OSRS Best Places to Fill Vials with Water for Herblore

In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), filling vials with water is a common task for players training Herblore or preparing potions. Whether you’re an Ironman gathering resources or a main account optimizing efficiency, knowing the best spots to fill vials can save time and effort. This guide explores the top locations and methods to fill vials, including both free-to-play (F2P) and pay-to-play (P2P) options, to help you streamline your Herblore grind.

Vials of water are a core component for creating potions in Herblore, a skill that requires combining herbs with secondary ingredients in a water-filled vial. While you can buy vials of water from shops or the Grand Exchange, Ironman accounts often need to fill empty vials themselves due to their restrictions. Even for regular accounts, filling vials manually can be a cost-saving strategy or a necessity when supplies are low. The key is finding locations with a water source close to a bank to minimize travel time.

Understanding Vial Mechanics

Empty vials can be filled by using them on a water source, such as a fountain, sink, or pump, which automatically fills all vials in your inventory. Alternatively, players with access to the Lunar spellbook can use the Humidify spell to fill vials instantly, though this requires 68 Magic and specific runes. Choosing the right method depends on your account type, Magic level, and whether you prioritize speed or accessibility.

Top F2P Locations for Filling Vials

Free-to-play players have fewer options, but there are still efficient spots to fill vials. The goal is to find a water source as close as possible to a bank to reduce downtime. Here are the best F2P locations:

Lumbridge Castle Cellar

The cellar in Lumbridge Castle is a fantastic spot for F2P players. It features a sink just a few tiles away from a bank chest, making it quick and easy to fill vials.

• Location: Lumbridge Castle cellar, accessible via the kitchen ladder.
• Bank Proximity: The bank chest is adjacent to the sink.
• Requirements: None.
• Pros: Minimal travel time, no quests or skills needed.
• Cons: Can be crowded on popular worlds.

Tip: Use a bank preset to instantly withdraw 27 empty vials, fill them at the sink, and return to the bank for maximum efficiency.

Falador West Pump

The water pump north of Falador’s west bank is another solid F2P option. It’s slightly farther from the bank than Lumbridge but still viable for quick runs.

• Location: Just outside Falador’s west bank, near the mining shop.
• Bank Proximity: About 10-15 tiles away.
• Requirements: None.
• Pros: Less crowded than Lumbridge on some worlds.
• Cons: Slightly longer run than Lumbridge cellar.

Best P2P Locations for Filling Vials

Members have access to more convenient locations with water sources practically next to banks. These spots are ideal for high-volume vial filling, especially for Ironmen or players preparing for extended Herblore sessions.

Hosidius Kitchen

The Hosidius Kitchen in Great Kourend is arguably the best place to fill vials in OSRS for P2P players. The sink is right next to a bank chest, eliminating almost all travel time.

• Location: South of Kourend Castle in Hosidius.
• Bank Proximity: Bank chest is one tile from the sink.
• Requirements: Access to Great Kourend (no specific quests needed).
• Pros: Near-zero downtime, easy teleport with Xeric’s Talisman.
• Cons: Requires membership and travel to Zeah.

Teleport Tip: Use Xeric’s Talisman to teleport to Kourend Castle, then run south, or teleport to Tithe Farm and run north.

Neitiznot Geyser

The geyser in Neitiznot is another excellent option for members, with a bank chest just a few tiles away from the water source.

• Location: Neitiznot, near the spinning wheel building.
• Bank Proximity: Bank chest is 3-4 tiles away.
• Requirements: Started The Fremennik Isles quest.
• Pros: Quiet location, fast banking.
• Cons: Quest requirement and remote access.

Menaphos Merchant District

The fountains at the Menaphos bank entrance in the Merchant District are great for low-level members, offering a short run from the bank.

• Location: Merchant District bank entrance in Menaphos.
• Bank Proximity: Fountains are outside the bank door.
• Requirements: Completed The Jack of Spades quest.
• Pros: Accessible for newer members, aesthetically pleasing area.
• Cons: Slightly longer run than Hosidius or Neitiznot.

Using Humidify for Maximum Efficiency

For players with 68 Magic and access to the Lunar spellbook, the Humidify spell is a game-changer. It fills all empty vials in your inventory instantly, eliminating the need to run to a water source. Here’s how to make the most of it:

How Humidify Works

Humidify requires 1 astral rune, 1 fire rune, and 3 water runes per cast. With a steam battlestaff or rune pouch, you can reduce the rune cost and carry more vials per trip.

• Magic Level: 68.
• Runes Needed: 1 astral, 1 fire, 3 water (or use staff to save slots).
• XP Per Cast: 65 Magic XP.
• Setup Tip: Use a bank preset with 27 vials and 780 astral runes for 1 hour of casting (21,060 vials filled).

Best Setup for Humidify

To maximize efficiency, stand at any bank (e.g., Grand Exchange or Hosidius) and follow these steps:

1. Equip a steam battlestaff to provide fire and water runes.
2. Set a quick preset to withdraw 27 empty vials and astral runes.
3. Cast Humidify, bank, and repeat.
4. Bind Humidify to a key for faster casting (e.g., same key as preset).

Profit Tip: At peak efficiency, you can fill 21,060 vials per hour, which can be sold on the Grand Exchange for a profit if prices are favorable.

Buying Vials vs. Filling Them

While filling vials is efficient for Ironmen, regular accounts may find it faster to buy vials of water directly. Here’s a comparison to help you decide:

Buying Vials of Water

Vials of water can be purchased from various shops or the Grand Exchange. Water-filled vial packs (100 vials) are available from stores like:

• Aemad’s Adventuring Supplies (East Ardougne): 6 packs, 300 vials total.
• Obli’s General Store (Shilo Village): 20 packs, 1,000 vials total.
• Jiminua’s Jungle Store (Tai Bwo Wannai): 20 packs, 1,000 vials total.
• Lighthouse Store (post-Horror from the Deep): 20 packs, 1,000 vials.

Cost: Packs start at ~261 coins, with individual vials averaging 80-140 GP depending on the shop.

Filling Vials Manually

Filling vials yourself is free but requires time. For Ironmen, this is often the only option. Use the locations above for the fastest results.

Comparison of Filling vs. Buying Vials

Method	Cost	Time	Best For
Filling (Hosidius)	Free (requires empty vials)	~3,000-4,000 vials/hour	Ironmen, cost-savers
Filling (Humidify)	Rune cost (~1-2 GP/vial)	~21,060 vials/hour	High Magic players
Buying Packs	~80-140 GP/vial	Instant (shop runs)	Mains with GP

When to Buy vs. Fill

• Buy: If you have plenty of gold and want to save time, buy packs or individual vials from the Grand Exchange.
• Fill: If you’re an Ironman, low on funds, or enjoy self-sufficiency, use Hosidius or Humidify for the best rates.

Final Thoughts: The best place to fill vials in OSRS depends on your account type and goals. For F2P, Lumbridge Castle cellar is unbeatable. For P2P, Hosidius Kitchen offers unmatched efficiency, while Humidify is the fastest method for high-level players. If time is no object, consider buying vials to skip the grind altogether. Experiment with these methods to find what suits your playstyle, and happy potion-making!