OSRS Free-to-Play Smithing Guide Fastest Path to 99
Smithing in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) free-to-play (F2P) worlds can feel like a grind, but with the right strategies, you can level efficiently and even turn a profit. This comprehensive guide covers the best methods to train Smithing from level 1 to 99 in F2P, focusing on fast experience rates, cost-effective approaches, and practical tips for all players. Whether you’re a new adventurer or an Ironman, you’ll find everything you need to master this production skill.
Smithing is a production skill that lets you smelt ores into bars and forge them into armor, weapons, and utility items. In F2P, it’s a gateway to crafting high-demand gear like rune platebodies, which can be sold for profit or used in combat. Training Smithing also complements Mining, as you can gather your own ores, making it a self-sustaining skill for Ironmen. Plus, hitting level 99 grants you the prestigious Smithing Skillcape, a badge of dedication in the F2P world.
Benefits of Smithing for F2P Players
- Craft High-Value Gear: Rune equipment fetches good prices on the Grand Exchange.
- Self-Sufficiency: Ironmen can make their own armor and weapons.
- Profit Potential: Smelting bars or smithing certain items can yield gold.
- Skill Synergy: Pairs well with Mining for a balanced skilling experience.
Getting Started with Smithing Basics
Smithing involves two main processes: smelting ores into bars at a furnace and forging bars into items at an anvil using a hammer. In F2P, you’ll primarily use the furnaces in Lumbridge, Al Kharid, or Edgeville and the anvil south of Varrock’s west bank, as it’s the closest to a bank for efficient smithing.
Essential Tools and Locations
- Hammer: Buy one from a general store (e.g., Varrock) for ~100 GP.
- Anvil: Varrock west bank anvil is optimal for F2P due to its proximity to a bank.
- Furnace: Edgeville furnace is closest to a bank, ideal for smelting bars.
Quest Boost: The Knight’s Sword
Before diving into smelting or smithing, complete The Knight’s Sword quest. It has no Smithing requirement (10 Mining needed, plus 15 for Ironmen to gather iron bars) and rewards 12,725 XP, skyrocketing you from level 1 to 29 instantly. This skips the tedious early grind and unlocks iron bars, saving hours of training.
Fastest Smithing Training Methods (Level 1–99)
The fastest way to 99 Smithing in F2P is smithing platebodies, as they use five bars per item, maximizing XP per action. Below is a level-by-level breakdown to optimize your experience rates.
Levels 1–29: Quest or Bronze Items
If you skip The Knight’s Sword (though not recommended), smelt bronze bars (copper + tin ore) and forge bronze platebodies for 62.5 XP each. This is slow, requiring 16 platebodies to hit level 10, but it’s cheap if you mine your own ores.
- XP/Hour: ~10,000–15,000
- Location: Al Kharid furnace, Varrock anvil
- Cost: ~200 GP/bar if buying ores
Levels 29–48: Iron Platebodies
At level 29, switch to forging iron platebodies (125 XP each). You’ll need iron bars, which have a 50% smelting success rate unless using a ring of forging (100% success, costs ~1,000 GP). Smelt at Edgeville furnace and smith at Varrock’s west bank anvil.
- XP/Hour: ~50,000–60,000
- Bars Needed: ~3,000 to reach level 48
- Tip: Use energy potions to sprint between bank and anvil for faster trips.
Levels 48–68: Steel Platebodies
From level 48, smith steel platebodies (187.5 XP each) using steel bars (1 iron ore + 2 coal). Steel smelting is 100% successful, so no rings are needed. This method ramps up XP rates but increases costs if buying materials.
| Item | XP Each | Bars Needed | Approx. Cost/Bar | XP/Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steel Platebody | 187.5 | 5 | ~800 GP | ~100,000 |
Levels 68–88: Adamant Platebodies
At level 68, forge adamant platebodies (312.5 XP each) with adamant bars (1 adamantite ore + 6 coal). These offer the best balance of cost and XP in F2P until level 88. Expect losses unless you mine ores yourself.
- XP/Hour: ~150,000–200,000 with energy potions
- Bars Needed: ~30,000 to level 88
- Cost: ~2,000 GP/bar if purchased
Levels 88–99: Adamant or Rune Platebodies
From level 88, you can smith rune platebodies (375 XP each) using rune bars (1 runite ore + 8 coal). However, rune bars are pricey (~12,000 GP each), making adamant platebodies more cost-effective for most players. At level 98, drink a dwarven stout (+1 Smithing boost for 1 minute) to smith rune platebodies early, hitting up to 300,000 XP/hour. Stick with adamant if budget is tight.
- Adamant XP/Hour: ~215,000
- Rune XP/Hour: ~250,000–300,000
- Bars for 99 (from 88): ~120,000 adamant or ~100,000 rune
| Item | Level Req. | XP Each | Bars/Item | Cost/XP (GP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adamant Platebody | 68 | 312.5 | 5 | ~6.4 |
| Rune Platebody | 88 | 375 | 5 | ~32 |
Alternative Methods for Smithing XP
If platebody smithing feels repetitive or costly, consider these alternatives for a change of pace or profit.
Barronite Deposits (Below Ice Mountain)
After completing the Below Ice Mountain quest, mine barronite rocks in the Camdozaal Mines. Crush barronite deposits at the barronite crusher for Smithing XP. This method is slow (~20,000 XP/hour) but free and AFK-friendly, ideal for Ironmen or low-budget players.
Smelting Bars for Profit
Smelting bars can be profitable and less click-intensive than smithing. Use the Edgeville furnace for efficiency. Check Grand Exchange prices before smelting to ensure profit.
- Bronze Bars: ~200 GP profit/bar, 6.2 XP
- Iron Bars: ~100 GP profit with ring of forging, 12.5 XP
- Steel Bars: ~400 GP profit/bar, 17.5 XP
Superheating for Combined XP
If you have 43 Magic, use the Superheat Item spell to smelt bars while Mining, granting both Smithing and Magic XP. This is niche but useful for Ironmen training multiple skills. It’s costly (~1,000 GP/bar with runes) and slower than anvil smithing.
Tips to Optimize Your Smithing Grind
Maximize efficiency and minimize costs with these practical tips tailored for F2P Smithing.
Inventory and Energy Management
- Energy Potions: Buy for ~300 GP each to sprint between bank and anvil, boosting XP rates by ~10–20%.
- Inventory Setup: Carry a hammer, 27 bars (or 25 with 2 potion doses) to maximize trips.
- Bank Presets: Use RuneLite’s bank preset feature for instant withdrawals.
Cost-Saving Strategies
- Mine Your Ores: Mine iron, coal, or adamantite at the Mining Guild or Lumbridge Swamp to cut costs.
- Sell Smelted Bars: Smelt steel or iron bars and sell for profit to fund platebody smithing.
- High Alchemy: At 55 Magic, alch rune platelegs or plateskirts for profit post-99.
Ironman Considerations
Ironmen should prioritize Mining to gather ores, especially for adamant and rune bars. Complete The Knight’s Sword early, and use barronite deposits for free XP if funds are low. Smelt at Edgeville and smith at Varrock to save time.
Key Ironman Tip: Bank barronite shards from deposits to buy Mining or Smithing buffs from Ramarno in Camdozaal, slightly boosting XP rates.
Profit After 99
Once you hit 99, smith rune platelegs, plateskirts, or 2h swords. These items have high alch values (~38,400 GP) and are popular with PKers, netting ~200,000 GP/hour if sold or alched.
Training Smithing in F2P OSRS is a marathon, but with platebody smithing, quest boosts, and smart resource management, you can hit 99 efficiently. Stick to Varrock’s anvil, leverage energy potions, and consider mining your own ores to keep costs down. Whether you’re chasing the Skillcape or crafting rune gear for profit, this guide has you covered. Happy smithing!