Best Place to Smith Cannonballs in OSRS

Best Place to Smith Cannonballs in OSRS

Smithing cannonballs in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a classic method for training Smithing while earning a decent profit. It’s low-effort, AFK-friendly, and accessible to players with moderate requirements. However, choosing the right location can make a significant difference in efficiency, profit, and experience rates. In this guide, we’ll explore the best places to smith cannonballs, break down their pros and cons, and share tips to maximize your output. Whether you’re a new player or a seasoned veteran, this blog post will help you optimize your cannonball-smithing journey.

Before diving into the best locations, let’s understand why smithing cannonballs is so popular. After completing the Dwarf Cannon quest, players with 35 Smithing can use an ammo mould to turn one steel bar into four cannonballs, yielding 25.6 Smithing XP per bar. This method is profitable because many players avoid the tedious process, driving demand for cannonballs on the Grand Exchange.

Key Benefits of Smithing Cannonballs

  • Profitability: One steel bar (around 400-500 coins) produces four cannonballs (worth ~800-1000 coins), netting a profit of 300-500 coins per bar.
  • AFK-Friendly: A full inventory takes about 2.7 minutes to process, requiring minimal attention.
  • Scalable Output: With upgrades like the double ammo mould, you can double your production.
  • Low Requirements: Only 35 Smithing and partial completion of Dwarf Cannon are needed.

Profit and XP Expectations

Using a standard ammo mould, you can produce 2,160–2,400 cannonballs per hour, earning roughly 116,000–150,000 coins and 13,824–15,360 Smithing XP. With the double ammo mould (unlocked via Sleeping Giants), output jumps to 4,320–4,800 cannonballs, boosting profits to 250,000–300,000 coins and XP to 27,648–30,720 per hour.

Top Locations for Smithing Cannonballs

Smithing Cannonballs Testing OSRS Wiki Money Making Methods YouTube

The efficiency of smithing cannonballs depends heavily on the furnace’s proximity to a bank. Below, we rank the best locations based on accessibility, requirements, and output.

Edgeville Furnace: The Go-To Choice

Location: West of Varrock, in Edgeville.

Why It’s Great: The Edgeville furnace is the closest to a bank with no quest requirements, making it ideal for most players. It’s only 14 tiles from the bank, minimizing travel time.

Requirements: None.

Pros:

  • Accessible to all players, including F2P with members’ skills.
  • Fast banking with nearby teleports (Amulet of Glory, Fairy Ring DKR).
  • Popular spot, so you’ll often find portable forges nearby.

Cons:

  • Can be crowded, especially on busy worlds.
  • No special speed boosts compared to other furnaces.

Output: ~2,160–2,400 cannonballs/hour (standard mould), ~4,320–4,800 with double mould.

Port Phasmatys Furnace: Fastest with Morytania Legs

Location: Eastern Morytania, near the Ectofuntus.

Why It’s Great: With Morytania Legs 2 (from medium Morytania Diary), cannonballs are smithed twice as fast, making this the fastest location for high-volume production.

Requirements:

  • Ghosts Ahoy (or 2 Ecto-tokens per entry).
  • Medium Morytania Diary for double-speed smithing.
  • Ghostspeak Amulet (unless hard diary is completed).

Pros:

  • Double smithing speed with Morytania Legs 2 (~35 trips/hour).
  • Less crowded than Edgeville.
  • Completing the diary adds other perks like free Ectofuntus teleports.

Cons:

  • High quest and diary requirements.
  • Slower without Morytania Legs 2.

Output: Up to 3,000 cannonballs/hour (standard mould), ~6,000 with double mould and Morytania Legs 2.

Neitiznot Furnace: Quiet and Efficient

Location: Fremennik Isles, near the spinning wheel.

Why It’s Great: The furnace is just 10 tiles from the bank, slightly closer than Edgeville, and the island’s serene vibe makes it a relaxing spot.

Requirements: The Fremennik Isles quest.

Pros:

  • Extremely close bank (faster trips than Edgeville).
  • Quiet, with fewer players competing for the furnace.
  • Beautiful scenery and music for a chill smithing session.

Cons:

Output: ~2,200–2,450 cannonballs/hour (standard mould), ~4,400–4,900 with double mould.

Shilo Village Furnace: Premium Convenience

Location: Karamja, in Shilo Village.

Why It’s Great: The furnace is 11 tiles from the bank, but it costs 20 coins per use unless you’ve completed the elite Karamja Diary.

Requirements: Shilo Village quest.

Pros:

  • Close bank proximity for quick trips.
  • Free furnace use with elite Karamja Diary.
  • Less crowded than Edgeville.

Cons:

  • 20-coin fee per use without elite diary.
  • Karamja’s remote location makes teleports trickier.

Output: ~2,200–2,450 cannonballs/hour (standard mould), ~4,400–4,900 with double mould.

Comparing Furnace Locations

To help you choose, here’s a table summarizing the key furnaces:

Location Bank Distance Requirements Output (Standard Mould) Output (Double Mould) Special Notes
Edgeville 14 tiles None 2,160–2,400 4,320–4,800 Most accessible, often crowded.
Port Phasmatys Moderate Ghosts Ahoy, Morytania Legs 2 ~3,000 ~6,000 Fastest with diary perk.
Neitiznot 10 tiles Fremennik Isles 2,200–2,450 4,400–4,900 Quiet, efficient.
Shilo Village 11 tiles Shilo Village 2,200–2,450 4,400–4,900 20-coin fee without elite diary.

Tips to Optimize Cannonball Smithing

Regardless of location, these strategies will boost your efficiency:

Unlock the Double Ammo Mould

Complete Sleeping Giants and earn 2,000 Foundry Reputation at Giants’ Foundry to buy the double ammo mould. It doubles your cannonball output (8 per 2 bars) and XP rate, making it a game-changer for profit and training.

Use Teleports for Faster Banking

For Edgeville, use an Amulet of Glory or Fairy Ring (DKR). For Neitiznot, a Fremennik Isles teleport scroll helps. Port Phasmatys benefits from Ectophial or fairy ring (ALQ). Shilo Village players can use Karamja Gloves or a charged necklace.

Check Grand Exchange Prices

Always verify steel bar and cannonball prices before starting. Profit margins fluctuate, and buying bars in bulk when prices dip can maximize returns. Avoid smithing during market slumps.

Consider Portable Forges

In Edgeville, look for player-placed portable forges near the bank. They act as furnaces, saving travel time and boosting output slightly.

Smelt Your Own Bars (Optional)

Smelting steel bars from iron ore and coal is slower and less profitable but viable for ironmen or players with excess resources. Use a coal bag to carry more coal, yielding up to 68 cannonballs per trip.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Maximize your gains by steering clear of these pitfalls:

Using Suboptimal Furnaces

Avoid furnaces like Al-Kharid or Lumbridge unless you’re extremely early-game. They’re far from banks, slashing your hourly output.

Ignoring the Double Mould

Skipping the double ammo mould halves your potential profit and XP. It’s worth the short grind at Giants’ Foundry.

Not Checking Requirements

Don’t head to Port Phasmatys without Morytania Legs 2 or Neitiznot without Fremennik Isles. You’ll waste time or miss out on efficiency.

Conclusion: Which Furnace Is Best for You?

Choosing the best place to smith cannonballs in OSRS depends on your account’s progress and goals. Edgeville is the default for its accessibility and zero requirements, perfect for new players or those avoiding quests. Port Phasmatys reigns supreme for high-level players with Morytania Legs 2, offering unmatched speed. Neitiznot and Shilo Village are excellent middle-ground options for players who’ve unlocked their respective quests and want a quieter experience.

Whichever you choose, invest in the double ammo mould, use teleports, and monitor GE prices to optimize your profits. Smithing cannonballs is a reliable, low-effort way to train Smithing and fund your next adventure in Gielinor. So, grab your ammo mould, stock up on steel bars, and start smithing!