Herb Run Routes OSRS Profit and Efficiency Guide

You ever log into OSRS feeling like you need some quick cash without slaving over a boss or grinding Slayer for hours? That’s where herb runs come in. Man, I’ve been knee-deep in Old School RuneScape since the early days, back when the Grand Exchange was just a dream and everyone was flipping raw lobsters by hand. As someone who’s hit max cape status with Farming at 99, herb runs have been my go-to for passive gold. They’re chill, they stack up over time, and if you nail the route, you’re looking at hundreds of thousands per cycle. Today, I’m breaking down the best herb run routes, sharing my personal twists from years of tweaking, and helping you skip the newbie mistakes I made early on.

Think about it: herbs grow in just 80 minutes, so you pop in, harvest, replant, and bounce. Do a few runs a day while you’re watching Netflix or whatever, and suddenly your bank is flush. But the key? A solid route. Mess it up, and you’re wasting teleports and time. Stick with me, and by the end, you’ll have a setup that feels like autopilot.

Let’s get real for a second. Farming isn’t for everyone at first glance. It feels slow, right? Like, why plant seeds when you could be PKing in the Wilderness? But hear me out. Herb runs turned my money-making game around back in 2018. I was broke after blowing 200 mil on a single BiS weapon that didn’t pan out. Started with basic ranarrs, and within a month, I funded a full Barrows set just from harvests.

What makes them so strong? First off, profitability. Depending on the market, you’re pulling 200k to 500k GP per run easy. Second, it’s low risk. No dying to PKers, no RNG bosses. Just you, some seeds, and Gielinor. And for irons or skillers, it’s pure XP gold too.

Ever wonder how pros make it look effortless? It’s all about consistency. I do mine twice a day now, right after breakfast and before bed. Nets me over 1 mil weekly without breaking a sweat. If you’re mid-level, say 50-70 Farming, this is your ticket to endgame gear.

Unlocking All the Herb Patches Step by Step

Before we dive into routes, you gotta access the patches. There are 10 now, thanks to that Varlamore update last year. Some are straightforward, others need quests or diaries. I remember grinding the Kandarin Diary elite for Catherby‘s boost, thinking it’d never end. Worth it, though, for that extra 10% yield.

Here’s a quick list of the patches and requirements. I threw it in a table so you can scan it fast.

Pro tip: Prioritize quests like My Arm’s Big Adventure for Trollheim. It unlocks a disease-free patch, meaning fewer dead ranarrs and more tears from noobs who skip it.

Short answer to your burning question: Can you start with fewer patches? Absolutely. I began with just four and scaled up. No shame in that.

Gear Up Right for Smooth Herb Runs

Okay, picture this: You’re halfway through your route, inventory full of grimy herbs, and you realize you forgot the secateurs. Nightmare. As an OSRS vet, I’ve got my kit dialed in. It’s simple, cheap, and boosts everything.

Start with the basics. Magic secateurs? Non-negotiable. They give +10% herbs per patch. I enchanted mine ages ago, and it’s paid for itself a thousand times. Ultracompost in noted stacks at leprechauns keeps disease low. And a herb sack? Game-changer for irons like me back in the day. Stores 30 grimy herbs, so you clean later.

Teleports are where it gets fun. I pack:

• Ardougne cloak (for Ardy patch)
• Explorer’s Ring 4 (Falador run)
• Ectophial (Morytania)
• Skills necklace (Farming Guild)
• Trollheim tablet
• Rune pouch with law, fire, air runes for house tabs

If you’ve got a maxed house, portal to POH between spots. Saves a ton of clicks.

One time, I forgot my bottomless bucket on a mobile run. Ended up sprinting back from the GE like an idiot. Lesson learned: Store tools with leprechauns. They hold secateurs and buckets indefinitely.

The Ultimate Herb Run Route Breakdown

Alright, the meat of it. I’ve tested routes for years, from clunky early ones to this streamlined beast. My personal favorite starts at Catherby and loops efficiently. Why? Minimizes running, maxes teleports. Total time: 7-10 minutes if you’re not AFK.

Let’s walk through it step by step. I’ll throw in my war stories to keep it real.

Step 1: Kick Off at Catherby

Teleport to Catherby with a tablet or Camelot spell, then jog northeast. Boom, herb patch. Harvest those beauties first, note ’em at the leprechaun. Grab ultra, plant your seed, compost. Done.

I love this spot because of the diary boost. Once I hit elite Kandarin, my yields jumped 10%. Sold a haul of snapdragons that funded a whole Inferno attempt. Feels good.

Quick question: Nervous about disease? Use ultra every time. I’ve lost maybe 5% of crops since.

Step 2: Zip to Ardougne

From Catherby, Ardougne cloak teleport. Straight to the patch south of the monastery. Same routine: harvest, note, plant, compost.

This one’s a breeze. No requirements, and the cloak makes it feel like cheating. Early on, I ran here from Falador by mistake. Wasted 2 minutes. Don’t be me.

Step 3: Swing by Falador

Explorer’s Ring to Falador cabbage patch, then north to the herb spot. Harvest, note, replant. The leprechaun’s right there, so no extra steps.

Falador‘s my chill zone. I do this while sipping coffee. Ever notice how the guards stare? Creepy, but whatever.

Now, a longer ramble because this next bit trips people up. After Falador, I used to ecto to Morytania, but with Varlamore unlocked, I reroute slightly. See, the new patch in Children of the Sun quest area ties in nicely if you’re quested up. From Falador, house portal if built right, then fairy ring to Weiss or directly to Hosidius for the protected one. I switched this after the 2024 update. Old route had me looping back east, burning energy. Now? Smoother flow.

Step 4: Morytania Magic with Ectophial

Ectophial smash for Port Phasmatys. Run west to the patch. This area’s spooky, but the ecto refills on the spot. Harvest, plant, note.

Personal story: First time here, I got lost in the fog post-Priest in Peril. Nearly died to ghouls. Now it’s routine. Plant ranarr here always, disease-free vibes.

Step 5: Trollheim Teleport Tango

Trollheim tablet to the top. Dodge the throws, hit the patch. Protected after My Arm’s Big Adventure, so rares only.

This patch is my money printer. Snapdragons galore. But watch your step, one bad throw and you’re tumbling. Happened to me mid-harvest once. Hilarious in hindsight.

Step 6: Farming Guild Glory

Skills necklace to guild. If you’re under 65, skip and regret later. Plant, harvest, done.

Guild’s endgame heaven. Spirit tree nearby for tree runs combo. I pair this with allotments for extra XP.

Step 7: Hosidius Protected Patch

From guild, run south or use Xeric’s talisman. Disease-free for glory grinders. Plant your priciest seeds here.

I unlocked this last year. Game-changer for consistency.

Step 8: Weiss Wonderland

Fairy ring or house to Weiss. Cold, but the patch is cozy. Quest required, but yields are solid.

Short para: Weiss feels remote. I blast music here to stay hyped.

Step 9: Harmony Island Hop

Elite diary for this. Boat from Mos Le’Harmless. Niche, but adds 10% profit if you grind it.

Step 10: Varlamore Victory Lap

Children of the Sun quest. Teleport via whistle or ring. Finish strong.

Whew. That’s the loop. Log out at Trollheim for next-run efficiency.

Picking the Best Herbs for Your Bank

Herbs aren’t one-size-fits-all. Market shifts, levels matter. As of September 2025, ranarrs rule for prayer pots. But let’s table the top picks based on my recent runs.

I mix it: Rares in protected patches, fillers elsewhere. Check GE daily. Last week, snaps spiked 20%. Sold out, bought low next day.

Question: What’s your level? Under 50? Stick to irit. Over 70? Go snaps.

Pro Tips from a Seasoned Herb Runner

Want that edge? Listen up. First, Magic secateurs daily charge. I forget sometimes, yields drop 10%. Ouch.

Second, combine runs. Herbs with allotments, flowers, trees. I do full farm runs now, 2 mil XP banked.

Third, mobile runs. OSRS app shines here. I harvest Catherby on the bus. Beats traffic stares.

And boosts: Scroll of cleansing for noted herbs. Game-changer post-2023 update.

Ever had a full sack mid-run? Panic note at leprechaun. Saved my bacon once.

Longer tip: Track profits in a notepad. I log yields weekly. Spots patterns, like Morytania‘s weird disease spike during updates. Adjust seeds accordingly.

For irons, contracts in guild. Extra seeds, no GE needed. I wish I knew that sooner.

Wrapping Up Your Herb Run Journey

There you have it, folks. Herb run routes in OSRS aren’t rocket science, but nailing them? That’s the difference between pocket change and bank swells. From my first fumbling Catherby solo to full 10-patch loops funding maxed stats, it’s been a ride. Start small, unlock patches, tweak as you go.

What’s stopping you? Grab those seeds, hit the patches, and watch the gold roll in. Drop a comment if you’ve got route hacks I missed. Happy farming, and may your ranarrs never die.