Fletching to 99 OSRS Ultimate Guide for Fastest and Most Profitable Methods

Fletching in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is one of the fastest skills to train to level 99, offering players the chance to craft ranged weapons and ammunition while potentially earning a profit. Whether you’re aiming for the coveted Fletching skill cape or looking to make some gold, this comprehensive guide covers the best methods, tips, and strategies to reach level 99 efficiently. From click-intensive dart fletching to AFK bow stringing, we’ll explore how to balance speed, cost, and profit for all playstyles, including Ironman accounts.

Fletching is a versatile skill that not only enhances your ranged combat capabilities but also offers unique advantages for both casual and dedicated players. Here’s why it’s worth mastering:

• Fastest Skill to 99: With the right methods, you can achieve level 99 in as little as 3-8 hours, making it ideal for speedrunners.
• Profitable Opportunities: Certain methods, like stringing bows or tipping bolts, can net millions in profit.
• Passive Training: Fletching can be done while running, questing, or training other skills, earning it the nickname “zero-time” skill.
• Ironman Utility: Crafting your own arrows and darts is essential for ranged training and Slayer tasks.

Key Benefits for All Account Types

Main accounts can leverage the Grand Exchange to buy supplies in bulk, while Ironman players benefit from self-sourcing materials through woodcutting and Slayer. Additionally, Fletching unlocks access to high-level ammo like dragon darts and arrows, boosting your combat efficiency.

Fastest Fletching Methods for Level 99

If speed is your priority, fletching darts is the go-to method due to its high experience rates. However, it’s click-intensive and costly. Below is the fastest pathway to 99, optimized for players with sufficient gold.

Fletching Darts: The Speedrunner’s Choice

Fletching darts offers the highest experience rates in OSRS, with players like EVScape achieving 99 in just 3 hours and 9 minutes. This method requires spam-clicking dart tips and feathers, ideally using Windows mouse keys or OSRS Mobile for rapid tapping. Here’s the breakdown:

Level	Dart Type	XP per Dart	Approx. Darts Needed	Cost (GP)
1-10	Bronze	1.8	1,250	~50K
10-22	Bronze	1.8	5,000	~200K
22-37	Iron	3.8	12,000	~600K
37-52	Steel	7.5	30,000	~3M
52-67	Mithril	11.2	80,000	~20M
67-81	Adamant	15	200,000	~80M
81-95	Rune	18.8	400,000	~160M
95-99	Dragon	25	300,000	~240M

Total Cost: Approximately 500-550M GP, with losses of ~260M if selling darts back. Time: 6-8 hours with mouse keys or touchscreen.

Tip: Use Dragonfruit Pies (+4 Fletching boost) to access higher-tier darts 4 levels early, saving ~20M by skipping costly rune darts. No quests are needed to fletch darts, only for smithing tips (Tourist Trap).

Fletching Bolts: A Cheaper Alternative

Tipping bolts, such as dragon bolts with diamond tips, is slightly slower but more affordable than darts. At level 84, diamond dragon bolts yield ~210K XP/hour and can profit over 100M from level 84 to 99. This method is ideal for players with limited capital.

Most Profitable Fletching Methods

For players looking to make gold while training, stringing bows and tipping bolts are the best options. These methods are slower but can net significant profits, especially at higher levels.

Stringing Bows: The AFK Money-Maker

Stringing bows is a semi-AFK method that’s profitable and less click-intensive. You combine unstrung bows with bowstrings, with stringing taking 2 ticks (1.2 seconds) per bow. Here’s a profitable pathway:

• Level 40-50: String Willow Longbows – ~99K XP/hour, ~4K profit.
• Level 50-55: String Maple Shortbows – ~120K XP/hour, ~26K profit.
• Level 55-65: String Maple Longbows – ~140K XP/hour, ~378K profit.
• Level 65-70: String Yew Shortbows – ~164K XP/hour, ~388K profit.
• Level 70-85: String Yew Longbows – ~180K XP/hour, ~5.7M profit.
• Level 85-99: String Magic Longbows – ~220K XP/hour, ~16.5M profit.

Total Profit: ~22M GP. Time: ~45-50 hours.

Tipping Bolts for Profit

At level 61, stringing Adamant Crossbows yields ~172 GP per crossbow, while level 84 diamond dragon bolts can profit significantly. These methods are great for players who want to combine XP and GP gains.

AFK and Low-Effort Fletching Methods

For players who prefer a relaxed approach, AFK methods like fletching headless arrows or unstrung bows are ideal. These are less XP-efficient but require minimal attention.

Headless Arrows: The Ultimate AFK Option

Combining arrow shafts and feathers to make headless arrows grants 1 XP per arrow and is highly AFK. At ~45K XP/hour, it’s slow but profitable (~214K GP/hour). From level 1-52, you’ll need ~123,660 headless arrows, taking ~3 hours with a profit of ~640K.

Fletching Unstrung Bows and Battlestaves

Cutting logs into unstrung bows is another AFK method, with XP rates ranging from 8.5K (level 5 shortbows) to 155.5K (level 85 magic longbows). At level 40, fletching battlestaves (using Celastrus bark) offers ~110K XP/hour, costing ~10.8M to level 80.

Ironman Fletching Strategies

Ironman accounts face unique challenges due to the inability to use the Grand Exchange, but Fletching remains highly trainable with the right approach.

Gathering Resources Efficiently

Ironmen can gather logs by training Woodcutting (e.g., willow logs at level 30 yield 45 arrow shafts per log). Feathers are best obtained from fishing shops (2 GP each) or by killing chickens. For arrowheads, Smithing or PvM drops (e.g., from Slayer tasks) are reliable sources.

Best Ironman Training Methods

Focus on headless arrows early on, as they’re stackable and easy to produce while woodcutting. At level 52, switch to broad arrows (requires 300 Slayer points to unlock) for fast XP, as broad arrowheads can be bought in bulk. Fletching redwood shields at level 92 is also efficient, yielding ~150K XP/hour using redwood logs from Woodcutting.

Tips and Tricks for Efficient Fletching

Maximize your Fletching efficiency with these strategies:

• Use Dragonfruit Pies: Boost your Fletching by +4 to unlock better methods early, saving time and gold.
• Train While Active: Fletch darts or bolts during activities like Agility, Slayer, or farm runs to make it a “zero-time” skill.
• Monitor Prices: Use a Fletching calculator to check current GP/XP ratios, as prices fluctuate.
• Stock Up Supplies: Grand Exchange buy limits (e.g., 13K dart tips per 4 hours) can slow you down, so buy in advance or use alts.
• Mobile Tapping: On OSRS Mobile, use two-finger tapping for darts to fletch 2-4 sets per tick, boosting XP rates.

Quest XP Rewards

Skip early levels with quests like Animal Magnetism, Big Chompy Bird Hunting, and Zogre Flesh Eaters (3,262 XP, up to level 18) or Temple of Ikov and The Fremennik Trials (10,812 XP, up to level 30). These are low-requirement and save time.

Avoid Common Pitfalls

Don’t waste XP lamps on Fletching, as it’s considered bad practice due to the skill’s speed. Also, avoid fletching rune or adamant arrows, as they’re often loss-making compared to steel or amethyst arrows.

Reaching level 99 Fletching in OSRS is an achievable goal for any player, whether you’re chasing speed, profit, or a relaxed grind. By choosing the right method—darts for speed, bows for profit, or headless arrows for AFK—and leveraging boosts like Dragonfruit Pies, you can tailor your journey to your playstyle. Start fletching today and join the ranks of skill cape owners in Gielinor!