OSRS Crafting Guide Level 1 to 99 Fastest Methods

Crafting in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a versatile skill that lets players create jewelry, armor, and other items while earning solid experience points (XP). Whether you’re a free-to-play (F2P) player or a member, this guide covers the fastest, cheapest, and most efficient ways to level Crafting from 1 to 99. With the right methods, you can turn raw materials into valuable gear and even make some gold along the way. Let’s dive into the best strategies, including step-by-step training methods, costs, and tips to optimize your grind.
Crafting isn’t just about making shiny trinkets—it’s a gateway to powerful gear, quests, and profit. High Crafting levels unlock items like Slayer Rings (level 75) and the Crafting Cape (level 99), which offers unlimited teleports to the Crafting Guild, perfect for skills like Runecrafting. Plus, quests like Monkey Madness II require up to level 70 Crafting, making it a must for serious players. Training Crafting also opens money-making opportunities, such as cutting gems or crafting dragonhide armor.
Key Benefits of Crafting
- Quest Requirements: Unlock major quests like Monkey Madness II and Dragon Slayer II.
- Gear Creation: Craft jewelry, leather armor, and battlestaves for combat or profit.
- Money-Making: High-level methods like cutting dragonstones can net millions.
- Ironman Utility: Essential for self-sufficient accounts to craft their own gear.
Fastest Crafting Training Methods
The fastest way to 99 Crafting involves balancing XP rates with costs. Most methods are “buyable,” meaning you purchase materials to craft items, but we’ll also cover cheaper alternatives. Below is a breakdown of the best methods by level range, focusing on high XP per hour.
Levels 1-20 Cutting Gems
Start your Crafting journey by cutting gems, a fast and accessible method for both F2P and members. You’ll need a chisel and uncut gems, which you can buy from the Grand Exchange (GE).
- Recommended Item: Cut opals (level 1).
- XP per Cut: 15 XP.
- Total Needed: ~130 opals to reach level 20.
- Cost: Approximately 20,000-30,000 GP (prices fluctuate).
- XP Rate: ~30,000 XP/hour.
Tip: Opals are cheap but can sometimes sell for more when cut, potentially breaking even. Check GE prices before buying.
Levels 20-54 Gold Jewelry
Once you hit level 20, switch to crafting gold jewelry for better XP. You’ll need a furnace (Edgeville or Al-Kharid are ideal), gold bars, and a bracelet mould.
- Recommended Item: Gold bracelets (level 7, but viable to level 54).
- XP per Craft: 25 XP.
- Total Needed: ~2,700 bracelets to level 54.
- Cost: ~1,000,000 GP (depending on GE prices).
- XP Rate: ~50,000 XP/hour.
Pro Tip: Edgeville’s furnace is closer to a bank, making it faster than Al-Kharid for members.
Levels 54-99 Battlestaves
From level 54, crafting battlestaves is the fastest method to 99, offering insane XP rates. You’ll combine battlestaves with elemental orbs at the Crafting Guild or Varrock.
- Recommended Item: Water battlestaves (level 54).
- XP per Craft: 100 XP.
- Total Needed: ~130,000 battlestaves to 99.
- Cost: ~50,000,000-60,000,000 GP.
- XP Rate: ~250,000 XP/hour.
Note: At level 66, switch to air battlestaves for slightly higher XP (137.5 XP each) if your budget allows.
Cheaper Crafting Alternatives
Not everyone has millions to burn, so here are budget-friendly methods that still offer decent XP. These are great for F2P players or those looking to save gold.
Levels 1-7 Leather Gloves
Leather gloves are perfect for beginners with limited funds. You’ll need a needle, thread, and leather, all easily sourced from the GE or drops.
- XP per Craft: 13.8 XP.
- Total Needed: 49 gloves to level 7.
- Cost: ~5,000 GP.
- XP Rate: ~10,000 XP/hour.
Levels 7-54 Glassblowing
Glassblowing is a slower but cheaper method requiring a glassblowing pipe, buckets of sand, and soda ash. Use the Superglass Make spell (level 77 Magic) to boost efficiency.
- Recommended Item: Unpowered orbs (level 46).
- XP per Craft: 52.5 XP.
- Total Needed: ~3,000 orbs to level 54.
- Cost: ~500,000 GP.
- XP Rate: ~70,000 XP/hour with Superglass Make.
Tip: Complete “The Hand in the Sand” quest to get 84 buckets of sand daily from Bert, slashing costs.
Levels 54-99 Dragonhide Armor
Crafting dragonhide armor is a slower but cheaper alternative to battlestaves. You’ll need a needle, thread, and dragon leather.
- Recommended Item: Black dragonhide bodies (level 84).
- XP per Craft: 258 XP.
- Total Needed: ~50,000 bodies to 99.
- Cost: ~90,000,000 GP (but often cheaper than battlestaves).
- XP Rate: ~430,000 XP/hour.
Crafting for Profit
Crafting isn’t just an XP grind—it can also fill your bank with gold. Here are methods that balance XP with profit, ideal for players who want to offset training costs.
Cutting High-Value Gems
Cutting gems like dragonstones (level 55) can be profitable, especially for members. Buy uncut gems, cut them, and sell the finished product.
Gem | Level Required | XP per Cut | Approx. Profit per Cut |
---|---|---|---|
Dragonstone | 55 | 137.5 | 1,000-5,000 GP |
Onyx | 67 | 167.5 | 10,000-50,000 GP |
Tip: Prices fluctuate, so use the GE tracker to buy low and sell high.
Crafting Jewelry for Enchanting
Craft gold or gem jewelry (e.g., sapphire rings at level 20) and enchant them with Magic (requires level 7 Magic for Lvl-1 Enchant). Enchanted jewelry like Rings of Recoil sells for a premium.
- Profit Range: 100-1,000 GP per ring.
- XP Rate: ~40,000 Crafting XP/hour, plus Magic XP.
Tips to Optimize Your Crafting Grind
Reaching 99 Crafting is a marathon, so efficiency matters. Here are practical tips to save time, gold, and sanity.
Use Boosts for Quests
If you’re training Crafting for quests, use temporary boosts like Mushroom Pies (+4 Crafting levels) to meet requirements early. For example, boost from 66 to 70 for Monkey Madness II.
Bankstanding Efficiency
Most Crafting methods are bankstanding skills, meaning you’ll spend a lot of time near a bank. Use these tricks to speed up:
- Presets: Set up bank presets in Runelite for instant inventory refills.
- Mouse Keys: Enable mouse keys for faster clicking (check Jagex rules).
- Breaks: Take short breaks to avoid burnout during long sessions.
Questing for XP
Complete these quests for early Crafting XP to skip low levels:
Quest | Crafting XP | Level Requirement |
---|---|---|
Sheep Shearer | 150 | 1 |
Goblin Diplomacy | 200 | 1 |
The Fremennik Trials | 2,812 | 40 |
Recommended Gear and Inventory
While Crafting doesn’t require specific gear, weight-reducing clothing like the Graceful outfit helps for methods involving running (e.g., glassblowing). Your inventory should include:
- Tools: Chisel, needle, thread, moulds, or glassblowing pipe.
- Materials: Gems, gold bars, leather, or battlestaves.
- Optional: Energy potions for stamina during intensive methods.
Crafting in OSRS is a rewarding skill that blends creativity with practicality. Whether you’re cutting gems for quick XP, crafting battlestaves for the 99 grind, or making jewelry for profit, there’s a method for every player. By following this guide, you’ll hit your Crafting goals efficiently while keeping costs in check. Got a favorite Crafting method? Share it in the comments, and happy skilling!