High Alch Money Making in OSRS: Best Methods and Items for 2025
High Level Alchemy, often called “High Alch,” is one of the most iconic and reliable money-making methods in Old School RuneScape (OSRS). Whether you’re a new player looking to fund your first bond or a veteran aiming to stack gold pieces (GP), High Alch offers a low-effort, profitable way to train Magic while earning cash. In this guide, we’ll dive into how High Alch works, the best items to alch in 2025, and strategies to maximize your profits. Let’s explore this classic OSRS money-making method and turn your Nature Runes into a goldmine!
High Level Alchemy is a spell in the standard spellbook that converts items into coins. It’s unlocked at level 55 Magic and requires one Nature Rune and five Fire Runes per cast (or fewer with specific gear). Each cast grants 65 Magic XP and turns the targeted item into 60% of its base value—known as its “High Alch value.” The trick to making money lies in finding items you can buy on the Grand Exchange (GE) for less than their High Alch value, factoring in the cost of runes.
Basic Requirements for High Alch
- Magic Level: 55+ to cast High Level Alchemy.
- Runes: 1 Nature Rune and 5 Fire Runes per cast (or a Fire Staff to eliminate Fire Rune costs).
- Starting GP: Enough to buy items and runes—20M+ GP is ideal for high-volume alching.
- Optional Gear: Staff of Fire, Tome of Fire, or Explorer’s Ring 4 for rune efficiency.
Why High Alch is Popular
High Alch is a favorite because it’s semi-AFK, meaning you can cast it while multitasking. It also doubles as a Magic training method, offering around 78K XP per hour if you cast it 1,200 times. For players who enjoy low-intensity gameplay, it’s a perfect blend of profit and progress.
Best Items to High Alch in 2025
Finding profitable items is the key to High Alch success. Prices fluctuate, so always check the GE before investing. Based on current trends and historical data, here are some of the best items to alch in 2025 for consistent profits.
High-Volume, Low-Margin Items
These items have high buy limits, making them ideal for bulk alching with steady, smaller profits per cast.
- Onyx Bolts (e): Buy limit of 10,000. Often alchs for ~400 GP profit per cast after rune costs.
- Air Battlestaff: Buy limit of 8,000. Typically yields ~300-500 GP profit per cast.
- Rune Med Helm: Buy limit of 70. A classic F2P option with ~200-300 GP profit.
Low-Volume, High-Margin Items
These items offer bigger profits per alch but are harder to buy in bulk due to lower trade volumes or stricter buy limits.
- Black D’hide Body: Can net ~800-1,000 GP profit per cast, though volume is low.
- Rune Platebody: Often yields ~600-800 GP profit, with a buy limit of 70.
- Runite Crossbow (u): A sleeper hit with ~1,500-2,000 GP profit, but limited availability.
F2P vs. P2P Alchable Items
Free-to-play (F2P) players can still profit with items like Rune Med Helms or Steel Platebodies (collected in the Wilderness), while pay-to-play (P2P) players have access to a broader range, including battlestaves and dragonhide gear. P2P options generally offer higher profits due to the variety of high-value items.
| Item | High Alch Value | GE Price (Est.) | Profit per Alch | Buy Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onyx Bolts (e) | 9,000 GP | 8,500 GP | ~400 GP | 10,000 |
| Air Battlestaff | 9,300 GP | 8,800 GP | ~350 GP | 8,000 |
| Rune Platebody | 39,000 GP | 38,200 GP | ~600 GP | 70 |
| Black D’hide Body | 13,500 GP | 12,400 GP | ~900 GP | 70 |
Maximizing High Alch Profits
To turn High Alch into a serious money-maker, you need to optimize your setup and strategy. Here’s how to squeeze every GP out of this method.
Rune Cost Reduction
Runes are your biggest expense. A Staff of Fire or Tome of Fire eliminates Fire Rune costs, while the Explorer’s Ring 4 (from Lumbridge & Draynor Diary) offers 30 free alchs daily. For risk-takers, the Fountain of Rune in the Wilderness lets you alch without runes, but beware of PKers.
Timing and Efficiency
You can cast High Alch every 3 seconds, or 1,200 times per hour. Use a metronome or click rhythm to stay consistent. Pair it with activities like Agility training for dual-purpose skilling, though this reduces casts per hour.
GE Flipping for Alch Items
Combine High Alch with flipping—buy items below GE price and alch them for profit. This requires market knowledge but can boost margins significantly. Check tools like GE Tracker for real-time price trends.
High Alch Money-Making Strategies
Beyond picking the right items, your approach determines your hourly GP. Here are three strategies to consider.
Bulk Alching for Steady Gains
Buy high-volume items like Onyx Bolts (e) or Air Battlestaves in bulk. With a 400 GP profit per cast and 1,200 casts per hour, you’re looking at ~480K GP/hour. Scale this with more capital for millions per hour—some players report up to 14M GP/hour with optimal items.
Niche Item Hunting
Target low-volume, high-margin items like Black D’hide Bodies or Runite Crossbows (u). Profits can hit 1,000-2,000 GP per cast, pushing hourly rates to 1.2M-2.4M GP. The catch? You’ll need patience to snag these items at the right price.
Ironman Alching
For Ironmen, High Alch shines with monster drops. Ogress Warriors in Corsair Cove drop alchables like Rune Med Helms and Mithril Kiteshields. Collect, alch, and profit without GE reliance—perfect for self-sufficient accounts.
Pros and Cons of High Alch Money Making
Like any OSRS method, High Alch has its strengths and weaknesses. Weigh these before diving in.
Advantages
- Low Effort: Semi-AFK gameplay suits casual players.
- Dual Purpose: Trains Magic while earning GP.
- Scalable: Profits grow with investment and market savvy.
Disadvantages
- Repetitive: Clicking 1,200 times an hour can get old.
- Market Risk: GE prices shift, potentially erasing margins.
- Capital Intensive: High profits need a big upfront investment.
High Alch remains a cornerstone of OSRS money-making in 2025. Whether you’re alching Onyx Bolts for steady gains or hunting niche items for big payouts, this method offers flexibility and reliability. Start small, test the market, and scale up as you master the margins. With the right items and a bit of patience, you’ll be swimming in GP—and maybe even funding that Twisted Bow you’ve been eyeing. Happy alching!