OSRS Farming Guide 1-99 Fastest and Most Efficient Methods
Farming in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a unique skill that allows players to plant seeds, nurture crops, and harvest rewards for experience, profit, and resources. Unlike other skills, Farming is largely passive, with crops growing even when you’re offline. This 1-99 Farming guide covers the fastest and most efficient methods to level up, including quests, tree runs, herb runs, and alternative strategies for all playstyles, whether you’re a main account, Ironman, or on a budget. Let’s dig into the best ways to reach level 99 Farming!
Farming offers several benefits beyond just reaching level 99. It synergizes with skills like Herblore and Cooking, provides profitable crops, and unlocks transportation methods like Spirit Trees and Fairy Rings. High Farming levels also grant access to exclusive patches and rewards, making it a worthwhile investment.
Key Benefits of Farming
- Passive Experience: Crops grow over time, requiring minimal active effort.
- Profit Potential: Herbs and high-level crops like Ranarr and Snapdragon can yield significant gold.
- Quest Requirements: Farming is needed for quests like Fairy Tale Part II (level 49) and Enlightened Journey (level 30).
- Utility Unlocks: Spirit Trees and disease-free patches enhance gameplay efficiency.
Getting Started Levels 1-35
The early levels of Farming can feel slow, but quests and low-level methods can speed things up. Completing specific quests skips tedious early grinding and provides essential tools like Magic Secateurs.
Questing for Fast Experience
Quests are the fastest way to jump from level 1 to 35. They provide substantial Farming experience and unlock useful items and locations.
| Quest | Farming XP | Level Reached | Other Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairy Tale I – Growing Pains | 3,500 | 17 | Magic Secateurs |
| Recipe for Disaster (Goblin Generals) | 1,000 | ~20 | – |
| Forgettable Tale of a Drunken Dwarf | 5,000 | ~25 | – |
| Garden of Tranquillity | 5,000 | ~30 | – |
| Enlightened Journey | 3,000 | ~35 | Balloon Transport |
Completing these quests grants around 17,500 XP, taking you to level 35. Prioritize Fairy Tale I for Magic Secateurs, which boost herb yields by 10%.
Alternative Low-Level Training
If questing isn’t your style, you can train actively with allotments and compost. These methods are slower but viable for Ironmen or players avoiding quests.
- Compost Bins: Create supercompost (26 XP per bucket) or ultracompost (36 XP per bucket) at any farming patch. Use pineapples or watermelons for supercompost and add volcanic ash for ultracompost.
- Allotments: Plant potatoes (level 1, 8 XP planting, 9 XP harvesting) or onions (level 5, 9.5 XP planting, 10.5 XP harvesting) at patches like Falador or Catherby. Use supercompost to reduce disease risk.
- Bagged Plants: At level 1, plant bagged plants at Varrock Palace (requires Construction). This is click-intensive but gives 36–252 XP per plant, depending on the type.
Core Training Method Tree Runs
Tree runs are the backbone of Farming training from level 15 to 99. They offer massive experience in just a few minutes per day, making them the fastest and most efficient method. Trees take hours to grow, allowing you to focus on other activities while gaining passive XP.
How Tree Runs Work
Plant the highest-level tree and fruit tree saplings available in patches across Gielinor. Check their health for experience, pay to remove them, and replant. A single run takes about 5–10 minutes and can yield hundreds of thousands of XP at higher levels.
Tree Run Checklist
- Saplings: Buy from the Grand Exchange or grow them using seeds and filled plant pots.
- Compost: Always use ultracompost to minimize disease (1/10 chance per growth stage).
- Payments: Pay gardeners to protect trees, as unprotected crops risk dying. Payments vary by tree type (e.g., 25 coconuts for Magic Trees).
- Teleports: Use Explorer’s Ring, Ardougne Cloak, Ectophial, or Spirit Trees for fast travel.
Tree and Fruit Tree Progression
| Level | Tree Type | XP (Check Health) | Growth Time | Protection Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Oak Tree | 467.3 | 3 hours | 1 Basket of Tomatoes |
| 30 | Willow Tree | 1,456.5 | 4 hours | 1 Basket of Apples |
| 27 | Apple Tree (Fruit) | 1,199.5 | 16 hours | 9 Sweetcorn |
| 45 | Maple Tree | 3,403.4 | 5 hours | 1 Basket of Oranges |
| 60 | Yew Tree | 7,069.9 | 6 hours | 10 Cactus Spines |
| 68 | Palm Tree (Fruit) | 10,150.1 | 16 hours | 15 Papayas |
| 75 | Magic Tree | 13,768.3 | 8 hours | 25 Coconuts |
Pro Tip: Start with 1–2 tree runs daily, focusing on regular trees (3–8 hours) and fruit trees (16 hours). Add special trees like Calquat (level 72, 12,096 XP) and Redwood (level 90, 22,450 XP) as you unlock them.
Supplementing with Herb Runs
Herb runs complement tree runs by providing additional experience and profit. They take about 5 minutes every 80 minutes, making them ideal for quick bursts of Farming XP.
Setting Up Herb Runs
Maximize efficiency by unlocking all nine herb patches and using teleports for fast access.
- Patches: Falador, Catherby, Ardougne, Morytania (after Priest in Peril), Trollheim (My Arm’s Big Adventure), Weiss (Making Friends with My Arm), Hosidius (50% favor), Farming Guild (level 65), and Harmony Island (Morytania Diary).
- Seeds: Use high-XP seeds like Ranarr (level 32, 240.5 XP total) or Snapdragon (level 62, 777.5 XP total).
- Tools: Magic Secateurs, Farming Cape (level 99), and ultracompost are essential. Complete Kourend and Kandarin Diaries for yield boosts.
- Teleports: Explorer’s Ring, Ardougne Cloak, Ectophial, and Xeric’s Talisman save time.
Profit vs. Experience
Herb runs can be profitable, especially with high-value herbs. However, prioritize experience early on by planting the highest-level seeds you can afford. A single run at level 80+ can yield 5,000–10,000 XP and 50,000–200,000 GP, depending on herb prices.
Advanced Methods and Tips
Once you’re comfortable with tree and herb runs, incorporate advanced methods and optimizations to speed up your journey to 99.
Tithe Farm
Tithe Farm (level 34, 65% Hosidius favor) is an active training method offering decent XP and unique rewards. Plant and harvest crops in a minigame format, earning points for seeds, the Seed Box, and the Farmer’s Outfit (2.5% XP boost).
- XP Rates: ~50,000 XP/hour at level 54, up to 100,000 XP/hour at level 94.
- Strategy: Use Golovanova seeds (level 34) until level 54, then Bologano (level 54) or Logavano (level 74) for faster points.
Special Crops and Patches
Unlock high-XP special crops to diversify your runs:
- Calquat Tree: Level 72, 12,096 XP, 22 hours, 8 Poison Ivy Berries.
- Celastrus Tree: Level 85, 14,130 XP, 13 hours, 8 Potato Cacti.
- Redwood Tree: Level 90, 22,450 XP, 4.5 days, 6 Dragonfruit.
- Hespori: Level 65, 12,600 XP, 36 hours, variable loot. Use Attas seeds to boost herb yields.
Ironman Considerations
Ironmen should focus on seed collection through Slayer, birdhouse runs, and contracts in the Farming Guild. Prioritize Bone Voyage for hardwood trees (Mahogany at level 55, 15,720 XP) and use disease-free patches for herbs.
Time and Cost Estimates
Reaching 99 Farming takes 3–4 months with consistent tree runs, costing 100–200M GP for saplings and payments. Budget players can save by growing saplings themselves or focusing on herb runs for profit to offset costs.
Final Tip: Use a Farming calculator (like OldSchool.tools) to plan runs and track progress. With dedication, you’ll hit 99 Farming and reap the rewards of this versatile skill!