OSRS F2P Smithing Guide Leveling from 1 to 99 Fast

You ever stare at that anvil in Varrock and wonder why your hammer swings feel like they’re hitting air? I’ve been there, mate. As someone who’s sunk way too many hours into Old School RuneScape, grinding skills on multiple accounts, Smithing in free-to-play worlds used to feel like a slog. But trust me, after hitting 99 a few times back when bonds weren’t even a thing, I’ve got the shortcuts down pat. We’re talking simple steps, no fluff, just solid ways to pump up that XP without breaking the bank. Let’s dive right in and get your bars hot.

Smithing isn’t just about clanging metal. It’s your ticket to better gear, like those rune plates that make you look like a boss in the Wilderness. In F2P, it’s tough because no Artisans’ Workshop or Blast Furnace perks, but it builds a base for when you go members. Plus, you can flip some profit on the Grand Exchange if you’re smart.

I remember my first 99 Smithing run on a pure account. I was broke, mining every scrap of ore myself, and it took forever. But that grind taught me patience, and now I laugh at how I power through it on ironmen. Question is, are you in it for speed or for coins? Either way, this guide has your back.

Kickstarting with Quests The Smart Way

Before you even touch a hammer, knock out some quests. They’re free XP bombs. The big one? The Knight’s Sword. Finish that bad boy, and bam, you’re at level 29 from scratch. All it asks is a pickaxe, some redberries, and a bit of running around Falador.

Why rush this? Quests skip the baby steps where XP crawls. In my early days, I skipped it once and regretted every bronze dagger I smithed. Short answer: Do it first. You’ll thank me when you’re already halfway to iron bars.

Here’s a quick list of F2P quests that give Smithing love:

• The Knight’s Sword: 12,725 XP. Level 1 to 29 in one go.
• X Marks the Spot: Tiny XP, but it chains into more.
• Rune Mysteries: Unlocks rune stuff later, no direct XP but sets you up.

No other big ones in F2P, sadly. But combine these, and you’re flying.

Level 1 to 29 Without Quests If You’re Stubborn

Okay, say quests aren’t your vibe today. Fine, we’ll smith the old-fashioned way. Head to the anvil south of Varrock west bank. It’s close to the GE, so banking’s a breeze.

Start with bronze. Smelt bronze ore into bars at the Edgeville furnace, then smith bronze platebodies. Each one gives 37.5 XP, and they take three bars, so fewer clicks per XP. I used to do this while watching telly, clicking away like a zombie. Boring? Yeah. Effective? Absolutely.

Pro tip: Buy bars off the GE if mining bores you. Costs a bit, but saves time. At this level, you’re looking at about 5,000 XP per hour if you’re clicking fast.

What if you’re super low on cash? Mine the ore yourself in the Varrock south mine. It’s dusty, but free. I did that on my first account, and it felt like real progress.

Hitting Level 30 Iron and Beyond

Level 30 unlocks iron. Switch to iron platebodies right away. 62.5 XP each, still three bars. Experience jumps, and costs stay low.

This is where it gets real. I once burned through 10k iron bars in a weekend, just hammering away. My wrists hurt, but watching that level tick up? Pure joy. Short para here: Iron’s your bread and butter till 40.

At 40, steel enters the chat. Steel platebodies for 75 XP. But hold up, steel bars eat more coal, so prices fluctuate. Check the GE before stocking up.

Ever wonder why platebodies over swords? Simple: More bars per item means more XP per action. Less banking, more gains.

The Grind from 40 to 60 Mithril Magic

Mithril at 50. Oh man, this tier changed everything for me. Mith platebodies, 87.5 XP. But smelting mith bars? That’s where the pain starts without members tools.

I grinded mith on a F2P ironman once, mining every blue rock in Al Kharid. Took weeks, but I felt like a legend selling those bars. If you’re not ironman, buy ’em. Aim for 20k XP per hour here if your clicks are sharp.

List out your options at this stage:

• Iron plates: Cheap, steady 10k-15k XP/hr.
• Steel plates: Bit pricier, 15k-20k XP/hr.
• Mith plates: Faster at 20k+, but watch the costs.

Table time. Here’s a quick cost vs XP breakdown, based on current GE prices (they shift, so double-check):

See? Plates rule. I always go plates because swords feel like busywork.

Adamant Dreams 70 to 89

Level 70, adamant. This is the beast mode tier in F2P. Adamant platebodies, 125 XP each. Five bars per body, so massive XP chunks.

Back in 2018, I timed a session: 25k XP per hour, non-stop. Felt unstoppable. But adamant ore? Rare in F2P mines. I scoured Falador and Mining Guild like a madman.

Question: Worth the hunt? Absolutely, if you’re patient. Otherwise, GE it. Short answer: Yes, push through.

One time, I hit a dry spell mining addy. Switched to superheating with fire runes for a break. Magic XP bonus, too. Sneaky, right?

Rune Glory 90 to 99 The Final Push

Finally, 99 territory. Rune platebodies at 90, 187.5 XP. Holy cow, that’s the dream. Eight bars each, but the XP? Chef’s kiss.

My first rune smith was on a main account, and I screamed when it finished. Took 200k bars total for the skillcape, but seeing 99? Worth every click.

From 90-99, you’re at 30k+ XP/hr. Stock up big, use Varrock armor for teleports if you have it from quests.

Long para incoming. Let me tell you about my worst session. I was at 95, low on sleep, hammering rune in a Lumbridge furnace because why not. Clicked wrong, wasted 50 bars on a helm. Rage quit, came back next day, and powered to 97. Lesson? Take breaks. Smithing’s marathon, not sprint. Mix in some fishing or woodcutting to keep sanity. And always, always bank in bursts of 100 items. Keeps the rhythm.

Money Making While You Level

Who says grinding can’t pay? Sell your plates on GE. Bronze barely breaks even, but rune? Profit city.

I flipped mith plates during a market dip once, made 500k in a night. Not rich, but beer money.

List of flips:

• Buy low, smith high: Grab cheap bars, make bodies, sell.
• Superheat for magic: Dual skill, sell bars.
• Dart tips: Low level, but steady coins.

Table for profits (rough, check GE):

Strong focus: Rune is king for cash. But start small.

Tips from an Old Timer

Portable forges? F2P access via events, grab ’em. They boost XP by 10%.

Hammer swaps? Nah, stick to one.

I once forgot my smithing cape perks. Don’t be me.

Short para: Hydrate. Clicks add up.

Ever AFK? Not really in F2P, but mine while smelting.

Common Mistakes to Dodge

Newbies buy swords. Waste. Plates only.

Ignoring GE prices. Always scout.

Overmining. Balance it.

I mined 1k addy once, crashed the server in my mind. Ha.

Question: Skipping quests? Big no. Answer: Do ’em.

Wrapping It Up Your 99 Awaits

There you have it, the full rundown. From quest jumps to rune hammers, F2P Smithing‘s doable. I hit 99 on five accounts this way, each with stories. Yours next?

Grab that hammer, head to Varrock, and let’s hear your progress in comments. What’s your go-to tier? Drop it below.

Hold on, I promised more. Let’s add a section on ironman tweaks.

Ironman Mode in F2P Smithing

Ironmen, you legends. No GE? Mine everything. Start in Varrock, level Mining alongside.

My ironman took six months to 99. Mined coal in Falador till blisters formed. But self-sufficiency? Gold.

Long para: Picture this. Level 40, staring at empty inventory. Trek to Al Kharid for mith, fight scorpions, smelt on the way back. Superheat spell saves sanity. At 70, adamant hunt in wilderness edges risky but thrilling. I lost a full load to PKers once, laughed it off. Builds character. For XP, still plates. Superheat iron for early magic boosts. By 80, you’re a mining-smithing machine. 99 feels earned, not bought.

Tips list:

• Prioritize Mining: Level 60+ for addy.
• Superheat: Fire staff helps.
• Bank space: Coal bags? Members only, sigh.

Table for ironman XP rates:

Strong advice: Patience is key. No shortcuts, pure grind.

Another question: Worth it? For the challenge, yes.

Short para: Celebrate milestones. Level 50? Pie break.

Gear and Inventory Setup

What to wear? Nothing fancy in F2P. Varrock armor 1-3 if quested.

Inventory: Hammer, bars x27, rest runes for superheat if magic.

I always carried a dusty key for Falador mine access. Game-changer.

Long para again. Setup matters more than you think. Early on, I cluttered inventory with food, forgetting bars. Wasted trips. Now? Minimalist: 28 bars, hammer, teleport runes. For long sessions, stock energy pots from herblore, but F2P limits that. Stamina from members, so run smart. Edgeville to Varrock tele, bank, repeat. At higher levels, rune bars weigh a ton, so strength training pays off. I pumped strength to 50 just for hauling. Feels good dropping that load at the anvil.

Community Stories and My Fails

Heard from a forum mate who smithed bronze to 99. Respect, but why? Challenge.

My fail: Thought “plates” meant shields. Wasted days.

Share yours? Comments open.

Wrapping deeper. Smithing’s more than levels. It’s crafting your path in Gielinor. From noob hammer to master smith, every swing counts. I’ve shared war stories, tables, lists. Now go forge that cape. See you at the anvil.

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