OSRS Giants Foundry Moulds Guide for Optimal Smithing

OSRS Giants Foundry Moulds Guide for Optimal Smithing

The Giants’ Foundry in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a unique Smithing minigame that offers players an engaging way to train their Smithing skill while crafting massive swords for the giant Kovac. A key component of success in this minigame is selecting the right moulds, which directly impact the quality of your swords and the rewards you earn. This guide dives deep into everything you need to know about Giants’ Foundry moulds, from unlocking them to choosing the best combinations for maximum experience and reputation. Whether you’re a low-level player or a seasoned smith, this post will help you optimize your gameplay.

Moulds in Giants’ Foundry determine the base quality of the sword you craft, which affects both the Smithing experience and Foundry Reputation you gain. Each mould corresponds to one of three sword components—Forte, Blade, or Tip—and has specific attributes (e.g., Heavy, Narrow, Spiked) that align with Kovac’s commission requests. Choosing moulds that closely match the commission maximizes your mould score, leading to better rewards.

How Moulds Work

When you start a commission, Kovac provides two keywords describing the desired sword, such as “Broad and Flat” or “Narrow and Spiked.” You then select one mould for each sword part at the Mould Jig. Each mould has a numerical value for different attributes, and the sum of these values for the commission’s keywords determines your mould score. For example, if Kovac asks for a “Heavy and Flat” sword, you’d pick moulds with high Heavy and Flat ratings.

Impact on Sword Quality

The total sword quality is calculated by adding the metal score (based on the bars used) and the mould score, then subtracting 5 points for each mistake during forging. The mould score ranges from around 10 (using low-quality default moulds) to 59 (using optimal purchased moulds). Higher quality swords yield more experience, gold, and reputation, making mould selection critical.

Default vs. Purchasable Moulds

Giants Foundry is the KEY to Ironman Smithing OSRS Ironman 28

Giants’ Foundry offers a mix of default moulds, available from the start, and purchasable moulds, which you unlock with Foundry Reputation. Understanding the difference is essential for planning your progression.

Default Moulds

Every player begins with access to a set of basic moulds. These are sufficient for early levels but have lower attribute values, resulting in an average mould score of about 38. Here’s a quick look at the default moulds:

  • Forte: Basic Forte (+3 to all attributes)
  • Blade: Basic Blade (+4 to two attributes, +2 to others)
  • Tip: Basic Tip (+5 to one attribute, +3 to others)

These moulds are fine for beginners, but their low scores limit rewards, making it worthwhile to unlock better options as soon as possible.

Purchasable Moulds—with3>

Purchasable moulds, available from Kovac’s Reward Shop, offer higher attribute values and can boost your mould score to an average of 59 when optimized. Unlocking all moulds costs 5,400 reputation, and each has a Smithing level requirement to use. Below is a table of the key purchasable moulds, their costs, and level requirements:

Mould Name Section Reputation Cost Smithing Level Key Attributes
Choppa! Forte 400 30 +8 Heavy, +6 Broad
Spiker! Tip 350 40 +8 Spiked, +6 Narrow
The Point! Tip 450 50 +8 Flat, +6 Light
Needle Point Tip 300 60 +8 Narrow, +6 Spiked
Fleur de Blade Blade 350 70 +8 Light, +6 Flat

Note: Some moulds, like Juggernaut Forte and Corrupted Point, become obsolete at higher levels (79 and 60, respectively) and should be skipped to save reputation.

Optimal Mould Unlock Order

Since reputation is earned slowly (equal to the sword’s final quality per commission), prioritizing the right moulds early can significantly boost your efficiency. Here’s a recommended order based on their impact on mould score and reputation cost, especially for players aiming to maximize rewards.

Best Moulds for Early Levels (15-50 Smithing)

For low-level players, focus on moulds with low Smithing requirements that offer substantial attribute boosts. Start with:

  • Choppa! (400 reputation, level 30): Boosts Heavy and Broad, common commission attributes.
  • Spiker! (350 reputation, level 40): High Spiked and Narrow values, versatile for many commissions.

These two moulds improve your mould score significantly over defaults, increasing rewards while requiring minimal reputation.

Moulds for Mid-to-High Levels (50+ Smithing)

As you progress, unlock moulds that cover a wider range of attributes and higher scores:

  • The Point! (450 reputation, level 50): Excels in Flat and Light, rounding out your options.
  • Needle Point (300 reputation, level 60): Another strong choice for Narrow and Spiked.
  • Fleur de Blade (350 reputation, level 70): Ideal for Light and Flat commissions, crucial at higher levels.

By level 79, you’ll want all these moulds unlocked to consistently achieve high mould scores (50+), especially when paired with high-quality metals like Adamant or Rune bars.

Strategies for Choosing Moulds

Selecting the right moulds isn’t just about owning the best ones—it’s about matching them to Kovac’s commission and your Smithing level. Here are some practical tips to optimize your mould choices.

Maximizing Mould Score

To get the highest mould score, always pick moulds with the highest combined attribute values for the commission’s two keywords. For example, if the commission is “Heavy and Spiked,” you might choose Choppa! (+8 Heavy), a Blade mould with +6 Spiked, and Spiker! (+8 Spiked). The game’s interface shows green bars indicating attribute strength—aim for the tallest bars possible. The “Easy Giants’ Foundry” RuneLite plugin can highlight optimal moulds, saving time.

Balancing Reputation and Experience

If you’re grinding for reputation (e.g., to unlock the Smiths’ Uniform), consider deliberately failing low-scoring commissions by using cheap metals like Bronze and restarting. This saves time compared to forging a low-quality sword. For experience, always use the best moulds available and high-quality metals (e.g., 14 Steel + 14 Mithril) to maximize sword quality, which can yield up to 25,230 XP per sword at 199 quality.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

Here are pitfalls to watch out for:

  • Mismatching moulds: Choosing moulds with low or no points in the commission’s attributes tanks your score.
  • Ignoring level requirements: You can buy moulds early, but you can’t use them if your Smithing level is too low.
  • Wasting reputation: Skip obsolete moulds like Corrupted Point to save points for impactful ones.

Rewards and Why Moulds Matter

Moulds are the backbone of Giants’ Foundry success because they directly influence your rewards. Higher mould scores lead to better swords, which translate to more Foundry Reputation, gold, and Smithing XP. Let’s break down why investing in moulds pays off.

Foundry Reputation

Reputation is earned equal to the sword’s final quality (metal score + mould score – 5 per mistake). With optimal moulds, you can consistently achieve qualities of 150+, netting 150+ reputation per sword. This speeds up unlocking rewards like the Smiths’ Uniform, which boosts progress by 20% per piece (100% with the full set).

Smithing Experience

Experience scales with sword quality, ranging from 30 XP for a quality-0 sword to 25,230 XP for a perfect 199-quality sword. Optimal moulds contribute up to 59 points to quality, making them essential for players aiming for 276,000 XP per hour at high levels (85+ Smithing). Even at lower levels, better moulds mean more XP per bar compared to traditional Smithing.

Gold and Profit

Each sword also grants gold equal to double the experience reward. With high-quality swords, you can earn significant profits, especially using cost-effective alloys like 14 Steel + 14 Mithril bars, which often outperform GE prices for raw bars. For example, a 150-quality sword yields about 30,000 gold, covering material costs and adding profit.

Pro Tip: To fully optimize rewards, wear the Smiths’ Uniform and use ice gloves (or Smiths’ Gloves (i)) to streamline preform handling, saving time and boosting efficiency.

Mastering Giants’ Foundry moulds is a game-changer for OSRS players looking to train Smithing efficiently while earning valuable rewards. By unlocking the right moulds in the optimal order, matching them carefully to Kovac’s commissions, and avoiding common pitfalls, you’ll maximize your mould score and reap the benefits of higher experience, reputation, and gold. Start with Choppa! and Spiker!, work your way up to The Point! and beyond, and watch your Smithing soar. Forge on, adventurers!