How to Make Bolts in OSRS: A Complete Guide to Crafting Crossbow Ammunition

How to Make Bolts in OSRS: A Complete Guide to Crafting Crossbow Ammunition


If you’re diving into the world of Old School RuneScape (OSRS) and want to master ranged combat, learning how to make bolts is a must. Bolts are the ammunition for crossbows, offering a variety of effects and strengths that can elevate your gameplay, whether you’re tackling Slayer tasks, PvM bosses, or PvP battles. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about crafting bolts in OSRS, from basic materials to advanced enchanted versions. Optimized for both beginners and seasoned players, this blog post is your one-stop resource for creating bolts efficiently.

Bolts aren’t just ammunition—they’re a game-changer. Crafting your own bolts can save you gold, level up your skills, and give you an edge in combat. Unlike arrows, bolts often come with special effects when enchanted, making them versatile for different scenarios. Plus, with the right knowledge, you can turn a profit by selling high-tier bolts on the Grand Exchange. Let’s explore the process step-by-step.

The Importance of Bolts in Ranged Combat

In OSRS, ranged combat shines with crossbows, and bolts are the backbone of this style. From low-level bronze bolts to powerful dragon bolts, each type offers unique stats and effects. Crafting them yourself means you control the quality and quantity, tailoring your ammo to your needs.

Benefits of Crafting Your Own Bolts

  • Cost Savings: Buying bolts can get pricey, especially for high-tier options like ruby or onyx bolts.
  • Skill Gains: Level up Smithing, Fletching, and even Magic while crafting.
  • Customization: Add gem tips or enchantments for specific combat advantages.
  • Profit Potential: Sell surplus bolts for extra gold.

Basic Bolt Crafting: Materials and Skills

Crafting a 2k DPS 2 Arrow Elemental Bow FROM SCRATCH 321 PoE

Most bolts in OSRS are made using a combination of Smithing and Fletching skills. The process starts with raw materials like metal bars and feathers, which you’ll transform into usable ammunition. Here’s how to get started.

Required Skills and Levels

To craft bolts, you’ll need varying levels of Smithing and Fletching, depending on the bolt type. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Bolt Type Smithing Level Fletching Level Experience (Fletching)
Bronze Bolts 3 9 0.5 per bolt
Iron Bolts 18 39 1.5 per bolt
Steel Bolts 33 46 3.5 per bolt
Mithril Bolts 53 54 5 per bolt
Adamant Bolts 73 61 7 per bolt
Rune Bolts 88 69 10 per bolt

Gathering Materials

You’ll need two main components:

  1. Metal Bars: Mine ores (e.g., copper and tin for bronze, iron for iron) and smelt them into bars at a furnace.
  2. Feathers: Collect from chickens, buy from shops like the Port Sarim fishing store, or loot from monsters.

For higher-tier bolts, you’ll also need gem bolt tips or special items, which we’ll cover later.

Step-by-Step Process for Basic Bolts

  1. Smith Unfinished Bolts: Use a metal bar on an anvil with a hammer in your inventory. Each bar makes 10 unfinished bolts.
  2. Add Feathers: Combine the unfinished bolts with feathers using your Fletching skill. This completes the bolts.
  3. Equip or Store: Use them with a crossbow or store them in a bolt pouch for convenience.

Enhancing Bolts with Gem Tips

Want more power? Adding gem bolt tips boosts the ranged strength of your bolts and sets the stage for enchantments. This process requires additional crafting and Fletching skills.

Cutting Gems into Bolt Tips

Use a chisel on gems (e.g., opal, sapphire, ruby) to create bolt tips. Each gem yields 12 tips, and the Crafting level varies:

  • Opal: Level 11 (1.5 exp per tip)
  • Sapphire: Level 56 (4 exp per tip)
  • Ruby: Level 63 (6.3 exp per tip)
  • Diamond: Level 65 (6.7 exp per tip)
  • Onyx: Level 73 (9.4 exp per tip)

Attaching Gem Tips

Combine the tips with your metal bolts using Fletching. The level requirement depends on the gem and bolt type. For example:

Dragon bolts are an exception—they accept all gem tips and require Fletching 84 to feather unfinished bolts dropped by monsters.

Enchanting Bolts for Special Effects

Take your bolts to the next level by enchanting them with the Enchant Crossbow Bolt spell. This Magic skill adds powerful effects that trigger randomly in combat, making them ideal for tough fights.

Requirements for Enchanting

You’ll need:

  • Magic Levels: Varies by enchantment (e.g., 7 for Opal, 87 for Onyx).
  • Runes: Specific combinations like cosmic, fire, or blood runes.
  • Gem-Tipped Bolts: The base bolts to enchant.

Popular Enchanted Bolts and Effects

Here are some top enchanted bolts and their effects:

Bolt Type Magic Level Runes Effect
Opal (e) 7 1 Cosmic, 2 Air 10% chance for extra lightning damage
Sapphire (e) 7 1 Cosmic, 1 Water, 1 Mind Steals prayer points from target
Ruby (e) 49 1 Cosmic, 1 Blood, 5 Fire 20% of target’s HP as damage (caps at 100), costs 10% of your HP
Diamond (e) 57 1 Cosmic, 2 Law, 10 Earth Increased accuracy and damage
Onyx (e) 87 1 Cosmic, 1 Death, 20 Fire 20% extra damage, heals you for 25% of damage dealt

Tip: Completing the Hard Kandarin Diary boosts the activation chance by 10%.

Tips and Tricks for Efficient Bolt Crafting

Crafting bolts can be time-consuming, but these strategies will streamline the process and maximize your gains.

Farming Materials Efficiently

Best Crossbows for Your Bolts

Match your bolts to your crossbow for optimal performance:

Profit and Training Opportunities

For profit, focus on high-demand bolts like ruby or diamond (e). For training, stick to steel or mithril bolts—they’re affordable and offer decent XP. High-alching enchanted onyx bolts can also net you extra gold as an Ironman.

Mastering bolt crafting in OSRS opens up a world of combat and economic opportunities. Whether you’re a low-level player starting with bronze bolts or an endgame adventurer enchanting dragon bolts, this guide has you covered. Get out there, gather your materials, and start crafting—your crossbow’s waiting!