The Cheapest Herblore XP in OSRS: Budget-Friendly Training Guide

The Cheapest Herblore XP in OSRS: Budget-Friendly Training Guide


Herblore is one of the most expensive skills to train in Old School RuneScape (OSRS), but it doesn’t have to break the bank. Whether you’re an Ironman gathering your own supplies or a main account looking to save GP, this guide will walk you through the cheapest methods to gain Herblore XP. From low-level herb cleaning to mid-tier potions and alternative training options, we’ve got you covered with cost-effective strategies to reach your goals. Let’s dive into the world of affordable Herblore training and optimize your XP gains without draining your coin pouch!

Herblore offers incredible benefits in OSRS, from crafting combat-boosting potions to essential utility items like prayer restores. However, the high cost of ingredients often deters players from leveling it up. Training Herblore cheaply allows you to:

  • Save GP: Avoid spending millions on expensive potions.
  • Progress Efficiently: Reach key levels for quests or diaries without overspending.
  • Support Ironman Accounts: Utilize gathered resources effectively.

By focusing on low-cost methods, you can still enjoy the perks of Herblore while keeping your finances intact.

Understanding Herblore Costs

The primary expenses in Herblore come from buying herbs, secondary ingredients, and vials. Prices fluctuate on the Grand Exchange (GE), so checking real-time costs is crucial. This guide prioritizes methods with minimal investment or even profit potential, making it ideal for budget-conscious players.

Getting Started: Unlocking Herblore

200K Herblore XPHR at Level 15 OSRS QuickTip Old School Runescape

Before you can train Herblore, you need to unlock the skill by completing the Druidic Ritual quest. This short quest has no requirements and rewards 250 XP, boosting you to level 3 instantly. Speak to Kaqemeex in Taverley to start, and you’ll be mixing potions in no time.

Early Levels (3-12): Cleaning Grimy Herbs

For the absolute cheapest Herblore XP at low levels, cleaning grimy herbs is your go-to method. It’s click-intensive but requires no additional ingredients, and you can often profit by selling the clean herbs.

  • Grimy Guam Leaf: Clean at level 3 for 2.5 XP each.
  • Grimy Marrentill: Clean at level 5 for 3.8 XP each.
  • Grimy Tarromin: Clean at level 11 for 5 XP each.

Tip: Buy grimy herbs in bulk from the GE and sell the clean versions. For example, grimy guam leaves might cost 100 GP each, while clean guam leaves sell for 150 GP, netting you a small profit per herb cleaned.

Profit Potential

Depending on GE prices, cleaning herbs can yield 50-150k XP per hour and sometimes a profit of 100k-500k GP per hour. Use a price checker like GE Tracker to ensure you’re buying low and selling high.

Low-Cost Potion Making (Levels 12-38)

Once you hit level 12, potion making becomes viable. The goal here is to minimize losses while maximizing XP. Here are the cheapest potions to make in this range:

Strength Potions (Level 12)

Requirements: Tarromin (unf) + Limpwurt Root

XP: 50 per potion

Cost: Approximately 200-300 GP per potion (varies with GE prices)

Strength potions are a solid choice because limpwurt roots are farmable or dropped by hill giants, reducing costs for Ironmen or players willing to gather.

Serum 207 (Level 15)

Requirements: Tarromin (unf) + Ashes

XP: 50 per potion

Cost: Often under 100 GP per potion

Ashes are dirt cheap (around 50 GP each) and plentiful from firemaking or combat drops, making Serum 207 one of the most affordable options. The downside? It’s not tradeable, so you’ll lose the investment unless you use them for Shades of Mort’ton.

Energy Potions (Level 26)

Requirements: Harralander (unf) + Chocolate Dust

XP: 67.5 per potion

Cost: Around 300-400 GP per potion

Grind chocolate bars (50-100 GP each) into dust yourself to save money. These potions are tradeable, so you might break even or lose only a small amount per potion.

Potion Level XP per Potion Estimated Cost (GP)
Strength Potion 12 50 200-300
Serum 207 15 50 50-100
Energy Potion 26 67.5 300-400

Mid-Tier Budget Options (Levels 38-60)

As you progress, potion costs rise, but there are still budget-friendly options to keep losses low.

Prayer Potions (Level 38)

Requirements: Ranarr (unf) + Snape Grass

XP: 87.5 per potion

Cost: Around 1,000-1,500 GP per potion

Prayer potions are a staple for many players, and their secondary ingredient, snape grass, is farmable on Waterbirth Island or dropped by chaos druids. This keeps costs manageable, and you can sell them to offset losses, often losing only 200-500 GP per potion.

Guam Tar (Level 19-39)

Requirements: Guam Leaf + 15 Swamp Tar

XP: 30 per tar

Cost: Under 100 GP per tar

Swamp tar is inexpensive (around 5-10 GP each), and this method requires fewer clicks than potions. It’s slower XP (around 50k-70k per hour), but it’s one of the cheapest GP/XP ratios. Stockpile swamp tar in advance due to its 13k buy limit.

Tips for Mid-Tier Training

  • Use an Amulet of Chemistry: A 5% chance to make 4-dose potions saves ingredients.
  • Farm Ingredients: Grow herbs and gather secondaries to cut costs.
  • Bank Efficiently: Aim for 2,200-2,400 potions per hour to maximize XP.

Advanced Cheap Methods (Levels 60+)

At higher levels, costs escalate, but alternative methods and minigames can keep your training affordable.

Mastering Mixology (Level 60)

Requirements: Access to Aldarin (post-Children of the Sun), 60 Herblore

XP: Up to 105k per hour at 81+ Herblore

Cost: Minimal (uses your herbs, no secondaries)

Introduced with Varlamore, Mastering Mixology is a game-changer. You process herbs into pastes and craft unique potions for orders, earning more XP per herb than traditional methods. At level 81, you can hit 105k XP/hour, and rewards like the Reagents Pouch (doubles inventory capacity) and Prescription Goggles (10% chance to save secondaries) reduce costs further.

Super Attack Potions (Level 45)

Requirements: Irit (unf) + Eye of Newt

XP: 100 per potion

Cost: Around 500-700 GP per potion

Eye of newt is cheap (5-10 GP), and super attacks are tradeable, keeping losses low. This is a solid option until you unlock Mastering Mixology.

Late-Game Cost Saving

For levels 60-99, combine Mastering Mixology with herb farming. Use profits from selling Aldarium (up to 2M GP/hour) to fund other potions if needed. At 70 Magic, the Degrime spell (Arceuus spellbook) cleans herbs for 120k XP/hour and potential profit, blending magic and Herblore training.

Final Tips for Cheapest Herblore XP

To wrap up, here’s how to optimize your budget Herblore training:

  • Quest Boosts: Complete Jungle Potion (775 XP), Recruitment Drive (1,000 XP), and The Digsite (2,000 XP) to jump from 3 to 19.
  • Herb Runs: Farm ranarrs, irits, and guams to supply your training.
  • GE Timing: Buy during price dips and sell potions at peaks.
  • AFK Options: Use tar or Mixology for less click-intensive sessions.

With these methods, you can train Herblore from 1-99 for as little as 5-10M GP, compared to 50M+ for faster routes like super combats. Whether you’re cleaning herbs, brewing budget potions, or mastering mixology, affordable Herblore XP is within reach. Start today, save your GP, and enjoy the journey to 99!