OSRS Blast Furnace Requirements Everything You Need to Know
The Blast Furnace in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a popular members-only minigame located in Keldagrim, offering an efficient way to smelt bars with half the coal typically required. Whether you’re aiming to level up your Smithing skill or make a profit, understanding the requirements and setup for the Blast Furnace is essential. This guide covers everything you need to know about the Blast Furnace requirements, from quests and skills to recommended items and strategies, ensuring you’re fully prepared to maximize your experience.
The Blast Furnace stands out for its efficiency, making it a go-to for players looking to smelt high-tier ores like mithril, adamantite, and runite. By requiring only half the coal compared to regular furnaces, it saves resources and time, especially for bars that demand significant coal. Additionally, it offers some of the highest Smithing XP rates in the game, particularly when smelting gold bars with goldsmith gauntlets. However, accessing and optimizing the Blast Furnace requires meeting specific requirements and bringing the right gear.
Key Benefits of the Blast Furnace
- Reduced Coal Usage: Smelt bars like steel (1 coal instead of 2), mithril (2 coal instead of 4), and adamantite (3 coal instead of 6).
- High XP Rates: Achieve up to 350,000–400,000 Smithing XP per hour with gold bars.
- Profit Potential: Smelting certain bars, like adamantite or runite, can yield significant profits.
- Bulk Smelting: Process entire inventories at once, streamlining the smelting process.
Quest and Access Requirements
Before you can step foot in the Blast Furnace, you need to gain access to Keldagrim, the dwarven city where the minigame is located. This involves starting a specific quest, which serves as the primary requirement for entry.
Starting The Giant Dwarf Quest
To access Keldagrim, you must begin The Giant Dwarf quest. You don’t need to complete it, but starting it is mandatory. Here’s what you need:
- Quest Start: Speak to the Dwarven Boatman in the mines east of Rellekka (near Fairy Ring DKS).
- Skill Requirements for Quest:
- No Combat Requirements: The quest start is accessible to all players, regardless of combat level.
Once you’ve spoken to the Dwarven Boatman and entered Keldagrim, you can access the Blast Furnace by heading to the eastern side of the city, downstairs in the building with the furnace icon.
Traveling to Keldagrim
After your first visit, returning to Keldagrim becomes easier. Here are the fastest methods:
- Minigame Teleport: Use the Grouping teleport to land right outside the Blast Furnace building.
- Minecart: Travel from the Grand Exchange or Dwarven Mines under Ice Mountain.
- Fairy Ring DKR: Teleport west of the Grand Exchange, use the underwall tunnel (21 Agility), and take the minecart.
- Fairy Ring DKS: Walk southwest from the ring to the Keldagrim entrance.
Skill and Payment Requirements
While the Blast Furnace is accessible to low-level players, certain skill thresholds and fees apply, particularly for smelting bars. Additionally, operating the furnace manually requires specific skills, though this is optional on official Blast Furnace worlds.
Smithing Level and Fees
The Blast Furnace has a tiered system based on your Smithing level:
| Smithing Level | Requirement | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Below 60 | Pay 2,500 coins every 10 minutes | 1,250 coins with Ring of Charos (a) |
| 60 or Higher | No fee required | Free |
Note: The 60 Smithing requirement cannot be boosted, so you’ll need to train to this level naturally to avoid fees. To reduce the fee with the Ring of Charos (a), follow the foreman’s dialogue (1•3•2•3) instead of using the “pay” option.
Official Blast Furnace Worlds Fee
On official Blast Furnace worlds (352, 355, 358, 386, 387), dwarves operate the furnace for you, simplifying the process. However, this comes with an additional cost:
- 72,000 Coins per Hour: Deposited in the coffer near the bank chest (1,200 coins per minute, charged per tick).
- World Hopping Strategy: On non-official worlds, there’s no hourly fee, but you’ll need to operate the furnace manually or coordinate with other players.
Manual Operation Skill Requirements
If you choose to operate the Blast Furnace manually (e.g., on non-official worlds), you’ll need the following skills:
- 30 Agility: To pedal the conveyor belt.
- 30 Crafting: To repair broken pipes or cogs.
- 30 Firemaking: To refuel the stove with coke.
- 30 Strength: To operate the pump.
These skills are only necessary if you’re not using an official Blast Furnace world, where dwarves handle these tasks.
Recommended Items for Blast Furnace
To optimize your Blast Furnace experience, certain items can significantly improve efficiency, reduce costs, and boost XP rates. Below is a breakdown of essential and optional gear.
Essential Items
These items are critical for most Blast Furnace activities:
- Coins: For fees (2,500 every 10 minutes if under 60 Smithing; 72,000 per hour on official worlds).
- Ore and Coal: Depending on the bars you’re smelting (e.g., iron and coal for steel, gold ore for gold bars).
- Ice Gloves: Obtained from killing the Ice Queen (White Wolf Mountain). These allow you to collect hot bars instantly, saving time compared to cooling them with a bucket of water.
- Coal Bag: Purchased from Prospector Percy’s Nugget Shop (Motherlode Mine) for 100 golden nuggets. Holds up to 27 coal, doubling your coal-carrying capacity.
Optional but Highly Recommended Items
These items enhance efficiency or XP rates:
- Goldsmith Gauntlets: Obtained from the Family Crest quest. Boosts Smithing XP by 2.5x when smelting gold bars (from 22.5 to 56.2 XP per bar).
- Stamina Potions: Restore run energy, crucial for continuous running between the bank, conveyor belt, and bar dispenser.
- Weight-Reducing Clothing: Graceful outfit, boots of lightness, or spottier cape to conserve run energy.
- Ring of Charos (a): Reduces the under-60 Smithing fee from 2,500 to 1,250 coins every 10 minutes.
- Ring of Endurance: Marginally improves run energy restoration, useful for long sessions.
Inventory Setup Example
For players with 60+ Smithing smelting gold bars:
- Coal bag (empty or filled if smelting bars requiring coal)
- Stamina potion (1–2 doses)
- Goldsmith gauntlets (in inventory if ice gloves are equipped)
- 25–26 gold ore
For players under 60 Smithing, add coins for the foreman fee and replace goldsmith gauntlets with a bucket of water if ice gloves are unavailable.
Tips for Maximizing Blast Furnace Efficiency
With the requirements met and items prepared, optimizing your Blast Furnace runs can make a significant difference in XP and profit. Here are practical tips to get the most out of your sessions.
Choose the Right World
Official Blast Furnace worlds are ideal for solo players due to the dwarves handling furnace operations. However, if you’re looking to save on the 72,000 coins per hour fee, consider non-official worlds and team up with others to share tasks like pedaling or refueling.
Hybrid Smelting for Profit and XP
For players wanting both profit and decent XP, try the hybrid method:
- Setup: Use a coal bag, ice gloves, and goldsmith gauntlets. Fill the coal bag with coal and inventory with 26 gold ore.
- Process: Deposit 26 gold ore and 26 coal per trip. Every few trips, switch gold ore for mithril (every 2 trips), adamantite (every 3 trips), or runite (every 4 trips) to smelt higher-tier bars.
- Benefits: Balances XP from gold bars with profit from higher-tier bars, reducing overall costs.
Manage Run Energy
Running is constant at the Blast Furnace, so prioritize:
- Weight Reduction: Wear full graceful or mix with boots of lightness and spottier cape.
- Stamina Potions: Sip 1-dose potions for quick energy restoration. Decant potions at the Grand Exchange for efficiency.
- High Agility: Higher Agility levels reduce run energy depletion, making sessions smoother.
XP and Profit Expectations
Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect based on common bars smelted:
| Bar Type | Smithing Level | Coal Needed | XP per Hour | Profit per Hour (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 40 | 0 | 320,000–400,000 | -1,000,000 (loss) |
| Steel | 30 | 1 per bar | 80,000–100,000 | 200,000–300,000 |
| Adamantite | 70 | 3 per bar | 100,000–120,000 | 800,000–1,000,000 |
Note: Profit varies based on Grand Exchange prices, so always check current rates. Gold bars prioritize XP, while adamantite and runite focus on profit.
By meeting the Blast Furnace requirements and optimizing your setup, you can achieve incredible Smithing XP or substantial profits. Start The Giant Dwarf, gather your ice gloves and coal bag, and head to Keldagrim to smelt your way to success!