bar items for high XP rates and longer AFK intervals. In some cases, 3-bar items can also be more cost-effective than platebodies.
Examples of profitable 3-bar items include adamant warhammers, offering up to 180,000 XP per hour with AFK intervals of 27 seconds, compared to the 15-second AFK interval of platebodies.
Giant’s Foundry: A Minigame Method
The Giant’s Foundry is an engaging alternative for Smithing training, where you fulfill sword commissions for rewards. It is located northeast of Al Kharid.
Quick access is available via a Ring of Dueling, Amulet of Glory, or the Minigame teleport option.
To participate in the Giant’s Foundry, you must have completed the “Sleeping Giants” quest and have at least 15 Smithing. You will also need bars or metal items as input materials.
Similar to Blast Furnace gold, Ice Gloves are highly recommended for comfort and efficiency at the Giant’s Foundry.
Sword commissions at the Giant’s Foundry can yield over 90,000 XP per hour using bronze and iron alloys, scaling up to over 250,000 XP per hour with adamant and rune alloys at level 85 Smithing.
Mithril and adamant alloys are often considered the most cost-effective combination for training. Higher-level metals will grant greater experience and minigame points.
Here’s a breakdown of the key components within the Giant’s Foundry minigame area:
- Kovac: The giant NPC who provides sword commissions.
- Mold Setup & Crucible: Where you select sword molds and melt metals.
- Bank Chest: Conveniently located upstairs for banking supplies.
- Preform Storage: Allows you to save progress on unfinished swords.
- Hammer, Grindstone, Polisher, Waterfall: Tools and stations used in the sword forging process.
- Buckets: For cooling the metal if you’re not using Ice Gloves.
To begin, obtain a sword commission from Kovac. Each commission requires you to balance the length, weight, and sharpness of the blade during the forging process.
At the Mold Setup, choose a forte, blade, and tip combination, aiming for the highest combined bonus value.
Purchasing molds permanently adds them to your library, streamlining future sword commissions and is highly recommended for efficient Giant’s Foundry training. Initially, it may seem complex, but as you unlock more molds, the process becomes significantly faster and more intuitive.
Next, deposit two different types of metal items (bars or armor) into the crucible over the lava.
The crucible holds a maximum of 28 metal bars. When using metal armor or weapons, their input value is calculated as the equivalent Smithing bar cost minus one.
Be cautious not to exceed the crucible capacity; exceeding it will result in a warning and potential loss of bars if you proceed. Also, be careful not to accidentally empty the crucible when right-clicking to check its contents.
Using alloys (combinations of two different metal types) is always preferable as they yield greater rewards.
A temperature bar will appear at the top of your screen during the sword forging process.
Depending on the color of the action prompt on the bottom bar, you’ll need to either heat or cool your preform.
A time-saving technique is to briefly dunk the preform in the lava and cancel the action just before reaching the target temperature level.
To cool the preform, place it in the waterfall.
Then, perform the required action using the tools: the Trip Hammer (cools), the Grindstone (slowly heats), and the Polishing Wheel (slowly cools).
If the action prompt bar at the top is outlined in yellow, clicking on the tool you are currently using will provide a boost, speeding up the process.
Avoid working on the blade unless it is within the specific temperature range indicated. The top bar represents the sword’s quality, which directly affects your rewards at the end. Aim to keep the quality bar from decreasing throughout the forging process.
Once your blade is complete, speak to Kovac to receive your rewards, which include both GP and Smithing experience for each sword completed.
Singing Crystal Armour: The Fastest XP (and Most Expensive)
For the absolute fastest Smithing experience in OSRS, look no further than singing crystal armour. However, be warned: this method is exceptionally expensive.
This method involves converting crystal armour seeds into crystal armour pieces and then immediately dismantling them, repeating the cycle continuously. Each crystal armour seed used grants 2,500 Smithing experience. Processing a full inventory of seeds at once yields a massive 67,000 Smithing XP drop.
With optimal execution, you can achieve over 5 million Smithing XP per hour, and simultaneously gain 5 million Crafting XP as well.
However, this unparalleled speed comes at an astronomical cost. Reaching level 99 Smithing from the level you unlock this method will cost upwards of 50 billion GP. This method is truly for those with extremely deep pockets who prioritize speed above all else.
AFK Smithing Training Methods
For players seeking less intensive training, several AFK Smithing methods offer a more relaxed approach, albeit with slower XP rates.
Smithing Dart Tips: AFK and Profitable
Smithing dart tips stands out as potentially the best AFK Smithing method due to its combination of decent XP rates and profitability.
All dart tips up to adamant are generally profitable to produce. Dart tips made from higher-tier metals may result in a slight loss.
XP rates range from approximately 16,000 XP per hour for bronze dart tips to 97,000 XP per hour for rune dart tips.
While significantly slower than the fastest methods, each inventory of dart tips provides a generous AFK interval of 81 seconds.
A useful tip for smithing dart tips involves using noted bars in your inventory. When banking, simply use the noted bars on the banker and select option 1 to un-note them instantly, streamlining the process.
This method is faster than traditional banking, although it sacrifices one inventory slot for noted bars.
Gold Bars at a Regular Furnace: Relaxed AFK Training
Another excellent AFK Smithing method is smelting gold bars at a regular furnace. When Goldsmith Gauntlets are equipped, each gold bar grants 56 XP instead of the base 22 XP.
This method offers an AFK interval of 81 seconds per inventory, providing substantial downtime. You can expect a maximum XP rate of around 63,000 XP per hour.
Training from level 40 to 99 Smithing using this method will cost approximately 15 million GP and take around 200 hours in total.
Cannonballs: The Most AFK Smithing
Cannonball smithing reigns supreme as the most AFK Smithing method in OSRS. Each inventory takes a lengthy 2 minutes and 30 seconds to complete.
However, this extreme AFK-ness comes at the cost of very slow experience rates, netting only around 15,000 XP per hour.
Jagex introduced the double cannonball mould in 2022, which significantly improved the method compared to its previous iteration, but it remains a slow training option.
Using the double cannonball mould also halves the AFK time per inventory, reducing it from 2 minutes and 30 seconds to 1 minute and 15 seconds.
Profitable Smithing Methods
For players looking to offset the cost of training or even make a profit while leveling Smithing, several methods offer lucrative returns.
Blast Furnace for Profit: An Overview
The Blast Furnace is not only the fastest XP method but also a highly profitable Smithing training hub.
Smelting steel, mithril, adamant, and rune bars at the Blast Furnace can be highly profitable, ranging from 800,000 GP to 1.6 million GP per hour in profit.
For all profitable Blast Furnace methods, a coal bag is immensely beneficial. It is obtained from the Motherlode Mine for 100 golden nuggets.
Without a coal bag, your profit rates will be roughly halved.
Blast Furnace Steel Bars: Entry-Level Profit
Smelting steel bars at the Blast Furnace provides over 90,000 XP per hour while generating a profit of approximately 800,000 GP per hour with a coal bag. However, you’ll need around 2 million GP to purchase supplies for one hour of training.
Important Note: If you place iron ore into the Blast Furnace without adding coal, it will simply produce iron bars. If it’s your first time using the Blast Furnace for steel, begin by adding an inventory of coal first to pre-load the furnace.
To smith steel bars, start by filling your coal bag at the bank and then fill your inventory with iron ore. Run to the conveyor belt, deposit the iron ore, empty your coal bag into the furnace, and add the coal from your inventory.
Then, go to the bar dispenser and collect the steel bars while wearing Ice Gloves. Bank the bars and repeat the cycle.
Blast Furnace Mithril Bars: Increased Profit
Mithril bars at the Blast Furnace offer around 105,000 XP per hour and a profit of approximately 800,000 GP per hour. You will need around 1.8 million GP to purchase ores for one hour of smithing.
The process is slightly different for mithril as it requires a 2:1 coal-to-mithril ore ratio. Start by filling your coal bag at the bank and withdrawing a full inventory of mithril ore.
Deposit the mithril ore on the conveyor belt. Return to the bank and withdraw more coal, filling both your coal bag and inventory.
Deposit the coal onto the conveyor belt. Collect the mithril bars from the dispenser. Bank the mithril bars. Refill your coal bag and withdraw another inventory of mithril ore. Deposit the ore, collect bars, and repeat the cycle from the beginning.
Blast Furnace Adamant Bars: High Profit Margin
Adamant bars at the Blast Furnace provide around 100,000 XP per hour, slightly less than mithril due to increased coal deposits, but with a significantly higher profit of approximately 1.4 million GP per hour.
Adamant bars require a 3:1 coal-to-adamant ore ratio. Begin by filling your coal bag and withdrawing a full inventory of coal. Deposit the coal on the conveyor belt. Return to the bank to refill your coal bag and withdraw an inventory of adamant ore. Deposit the adamant ore, collect the adamant bars, and repeat the cycle.
Blast Furnace Rune Bars: Maximum Profit
Rune bars offer the highest profit potential at the Blast Furnace, requiring 85 Smithing and providing over 100,000 XP per hour. You can expect to make around 1.6 million GP per hour, making it one of the best Smithing money-making methods in OSRS. However, be prepared to invest around 25 million GP to sustain this method for one hour.
Start by depositing coal from your coal bag and inventory onto the conveyor belt. Make a second trip to the bank to withdraw only coal, using your coal bag to maximize coal capacity. On your next trip, bring rune ore and a full coal bag to the conveyor belt. Collect the rune bars from the dispenser, bank them, and repeat the process.
Cannonballs for Profit: Steady Income
Making cannonballs has been a profitable Smithing method since their introduction in 2003. Jagex’s addition of the double ammo mould further enhanced profitability by doubling cannonball output.
Using the regular cannonball mould, you can average around 200,000 GP per hour in profit. With the double ammo mould, this profit doubles to 400,000 GP per hour.
To make cannonballs, you need 35 Smithing and completion of the “Dwarf Cannon” quest. Obtaining the double ammo mould requires earning it as a reward from the Giant’s Foundry minigame.
Cannonballs can be made at any furnace. The Edgeville furnace is conveniently close to a bank and has no requirements.
With the double cannonball mould, training from level 35 to 99 Smithing would yield a profit of approximately 170 million GP, but would take over 400 hours. Without the double ammo mould, the profit remains at 170 million GP, but the training time extends to over 800 hours.
While profitable, cannonball smithing is generally not recommended as a primary training method due to its slow XP rate. However, for players running multiple accounts simultaneously, cannonball smithing across several accounts could become a worthwhile passive income stream.
Rune Items at Anvil: High Level Profit
At level 98 Smithing, you can use a dwarven stout potion to temporarily boost to level 99 and smith rune items. Most 3-bar rune items, such as rune 2-handed swords, rune platelegs, and rune plateskirts, are profitable to smith and sell.
Certain communities and friends chats, such as the “W308 anvil” clan chat, buy these rune items in bulk to alchemize them, avoiding the Grand Exchange tax.
As this method requires 99 Smithing (boosted), it is primarily relevant for players aiming for 200 million Smithing XP.
Training from level 99 to 200 million Smithing XP by making rune 2-handed swords would yield a profit of approximately 565 million GP.
Ironman Smithing Guide
For Ironman accounts, resource gathering and efficient utilization are paramount in Smithing training.
At lower levels, Ironmen should prioritize completing “The Knight’s Sword” quest to skip the slow early levels, as mentioned earlier.
Obtaining Ores as an Ironman
Resource gathering is a significant part of Ironman Smithing. The Motherlode Mine is an excellent source of ores, typically yielding around 500 ores per hour with a decent AFK nature.
Regular mining is another option for ore acquisition. However, waiting until later in your Ironman journey, when you have more gold and access to better money-making methods, can be more efficient.
This is because Ironman accounts can purchase ores from the Blast Furnace shop, offering a way to obtain ores faster than traditional mining methods.
Giant’s Foundry for Ironmen: Resource Efficiency
The Giant’s Foundry minigame is a fantastic addition for Ironman Smithing training. It provides reasonable XP rates and allows Ironmen to effectively utilize leftover bars and metal items obtained from PvM drops.
It is a resource-efficient training method, making it ideal for Ironman accounts.
Ironmen can purchase ores from the Blast Furnace shop, convert them into bars at the Blast Furnace, and then use those bars at the Giant’s Foundry or for platebody smithing.
High-level Ironmen will also accumulate a significant amount of Smithing experience passively by crafting items like dart tips for raids and bossing encounters.
Free-to-Play (F2P) Smithing Guide
For Free-to-Play players, Smithing training options are more limited, but reaching higher levels is still achievable.
F2P players also have access to “The Knight’s Sword” quest, which remains the fastest way to train from level 1 to 29 Smithing in F2P.
Platebody Smithing in F2P: The Best Method
The fastest Smithing method in Free-to-Play is smithing platebodies at the Varrock anvil.
Smithing adamant platebodies in F2P is currently profitable and will take approximately 70 hours to reach level 99.
The Varrock anvil is the best anvil location in F2P due to its proximity to the bank.
For more detailed tips on platebody smithing mechanics, refer back to the platebody smithing section of this guide.
Barronite Smithing Under White Wolf Mountain: F2P Ironman Option
A Free-to-Play Smithing method introduced in 2021 is barronite smithing. This requires full completion of the “Below Ice Mountain” quest. While mining barronite rocks, you have a chance to obtain barronite deposits.
These barronite deposits can be taken to the nearby anvil under White Wolf Mountain to gain 30 Smithing XP per piece. This method is primarily beneficial for Free-to-Play Ironman accounts since barronite deposits are untradeable drops.
OSRS Smithing Guide Recap
Low Level Smithing Training (1-40)
