OSRS Construction Guide Ironman - Efficient Training for Self-Sufficient Builders

Training Construction as an Ironman in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a unique challenge due to the mode’s self-sufficiency restrictions. Unlike regular accounts, Ironmen can’t rely on the Grand Exchange for planks or other materials, making resource gathering a core part of the journey. This guide covers everything you need to know to train Construction efficiently, from early levels to 99, with tips tailored for Ironman accounts. Whether you’re aiming for a maxed Player-Owned House (POH) or key unlocks like the Ornate Rejuvenation Pool, we’ve got you covered.

Construction is a vital skill for Ironmen, offering quality-of-life upgrades that streamline skilling, bossing, and questing. A well-built POH provides teleports, prayer restoration, and stat regeneration, saving time and resources. For Ironmen, who can’t use other players’ houses, training Construction is essential to access these perks. Plus, it’s one of the fastest skills to 99 if you plan your resources wisely, though it requires significant effort to gather materials.

Key Benefits of a High Construction Level

Teleportation Hub: Portal Chambers and Jewellery Boxes offer unlimited teleports to key locations.
Restoration Pools: Restore hitpoints, prayer, and special attack energy, perfect for bossing.
Storage Solutions: Costume Rooms and STASH units help manage limited bank space.
Prayer Training: Gilded Altars boost Prayer XP efficiency.

Getting Started – Early Levels and Setup

Ironman Efficiency Guide

Starting Construction as an Ironman requires a Player-Owned House, which you can purchase for 1,000 coins from an Estate Agent in Varrock, Falador, or other major cities. Early levels focus on gathering planks and completing beginner-friendly quests to skip tedious grinding.

Recommended Quests for Early XP

Quests are a great way to jumpstart your Construction training. Here are the best ones for Ironmen:

Quest	Construction XP	Requirements	Notes
Daddy’s Home	544	None	Grants a POH and 25 planks, boosts to level 8.
Tower of Life	1,000	Level 10 Construction	Easy to complete after Daddy’s Home.
The Eyes of Glouphrie	250	Level 5 Construction, 46 Magic	Also gives Woodcutting XP.

Gathering Initial Materials

Ironmen must gather their own logs and convert them into planks at a sawmill. Early on, focus on regular planks, which are the easiest to obtain:

Barbarian Outpost: Four plank spawns near a bank, ideal for levels 1–20.
Port Khazard: Plank spawns near a deposit box, another low-level option.
Woodcutting: Chop regular or oak trees and use coins to convert logs at the sawmill in Varrock’s Lumber Yard.

Training Methods for Ironman Construction

Construction training revolves around building and removing furniture in your POH. Ironmen need to balance XP efficiency with material gathering, as planks are the bottleneck. Below are the best methods for each level range.

Levels 1–33: Crude Wooden Chairs and Crafting Tables

Start by building Crude Wooden Chairs (level 1, 58 XP each) in your POH’s Parlour. Each chair requires 2 planks and 2 nails, making it simple but slow. At level 16, switch to Crafting Table 1s (240 XP each, 4 planks) in the Workshop for better efficiency.

Plank Source: Barbarian Outpost spawns or chop regular trees.
Nails: Buy bronze or iron nails from the sawmill operator.
XP Rate: ~15,000–30,000 XP/hour.

Levels 33–50: Oak Larders

From level 33, build Oak Larders in the Kitchen (480 XP each, 8 oak planks). Oak Larders are the go-to method for mid-level Ironmen due to their balance of XP and material cost.

Plank Source: Chop oak trees near Rimmington or the Woodcutting Guild (requires 60 Woodcutting, 75% Hosidius favor).
Tip: Use a butler (hired at level 40) to convert logs to planks, saving time.
XP Rate: ~50,000–60,000 XP/hour.

Levels 50–99: Mounted Mythical Capes (Post-Dragon Slayer II)

At level 47, after completing Dragon Slayer II, Mounted Mythical Capes become the best training method (370 XP each, 3 teak planks). They offer higher XP per plank than other options, crucial for Ironmen with limited resources.

Plank Source: Chop teak trees on Ape Atoll or Fossil Island, or use Managing Miscellania for passive teak logs.
Requirements: 50 Construction, Mythical Cape (reused each time).
XP Rate: Up to 200,000 XP/hour with efficient un-noting (e.g., using Phials in Rimmington).

Alternative: Mahogany Homes (Levels 50–99)

Mahogany Homes is an interactive minigame where you repair furniture across Gielinor. It’s slower but uses fewer planks, making it appealing for Ironmen short on logs.

Plank Usage: ~280 XP per teak plank at higher tiers.
Requirements: 50 Construction, access to Varrock, Falador, Ardougne, or Hosidius.
XP Rate: ~100,000–200,000 XP/hour at Expert tier (level 70).
Tip: Use teleports like Varrock Tablets or a Ring of Wealth for faster contract completion.

Obtaining Planks Efficiently

Planks are the lifeblood of Construction training, and Ironmen must gather logs and convert them manually. Here’s how to optimize this process.

Best Log Sources

Your log-gathering strategy depends on your Woodcutting level and game progression:

Regular Logs (Levels 1–15): Chop trees around Lumbridge or Draynor, use sawmill for planks.
Oak Logs (Levels 15–35): Rimmington or Woodcutting Guild; ~15,000 oaks needed for 75 Construction.
Teak Logs (Levels 35+): Ape Atoll, Fossil Island, or Managing Miscellania (assign max workers to hardwoods after Royal Trouble).
Mahogany Logs: Miscellania or Tai Bwo Wannai (post-Tai Bwo Wannai Trio); more expensive but efficient for Mahogany Homes.

Converting Logs to Planks

Converting logs at a sawmill costs coins, so ensure you have a steady income (e.g., from Thieving or Agility Pyramid). Here are the best methods:

Butler (Level 40): Hire a Demon Butler to convert and bank planks. Costs 10,000 coins per 8 trips but saves time.
Sawmill Operator: Manually convert at Varrock or Woodcutting Guild. Cheaper but slower.
Plank Make Spell (Level 86 Magic): Requires Lunar Diplomacy; cheaper than sawmill but requires runes.

Managing Miscellania for Passive Logs

After completing Throne of Fremennik and Royal Trouble, assign workers to hardwood logs (teak or mahogany) in Managing Miscellania. Maintain 750,000 coins in the coffers daily for maximum output (~400–500 teak logs/day). This is the most efficient passive method for Ironmen.

Tips for Optimizing Your Ironman Construction Grind

Construction can be click-intensive and resource-heavy, but these tips will make your grind smoother:

Prioritize Key House Upgrades

Focus on these POH features for maximum utility:

Level 45 – Portal Chamber: Build teleports to Varrock, Lumbridge, or Camelot.
Level 70 – Ornate Rejuvenation Pool: Restores all stats, ideal for bossing.
Level 75 – Gilded Altar: Boosts Prayer training efficiency.
Level 82 – Jewellery Box: Unlimited teleports to Burthorpe, Edgeville, and more.

Leverage Wintertodt for Early XP

If you train Firemaking at Wintertodt, repair braziers for Construction XP (4× your level per repair). Ensure you own a POH first, or the XP won’t count. Soloing Wintertodt can yield significant Construction XP alongside Firemaking, potentially reaching level 50 Construction by 99 Firemaking.

Save Resources with Efficient Methods

Mounted Mythical Capes are resource-efficient, but if you haven’t completed Dragon Slayer II, stick to Oak Larders or Mahogany Homes. Avoid wasting planks on low-XP furniture like chairs beyond level 33.

Combine Training with Other Skills

Gather logs while training Woodcutting, or use Mahogany Homes to gain passive combat XP. This multitasking approach maximizes your Ironman efficiency.

Training Construction as an Ironman in OSRS is a grind, but with smart planning, it’s one of the most rewarding skills. By leveraging quests, efficient plank gathering, and methods like Mounted Mythical Capes or Mahogany Homes, you’ll build a POH that makes your Ironman journey smoother. Start chopping those logs, and soon you’ll have a maxed house to show off!