OSRS Blast Furnace Strategy: Maximize XP and Profit in 2025

OSRS Blast Furnace Strategy: Maximize XP and Profit in 2025


The Blast Furnace in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is one of the most efficient ways to train Smithing while also offering opportunities for profit. Located in Keldagrim, this members-only minigame allows players to smelt bars using half the coal typically required, making it a go-to method for both experience-focused players and those looking to make gold. Whether you’re aiming for 99 Smithing or seeking a steady income stream, mastering the Blast Furnace can elevate your gameplay. In this comprehensive OSRS Blast Furnace strategy guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to optimize your runs in 2025, including requirements, setups, bar-specific strategies, and tips for efficiency.

Unlocking Access to Keldagrim

To use the Blast Furnace, you’ll first need access to Keldagrim, the dwarven city where it’s located. This requires starting The Giant Dwarf quest. You don’t need to complete it—just speak to the Dwarven Boatman east of Rellekka to gain entry. Once unlocked, you can return via minigame teleport, minecart from the Grand Exchange, or Fairy Ring code DKS followed by a short walk.

Requirements and Recommended Items

While the Blast Furnace is accessible at any Smithing level, certain requirements and items can drastically improve your experience:

  • 60 Smithing: Avoids the 2,500 GP fee every 10 minutes (non-boostable).
  • 72,000 GP/hour: Fee for using official Blast Furnace worlds (deposited in the coffer).
  • Ice Gloves: Speeds up bar collection by eliminating the need for a water bucket. Obtainable from the Ice Queen under White Wolf Mountain.
  • Coal Bag: Holds 27 coal, doubling efficiency for coal-dependent bars. Purchase for 100 golden nuggets at Motherlode Mine.
  • Goldsmith Gauntlets: Boosts gold bar XP from 22.5 to 56.2 per bar. Unlocked via the Family Crest quest.
  • Stamina Potions: Maintains run energy for continuous operation.
  • Weight-Reducing Gear: Graceful outfit or pieces like Boots of Lightness reduce energy drain.

Official Blast Furnace Worlds

For solo play, stick to official Blast Furnace worlds (e.g., 352, 355, 358, 386, 387). Here, dwarves operate the machinery for you, letting you focus solely on smelting. On non-themed worlds, you’d need 30 Agility, Crafting, Firemaking, and Strength to manually run the furnace, which is far less efficient.

Core Blast Furnace Mechanics

OSRS Blast Furnace Guide The Easiest Way Fastest 99 Smithing YouTube

How the Blast Furnace Works

The process is straightforward: deposit ores and coal onto the conveyor belt, wait for them to smelt, then collect the bars from the dispenser. The furnace holds up to 254 coal and 28 primary ores at once, with a maximum of 28 bars stored for pickup. Key mechanics include:

  • Half Coal Usage: Bars like steel, mithril, adamantite, and runite require 50% less coal than regular furnaces.
  • Instant Smelting: On official worlds, bars smelt instantly once coal and ore are loaded.
  • Run Energy Management: Constant movement between the bank, conveyor, and dispenser demands stamina upkeep.

Inventory Setup for Efficiency

Your inventory setup depends on the bar type, but a typical loadout includes:

  • Coal bag (filled with 27 coal).
  • Ice gloves (equipped or in inventory).
  • Goldsmith gauntlets (for gold bars).
  • Stamina potion doses.
  • Remaining slots for ores (up to 27 without a coal bag, 26 with).

Pro tip: Decant stamina potions to 1-dose vials for quick sipping without wasting inventory space.

Bar-Specific Strategies

Gold Bars: Fastest XP Method

Smelting gold bars with goldsmith gauntlets offers up to 370k–400k Smithing XP/hour, the fastest in OSRS. However, it’s a gold sink due to high ore costs and no profit.

  • Requirements: Level 40 Smithing, goldsmith gauntlets.
  • Strategy: Equip gauntlets before depositing 27 gold ore, switch to ice gloves after the XP drop to collect bars, then repeat. Preload the furnace with 27 ore and leave bars in the dispenser to minimize downtime.
  • XP Rate: 56.2 XP/bar, ~6,000 bars/hour at peak efficiency.
  • Cost: Expect to lose 1.5–2M GP/hour based on Grand Exchange prices (April 2025).

Steel Bars: Early Profit Option

Steel bars are ideal for low-level players seeking profit with minimal setup.

  • Requirements: Level 30 Smithing, coal bag recommended.
  • Strategy: Preload 27 coal into the furnace. Then, bank for 27 iron ore and a filled coal bag. Deposit iron, empty coal bag onto the conveyor, collect 27 steel bars, and repeat.
  • XP Rate: 17.5 XP/bar, ~100k XP/hour.
  • Profit: ~600k–700k GP/hour, depending on market prices.

Mithril Bars: Balanced Approach

Mithril bars offer decent XP and profit with a 1:2 ore-to-coal ratio.

  • Requirements: Level 50 Smithing, coal bag.
  • Strategy: Trip 1: Deposit 27 coal and fill the coal bag. Trip 2: Deposit 27 mithril ore and empty coal bag. Collect 27 bars. Repeat with coal and mithril alternating trips.
  • XP Rate: 30 XP/bar, ~150k XP/hour.
  • Profit: ~700k–800k GP/hour.

Adamantite Bars: High Profit, Moderate XP

Adamantite bars strike a balance between profit and XP with a 1:3 ratio.

  • Requirements: Level 70 Smithing, coal bag.
  • Strategy: Trip 1: Deposit 54 coal (two trips or coal bag + 27). Trip 2: Deposit 27 adamantite ore and 27 coal. Collect 27 bars and repeat.
  • XP Rate: 37.5 XP/bar, ~180k XP/hour.
  • Profit: ~800k–900k GP/hour.

Runite Bars: Maximum Profit

Runite bars are the most profitable option, though XP rates drop due to slower cycles.

  • Requirements: Level 85 Smithing, coal bag.
  • Strategy: Load 162 coal over six trips (or use coal bag for fewer runs). Add 27 runite ore and 27 coal, collect 27 bars, then alternate coal and ore trips.
  • XP Rate: 50 XP/bar, ~200k XP/hour.
  • Profit: ~1M–1.2M GP/hour.

Hybrid Method: Combining Gold and Other Bars

What is the Hybrid Method?

The hybrid method combines gold smelting with higher-tier bars (mithril, adamantite, or runite) to offset gold’s cost while maintaining solid XP rates. It requires a coal bag and precise timing.

Execution Steps

  1. Start with 26 gold ore and 26 coal (via coal bag) per trip.
  2. Deposit both, collect bars with ice gloves, and repeat until ~250 coal is stored in the furnace.
  3. Switch to your chosen bar (e.g., mithril): deposit 26 mithril ore and 26 coal, collect, and repeat until coal runs low.
  4. Return to gold smelting to rebuild coal reserves.

Benefits: Reduces GP loss from gold while adding profit from other bars. XP averages 250k–300k/hour depending on the mix.

Sample Hybrid Pattern

Bar Type Trips Coal Used XP/Hour Profit/Hour
Gold + Adamantite 500 Gold, 500 Adamantite ~13,500 ~300k ~3.8M
Gold Only 1,000 Gold 0 ~370k -2M

Tips for Maximizing Efficiency

Optimizing Run Energy

Run energy is the backbone of Blast Furnace efficiency. Wear full Graceful or mix Spottier Cape and Boots of Lightness with stamina potions. Higher Agility levels (70+) further reduce downtime.

Reducing Clicks and Delays

Use resizable mode to click directly from the bank to the conveyor belt. Preload the furnace with coal or ore to avoid waiting at the dispenser. Shift-click the coal bag to empty it faster.

Cost-Saving Tricks

If you’re low on GP, deposit ore on a non-Blast Furnace world, hop to an official world, and collect bars without paying the hourly fee. This is niche but viable for Ironmen or broke players.

With these strategies, the Blast Furnace becomes a powerhouse for both XP and profit in OSRS. Whether you’re chasing 99 Smithing or stacking gold, tailor your approach to your goals and watch your efficiency soar in 2025!