Old School RuneScape Smithing: How to Level Up Fast and Efficiently
Smithing allows players to turn raw ores into bars and then use those bars to forge equipment, which can be used personally or sold for profit. However, leveling Smithing can be slow if you don't know the best methods, so this guide will provide you with the most efficient ways to boost your Smithing experience quickly and cost-effectively.
Understanding Smithing in OSRS
Smithing is categorized as a production skill where experience points (XP) are gained primarily by smelting ores into bars and using those bars to craft metal items. Experience gained varies based on the complexity of the item or bar smelted.
Generally, the more advanced the bar or item, the more XP it yields. This means that higher-level smithing tends to give better XP rates but requires better ores, more coal, and more in-game currency or mining effort.
Why Level Smithing Fast?
Smithing is crucial for:
Crafting your own combat gear without relying on the Grand Exchange.
Making money by crafting valuable items.
Unlocking quests and content requiring Smithing levels.
Preparing yourself for combat or minigames with self-made gear.
Fast leveling can save you significant grind time and help you reach your goals quicker.
Best Methods to Level Smithing Fast
1. Smelting Bars at the Blast Furnace
The Blast Furnace is by far the fastest and most efficient method to smelt bars in OSRS, especially for steel and higher bars. Located in Keldagrim, it's a minigame where you smelt ores with half the usual coal requirements and much faster than a standard furnace.
Requirements: 30 Smithing to use (can be boosted with a furnace boost).
How it Works: You supply ores, and the furnace smelts them automatically with your help.
XP Rates: Extremely high compared to normal smelting.
Cost Efficiency: Coal usage is halved, reducing costs dramatically.
If you can access and coordinate the Blast Furnace with friends or use helpers, you can achieve incredible XP rates smelting steel, mithril, adamant, or rune bars.
2. Cannonball Method (Levels 1-99)
One of the most popular fast Smithing methods is making steel cannonballs. This method is semi-AFK, fast, and gives consistent XP throughout the skill range.
How to Do It:
Buy or mine steel bars.
Use the steel bars on a furnace to make cannonballs.
Each cannonball gives a decent chunk of XP.
Advantages:
Very fast XP.
Relatively cheap compared to other methods.
Easy to do in bulk with minimal attention.
Considerations: You must have steel bars ready and enough coins or ores to sustain the method.
If you combine cannonball making with Blast Furnace smelting, your coal consumption and costs go down even more.
3. Smithing Items Using Bars on Anvils
Instead of smelting, you can smith items directly from metal bars on anvils. Smithing items grants more XP per bar than smelting alone, making it an excellent method once you have a stockpile of bars.
Best Items to Smith for XP:
Bronze and iron daggers at early levels.
Steel items at mid-levels.
Mithril, adamant, or rune platebodies or swords at higher levels.
Advantages:
Higher XP per bar than smelting.
Can be faster if you have bars ready.
Disadvantages:
Requires more attention.
Some items are expensive.
4. Quests for Smithing XP Boosts
Completing certain quests can grant large XP rewards, giving you a jump-start or a shortcut through the early levels. Notable quests include:
The Knight's Sword - rewards 1,150 Smithing XP.
Family Crest - grants access to Goldsmith Gauntlets (boost gold bar smelting XP).
Heroes' Quest - offers Smithing XP and unlocks goldsmithing.
Questing alongside training can help you level faster and gain useful rewards.
5. Goldsmith Gauntlets and Gold Bars
When smelting OSRS gold bars, if you have the Goldsmith Gauntlets (from the Family Crest quest), you gain 2.5x Smithing XP for each gold bar smelted.
This is one of the fastest XP per hour methods, especially if combined with buying or mining gold ores.
Gold bars can be smelted quickly, and the XP multiplier helps speed leveling.
Step-By-Step Guide to Leveling Smithing Fast
Levels 1-15: Bronze Bars and Daggers
Mine copper and tin ores or buy from the Grand Exchange.
Smelt bronze bars at a furnace.
Smith bronze daggers for good early XP and low cost.
Alternatively, smith bronze items you prefer for inventory management.
Levels 15-30: Iron Bars and Cannonballs
Mine or buy iron ores and coal.
Smelt iron bars, either at a furnace or Blast Furnace.
Make iron items or switch to cannonballs.
Iron bars smelt slower than others but are plentiful and cheap.
Levels 30-52: Steel Bars and Cannonballs
Steel requires 1 iron ore + 2 coal per bar.
Use the Blast Furnace to smelt steel bars quickly and efficiently.
Smith steel cannonballs for very fast XP gains.
This method is the fastest from level 30 to 52.
Levels 52-70: Mithril Bars and Items
Smelt mithril bars (1 mithril ore + 4 coal).
Use Blast Furnace for efficient smelting.
Smith mithril items or continue cannonballs if preferred.
Levels 70-85: Adamant Bars and Items
Smelt adamant bars (1 adamantite ore + 6 coal).
Use Blast Furnace.
Smith adamant items for XP or profit.
Levels 85-99: Rune Bars and Items
Smelt rune bars (1 runite ore + 8 coal).
Use Blast Furnace for efficiency.
Smith rune items for best XP rates.
Money-Making While Leveling Smithing
Smithing can be costly, but with smart planning, you can offset expenses:
Mining your own ores lowers costs.
Using the Blast Furnace cuts coal costs.
Smithing high-demand items (like adamant or rune gear) can generate profit.
Selling cannonballs can break even or make slight profit depending on market prices. You can also buy OSRS gold.
Additional Tips to Level Smithing Faster
Bank and Inventory Management: Keep noted ores and coal in your bank for quick withdrawal.
Use XP Boosts: Experience lamps from quests or events can boost Smithing.
Train with Friends: Using the Blast Furnace is easier with helpers who assist with coal and ore input.
Utilize Smithing Outfits: Although not available in OSRS like in RS3, check for any temporary events or bonuses.
Conclusion
Smithing in Old School RuneScape is a rewarding but sometimes grind-heavy skill. However, by using methods such as the Blast Furnace, cannonball making, and efficient anvil smithing, you can level Smithing fast without breaking the bank.
Make sure to complement your training with quest XP rewards and smart resource management to maximize your Smithing gains. Whether your goal is to craft your own gear, make money, or unlock new content, following this guide will help you reach 99 Smithing as quickly as possible.
Happy smithing, and may your bars always be hot!