OSRS Ironman Crafting Guide from Level 1 to 99

You know that moment when you’re staring at your skill tab and crafting is lagging behind? Yeah, as a veteran OSRS ironman who’s pushed three accounts to max cape, I get it. Crafting feels like this endless loop of gathering stuff you can’t just buy, but trust me, once you crack the rhythm, it becomes oddly satisfying. Like, you’re building your own empire piece by piece. In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything from those brutal early levels to the endgame where you’re churning out fury amulets like it’s nothing. I’ve burned hours on this skill myself, from flax fields that made my eyes cross to seaweed farms that paid off big time. Let’s dive in and make your ironman crafting journey less of a headache.

First off, why even sweat this skill? Simple: it’s your ticket to gear that keeps you alive and kicking in tougher content. Think about it – without solid crafting levels, you’re stuck with basic amulets and no dragonhide armor for that ranged setup. I’ve lost count of how many times a well-timed games necklace teleport saved my skin during a botched Vorkath run. Plus, for ironmen, it’s all about self-sufficiency. No Grand Exchange shortcuts means you learn to love the grind, or at least tolerate it.

But here’s a question: do you really need 99? Nah, not right away. Aim for milestones like 40 for the guild, 61 for better glassblowing, and 84 for black d’hide. That gets you most of what you need without the full burnout. In my first ironman, I hit 70 early for blue d’hide and never looked back – it opened up Slayer tasks I could’ve only dreamed of.

Crafting also ties into money-making. High alch those dragonhide bodies? Boom, coins for supplies. And quests? They hand out free XP like candy. More on that soon. Bottom line, it’s not just a skill; it’s your backbone for progression.

Kickstarting Your Journey – Early Game Crafting (Levels 1-40)

Early game is where most ironmen hit a wall. You’re low on everything, and every level feels like climbing a mountain. But hey, I’ve been there – my first account started with nothing but a needle and dreams. The key? Quests and simple crafts. Don’t rush into big grinds yet; build smart.

Power Through with Quests

Quests are your best friend here. Seriously, knock out a few and you’re halfway to 20 without breaking a sweat. I remember questing in Lumbridge, feeling like a noob, but bam – levels for days.

Here’s a quick list of must-do early quests for crafting XP:

• Murder Mystery: Starts at 1 Crafting, gives you 11 instantly. Head north of Seers’ Village – it’s a short mystery quest with no real fights.
• Sheep Shearer: 150 XP, super easy. Shear those sheep in Lumbridge and spin the wool.
• Goblin Diplomacy: Another 200 XP chunk. Grab some dyes and sort out those goblins.
• The Holy Grail: Pushes you toward 20 if you’re lucky with the rolls.

Do these, and you’re at 20 before you know it. Total XP? Around 1,000-2,000 free. Pro tip: follow an optimal quest guide to chain them without wasting time.

Leatherwork Basics – Your First Real Grind

Once you’re at 10-20, grab some cowhides. Kill cows west of Lumbridge – easy food too. Tan them at the Crafting Guild (if you hit 40 Agility for access) or Al Kharid‘s tanner. Needle and thread from the general store, and you’re set.

Craft leather bodies or vambraces. It’s slow, about 25 XP per body, but it’s AFK-ish. I used to do this while watching streams – dropped hides every few inventories to save space.

What about costs? For ironmen, it’s free labor. Just time. Expect 37k XP to 20, so maybe 150 hides. Not bad.

Short answer: Is leather worth it past 20? Only if you’re swimming in hides from cow runs. Otherwise, switch to flax.

Flax Spinning – The Chill Early Method

Pick flax south of Seers’ Village. It’s pickable at level 1, but spin at 10 on the wheel upstairs in the flax field. Each bowstring? 15 XP. Gather 26 per inventory, spin, bank, repeat.

I grinded this for hours on my second ironman. The field’s peaceful, almost meditative. XP rate? 5k-10k per hour early on. Plus, bowstrings sell if you ever need coins, but as ironman, save ’em for fletching later.

One downside: it’s clicky. But hey, better than nothing. By level 30, you’ll have enough for basic jewelry.

See? Simple table to compare. Stick to this till 40, and you’re golden.

Leveling Up the Grind – Mid Game Crafting (Levels 40-70)

Ah, mid game. You’ve got some quests done, maybe a bit of cash from alching. Now it gets real. This is where glassblowing enters the chat, and trust me, it’s a game-changer. My mid-game crafting sessions were all about stocking sand while listening to podcasts – made the time fly.

Unlocking the Crafting Guild and Pottery

At 40, boom – Crafting Guild access. Teleport there with skills necklace if you have it. Inside? Clay rocks, sinks, potter’s wheels, ovens. Perfect for pottery.

Mine clay, wet it, wheel it into bowls or pies, fire ’em. 40 XP per pie dish. XP rate: 10k-15k hour. Why bother? It’s semi-AFK, and pie dishes are handy for cooking later.

Question: Is pottery efficient? For ironmen, yes – no buying needed. I did a ton at 40-50 while building my house. Dropped the unfired ones to save space.

Glassblowing – The Ironman Staple

Now, molten glass. Buy buckets of sand and soda ash from charter ships (Catherby or Brimhaven). Smelt in a furnace – 20 XP per glass. Then blow with a pipe: lanterns at 49 (35 XP), vials at 33 (20 XP), up to orbs at 46 (70 XP).

Early mid-game, stick to lanterns or shields till 61. XP? 100k+ per hour once stocked.

Gathering tip: Mine sandstone at Quarry (level 35 Mining) for sand – grinder gives noted buckets. I set up a Bert from OE teleports; he delivers 8k sand weekly. Game-changer.

Personal story: On my main iron, I farmed seaweed at 30 Farming for soda ash. Tedious at first, but by 60 Crafting, I had stacks. Use Superglass Make at 77 Magic – triples output, saves hours.

What if you’re burnt out? Take breaks. I did – switched to gem cutting from Shilo Village mine (after quest). 20 Mining, chisel gems for 50-100 XP each. Sapphires at 20 Crafting. Mined hundreds while training combat.

Battlestaff Crafting – Profit with Purpose

Hit 54? Craft water battlestaves (100 XP). Buy staves from Zaff in Varrock (after diary). Attach orbs from glass.

Rate: 150k XP/hour. Alch for coins too. Mid-game gold mine.

This phase is about balance. Train while questing for Regicide or Lunar Diplomacy – unlocks better magic for glass spells.

Pushing to the Top – Late Game Crafting (Levels 70-99)

Late game? You’re a beast now. Bossing drops gems, farms yield seaweed by the boatload. But the grind intensifies – 70 to 99 is a slog. I remember hitting 80 on my first iron and thinking, “Finally, black d’hide time.” Worth it for that +ranged boost.

Dragonhide Bodies – The Endgame AFK King

At 63, green d’hide bodies (186 XP). Tan hides from Wilderness greens (careful of PKers). Blue at 71, red 77, black 84 (258 XP).

With costume needle (from Death on the Isle), no thread needed – infinite uses. Tick manipulate for 400k+ XP/hour.

Gathering: Farm black dragons or buy from Strange Old Man post-quest. Tan at guild. Alch bodies for 1k+ GP each.

Short para: Black d’hide changed my Slayer game. +105 ranged bonus? Yes please.

Advanced Glass and Orbs

Superglass Make at 77 Magic: 18 sand + 3 seaweed = 18 glass. Blow to light orbs (87 Crafting, 112.5 XP). 300k XP/hour.

For ultimate efficiency, fix lamps in Dorgesh-Kaan (87 Crafting, 44 Thieving). 100k XP per lamp – best per glass.

Question: Orbs or hides? Hides for gear, orbs for pure XP. I mixed – orbs while farming.

Gems and Jewelry for the Win

Cut those boss drops: Dragonstones at 55 (137.5 XP). Craft into amulets (72 Crafting, extra 100 XP). Enchant later for fury.

Onyx at 67? If you’re lucky from raids. 280 XP cut.

Late tip: Play harps in Prifddinas (Ithell district) for passive XP. 500-1k per play, no supplies.

Personal bit: My 99 came from a marathon session alching black d’hides while watching Jad attempts. Felt epic.

Essential Quests for Ironman Crafters

Quests aren’t just early game. They unlock everything.

• Lunar Diplomacy: Superglass Make. Must-do at 65 Magic.
• Shilo Village: Gem mine access.
• Regicide: Elf lands for better supplies.
• Song of the Elves: Prifddinas harps.

Total crafting XP from all? Over 20k. Do ’em.

List of top 5:

1. Lunar Diplomacy – Glass revolution.
2. The Hand in the Sand – Sandstone quarry.
3. Death on the Nile – Costume needle.
4. Bone Voyage – Seaweed farming.
5. Mourning’s End Part II – Prif access.

Pro Tips from a Seasoned Ironman

Alright, let’s get real. I’ve failed plenty – lost a hardcore to a dumb PK while tanning hides. Lessons learned.

• Stockpile smart: Use noted items. Bert for sand, leprechauns for seaweed.
• Multitask: Craft while training combat. Kill greens, tan on spot.
• Avoid burnout: Glassblowing sucks after 100 hours? Switch to hides for variety.
• Ultimate Ironman twist: No bank? Spin flax on the go – low effort.
• F2P note: Stick to silver tiaras and leather. Slower, but doable.

One more: Use the wiki calc for exact needs. I wish I had that early on.

Wrapping It Up – Your Path to Crafting Mastery

There you have it – from flax fields to fury amulets. Crafting as an ironman tests your patience, but man, that 99 ding? Pure joy. My first one took 200 hours spread over a year, but it fueled everything else. What’s your biggest crafting hurdle right now? Drop a comment if you’re stuck – I’ve got stories for days.

Keep grinding, fellow iron. Gielinor‘s waiting.