How to Make a Bronze Spear in OSRS – Ultimate Guide

Creating a bronze spear in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a valuable skill for players looking to engage in melee combat, complete quests, or tackle Treasure Trails. As the weakest spear in the game, it’s a members-only, two-handed weapon with versatile uses, including crafting scarecrows for Farming or fulfilling specific in-game tasks. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the step-by-step process of making a bronze spear, alternative methods to obtain it, and tips to optimize your experience. Whether you’re an Ironman or a casual player, we’ve got you covered!
The bronze spear is more than just a beginner’s weapon. Its utility extends beyond combat, making it a sought-after item for various activities. Here’s why you might want to craft or obtain one:
- Quest Requirements: Essential for tasks like the Tai Bwo Wannai Trio quest, where a poisoned version (kp) is used.
- Farming Utility: Used to create a scarecrow to protect sweetcorn crops, crucial for the medium Falador Diary.
- Treasure Trails: Occasionally required for clue scroll emote challenges, though less common since the 2010 update.
- Ironman Accessibility: Crafting your own spear is often the most reliable method for Ironman accounts due to limited drop availability.
Requirements for Crafting a Bronze Spear
Before you can smith a bronze spear, you need to meet specific skill and quest requirements. This ensures you have access to the necessary tools and locations.
Skill Requirements
- Level 5 Smithing: Required to forge the bronze spear. This is relatively easy to achieve, even for new players.
- Barbarian Smithing Training: You must complete the Barbarian Smithing portion of the Barbarian Training miniquest to unlock spear smithing.
Quest Requirements
To access Barbarian Smithing, you’ll need to complete or partially progress through the following:
- Tai Bwo Wannai Trio Quest: A hard requirement for Barbarian Smithing. This quest also requires:
- Level 15 Agility
- Level 30 Cooking
- Level 5 Fishing
- An iron spear or better for quest completion (note: a bronze spear alone won’t suffice for this part).
Items Needed
Gather these materials before heading to the anvil:
Item | Quantity | How to Obtain |
---|---|---|
Bronze Bar | 1 | Smelt copper and tin ore at a furnace or buy from the Grand Exchange. |
Logs | 1 | Chop any tree (e.g., regular trees in Lumbridge) or purchase from the Grand Exchange. |
Hammer | 1 | Available in your toolbelt or buy from general stores. |
Step-by-Step Guide to Smithing a Bronze Spear
Follow these steps to craft your bronze spear efficiently. This method assumes you’ve met the requirements above.
Step 1: Complete Barbarian Training
Head to Otto Godblessed’s house near Baxtorian Falls (northwest of Ardougne). Speak to Otto to begin the Barbarian Training miniquest. For the Smithing portion:
- Ensure you’ve completed or progressed through the Tai Bwo Wannai Trio quest.
- Otto will teach you how to smith spears and hastae, unlocking the ability to craft bronze spears.
Step 2: Gather Materials
Collect one bronze bar and one log. If you’re smelting your own bronze bar:
- Mine 1 copper ore and 1 tin ore (available in areas like Lumbridge or Varrock).
- Smelt them at a furnace (e.g., in Al Kharid or Falador) to create a bronze bar.
- Chop a regular tree for logs if you don’t have any.
Step 3: Smith the Spear
Travel to a Barbarian anvil, such as the one near Otto’s house or in Gunnarsgrunn (Barbarian Village):
- Ensure you have a hammer in your inventory or toolbelt.
- Use the bronze bar on the Barbarian anvil.
- Select “Bronze Spear” from the smithing interface. This requires 1 bronze bar and 1 log, granting 25 Smithing XP.
Tip: The Barbarian anvil is different from regular anvils, so don’t try this at a standard anvil in Varrock or Falador—it won’t work!
Alternative Ways to Obtain a Bronze Spear
If smithing isn’t your style or you’re struggling with requirements, you can acquire a bronze spear through other methods. Here are the most reliable options:
Monster Drops
Bronze spears are dropped by several low-level monsters, making them accessible for early-game players:
- Goblins: Found in Goblin Village or Lumbridge. Drops are uncommon, so expect to kill several.
- Minotaurs: Located in the Stronghold of Security (first level). A reliable spot for quick drops.
- Dagannoths: Found in the Lighthouse dungeon (requires partial completion of Horror from the Deep).
- Hobgoblins: Located in Edgeville Dungeon or west of the Crafting Guild.
Pro Tip: For Ironmen, Minotaurs in the Stronghold of Security are the fastest source due to their consistent drop rate.
Haunted Mine Spawn
A guaranteed bronze spear spawns in the Haunted Mine (requires starting the Haunted Mine quest):
- Head to level 2 of the Abandoned Mine (southwest of Morytania).
- Find the spawn near other bronze equipment. Use area loot to avoid triggering nearby skeletons.
- This is ideal for Ironmen working on clue scrolls or the Falador Diary.
Purchasing a Poisoned Spear (kp)
After completing the Tai Bwo Wannai Trio quest, you can buy a bronze spear (kp) from Tamayu’s Spear Stall in Tai Bwo Wannai:
- Use a cleaning cloth (buyable from general stores) to remove the Karambwan poison, yielding a regular bronze spear.
- Note: This method requires quest completion and isn’t ideal for early-game players.
Digsite Excavation (Outdated)
Previously, players could obtain bronze spears by digging at level 3 sites during The Dig Site quest. However, post-Mining and Smithing rework, this method now yields bronze salvage instead. Avoid this unless you’re playing an older version of RuneScape.
Tips and Tricks for Bronze Spear Acquisition
Maximize your efficiency with these practical tips:
For Ironman Players
- Prioritize Minotaurs: Their drop rate is better than goblins, and the Stronghold of Security is easily accessible.
- Haunted Mine Shortcut: If you’re doing clue scrolls, grab the spawn in the Abandoned Mine to save time.
- Barbarian Smithing: If you’re close to completing Tai Bwo Wannai Trio, smithing is faster than relying on drops.
Using the Bronze Spear
The bronze spear has niche but important uses:
- Combat: Its +5 stab, slash, and crush attack bonuses and +6 strength make it viable for low-level training, though it’s outclassed by higher-tier weapons.
- Poisoning: Apply Karambwan poison during Tai Bwo Wannai Trio for quest progression.
- Scarecrow Crafting: Combine with a hay sack and watermelon to create a scarecrow for Farming (protects sweetcorn crops).
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
- Don’t Rely on Goblin Drops: Their drop rate is low, making them inefficient for Ironmen.
- Check Quest Progress: Ensure you’ve unlocked Barbarian Smithing before attempting to craft, as regular anvils won’t work.
- Beware of Haunted Mine Skeletons: Bring combat gear or use area loot to safely grab the spawn.
Conclusion
Crafting a bronze spear in OSRS is a straightforward process once you’ve met the requirements, offering both combat utility and quest-related benefits. Whether you choose to smith it at a Barbarian anvil, farm drops from Minotaurs, or pick up the Haunted Mine spawn, this guide equips you with all the knowledge needed to succeed. For Ironmen, smithing or the mine spawn are your best bets, while regular players can also consider purchasing from Tamayu post-quest. Now, grab your hammer, head to Otto’s anvil, and start forging your bronze spear today!
Have tips or questions about bronze spears? Share them in the comments below, and happy ‘Scaping!