How to Get Soda Ash in OSRS: A Complete Guide for Old School RuneScape Players

How to Get Soda Ash in OSRS: A Complete Guide for Old School RuneScape Players


If you’re diving into the world of Old School RuneScape (OSRS) and looking to craft glass items, you’ll need soda ash. This essential crafting ingredient is a staple for players aiming to level up their Crafting skill or create useful items like vials and lanterns. But how do you get soda ash in OSRS? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the best methods to obtain soda ash, from gathering seaweed to purchasing it, ensuring you have all the info you need to succeed. Let’s get started!

Soda ash is a key material in OSRS used to make molten glass, which is then crafted into various glass items. Whether you’re an Ironman or a regular player, knowing how to acquire soda ash efficiently can save you time and effort. It’s primarily obtained by cooking seaweed or similar items on a range or fire, but there are other ways to get it too.

Why Soda Ash Matters

Soda ash is critical for Crafting training, as molten glass (made from soda ash and a bucket of sand) is the foundation for items like glass orbs and potion vials. For Ironmen especially, gathering soda ash is a must since they can’t rely on the Grand Exchange.

Soda Ash Basics

  • Primary Use: Crafting molten glass
  • How to Make: Cook seaweed, giant seaweed, swamp weed, or edible seaweed
  • Experience: Grants 1 Cooking XP per soda ash made (4 XP with a dwarven army axe)

Method 1: Cooking Seaweed into Soda Ash

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The most common way to get soda ash in OSRS is by cooking seaweed on a range or fire. This method is straightforward and accessible to all players, making it a great starting point.

Where to Find Seaweed

Seaweed spawns in various locations across Gielinor. Here are some of the best spots:

How to Cook Seaweed

  1. Gather seaweed from one of the locations above.
  2. Head to a range or fire (ranges are faster and less likely to burn at lower levels).
  3. Use the seaweed on the heat source to turn it into soda ash.

Pro Tip: The Hosidius Kitchen range boosts success rates for cooking giant seaweed, making it a top choice if you’re in the area.

Method 2: Using Giant Seaweed for More Soda Ash

For players looking to maximize efficiency, giant seaweed is a game-changer. When cooked, it yields up to 6 soda ash per piece, compared to just 1 from regular seaweed.

How to Get Giant Seaweed

Giant seaweed is obtained through Farming or underwater activities:

  • Farming: Plant giant seaweed spores in the underwater patches at Fossil Island (requires 35 Farming).
  • Lobstrosity Drops: These underwater creatures drop giant seaweed rarely.

Cooking Giant Seaweed

Cook giant seaweed on a fire or range. At lower Cooking levels, you might fail and only get 1 soda ash, but success rates improve as your level increases. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Cooking Level Success Rate
1 ~0.4%
33 ~64%
50+ Near 100%

Note: Cooking gauntlets don’t help, but the Hosidius range effect does.

Method 3: Buying Soda Ash from Charter Ships

If gathering and cooking aren’t your style, you can buy soda ash directly from Trader Stan’s Trading Post at charter ship locations. This is ideal for players with some gold to spare.

Best Charter Ship Locations

Cost and Strategy

Soda ash costs just 5 coins each, but stock is limited to 10 per world. Hop worlds to buy more quickly. For Ironmen, this method is less viable unless you’re collecting seaweed from other sources first.

Method 4: Alternative Sources of Soda Ash

Beyond cooking and buying, there are a few niche ways to get soda ash in OSRS. These are great for variety or specific account types.

Drops from Monsters

Some monsters drop soda ash, though it’s uncommon:

Mining Ash Piles

You can mine ash piles on Fossil Island for volcanic ash, but regular soda ash comes from specific ash piles rarely. This method is more situational and less reliable.

Tips to Optimize Soda Ash Collection in OSRS

Now that you know how to get soda ash, here are some tips to make the process smoother:

Efficiency Hacks

  • Superglass Make Spell: With Lunar Magic (level 77), use seaweed or soda ash with buckets of sand to craft molten glass instantly, skipping the furnace step.
  • Desert Amulet: Amulet 2+ converts soda ash to molten glass without sand (50-150 daily, depending on tier).
  • Ironman Strategy: Combine Piscatoris seaweed gathering with giant seaweed farming for a steady supply.

Best Locations for Speed

For speed, stick to Piscatoris (post-Swan Song) or Port Khazard. Both offer quick banking and cooking options.

Whether you’re cooking seaweed on Entrana, farming giant seaweed underwater, or hopping worlds at charter ships, getting soda ash in OSRS is all about finding the method that fits your playstyle. Start small with seaweed gathering, then scale up to giant seaweed or purchasing as you progress. Happy crafting, and may your glassblowing adventures in Gielinor be fruitful!