OSRS: Does Gold Need Coal to Smelt? Your Ultimate Guide

OSRS: Does Gold Need Coal to Smelt? Your Ultimate Guide


In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), smelting ores into bars is a core part of the Smithing skill, and players often wonder about the specifics of smelting gold ore. A common question is: does gold need coal to smelt in OSRS? This blog post dives deep into the mechanics of smelting gold, clarifies whether coal is required, and explores related tips to optimize your Smithing experience. Whether you’re a new player or a seasoned adventurer, this guide will help you understand the process and make informed decisions for your OSRS journey.

Smelting gold ore into gold bars is one of the most popular Smithing activities in OSRS, especially for players aiming to level up quickly or craft items like gold jewelry. To answer the main question upfront: gold ore does not require coal to smelt. Unlike other ores such as iron, steel, mithril, adamantite, or runite, gold can be smelted directly into bars using a furnace without any additional resources. This makes it a straightforward and efficient option for training Smithing.

Why Gold Is Unique Among Ores

Most ores in OSRS require coal in varying quantities to smelt into bars, as coal acts as a fuel source in the smelting process. For example, mithril bars require four pieces of coal per ore, and runite bars need eight. Gold, however, is an exception, alongside silver, as both can be smelted without coal. This simplicity makes gold smelting particularly appealing for players who want to avoid the hassle of gathering or purchasing coal.

Smelting Mechanics for Gold

To smelt gold ore, you need:

  • Gold ore: Mined from gold rocks at level 40 Mining or purchased from the Grand Exchange.
  • A furnace: Available in locations like Al Kharid, Falador, or the Blast Furnace in Keldagrim.
  • Smithing level: At least level 40 to smelt gold bars (though you can start smelting other bars earlier).

Simply use the gold ore on a furnace, and it will be converted into a gold bar, granting 22.5 Smithing experience per bar. If you wear goldsmith gauntlets (obtained from the Family Crest quest), this experience increases to 56.2 per bar, making gold smelting one of the fastest ways to train Smithing.

Where to Smelt Gold Efficiently

Dwarf Fortress Where to Find Iron and Coal

Choosing the right location to smelt your gold ore can significantly impact your efficiency, both in terms of time and cost. While any furnace will work, some locations and methods offer distinct advantages.

Blast Furnace: The Top Choice

The Blast Furnace in Keldagrim is the go-to spot for smelting gold, especially for high-volume training. Here’s why:

  • Bulk smelting: You can deposit an entire inventory of gold ore at once, and the furnace processes it automatically.
  • Experience boost: With goldsmith gauntlets, you can achieve up to 350,000–400,000 Smithing experience per hour.
  • Cost considerations: On Blast Furnace worlds (e.g., 352, 355, 358), you pay 72,000 coins per hour for dwarf assistance, but this can be avoided on non-themed worlds if you’re willing to operate the furnace manually with friends.

To access the Blast Furnace, start The Giant Dwarf quest to enter Keldagrim. If you have 60 Smithing, you can use it for free; otherwise, a 2,500-coin fee applies every 10 minutes (reducible with a ring of charos (a)).

Other Furnace Locations

If the Blast Furnace isn’t an option, consider these alternatives:

  • Al Kharid Furnace: Close to a bank, ideal for free-to-play players or those without Keldagrim access.
  • Falador Furnace: Convenient for members with access to the Mining Guild or Falador teleport.
  • Edgeville Furnace: Best for players with a high Construction level who’ve built a gilded altar in their player-owned house for quick banking.

While these furnaces don’t offer the speed of the Blast Furnace, they’re simpler for low-level players or those smelting smaller quantities.

Do You Ever Need Coal for Gold-Related Activities?

While gold itself doesn’t require coal to smelt, there are scenarios in OSRS where coal might come into play if you’re working with gold-related goals. Let’s explore when coal might indirectly be relevant.

Hybrid Smelting at the Blast Furnace

Some players use a hybrid smelting strategy at the Blast Furnace to process multiple types of bars in one session. For example, you might smelt gold bars for experience while also smelting mithril or adamantite bars, which do require coal. In this case, you’d deposit coal alongside gold ore on the conveyor belt. A typical pattern might involve:

  1. Depositing 250+ coal to stock the furnace.
  2. Smelting gold bars for high experience.
  3. Switching to mithril or adamantite bars, using the stored coal.

This method sacrifices one inventory slot (reducing gold bars per run from 27 to 26) but allows you to process coal-dependent bars without leaving the furnace. It’s a niche strategy for players balancing experience and resource gathering.

Crafting Gold Jewelry

After smelting gold bars, many players craft jewelry to further train Crafting or make a profit. While crafting gold items (like amulets or necklaces) doesn’t require coal, you might need other resources, such as gems, which could involve mining activities where coal is a byproduct. For instance, mining gem rocks in Shilo Village might yield coal alongside opal or jade, tying coal indirectly to your gold-related skilling loop.

Optimizing Your Gold Smelting Setup

To get the most out of smelting gold, you’ll want to optimize your gear, inventory, and strategy. Here are some tips to maximize efficiency.

Essential Gear and Items

Your equipment can make a big difference in how quickly you smelt gold. Consider these:

Item Purpose How to Obtain
Goldsmith Gauntlets Increases Smithing XP for gold bars to 56.2 per bar Complete Family Crest quest, then speak to Avan
Ice Gloves Allows instant bar collection at Blast Furnace without cooling Dropped by Ice Queen under White Wolf Mountain
Graceful Outfit Reduces run energy depletion for faster trips Purchased with Marks of Grace from Rooftop Agility
Stamina Potions Restores run energy for continuous smelting Created with Herblore or bought from Grand Exchange

Using these items together can push your experience rates to the maximum, especially at the Blast Furnace.

Inventory Management

At the Blast Furnace, a typical inventory setup for gold smelting includes:

  • 26–27 gold ores: Fill your inventory for maximum output per run.
  • Ice gloves: Equip these to skip the water bucket step.
  • Stamina potion: Keep run energy high for faster banking.
  • Coins: For the Blast Furnace fee (if under 60 Smithing).

If you’re using a hybrid method with coal, include a coal bag to store up to 27 pieces of coal, doubling your capacity for coal-dependent bars.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Smelting gold is relatively simple, but there are pitfalls that can slow you down or waste resources. Here are some mistakes to watch out for:

Equipping Ice Gloves Too Early

At the Blast Furnace, if you’re wearing goldsmith gauntlets for the experience boost, don’t swap to ice gloves until the smelting process is complete and the experience drops. Equipping ice gloves too early negates the gauntlets’ bonus, reducing your experience per bar from 56.2 to 22.5.

Ignoring Costs at the Blast Furnace

The Blast Furnace fee on themed worlds (72,000 coins per hour) can add up, especially for long sessions. If you’re on a budget, consider using a non-themed world and teaming up with friends to operate the furnace manually, or aim for 60 Smithing to eliminate the fee entirely.

Not Using Goldsmith Gauntlets

Smelting gold without goldsmith gauntlets is a massive waste of potential experience. The gauntlets more than double your experience per bar, so complete Family Crest as soon as possible if you plan to train Smithing with gold.

By avoiding these mistakes and following the tips above, you’ll smelt gold like a pro, maximizing both experience and efficiency.

In summary, gold ore in OSRS does not require coal to smelt, making it one of the easiest and fastest ways to train Smithing. Whether you’re using the Blast Furnace for high experience rates or a standard furnace for simplicity, understanding the mechanics and optimizing your setup can take your skilling to the next level. So, grab your gold ore, equip those goldsmith gauntlets, and start smelting your way to Smithing mastery!