Best Smithing Locations OSRS for Fast Leveling

Smithing in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is one of those skills that feels like a grind but can be incredibly rewarding once you get the hang of it. Whether you’re aiming to craft your own rune armor, make some serious gold, or just level up to flex that 99 Smithing cape, finding the best place to smith is key. As someone who’s spent countless hours hammering away at anvils in Gielinor, I’ve got the scoop on the top spots, tips, and tricks to make your Smithing journey smooth. Let’s dive into the best places to smith, why they rock, and how you can make the most of them.

Before we get to the good stuff, let’s talk about why Smithing is worth your time. It’s not just about banging metal bars into swords. Smithing lets you craft high-tier gear, like rune platebodies, which are still iconic even in 2025. Plus, it’s a solid money-maker if you play your cards right. But here’s the catch: Smithing can be slow and expensive if you don’t know where to go or what to do. So, where should you smith? Let’s break it down.

Top Places to Smith in OSRS

There are a few spots in OSRS that stand out for Smithing, each with its own perks. I’ve spent time in all of them, and I’ll share what makes each one special, along with some personal stories to help you decide which one fits your playstyle.

Varrock: The Classic Smithing Hub

If you’ve ever set foot in Varrock, you know it’s the heart of OSRS for a lot of skills, and Smithing is no exception. The Varrock anvils, located in the southeast corner near the bank, are a go-to for many players. Why? It’s super close to a bank, which means less time running and more time smithing.

Why Varrock Stands Out

Proximity to Bank: The Varrock east bank is literally steps away from the anvils. I remember my early days as a level 40 Smithing noob, hauling iron bars to the anvil and feeling like a pro because I could bank and smith so fast.
Accessibility: No quests or high-level requirements needed. You can start smithing here as soon as you can wield a hammer.
Varrock Armour Bonus: If you’ve completed the Varrock Diary (even the easy one), the Varrock Armour gives you a chance to smelt extra bars, saving you time and money. I can’t tell you how many times that 10% chance saved my broke in-game wallet.

Downsides of Varrock

It can get crowded, especially on popular worlds. I’ve had moments where I’m clicking like crazy to get a spot at the anvil.
No fancy boosts like some other locations we’ll talk about later.

My Experience: I spent hours here grinding out bronze and iron items when I was a low-level player. The rhythm of banking, grabbing bars, and hammering away felt almost meditative. But when I hit level 70 and started making mithril platebodies, I realized Varrock’s simplicity was both a blessing and a curse. It’s great for beginners, but you might want more efficiency at higher levels.

Blast Furnace: The Ultimate Smithing Spot

If you’re serious about Smithing, the Blast Furnace in Keldagrim is hands-down the best place to train. This minigame is a game-changer for anyone looking to save money and level up fast. I discovered Blast Furnace when I was chasing 99 Smithing, and it was like finding a gold mine (or should I say, a mithril mine?).

Why Blast Furnace is King

Cost Efficiency: The Blast Furnace cuts the coal needed to smelt bars in half. For example, making a mithril bar normally takes 4 coal, but here it’s only 2. That’s a massive saving when you’re smelting thousands of bars.
XP Rates: You can hit up to 350k-400k XP per hour with high-level bars like runite. I remember my first time hitting 300k XP in an hour here; I felt like I’d cracked the code to OSRS.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: The furnace is operated by dwarves (if you pay a small fee or have 60 Smithing), so you don’t have to worry about stoking the fire yourself. Just focus on smithing!

How to Get Started

To use the Blast Furnace, you need to:

Complete the Giant Dwarf quest to access Keldagrim.
Have at least level 30 Smithing to use the furnace efficiently, though higher levels are better for profit.
Bring some gold coins (2,500 per hour if you’re under 60 Smithing) to pay the foreman.

Tips for Blast Furnace

Use Ice Gloves: These let you grab hot bars without waiting for them to cool, speeding up your workflow. I learned this the hard way after burning my virtual hands one too many times.
Stock Up on Stamina Potions: Running between the bank and furnace can drain your energy fast.
Join a Blast Furnace World: Worlds like 352 are dedicated to Blast Furnace, so you’ll find players running the furnace smoothly.

My Experience: My first trip to Blast Furnace was a disaster. I forgot my coins, didn’t have Ice Gloves, and kept running out of stamina. But once I got the hang of it, I was smelting adamantite bars like a pro. The XP was rolling in, and I even made a tidy profit selling the bars on the Grand Exchange. If you’re above level 60 Smithing, this is THE place to be.

Port Phasmatys: The Ghostly Alternative

For a quieter, less crowded spot, Port Phasmatys is a hidden gem. The anvils here are close to a bank, and the area has a spooky vibe that I kinda love. You need to complete the Ghosts Ahoy quest to access this place without an Ectophial, but it’s worth it for mid-level players.

Why Port Phasmatys Works

Close Bank: The bank is just a few steps from the anvils, making it great for grinding out items like mithril or adamant platebodies.
Less Crowded: Unlike Varrock, you’re less likely to fight for anvil space here. I’ve had entire sessions where I was the only one smithing.
Ectophial Teleport: If you’ve got the Ectophial, getting here is a breeze. It’s like a free tele every time.

Downsides

Requires Ghosts Ahoy quest, which can be a hassle if you’re not into questing.
No special Smithing boosts like Blast Furnace or Varrock Armour.

My Experience: I stumbled across Port Phasmatys while doing quests, and it became my go-to spot for smithing mithril items. The quiet atmosphere and quick banking made it feel like my own personal smithing haven. If you’re looking for a chill spot to grind, this is it.

Comparing the Best Smithing Spots

To help you choose, here’s a quick comparison of the top smithing locations:

Location	Bank Proximity	Special Features	Requirements	Best For
Varrock	Very Close	Varrock Armour bonus	None	Beginners, low-level smithing
Blast Furnace	Moderate	Half coal usage, high XP rates	Giant Dwarf quest, 30+ Smithing	High-level smithing, profit
Port Phasmatys	Very Close	Quiet, Ectophial teleport	Ghosts Ahoy quest	Mid-level smithing, solo players

Tips for Efficient Smithing

No matter where you smith, a few tricks can make the process faster and cheaper. Here’s what I’ve learned from years of grinding:

Use the Best Hammer: The Imcando Hammer is a game-changer if you can get it. It’s a reward from the Falador Diary and has a chance to save bars while smithing. I snagged mine after grinding out the diary, and it’s saved me thousands of bars.
Smelt and Smith Together: If you’re at Blast Furnace, smelt your bars and then smith them into items for max XP. I used to smelt steel bars and turn them into cannonballs for a nice profit.
Check Grand Exchange Prices: Some items, like steel nails or mithril platebodies, can be sold for a profit. I always check the GE before deciding what to smith.
Use Superheat Item: If you’ve got 43 Magic, the Superheat Item spell lets you smelt bars without a furnace. I used this in Varrock to speed things up when I was low on coal.

Which Spot is Right for You?

So, where should YOU smith? It depends on your goals:

Beginner (Levels 1-40): Stick with Varrock. It’s simple, accessible, and perfect for bronze and iron items.
Mid-Level (Levels 40-70): Try Port Phasmatys for a quiet grind or Blast Furnace if you want to save on coal.
High-Level (Levels 70+): Blast Furnace is your best bet for fast XP and profit.

What’s your Smithing level right now? Are you just starting out, or are you chasing that 99? Let me know, and I can give you some tailored tips!

My Journey to 99 Smithing

I’ll wrap up with a quick story about my own Smithing grind. When I started OSRS, I was clueless. I spent hours in Varrock making bronze daggers, thinking I was making bank. Spoiler: I wasn’t. But as I leveled up, I discovered Blast Furnace and never looked back. I spent weeks smelting runite bars and smithing them into platebodies, watching my XP climb and my coin pouch grow. Hitting 99 was one of the proudest moments in my OSRS career, and I still wear that Smithing cape with pride.

What’s your favorite Smithing spot? Have you tried Blast Furnace yet, or are you a Varrock loyalist? Wherever you choose to smith, keep hammering away, and you’ll get those gains in no time. Happy smithing, and I’ll see you in Gielinor!