How to Cut Sulliuscep in OSRS for Maximum Efficiency

Chopping Sulliusceps in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is one of the fastest ways to train Woodcutting while also gathering valuable fossils. Found exclusively in the Tar Swamp on Fossil Island, this method offers high experience rates—up to 110,000 XP per hour at level 99—and unique rewards like Sulliuscep caps and numulite. However, navigating the swamp’s hazards and optimizing your setup can be tricky. This guide covers everything you need to know to master Sulliuscep cutting, from preparation to advanced strategies.

Sulliusceps stand out for their balance of speed, rewards, and engagement. Unlike AFK methods like chopping yews or redwoods, this activity keeps you active with its unique rotation and environmental challenges. Here’s why it’s worth your time:

• Top-tier XP rates: 55,000–110,000 XP/hour depending on your level and setup.
• Fossil collection: Fossils can be turned into Prayer XP or used for Varrock Museum kudos.
• Profit potential: Sulliuscep caps and numulite add up, with caps used for crafting-boosting mushroom pies.
• Engaging gameplay: The swamp’s obstacles make it more interactive than standard Woodcutting.

Experience Rates by Level

Woodcutting Level	XP/Hour (No Lumberjack Outfit)	XP/Hour (With Lumberjack Outfit)
65	55,000–65,000	60,000–70,000
75	70,000–80,000	75,000–85,000
90	90,000–97,000	95,000–100,000
99	100,000–105,000	105,000–110,000

Preparation and Requirements

Before heading to Fossil Island, ensure you’re ready to tackle the Tar Swamp’s dangers. Sulliuscep cutting requires specific skills, quests, and gear to minimize damage and maximize efficiency.

Quest and Skill Requirements

• Bone Voyage quest: Grants access to Fossil Island.
• Level 65 Woodcutting: Minimum level to chop Sulliusceps (127 XP per yield).
• 11+ Hitpoints: Spiked mushrooms hit for 10 damage, so at least 11 HP is needed to survive. Higher HP (70+) is recommended.
• Optional skills: High Defence (70+) reduces damage from Tar Monsters; Prayer (43+) for Protect from Missiles.

Recommended Gear

Your gear should balance Woodcutting efficiency, defensive stats, and inventory management. Here’s a suggested setup:

• Lumberjack outfit: Provides a 2.5% XP boost when the full set is worn. Store it in a Forestry kit to use ranged defence armour.
• Dragon axe: Best axe for speed; use Preserve prayer to extend special attack duration.
• Graceful outfit: Boosts run energy restoration, crucial for navigating the swamp.
• High ranged defence gear: Items like a Dragonfire shield or Barrows armour reduce Tar Monster damage.
• Serpentine helm or antidote++: Prevents poison from spine mushrooms.
• Regen bracelet or Hitpoints cape: Improves passive healing to extend trips.

Inventory Setup

Your inventory needs to handle food, tools, and collected items. A typical setup includes:

• Rake: Clears vines between Sulliusceps.
• 4–8 Saradomin brews: High healing with minimal inventory slots.
• Superantipoison or Prayer book: For curing poison from spine mushrooms.
• 9+ mushrooms: Used to fill the mud pit for safe bouncing mushroom jumps.
• Optional: Hoop snake to distract Tar Monsters; teleport runes for POH/digsite pendant.

Navigating the Tar Swamp

The Tar Swamp is a hazardous area with six Sulliusceps that spawn in a fixed order (1 to 6). Only one is choppable at a time, and you must traverse obstacles and avoid enemies to reach the next. Understanding the layout and dangers is key.

Sulliuscep Rotation

Follow this order for chopping:

1. Sulliuscep #1 (southwest, near entrance).
2. Sulliuscep #2 (northwest, near spine mushrooms).
3. Sulliuscep #3 (central, near vines).
4. Sulliuscep #4 (northeast, requires raking).
5. Sulliuscep #5 (north, near rubber cap mushroom).
6. Sulliuscep #6 (northwest, final stop).

After chopping #6, use the rubber cap mushroom near #5 to bounce back to #1, but ensure the mud pit is filled with 9 mushrooms to avoid 40–50 damage.

Swamp Hazards

The Tar Swamp is filled with threats that can interrupt your run:

• Tar Monsters (level 132): Deal up to 9 typeless ranged damage. Stay 2+ tiles away from Tar Bubbles to avoid spawning them. Protect from Missiles reduces damage.
• Spine mushrooms: Hit for 10 and may poison. Only two are aggressive: one near #2 and one west of #3 (avoidable by staying right).
• Roots and vines: Chop roots with your axe and rake vines to progress. Delays increase exposure to monsters.

Optimizing Your Sulliuscep Run

To get the most XP and fossils, streamline your movement, manage inventory, and use strategic resets. Here are the best methods to boost efficiency.

Mud Pit Method (Highest Efficiency)

This is the fastest way to cycle through Sulliusceps:

1. Chop Sulliusceps 1–6 in order, clearing roots and vines as needed.
2. Before jumping on the rubber cap mushroom after #6, ensure you have 9 mushrooms to fill the mud pit.
3. Bounce back to #1 and refill the pit immediately for the next cycle.
4. Drop non-fossil items (except caps/numulite) while running to free inventory space.

Pro tip: Use Preserve prayer to extend your dragon axe’s special attack and keep your axe in defensive mode for a hidden +3 defence boost.

POH Teleport Method (Ironman-Friendly)

For players with a Player-Owned House (POH) setup:

1. After chopping #6, teleport to your POH.
2. Use an ornate rejuvenation pool to restore HP and prayer.
3. Teleport back to Fossil Island via a mounted digsite pendant.
4. Use the magic mushtree to return to the Tar Swamp and start at #1.

This method eliminates food costs but requires 99 Construction for the best efficiency (Construction cape saves inventory space).

Low-Level Strategy

If you lack high HP or POH teleports:

1. Run north after #6 to deposit fossils at the Mycelium pool.
2. Use the Mushroom Meadow mushtree to return to the Sticky Swamp.
3. Bank for food at the base camp if needed, then resume at #1.

This is slower and riskier due to swamp traversal but viable for early-game players.

Tips and Tricks for Success

Maximize your Sulliuscep runs with these advanced pointers:

• Disable fossil drops: If you only want Sulliuscep caps (e.g., for mushroom pies), talk to Peter on Fossil Island to disable fossil drops, slightly increasing cap odds.
• Use hoop snakes sparingly: They distract Tar Monsters but are often unnecessary if you pray Protect from Missiles and stay alert.
• Felling axe perk: With Forester’s rations, activate the felling axe effect to chop without collecting mushrooms, saving inventory space (fossils still drop).
• Avoid crowded worlds: World 321 is designated for Sulliuscep cutting, but fewer players mean less interference from Tar Monsters and cleared obstacles.
• Bank strategically: Only bank when your inventory is full of fossils or you’re low on supplies to maintain XP rates.

Reward Breakdown

Here’s what you can expect from a typical hour of Sulliuscep cutting:

• Fossils: 10–20 per hour, yielding ~2M Prayer XP from 65 to 99 after museum lamps.
• Sulliuscep caps: 1/100 chance per chop, worth ~17M coins if sold from 65 to 99.
• Numulite: Common drop, adding minor profit.
• Clue nests: Rare but possible, adding excitement.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Forgetting the mud pit: Always carry 9 mushrooms to avoid heavy damage when bouncing.
• Chopping tendrils: They’re not obstacles and waste time while exposing you to Tar Monsters.
• Ignoring poison: Equip a Serpentine helm or bring antidote++ to prevent spine mushroom poison from draining HP.
• Overloading inventory: Drop regular mushrooms early to prioritize fossils and caps.

With the right setup and strategy, Sulliuscep cutting can propel your Woodcutting to 99 while stocking up on fossils and profit. Whether you’re a main chasing XP or an ironman hunting caps, this method rewards focus and preparation. Grab your axe, hit the Tar Swamp, and start chopping!