Mastering Mixology XP Rates OSRS Ultimate Guide
Mastering Mixology is Old School RuneScape’s (OSRS) first Herblore minigame, introduced with the Varlamore: The Rising Darkness update. Located in Aldarin’s Alchemical Society, it offers a fresh way to train Herblore while earning unique rewards. This blog post dives deep into Mixology XP rates, strategies to maximize efficiency, and tips to make the most of your time in this engaging minigame. Whether you’re an Ironman looking to stretch your herbs or a main chasing rewards, we’ve got you covered with detailed insights.
Before we explore XP rates, let’s break down how Mastering Mixology works. Players assist the Alchemical Society by crafting potions from herbs or unfinished potions, which are refined into three types of paste: Mox, Aga, and Lye. These pastes are used to fulfill potion orders, granting Herblore XP and resin rewards. The minigame requires at least level 60 Herblore (non-boostable) and completion of the Children of the Sun quest, with higher levels unlocking more potion recipes for better efficiency.
Why Choose Mixology for Herblore Training?
Mixology stands out because it doesn’t require secondary ingredients, making it ideal for Ironmen. It also offers a more interactive training method compared to traditional potion-making, with the added bonus of tradeable and untradeable rewards. However, XP rates depend heavily on your Herblore level, strategy, and how actively you play.
Key Requirements and Setup
- Level 60 Herblore: Minimum to start, but level 81 unlocks all potion recipes.
- Quest: Complete Children of the Sun to access Aldarin.
- Inventory: Clean herbs or unfinished potions (un-noted), with 3 empty inventory spaces recommended for efficiency.
- Optional: Weight-reducing clothing for minor movement optimization, though not essential.
XP Rates in Mastering Mixology
XP rates in Mixology vary based on your Herblore level, how actively you refine herbs, and whether you use Digweed to boost rewards. Below, we outline the rates you can expect and factors that influence them.
Passive vs. Active Refining
Refining herbs into paste is the first step, and it significantly impacts XP rates. You can refine passively (automatic every 2 ticks) or actively (clicking every tick to double the speed).
- Passive Refining: Process ~2,750 herbs per hour for ~16,500 Herblore XP (6 XP per herb).
- Active Refining: Process up to ~5,500 herbs per hour for ~33,000 Herblore XP, nearly doubling the rate.
Active refining is more click-intensive but essential for maximizing XP, especially at higher levels.
XP Rates by Herblore Level
Your Herblore level determines which potions you can craft, affecting both XP and resin per order. Here’s a breakdown of estimated XP rates:
| Herblore Level | XP/Hour (Passive) | XP/Hour (Active) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 30,000–40,000 | 50,000–60,000 | Limited potion recipes; focus on simple orders. |
| 70 | 40,000–50,000 | 60,000–75,000 | More recipes available; Digweed helps. |
| 81+ | 50,000–70,000 | 75,000–100,000 | All recipes unlocked; Mixalots yield high XP. |
| 99 | 60,000–80,000 | 90,000–110,000 | Optimal efficiency with Digweed and Mixalots. |
At level 99 with high efficiency, players report up to 110,000 XP/hour when actively refining and using Digweed on high-XP potions like Mixalots, though 90,000–100,000 is more typical for sustained play .
Digweed’s Impact on XP
Digweed, a plant that spawns in the minigame room’s corners, doubles the XP and resin of a potion when added before submission. Spawns scale with Herblore level, appearing every 5–10 minutes with a 20-second window to collect . For maximum XP:
- Save Digweed for Mixalots: These potions (requiring Mox, Aga, and Lye) yield up to 800 XP each with Digweed.
- Use RuneLite: Mark young Digweed to spot grown plants easily.
Without Digweed, XP rates drop by 10–20%, so prioritize collecting it.
Strategies to Maximize XP Rates
Boosting your XP/hour requires optimizing every step of Mixology, from refining to potion crafting. Here are proven strategies to hit the higher end of XP rates.
Optimize Refining Efficiency
Active refining is non-negotiable for top rates. Spam-click the refiner near the bank chest to process herbs every tick. Stockpile ~3,000 of each paste in the hopper to minimize trips to the refiner, allowing you to focus on crafting potions .
Use RuneLite Plugins
The Mastering Mixology RuneLite plugin is a game-changer. It highlights levers to pull for each potion order, reducing errors and speeding up crafting. For example, for an Alco-Augmentator (AAA), it shows the Aga lever three times, ensuring you don’t waste time double-checking the HUD .
Prioritize High-XP Potions
Not all potions are equal. Focus on orders that yield more XP, especially at higher levels:
- Mixalot (MAL): 400 XP base, 800 with Digweed.
- Marly’s Moonlight (MML): 320 XP base, 640 with Digweed.
- Alco-Augmentator (AAA): 190 XP base, 380 with Digweed.
Skip low-XP potions like Liplack Liquor unless you’re low on paste or chasing specific resin.
Batch Orders for Efficiency
You can submit up to three potion orders at once, refreshing the order list. Craft three high-XP potions before submitting to maximize XP per cycle. This reduces downtime from refreshing bad orders and boosts overall rates .
Comparing Mixology to Traditional Herblore
Is Mixology worth it compared to standard potion-making? Let’s compare XP rates and benefits to help you decide.
XP Rates Comparison
Traditional Herblore (e.g., making Super Restores or Saradomin Brews) can yield 150,000–200,000 XP/hour with optimal setups, far outpacing Mixology’s 100,000 XP/hour cap. However, Mixology uses fewer resources, as it requires only herbs or unfinished potions, not secondaries. For Ironmen, this makes it more sustainable, especially early on .
Resource Efficiency
Mixology’s herb consumption is comparable to traditional methods, but the lack of secondaries stretches your herb supply further. For example:
- Traditional: 1 herb + 1 secondary = 1 potion (e.g., 180 XP for Super Restore).
- Mixology: 1 herb = multiple pastes, yielding 100–400 XP per potion order.
The trade-off is slower XP/hour for better herb efficiency, making Mixology appealing for resource-constrained accounts.
When to Choose Mixology
Mixology shines for:
- Ironmen: No need to farm secondaries.
- Reward Hunters: Unlocks like the Chugging Barrel and Alchemist’s Outfit are valuable.
- Variety Seekers: More engaging than bank-standing potion-making.
For mains with ample resources, traditional Herblore is faster unless you’re targeting Mixology rewards.
Rewards and Their Impact on XP Strategy
Mixology offers resin (Mox, Aga, Lye) to spend at the Mixology Rewards shop, run by Supervisor Lalo. Rewards influence whether you prioritize XP or resin, so let’s explore how they fit into your strategy.
Key Rewards and Costs
| Reward | Cost | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Chugging Barrel | 18,600 Lye Resin | Drink multiple potions at once; tradeable (~10M GP). |
| Potion Storage | 30,000 Mox Resin | Stores 1,000 potions; untradeable QoL. |
| Alchemist’s Outfit | ~20,000 Resin (total) | Herblore XP boost; untradeable. |
| Aldarium | 90 Lye Resin | Tradeable (~67K GP each); good for profit. |
Chugging Barrel and Aldarium are top picks for mains due to their tradeable value, while Ironmen prioritize untradeable QoL like Potion Storage .
Balancing XP and Resin
Maximizing XP often aligns with resin gains, as high-XP potions like Mixalots yield more resin. However, if you’re chasing specific resin (e.g., Lye for Chugging Barrel), you may craft lower-XP potions intentionally. For example:
- Lye Resin: Focus on Marly’s Moonlight (MML) for 25 Lye resin per order.
- General XP: Stick to Mixalots and batch orders.
At ~7,250 resin/hour at level 99, expect ~4–8 hours for major rewards like Potion Storage or Chugging Barrel .
Is It Worth the Grind?
For XP-focused players, Mixology is slower than traditional methods but offers unique rewards and resource efficiency. If you enjoy interactive gameplay or need specific rewards, it’s a solid choice. Otherwise, weigh the time investment against your goals.
Mastering Mixology is a versatile addition to OSRS Herblore training, blending decent XP rates with engaging mechanics and valuable rewards. By refining actively, using Digweed strategically, and leveraging RuneLite, you can hit up to 110,000 XP/hour at level 99 while working toward game-changing rewards. Whether you’re an Ironman or a main, this minigame offers something for everyone—just don’t expect to outpace bank-standing potion-making for raw speed.