OSRS Giants’ Foundry Guide: Master Smithing with This Step-by-Step Tutorial
Welcome to the ultimate OSRS Giants’ Foundry guide! If you’re looking to level up your Smithing skill in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) while enjoying a fun and interactive minigame, the Giants’ Foundry is the perfect place for you. Introduced in June 2022, this minigame offers a fresh alternative to traditional Smithing methods, blending engaging gameplay with decent experience rates and unique rewards. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to master the Giants’ Foundry, optimize your XP gains, and make the most of your time forging giant swords for Kovac. Let’s dive in!
Before you can start hammering away at massive swords, you’ll need to unlock the Giants’ Foundry. This section covers the prerequisites and how to access this exciting minigame.
Prerequisites for Giants’ Foundry
To participate, you’ll need to meet a couple of basic requirements:
- Smithing Level 15: A modest entry point, easily achievable even for new players.
- Completion of Sleeping Giants Quest: This short novice quest serves as a tutorial, introducing you to Kovac and the Foundry’s mechanics.
If you don’t yet have 15 Smithing, consider completing The Knight’s Sword quest, which boosts you from level 1 to 29 Smithing quickly. Once you’ve met these requirements, you’re ready to head to the Foundry!
How to Reach Giants’ Foundry
The Giants’ Foundry is located beneath the Giants’ Plateau, southwest of Al Kharid. Here are the fastest travel options:
- Minigame Teleport: Use the Grouping Menu for a direct teleport to the Foundry.
- Amulet of Glory: Teleport to Al Kharid and run southwest.
- Ring of Dueling: Teleport to Emir’s Arena and head west.
A bank chest is conveniently located nearby, making it easy to grab your materials and get started.
Understanding Giants’ Foundry Mechanics
The Giants’ Foundry is all about crafting giant swords for Kovac, the friendly giant who runs the forge. This section breaks down the core gameplay loop and tools you’ll use.
The Gameplay Loop
Here’s how a typical round works:
- Get a Commission: Speak to Kovac to receive a random sword commission (e.g., “Broad and Spiked”). You can cancel and reroll if needed.
- Set the Mould: Choose a mould from Kovac’s library that matches the commission’s features for higher quality.
- Fill the Crucible: Add 28 metal bars (or equivalent items) to the crucible to create molten metal.
- Pour the Metal: Pour the molten metal into the mould to form a preform.
- Refine the Sword: Use the Foundry’s tools to shape the preform into a finished sword.
- Deliver to Kovac: Hand in the completed sword for XP, gold, and Foundry Reputation.
The quality of your sword—determined by metal choice, mould accuracy, and refinement—directly affects your rewards. Higher quality means better payouts!
Tools of the Trade
You’ll use three main tools during the refinement phase, each requiring a specific temperature range:
- Trip Hammer (Red/Hot): Hammers out imperfections at high temperatures.
- Grindstone (Yellow/Medium): Smooths the blade’s edge at medium heat.
- Polishing Wheel (Green/Cold): Polishes the sword to a shine at low temperatures.
Adjust the sword’s temperature using the Lava Pool (to heat) and Waterfall (to cool). Timing is key—using the wrong tool at the wrong temperature deducts 10 quality points per mistake.
Optimizing Your Giants’ Foundry Experience
To get the most out of the Giants’ Foundry, you’ll want to focus on efficiency, XP rates, and cost-effectiveness. Here’s how to optimize your runs.
Best Metal Combinations
Your choice of metal bars impacts XP, cost, and difficulty. Here’s a table of popular alloys:
| Alloy | Metal Score | XP per Bar (Avg) | Difficulty | Cost-Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Steel + 14 Mithril | 120 | ~965 XP | Medium | High |
| 14 Mithril + 14 Adamant | 150 | ~1,100 XP | High | Moderate |
| 14 Adamant + 14 Rune | 180 | ~1,300 XP | Very High | Low |
Tip: Start with cheaper alloys like Steel/Mithril for practice, then scale up to Adamant/Rune as your Smithing level and budget allow.
Temperature Control Tips
Mastering temperature is crucial for high-quality swords. Try these strategies:
- Switch Tools Strategically: Click the right tool at the right time to avoid overshooting temperature ranges.
- Use Margins: Aim for the middle of each temperature range (e.g., mid-yellow for Grindstone) to give yourself wiggle room.
- Watch for Crits: When the interface flashes yellow, click your current tool within two cycles for bonus progress.
Practice makes perfect—over time, you’ll develop a rhythm for seamless transitions.
Rewards and Benefits of Giants’ Foundry
Beyond Smithing XP, the Giants’ Foundry offers tangible rewards that enhance your gameplay. Let’s explore what you can earn.
Experience and Gold
For each sword, you’ll receive:
- Smithing XP: Scales with sword quality (metal score + mould score – mistakes).
- Gold: Double the XP value, deposited directly into your bank (or inventory for Ultimate Ironmen).
With optimal setups (e.g., 14 Adamant + 14 Rune), you can hit XP rates of 70k-90k per hour, rivaling the Blast Furnace at a fraction of the intensity.
Foundry Reputation and Shop
Reputation points, equal to your sword’s final quality, can be spent in Kovac’s Reward Shop. Top picks include:
- Smiths’ Uniform: Full set (Gloves, Boots, Tunic, Trousers) guarantees bonus progress in the Foundry and speeds up anvil Smithing by 15-20%.
- Colossal Blade: A level 60 Attack weapon with stats similar to the Barrelchest Anchor.
- Moulds: Unlock better moulds (up to 5,400 reputation total) for higher base quality.
The Smiths’ Gloves can also be combined with Ice Gloves for a seamless preform pickup experience.
Advanced Strategies for Giants’ Foundry Pros
Ready to take your Foundry game to the next level? These advanced tips will help you maximize efficiency and rewards.
Min-Maxing Sword Quality
To consistently craft high-quality swords:
- Unlock All Moulds: Spend your early reputation on moulds to boost your base score (up to 48 with optimal combinations).
- Avoid Mistakes: Each error costs 10 quality points—focus on precision over speed initially.
- Use High-Tier Metals: Adamant/Rune alloys push your metal score to 180+, maximizing XP and gold.
A perfect run with a 199 quality score (max metal + max mould, no mistakes) is the ultimate goal!
Ironman Considerations
For Ironmen, the Foundry shines as a bar sink and XP source:
- Use Excess Gear: Smelt unwanted armor/weapons (e.g., platebodies from Slayer) into the crucible—each item counts as one less bar than its smithing cost.
- Prioritize Uniform: The Smiths’ Uniform is a game-changer for long-term Smithing efficiency.
- Stockpile Bars: Mine and smelt your own bars to keep costs at zero.
It’s a slower grind, but the Foundry’s rewards make it worthwhile for self-sufficient players.
With this OSRS Giants’ Foundry guide, you’re equipped to forge your way to Smithing mastery. Whether you’re chasing XP, gold, or that sweet Smiths’ Uniform, the Foundry offers a rewarding experience that’s both fun and profitable. Grab your bars, head to the Giants’ Plateau, and start crafting—Kovac’s waiting! Happy smithing, adventurers!