How to Make Soft Clay in OSRS: A Complete Guide for Beginners and Pros

How to Make Soft Clay in OSRS: A Complete Guide for Beginners and Pros


If you’re diving into Old School RuneScape (OSRS) and looking to craft pottery, build furniture, or create magic tablets, you’ll need soft clay. This versatile item is a cornerstone of the Crafting, Construction, and Magic skills, making it a must-have for players of all levels. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about making soft clay in OSRS, from gathering materials to the most efficient methods. Whether you’re a free-to-play (F2P) newbie or a seasoned member, we’ve got you covered with tips, locations, and strategies to optimize your soft clay production.

Soft clay is a key resource in OSRS, created by combining regular clay with water. It’s used to craft items like pots, bowls, and urns on a potter’s wheel, as well as furniture in Construction and magic tablets in a player-owned house (POH). Unlike hard clay, which you mine directly from clay rocks, soft clay is moldable and ready for crafting, making it an essential step in many skilling processes.

Why You Need Soft Clay

Soft clay isn’t just a random item—it’s a gateway to leveling up multiple skills and even making some gold. Here’s why it matters:

  • Crafting: Create pottery items like pie dishes and bowls to boost your Crafting level.
  • Construction: Build furniture in your POH, such as chairs or shelves.
  • Magic: Craft teleportation tablets for quick travel, a popular money-making method.
  • Quests: Required for tasks in quests like Prince Ali Rescue and The Golem.

Soft Clay vs. Hard Clay: What’s the Difference?

Hard clay (or just “clay”) is the raw material you mine from clay rocks, requiring level 1 Mining. Soft clay, on the other hand, is the processed version, made by adding water to hard clay. While hard clay is useless for crafting on its own, soft clay is the usable form that opens up a world of possibilities in OSRS.

How to Make Soft Clay: Step-by-Step Methods

Making soft clay in OSRS is straightforward, but there are several ways to do it depending on your membership status, inventory, and goals. Let’s break down the main methods.

Method 1: Using a Water Container

The most basic way to make soft clay is by combining hard clay with a water-filled container. Here’s how:

  1. Mine clay from any clay rock (requires level 1 Mining).
  2. Obtain a water container like a bucket of water, jug of water, or vial of water.
  3. Use the water container on the clay in your inventory to turn it into soft clay.

Tip: A bucket of water is the cheapest and most accessible option for F2P players. You can fill it at any water source, like a fountain or sink.

Method 2: Direct Water Source

For a faster approach, skip the container and use a water source directly:

  1. Mine clay from a clay rock.
  2. Head to a nearby water source (e.g., a fountain, well, or sink).
  3. Use the clay on the water source to instantly convert your entire inventory into soft clay.

This method saves time since you don’t need to refill containers, making it ideal for bulk production.

Method 3: Humidify Spell (Members Only)

If you’re a member with access to the Lunar Spellbook, the Humidify spell is a game-changer:

  • Requirements: Level 68 Magic, Lunar Spellbook unlocked, 1 Astral Rune, 1 Fire Rune, 3 Water Runes per cast.
  • Process: Cast Humidify to instantly turn all clay in your inventory into soft clay.

Pro: Super fast for large batches. Con: Requires high Magic and rune costs, so it’s not for everyone.

Method 4: Bracelet of Clay (Members Only)

For miners, the bracelet of clay offers a unique twist:

  • Requirements: Crafted with a gold bar and sapphire (level 23 Crafting) or bought from the Grand Exchange.
  • Process: Wear the bracelet while mining clay rocks to directly obtain soft clay instead of hard clay. Each bracelet has 28 charges.

This method eliminates the need for water, but the bracelet’s limited uses mean it’s best for small batches or specific goals.

Best Locations to Make Soft Clay in OSRS

Location is everything when it comes to efficiency. Here are the top spots for mining clay and turning it into soft clay, split by F2P and P2P options.

F2P Locations

Free-to-play players have solid options close to banks and water sources:

  • Crafting Guild: 6 clay rocks, a sink inside, and a bank deposit box nearby (requires level 40 Crafting and a brown apron).
  • Rimmington Mine: 3 clay rocks, a well to the south, and a customs locker for banking (requires Rocking Out quest for the locker).
  • South-West Varrock Mine: 3 clay rocks, a fountain in Varrock Square, and the west bank nearby.

P2P Locations

Members get access to even better spots:

  • Ithell Clay Mine (Prifddinas): Mines soft clay directly after Plague’s End. Pair with a bracelet of clay for double soft clay per rock.
  • Menaphos Worker District: Clay rocks, a well, and a bank deposit box in a tight loop (requires The Jack of Spades).
  • Trahaearn Mine (Prifddinas): Soft clay rocks available after Plague’s End, with a bank nearby.

Efficient Soft Clay Production Tips

Want to maximize your soft clay output? These strategies will help you work smarter, not harder.

Inventory Management

Optimize your inventory to carry more clay:

  • F2P: Carry 14 clay and 14 buckets of water, or use a water source to free up slots.
  • P2P: Use the Humidify spell or bracelet of clay to avoid water containers entirely.

Banking Efficiency

Minimize travel time with these tricks:

  • Use a bank deposit box (e.g., Crafting Guild or Menaphos) instead of a full bank.
  • Teleport with a Clan Vexillum or Ring of Kinship for quick banking at Rimmington.

Money-Making with Soft Clay

Soft clay can turn a profit if you play it right. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Item GE Price (April 2025) Profit per Clay
Clay ~100 gp –
Soft Clay ~200 gp ~100 gp

Method: Buy clay from the Grand Exchange, soften it, and sell the soft clay back. With a good location, you can make 400k-700k gp per hour in F2P.

Common Uses for Soft Clay in OSRS

Once you’ve got your soft clay, what’s next? Here are the most popular ways to put it to use.

Crafting Pottery

Take your soft clay to a potter’s wheel and pottery oven:

Locations like the Barbarian Village or Crafting Guild have both facilities nearby.

Construction and Magic Tablets

For members, soft clay shines in higher-level skills:

  • Construction: Build basic furniture like wooden chairs (level 8, 2 soft clay).
  • Magic Tablets: Craft teleport tablets in your POH (e.g., Varrock Teleport at level 25 Magic).

Quest Requirements

Don’t forget these quests that need soft clay:

With this guide, you’re ready to master soft clay production in OSRS. Whether you’re mining in Varrock, casting Humidify in Prifddinas, or turning a profit at the GE, soft clay is your ticket to skilling success. Grab your pickaxe, fill your buckets, and get crafting!