How to Make Arrows in OSRS A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

How to Make Arrows in OSRS A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), arrows are essential for anyone looking to master the Ranged skill. Whether you’re hunting, battling monsters, or tackling quests, crafting your own arrows can save you gold and boost your Fletching level. This guide dives deep into how to make arrows in OSRS, covering everything from gathering materials to crafting high-tier ammunition. Perfect for beginners and seasoned players alike, we’ll break down the process to ensure you’re fletching like a pro in no time.

Crafting arrows isn’t just about saving money—it’s a core part of the OSRS experience. By fletching your own arrows, you gain Fletching experience, unlock stronger ammunition, and tailor your gear to your playstyle. Plus, for Ironman accounts, self-sufficiency is key, making arrow-making a must. Unfortunately, Fletching is a members-only skill, so free-to-play players can’t craft arrows and must rely on buying them from shops like Lowe’s Archery Emporium in Varrock or the Grand Exchange.

Benefits of Crafting Arrows

  • Fletching XP: Each arrow crafted grants experience, helping you level up quickly.
  • Cost Savings: Making arrows is often cheaper than buying them, especially for high-tier options.
  • Customization: Craft specific arrows for quests, Slayer tasks, or PvP.
  • Ironman Friendly: Avoid relying on NPC shops or other players.

Gathering Materials for Arrow Crafting

Before you start fletching, you’ll need three main components: arrow shafts, feathers, and arrowtips. Each plays a critical role, and gathering them efficiently sets you up for success.

Arrow Shafts

Arrow shafts are the backbone of any arrow. To make them:

  1. Equip a knife (buy one from general stores for ~100 gp).
  2. Cut regular logs from any standard tree (requires 1 Woodcutting).
  3. Use the knife on the logs and select “Arrow Shafts.” Each log yields 15 shafts, granting 5 Fletching XP per set.

Tip: Higher-tier logs (like yew or magic) give more XP per set but aren’t necessary for beginners. Stick to regular logs early on.

Feathers

Feathers add stability to arrows. They’re easy to collect:

  • Kill Chickens: Found in Lumbridge or Falador farms, chickens drop 5–15 feathers each.
  • Buy from Shops: Fishing shops (e.g., Port Sarim) or the Shantay Pass shop sell feathers for ~15 gp each.
  • Grand Exchange: Feathers cost around 2–3 gp each, ideal for bulk purchases.

Arrowtips

Arrowtips determine the arrow’s strength and type. They require both Smithing and Fletching skills:

  • Mine the appropriate ore (e.g., copper/tin for bronze, iron for iron).
  • Smelt ores into bars at a furnace (e.g., Falador or Al Kharid).
  • Use a hammer on an anvil to craft arrowtips (1 bar makes 15 tips).

Note: Higher-tier arrowtips, like dragon, can’t be smithed and are looted from sources like Dragon Implings or the King Black Dragon.

Step-by-Step Arrow Crafting Process

Once you’ve gathered your materials, crafting arrows is straightforward. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Create Headless Arrows

Combine feathers with arrow shafts to make headless arrows:

  • Use feathers on arrow shafts (or vice versa).
  • Select “Make All” in the interface.
  • Each headless arrow grants 1 Fletching XP, and you can make thousands per hour for quick leveling.

Step 2: Attach Arrowtips

Add arrowtips to headless arrows to complete the process:

  • Use arrowtips on headless arrows.
  • Choose the quantity to craft.
  • XP varies by arrow type (e.g., bronze arrows give 1.3 XP each, rune arrows give 12.5 XP).

Pro Tip: Batch Crafting

To maximize efficiency, gather materials in bulk and craft in one session. For example, 1,000 headless arrows take about 2–3 minutes to make with enough feathers and shafts. This approach minimizes trips to the bank and keeps you focused.

Types of Arrows and Requirements

Not all arrows are created equal. OSRS offers a variety of arrows, each with unique stats and uses. Below is a table summarizing the most common types, their requirements, and their ranged strength.

Arrow Type Fletching Level Smithing Level (for Tips) Ranged Strength Best Bow
Bronze 1 1 +7 Any (except Training Bow)
Iron 15 15 +10 Willow Bow or Better
Steel 30 35 +16 Oak Bow or Better
Mithril 45 55 +22 Maple Bow or Better
Adamant 60 75 +31 Yew Bow or Better
Rune 75 90 +49 Magic Bow or Better
Amethyst 85 82 (Mining Amethyst) +55 Magic Bow or Better

Special Arrows

Beyond standard arrows, OSRS includes quest-specific or niche options:

  • Ice Arrows: Used in the Temple of Ikov quest, obtained from Ice Spiders/Warriors (1 Ranged, +16 Strength).
  • Ogre Arrows: Crafted with wolf bones for Big Chompy Bird Hunting (30 Fletching, +22 Strength).
  • Broad Arrows: Untradeable, used for Slayer tasks (52 Fletching, +28 Strength).

These arrows are situational but worth knowing for specific content.

Tips for Efficient Arrow Crafting

Fletching arrows can be grindy, but with the right strategies, you’ll save time and effort. Here are some insider tips to streamline the process.

Optimize Material Gathering

  • Chickens for Feathers: Set up near Lumbridge’s chicken pens with a bank route to Falador.
  • Grand Exchange: Buy feathers and arrowtips in bulk to avoid constant restocking.
  • Mining/Smithing Combo: Train Mining and Smithing together to craft arrowtips without buying bars.

Boost Fletching XP

Maximize your XP gains with these tricks:

  • Headless Arrows: Fletch thousands for fast, low-cost XP (40,000+ per hour).
  • Higher-Tier Arrows: Switch to mithril or adamant arrows at higher levels for better XP rates.
  • Bank Presets: Use bank presets to instantly withdraw feathers, shafts, and tips.

Save Arrows in Combat

Crafting arrows is only half the battle—keeping them is just as important:

  • Ava’s Device: Complete Animal Magnetism to get Ava’s Accumulator, which recovers ~80% of arrows fired.
  • Poison Arrows: Add poison (from weapon poison potions) to low-tier arrows for extra damage without crafting high-end ones.

Money-Making with Arrows

Fletching can also turn a profit:

  • Headless Arrows: Sell them on the Grand Exchange for ~60–70 gp each, as many players buy them to save time.
  • Low-Level Arrows: Bronze and iron arrows sell well to new players or Ironmen.

Example: Fletching 15,000 headless arrows in a day could net over 1M gp, plus Woodcutting and Fletching XP.

Arrow crafting in OSRS is a rewarding skill that blends combat preparation with skilling satisfaction. By gathering logs, feathers, and arrowtips, you can create everything from bronze to amethyst arrows, tailoring your ammunition to your needs. Whether you’re aiming to save gold, level Fletching, or dominate in PvM, this guide has you covered. Grab your knife, hit the trees, and start fletching—your Ranged journey awaits!