0-99 Smithing Guide for OSRS: Level Up Fast in 2025

0-99 Smithing Guide for OSRS: Level Up Fast in 2025


Smithing in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a rewarding yet grind-heavy skill that lets you craft armor, weapons, and other metal items. Whether you’re a new player or a seasoned veteran, reaching level 99 Smithing can feel daunting without a clear plan. This guide walks you through the most efficient methods to level from 0 to 99, balancing cost, speed, and accessibility. Updated for 2025, we’ll cover everything from early levels to endgame strategies, ensuring you smith smarter, not harder.

Smithing isn’t just about flexing your crafting skills—it’s a gateway to profit, quests, and self-sufficiency. High-level Smithing unlocks the ability to create valuable items like Rune armor and weapons, which are always in demand. Plus, it’s a requirement for key quests like Song of the Elves (level 70) and Dragon Slayer II (level 68). Training Smithing also pairs well with Mining, letting you gather your own ores and save gold. Ready to hammer your way to 99? Let’s dive in.

Benefits of High Smithing Levels

Reaching higher Smithing levels offers practical perks:

  • Profit: Craft Rune items to sell on the Grand Exchange.
  • Quest Access: Unlock elite content with Smithing requirements.
  • Self-Reliance: Make your own gear without relying on others.

Smithing Basics for Beginners

Smithing involves smelting ores into bars at a furnace and then forging those bars into items at an anvil. You’ll need a hammer (buy one from a general store for cheap) and access to a furnace and anvil—Varrock is a great starting spot. Experience scales with the metal type and item complexity, so let’s break down the journey step-by-step.

Levels 1-29: Getting Started with Bronze and Iron

The early levels are all about building a foundation. You’ll start with bronze and quickly move to iron, using affordable materials to gain momentum.

Bronze Items (1-15)

From level 1, smelt bronze bars (1 tin ore + 1 copper ore) at a furnace. Then, head to an anvil and smith:

  • Bronze Daggers: 12.5 XP each, fast and simple.
  • Bronze Axes: 12.5 XP each, another quick option.

Aim for level 15 in about 30 minutes with 138 bronze bars (276 ores total). Mine your own ores in the Lumbridge Swamp or buy them cheap from the Grand Exchange.

Iron Items (15-29)

At level 15, switch to iron bars (1 iron ore per bar). Smelt them and forge:

  • Iron Platebodies: 125 XP each, requiring 5 bars.

You’ll need around 194 iron bars to hit level 29. Iron ore is slightly pricier, but mining it yourself at the Mining Guild or Varrock South-East mine keeps costs low. Expect 10-15k XP per hour here.

Levels 30-68: Steel and Mithril Efficiency

Now that you’ve got the basics down, it’s time to ramp up efficiency. Steel and mithril offer solid XP rates while keeping costs manageable.

Steel Platebodies (30-48)

Smelt steel bars (1 iron ore + 2 coal) and smith:

  • Steel Platebodies: 187.5 XP each, 5 bars per item.

You’ll need 611 steel bars to reach level 48, yielding about 20-25k XP per hour. Use the Blast Furnace (more on that later) to cut coal costs if you’ve got 60 Smithing unlocked already.

Mithril Platebodies (48-68)

At level 48, switch to mithril bars (1 mithril ore + 4 coal). Forge:

  • Mithril Platebodies: 250 XP each, 5 bars per item.

Reaching level 68 takes 2,297 mithril bars. XP rates climb to 30-35k per hour, and the Blast Furnace becomes a game-changer here for cheaper bars. Mine mithril at the Mining Guild or buy it if you’re flush with gold.

Levels 68-99: The Endgame Grind

The final stretch is where Smithing gets expensive or time-intensive. You’ve got two main paths: fast and costly (gold bars) or slower but profitable (rune items). Let’s explore both.

Blast Furnace Gold Bars (68-99)

The Blast Furnace in Keldagrim is the fastest way to 99, especially with gold bars. Requirements:

  • Level 40 Smithing (but we’re past that).
  • Goldsmith Gauntlets from Family Crest quest (boosts XP from 22.5 to 56.2 per bar).

Smelt gold bars wearing the gauntlets for 300-350k XP per hour. You’ll need 231,269 gold bars from 68 to 99, costing around 100-120M GP depending on prices. Use stamina potions and bank efficiently to maximize rates. This method takes 40-50 hours total.

Rune Platebodies (88-99)

For a profitable alternative, smith rune items at level 88+:

  • Rune Platebodies: 375 XP each, 5 rune bars per item.

You’ll need 34,687 rune bars from 88 to 99, taking 100-120 hours at 100-120k XP per hour. Rune bars (1 runite ore + 8 coal) are pricey, but selling platebodies offsets costs, often netting a profit. Use the Blast Furnace or buy bars outright if you’re lazy.

Comparison Table: Gold vs. Rune

Method XP/Hour Total Cost Time to 99 Profit?
Gold Bars (Blast Furnace) 300-350k 100-120M GP 40-50 hours No
Rune Platebodies 100-120k Variable (can profit) 100-120 hours Yes

Choose gold for speed, rune for profit. Hybrid approaches (mixing methods) work too if you want balance.

Tips and Tricks for Faster Smithing

Maximize your Smithing gains with these pro tips, whether you’re a skiller or an Ironman.

Use the Blast Furnace

Unlocked after starting The Giant Dwarf quest, the Blast Furnace halves coal requirements and boosts XP rates. Pay the 2,500 GP fee (or free with 60+ Smithing) and team up with others to run it efficiently. It’s ideal for steel, mithril, adamant, and rune bars.

Leverage Quests for Early Boosts

Knock out these quests for free XP:

These can save hours, especially at low levels.

Ironman Considerations

For Ironmen, mining your own ores is key. Focus on:

Smithing becomes slower but self-sustaining. Prioritize rune items for gear upgrades.

Optimize Your Setup

Wear the Varrock Armour (from Varrock Diary) for a chance to smelt two bars at once. Use the Coal Bag (from Motherlode Mine) to carry more coal, reducing bank trips. Every second counts!

From bronze daggers to rune platebodies, your path to 99 Smithing in OSRS is now clear. Whether you blast through with gold bars or profit with rune, consistency is key. Start small, scale up, and soon you’ll be rocking that Smithing cape. Hammer on, adventurer!