How to Train Herblore in OSRS A Comprehensive Guide

Herblore in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a members-only skill that lets you craft potions to boost combat, restore stats, or gain unique effects. It’s a must-have for PvM, PvP, and Ironman accounts, but training it can be costly and complex. This guide breaks down how to train Herblore from level 1 to 99 efficiently, covering quests, methods, and cost-saving tips to make your journey smoother.

Before you can train Herblore, you need to unlock it by completing the Druidic Ritual quest, which grants 250 XP and boosts you to level 3. From there, you’ll clean herbs, make unfinished potions, and combine them with secondary ingredients to create finished potions. Herblore is a buyable skill, meaning it relies heavily on purchasing supplies from the Grand Exchange (GE), but there are ways to minimize costs.

Why Train Herblore?

Herblore offers access to powerful potions like Saradomin Brews, Super Restores, and Overloads (for raids). These are game-changers for bossing, slayer tasks, and quests. For Ironmen, it’s essential since you can’t trade for potions. Plus, high-level Herblore unlocks Achievement Diary tasks and quest requirements, like level 70 for the Quest Cape.

Key Items to Use

To optimize your training, grab these items:

• Amulet of Chemistry: 5% chance to create a 4-dose potion instead of 3, saving costs on expensive potions.
• Botanical Pie: Boosts Herblore by +4, letting you make potions above your level.
• Reagents Pouch: Holds up to 26 secondaries, doubling AFK time per inventory (unlocked via Mastering Mixology).
• Prescription Goggles: 10% chance to not use a secondary ingredient, reducing costs (also from Mastering Mixology).

Questing for Early Levels

Quests are a free and fast way to skip the tedious early levels of Herblore. Completing specific quests can get you to level 26 without making a single potion, saving time and gold.

Recommended Quests

Here’s a list of quests that reward Herblore XP, ordered by efficiency:

Quest	XP Reward	Level Requirement	Notes
Druidic Ritual	250	None	Unlocks Herblore, very short
Jungle Potion	775	3	Quick, no combat
Recruitment Drive	1,000	None	Requires 12 Quest Points
The Dig Site	2,000	10	Also needs 10 Agility, 25 Thieving
Zogre Flesh Eaters	2,000	15	Requires 30 Ranged, 30 Fletching

Completing these gets you to level 19 or higher. Add Heroes’ Quest (1,325 XP, level 25 required) and Shades of Mort’ton (2,000 XP, level 15) to push toward level 26, where you can make energy potions.

Fastest Training Methods

The fastest way to train Herblore is by making potions, as it offers the highest XP per hour. This method involves buying unfinished potions and secondary ingredients from the GE, combining them near a bank, and repeating. However, it’s expensive, so prioritize high-XP potions that balance cost and efficiency.

Levels 3-15: Attack Potions

Start by making attack potions using guam leaf and eye of newt in a vial of water. Each potion gives 25 XP, and you’ll need about 87 to reach level 15. This takes roughly 2 minutes but may result in a small loss since potions sell for less than the ingredients.

Levels 15-26: Strength Potions

Switch to strength potions (tarromin + limpwurt root). These grant 50 XP each, and you’ll need 127 to hit level 26. Expect to spend about 5 minutes per inventory if banking efficiently. Buying unfinished potions speeds this up but increases costs.

Levels 26-38: Energy Potions

Make energy potions (harralander + chocolate dust) for 67.5 XP each. You’ll need 322 potions to reach level 38, taking around 15-20 minutes. Collect chocolate dust at the Gnome Stronghold or crush chocolate bars to save gold.

Levels 38-60: Prayer Potions

Prayer potions (ranarr + snape grass) are a cost-effective choice, yielding 87.5 XP each. You’ll need about 1,800 potions to get to level 60, costing millions unless you farm ranarr via herb runs. Wear the Amulet of Chemistry here to save on ranarr costs.

Levels 60-99: Mastering Mixology and High-Level Potions

At level 60, unlock the Mastering Mixology minigame in Varlamore (requires Children of the Sun quest). It offers up to 80k XP per hour without needing specific herbs, making it ideal for Ironmen or when GE prices spike. Rewards like the Reagents Pouch and Prescription Goggles also boost efficiency.

For traditional training, focus on these potions:

• Levels 60-76: Super Energy Potions (avantoe + mort myre fungus, 117.5 XP each, ~3,500 needed).
• Levels 76-94: Super Restore Potions (snapdragon + red spider eggs, 142.5 XP each, ~12,000 needed).
• Levels 94-99: Super Combat Potions (torstol + 4 super potions, 150 XP each, ~20,000 needed).

Expect 500k-700k XP per hour with fast banking, but costs can exceed 200M GP. Check GE prices daily, as they fluctuate.

Cost-Saving and Alternative Methods

If the fastest methods are too pricey, try these alternatives to train Herblore while minimizing losses or even turning a profit.

Cleaning Grimy Herbs

Cleaning grimy herbs is click-intensive but often profitable. Each herb cleaned gives a small amount of XP (e.g., 2.5 for guam, 12.5 for torstol). At 5,000 herbs per hour, you can hit 50k-150k XP per hour, depending on the herb. Compare grimy vs. clean herb prices on the GE to ensure profit. For example:

• Grimy Ranarr: Buy at 7,000 GP, clean to sell at 7,500 GP, 8.8 XP each.
• Grimy Torstol: Buy at 4,500 GP, clean to sell at 5,000 GP, 12.5 XP each.

Since an update in September 2020, cleaning herbs auto-cleans the full inventory, making this less tedious.

Making Tar

Making tarromin tar (tarromin + 15 swamp tar, pestle and mortar) at level 39 gives 55 XP each and is AFK-friendly. You’ll get ~105k XP per hour, but the product rarely sells, so expect losses. Stockpile swamp tar in advance due to its 13,000 buy limit, which lasts only ~30 minutes of training.

Herb Runs for Ironmen

Ironmen should prioritize herb runs via Farming to gather herbs like ranarr, snapdragon, and torstol. Combine with slayer (herb drops from monsters) and pickpocketing Master Farmers for seeds. This is slow but eliminates GE reliance. Managing Miscellania also passively provides herbs over time.

Tips for Efficient Herblore Training

Maximize your Herblore grind with these practical tips:

Optimize Banking

Train near a bank chest (e.g., GE or Lumbridge) to make ~2,500 potions per hour. Set keybinds to close interfaces with the escape key for faster clicks.

Check GE Prices Regularly

Herblore costs vary with market trends. Use a GP/XP calculator to pick potions with the best value. Sites like OldSchool.tools are great for this.

Combine with Other Skills

Train Farming alongside Herblore to grow herbs, or use Slayer drops for ingredients. This synergy saves gold and time, especially for Ironmen.

Use Boosts Strategically

Eat a botanical pie or drink greenman’s ale (+1 or +2 Herblore) to access higher-level potions early, speeding up your grind.

Training Herblore in OSRS is a grind, but with the right approach—quests, smart potion choices, and cost-saving methods—you can hit 99 efficiently. Whether you’re splashing cash for speed or cleaning herbs for profit, this skill unlocks a world of buffs to dominate Gielinor. Start with Druidic Ritual, plan your potion path, and brew your way to glory!