Herblore OSRS 1-99 Guide Fastest and Cheapest Methods

Herblore in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a members-only skill that lets you craft potions to boost stats, heal, or protect against various effects. It’s a buyable skill, meaning you can speed through levels with enough gold, but it’s also one of the most expensive. This guide covers the fastest and cheapest methods to reach level 99 Herblore, tailored for both regular accounts and Ironmen, with tips to save gold and time. Whether you’re aiming for end-game content like Raids or just want that skill cape, we’ve got you covered.

Herblore is essential for high-level content. Potions like Saradomin Brews, Super Combats, and Overloads make bossing and PvM far easier. Plus, quests like Song of the Elves (level 70) and achievement diaries (e.g., level 90 for the Diary Cape) require high Herblore levels. For Ironmen, self-sufficiency in potions is a game-changer, while regular players can profit by selling certain potions.

Key Benefits of High Herblore

• PvM Advantage: Boost combat stats and restore health/prayer.
• Quest Requirements: Unlock major quests and diaries.
• Ironman Self-Sufficiency: Craft essential potions without trading.
• Profit Potential: Some potions sell for minimal loss or even profit.

Getting Started with Herblore

Before training, you must complete the Druidic Ritual quest in Taverley. This short quest requires raw meats (beef, chicken, rat, bear) and grants 250 XP, boosting you to level 3 Herblore. Additional quests like Jungle Potion and Recruitment Drive can push you to level 19 with minimal effort.

Quests for Early Herblore XP

Quest	Herblore XP	Level Gained
Druidic Ritual	250	3
Jungle Potion	775	10
Recruitment Drive	1,000	13
The Dig Site	2,000	19

Essential Items for Training

• Amulet of Chemistry: 5% chance for an extra potion dose, saving gold.
• Botanical Pie: Temporarily boosts Herblore by 4 levels.
• Herb Sack: Stores grimy herbs, great for Ironmen (750 Slayer points or 250 Tithe Farm points).
• Reagents Pouch: Doubles potions per inventory (unlocked at level 81 via Mastering Mixology).

Fastest Herblore Training Path (Level 1-99)

The fastest way to 99 Herblore is making potions, which yields up to 450,000 XP per hour but costs around 140M GP. This method involves buying unfinished potions and secondary ingredients from the Grand Exchange, combining them near a bank, and selling the potions to offset costs. Below is the optimal potion-making path based on current GE prices (as of 2025).

Level 3-38: Attack and Energy Potions

Start with Attack Potions (Guam potion (unf) + Eye of Newt) until level 12, then switch to Strength Potions (Tarromin potion (unf) + Limpwurt root) until level 22. From level 26, make Energy Potions (Harralander potion (unf) + Chocolate dust) to level 38. These are cheap and quick.

• Attack Potions: 144 needed, ~120K GP cost.
• Strength Potions: 144 needed, ~150K GP cost.
• Energy Potions: 322 needed, ~200K GP cost.

Level 38-63: Prayer and Super Strength Potions

At level 38, make Prayer Potions (Ranarr potion (unf) + Snape grass) until level 52. Then, craft Super Energy Potions (Avantoe potion (unf) + Mort Myre fungus) to level 55, followed by Super Strength Potions (Kwuarm potion (unf) + Limpwurt root) to level 63.

• Prayer Potions: ~1,200 needed, ~220K XP/hour, minimal loss.
• Super Energy Potions: 366 needed, collect fungus in Mort Myre swamp.
• Super Strength Potions: 1,616 needed, ~10M GP cost.

Level 63-81: Super Restores and Magic Potions

From level 63, make Super Restore Potions (Snapdragon potion (unf) + Red spiders’ eggs) until level 69. Then, switch to Magic Potions (Lantadyme potion (unf) + Potato cactus) to level 81.

• Super Restores: 2,102 needed, ~15M GP cost.
• Magic Potions: 4,965 needed, ~10M GP loss after selling.

Level 81-99: Saradomin Brews

The final stretch involves making Saradomin Brews (Toadflax potion (unf) + Crushed bird nests). This is the fastest method, offering ~450,000 XP/hour but costing ~110M GP for 60,232 potions. Use the Reagents Pouch to make 26 potions per inventory, doubling AFK time.

• Cost: ~3,000 GP loss per potion.
• Ironman Tip: Farm bird nests via birdhouse runs or Giant Mole kills.

Cheapest Herblore Training Path

If 140M GP is too steep, the budget path costs ~35M GP but takes ~60 hours. This focuses on cheaper potions and herb cleaning for early levels. Here’s the breakdown:

Level 3-38: Cleaning Herbs

Clean Grimy Guam, Tarromin, and Harralander for profit and XP. Auto-cleaning (post-2020 update) yields ~5,000 herbs/hour, or ~12,000 with manual clicking.

• XP per Herb: 2.5–5 XP.
• Profit: ~8–20 GP per herb (e.g., Guam: buy at 20 GP, sell clean at 28 GP).

Level 38-63: Prayer Potions

Make Prayer Potions for low cost and decent XP (~220,000/hour). Snape grass is farmable, reducing costs for Ironmen.

Level 63-99: Super Defence Potions

Craft Super Defence Potions (Cadantine potion (unf) + White berries) instead of Saradomin Brews. They’re cheaper, though slower (~300,000 XP/hour).

• Cost: ~30M GP total.
• Tip: Decant to 4-dose potions before selling to minimize losses.

Ironman Herblore Training Tips

Herblore is notoriously tough for Ironmen due to limited ingredient access. Here’s how to optimize your grind:

Herb and Seed Sources

• Farming Contracts: Best for herb seeds (75+ Farming recommended).
• Slayer: Nechryael, Aberrant Spectres, and Dagannoths drop herbs/seeds.
• Master Farmer Pickpocketing: Fast ranarr seeds at 94+ Thieving (Ardougne Hard Diary).
• Managing Miscellania: Passive herb income over time.

Secondary Ingredient Strategies

• Limpwurt Root: Plant in flower patches during herb runs.
• Snape Grass: Farm in allotment patches or collect at Waterbirth Island.
• Potato Cactus: Plant early in Farming Guild for Magic Potions.
• Bird Nests: Birdhouse runs or trade Giant Mole claws/skins.

Mastering Mixology Minigame

At level 60 (more efficient at 81), play the Mastering Mixology minigame in Aldarin. It uses no secondaries, grants ~105,000 XP/hour at level 81, and unlocks the Reagents Pouch. It’s ideal when herbs are scarce.

Tips to Optimize Your Herblore Grind

Maximize efficiency and minimize costs with these strategies:

• Bank Setup: Set withdrawal quantity to 14 for 50/50 ingredient splits. Use keybinds (e.g., ESC to close interfaces) for faster potion-making.
• Decanting: Convert potions to 4-dose at the Grand Exchange NPC to reduce losses.
• Portable Wells: Use on World 84 for 20% bonus XP (10% from well, 10% from pulse cores).
• Herb Runs: Farm herbs daily to cut costs, especially for Ironmen.
• Check GE Prices: Use the OSRS Wiki or calculators to track potion profitability.

With the fastest path, expect to spend 35–45 hours and 100–140M GP, while the budget path takes ~60 hours for 35–50M GP. Ironmen should prioritize Farming and Slayer for resources. Whatever your playstyle, Herblore is a worthy investment for OSRS end-game success. Start brewing, and that skill cape will be yours in no time!