3 Tick Granite Mining Techniques in Old School RuneScape

3 Tick Granite Mining Techniques in Old School RuneScape

Hey, RuneScape grinders! If you’re looking to level up your Mining in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) and want a method that’s fast, efficient, and a bit of a flex, 3-tick granite mining is where it’s at. As someone who’s spent countless hours swinging a pickaxe in the desert, I’m here to share everything I’ve learned about this pro-level technique. From the basics to advanced tips, plus some of my own stories, this guide will help you master 3-tick granite and smash your Mining goals. Let’s grab our pickaxes and dive in!

3-tick granite mining is a high-effort, high-reward method to train Mining in OSRS. It uses a tick manipulation trick to mine granite rocks faster than normal, boosting your XP rates to insane levels. When I first heard about it, I thought it sounded like some crazy elite skiller magic, but after practicing, I was hooked. It’s not easy, but it’s so worth it for the gains.

Why Use 3-Tick Granite?

  • Crazy XP Rates: You can hit up to 90k-115k Mining XP per hour at high levels, way more than regular methods.

  • Profit Potential: Granite is used for Construction, so you can sell it or use it yourself.

  • Bragging Rights: Mastering 3-tick mining feels like joining an exclusive club. I still grin when I nail the rhythm perfectly.

Have you ever tried a tick manipulation method? It’s a whole new level of OSRS!

How 3-Tick Mining Works

In OSRS, actions like mining happen on a “tick” system, where each tick is 0.6 seconds. Normally, mining granite takes 4 ticks, but 3-tick mining uses a trick to reset your action timer. You drop an item (like a herb) while mining, which interrupts your animation and lets you start mining again in just 3 ticks. It’s all about timing, and I’ll walk you through it step-by-step.

Getting Started with 3-Tick Granite Mining

Before you can start 3-ticking, you need to set up in the right spot with the right gear. Here’s what I do to get ready, based on my own desert mining adventures.

Location: Granite Quarry

The granite quarry is in the Al Kharid desert, south of the Shantay Pass. You’ll need to complete the Desert Treasure quest (partially) to access it via the Bandit Camp teleport, or just run from Al Kharid. I always use a waterskin or enchanted water tiara to avoid dying of thirst—trust me, I learned that lesson the hard way.

Requirements

  • Mining Level: 45+ to mine granite (higher is better for XP rates).

  • Pickaxe: Dragon pickaxe or better (I use an infernal pickaxe for the smelting chance).

  • Quest Progress: Partial Desert Treasure for easy access.

  • Items: Waterskins, enchanted water tiara, or humidify spell to stay hydrated; herbs or cheap items (like guam leaves) for tick manipulation.

Gear Setup

  • Pickaxe: Dragon, crystal, or infernal pickaxe.

  • Armor: Lightweight gear like Graceful or Prospectors for weight reduction and Mining XP boosts. I rock full Graceful for stamina.

  • Jewelry: Amulet of glory or skills necklace for teleports.

  • Inventory: 4-8 waterskins, 10-15 herbs (guam or tarromin), and a few stamina potions.

Pro tip: Keep your weight low to save run energy. I once tried this in full Prospector and ran out of energy in 10 minutes—big mistake!

Table: XP Rates for 3-Tick Granite Mining

Mining Level

XP per Hour (Approx.)

Granite Mined per Hour

45

60k-70k

~1,200-1,400

70

80k-90k

~1,600-1,800

99

100k-115k

~2,000-2,300

Note: Rates depend on focus, gear, and skill level. Data based on June 2025 community estimates.

Step-by-Step Guide to 3-Tick Granite Mining

Now for the fun part—actually doing 3-tick granite mining! It takes practice, but I’ll break it down based on how I learned it. Grab some cheap herbs and let’s get started.

The Basic Technique

  1. Click a Granite Rock: Start mining a 500g, 2kg, or 5kg granite rock (5kg gives the most XP).

  2. Drop a Herb: Right after you click the rock, drop a herb from your inventory. This interrupts your mining animation.

  3. Click the Rock Again: As soon as you drop the herb, click the rock to start mining again. The timing should feel like a quick “click-drop-click” rhythm.

  4. Repeat: Keep this rhythm going—mine, drop, mine, drop. It’s like a dance, and you’ll get the hang of it.

When I first tried this, I was all over the place, dropping herbs too slow and missing ticks. After an hour of practice, I started to feel the flow. Keep at it!

Timing Tips

  • Listen for Sounds: The mining sound effect helps you time your clicks. I use it as a cue to drop my herb.

  • Watch Your Character: Your mining animation resets when you drop the herb. Click the rock right after the reset.

  • Practice with Low-Value Items: I used guam leaves to practice so I didn’t waste money on failed attempts.

What’s the trickiest part of 3-tick mining for you? For me, it was getting the drop timing right.

Managing Inventory

  • Drop Granite: Granite fills your inventory fast, so drop it as you mine. I alternate between dropping granite and herbs to keep the rhythm.

  • Refill Herbs: When you run out of herbs, grab more from the ground or bank. I keep a stack of 1,000 guams in my bank for quick refills.

  • Stay Hydrated: Use waterskins or cast Humidify to avoid desert heat damage. I cast Humidify every 5-10 minutes to keep my skins full.

Optimizing Your 3-Tick Granite Mining

To push your XP rates to the max, you need to fine-tune your setup and strategy. Here are my go-to tips from hours of grinding.

Boost Your Mining Level

  • Potions: Use a Mining potion or Dwarven stout for a temporary boost. I sip a super Mining potion at 99 for extra efficiency.

  • Pickaxe Upgrades: A crystal pickaxe with charges gives a Mining boost. I upgraded to one and saw my XP rates jump.

  • Prospector Kit: The full Prospector outfit from Motherlode Mine adds 2.5% XP. I wear it when I’m not using Graceful.

Stay Focused

3-tick mining is click-intensive, so you need to stay sharp. I set a timer for 30-minute sessions to avoid burning out. During one marathon grind to 99 Mining, I zoned out and messed up my rhythm—lesson learned! What do you do to stay focused during long grinds?

Use Stamina Potions

Running out of energy slows you down big time. I sip a stamina potion every 10-15 minutes to keep my run energy topped up. It’s a small cost for huge time savings.

Bank Strategically

If you’re keeping granite for profit or Construction, bank it at the Al Kharid bank. I use an amulet of glory to teleport there, then run back via the Shantay Pass. For pure XP, just drop the granite and keep mining.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even after years of playing, I’ve made plenty of slip-ups while 3-tick mining. Here’s what to watch out for.

Messing Up the Timing

Dropping your herb too early or too late breaks the 3-tick cycle. I did this constantly at first and got stuck in 4-tick mode. Practice in a quiet spot with no lag to nail the rhythm.

Forgetting Hydration

Desert heat can kill you if you’re not careful. I once got distracted and died because my waterskins ran dry—talk about embarrassing! Always keep an enchanted water tiara or Humidify runes ready.

Using Expensive Items for Ticks

Don’t waste money on costly herbs or items for tick manipulation. I tried using tarromin herbs early on and felt silly when I realized guams work just as well. Stick to cheap stuff like guam leaves or swamp tar.

My 3-Tick Granite Mining Journey

When I first started 3-tick granite mining, I was a total Noob at tick manipulation. I watched a YouTube guide and tried it, but my clicks were all over the place, and I barely hit 60k XP per hour. After a few days of practice, I got the hang of the “click-drop-click” rhythm and started seeing 90k+ XP rates. My proudest moment was hitting 99 Mining in the quarry, surrounded by other skillers cheering me on. I still pop back to the quarry sometimes for nostalgia’s sake. What’s your favorite Mining milestone? Got one you’re chasing?

Why I Love 3-Tick Granite

  • Fast XP: It’s the quickest way to 99 Mining, hands-down.

  • Challenge: Mastering the timing feels like a personal victory.

  • Community: The quarry is full of skillers, and I’ve made friends chatting during grinds.

Advanced Tips for Pro Miners

If you’re already comfortable with 3-tick granite, here are some next-level tricks I’ve picked up.

World Hopping

Some worlds have fewer players at the quarry, reducing lag. I hop to low-ping worlds (like Australian servers if I’m up late) for smoother clicks.

Use a Metronome

For perfect timing, try a metronome app set to 100 BPM. I used one during my early grinds to lock in the 3-tick rhythm. It’s like having a coach!

Combine with Other Skills

If you’re using an infernal pickaxe, you get Smithing XP from smelting granite. I tracked my Smithing gains during my Mining grind and hit 80 Smithing as a bonus.

Conclusion: Master 3-Tick Granite Mining

3-tick granite mining is one of the most rewarding ways to train Mining in OSRS. Sure, it’s click-intensive and takes practice, but the XP rates and sense of accomplishment make it worth every tick. With the right gear, a solid rhythm, and some desert survival skills, you’ll be racking up shards and levels in no time. So, grab your pickaxe, head to the Al Kharid quarry, and start 3-ticking like a pro! What’s your next Mining goal? Drop it in the comments!