OSRS Fletching Guide 1-99: The Ultimate Roadmap to Mastery

Fletching in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is one of the fastest and most versatile skills to train, offering players the ability to craft ranged weapons and ammunition while potentially turning a profit. Whether you’re aiming for the coveted level 99 skill cape, looking to make some gold, or just want a relaxing AFK training method, this guide has you covered. From level 1 to 99, we’ll explore the best methods, costs, and tips to optimize your journey. Let’s dive into the world of bows, arrows, and darts!
Fletching isn’t just about crafting arrows or stringing bows—it’s a gateway to enhancing your ranged combat and even your bank balance. Here’s why it’s worth your time:
Fastest Skill to 99
Fletching is renowned for being the quickest skill to max out in OSRS. With the right methods, players have achieved 99 in as little as 3 hours, though this comes at a steep cost. Even budget-friendly approaches can get you there in under 50 hours.
Profit Potential
Unlike many skills that drain your gold reserves, fletching offers profitable methods. Stringing high-level bows or tipping bolts can net millions, making it a favorite for players who want to train without losing money.
Passive Training Opportunities
Fletching can be trained passively during other activities like agility courses, farm runs, or even questing. This “zero-time” training makes it ideal for multitasking adventurers.
Getting Started: Levels 1-30
The early levels of fletching are a breeze, especially if you leverage quests and low-cost methods. Here’s how to kick things off efficiently:
Questing for Early XP
Completing a few beginner-friendly quests can skip the grind from level 1 to 18 or even 30:
- Animal Magnetism: 1,000 XP (requires 18 Slayer, 19 Crafting, 30 Ranged, 35 Woodcutting)
- Big Chompy Bird Hunting: 262 XP (requires 5 Fletching, 30 Cooking, 30 Ranged)
- Zogre Flesh Eaters: 2,000 XP (requires 4 Smithing, 8 Herblore, 30 Ranged)
- The Fremennik Trials: 2,812 XP (requires 25 Fletching, 40 Woodcutting, 40 Crafting)
- Temple of Ikov: 8,000 XP (requires 42 Thieving, 40 Ranged)
Completing these can boost you to level 30 with minimal effort, assuming you meet the requirements.
Arrow Shafts and Bronze Arrows (1-10)
If questing isn’t your style, start by fletching arrow shafts and bronze arrows:
- Arrow Shafts (1-5): Use a knife on regular logs to create 15 arrow shafts per log (5 XP per log). You’ll need about 78 logs to reach level 5.
- Bronze Arrows (5-10): Combine arrow shafts with feathers and bronze arrowheads (1.3 XP per arrow). Fletch around 300 to hit level 10 at roughly 15,000 XP/hour.
These materials are cheap and widely available via the Grand Exchange or by chopping trees and killing chickens.
Fastest Route to 99: High-Speed, High-Cost Methods
For players with deep pockets and a need for speed, these methods prioritize XP rates over cost. Be prepared to spend millions!
Darts: The Speed King (10-99)
Fletching darts is the fastest way to 99, offering up to 1.8 million XP/hour with perfect clicks. You’ll need to complete The Tourist Trap quest to smith dart tips, though you can buy them instead. Here’s the breakdown:
- Bronze Darts (10-22): 18.8 XP per dart, ~400,000 XP/hour, costs ~5 GP/XP.
- Iron Darts (22-37): 37.5 XP per dart, ~700,000 XP/hour.
- Steel Darts (37-52): 75 XP per dart, ~1,000,000 XP/hour.
- Mithril Darts (52-67): 112 XP per dart, ~1,300,000 XP/hour.
- Adamant Darts (67-81): 150 XP per dart, ~1,500,000 XP/hour.
- Rune Darts (81-95): 188 XP per dart, ~1,700,000 XP/hour.
- Dragon Darts (95-99): 250 XP per dart, ~1,800,000 XP/hour, costs ~300 GP/XP.
Total Cost: Around 150-200M GP for 13M XP, depending on GE prices. Use OSRS Mobile with two-finger tapping for max efficiency.
Tips for Dart Fletching
To optimize this method:
- Stockpile dart tips and feathers in advance due to buy limits.
- Use a high-click-speed mouse or mobile device.
- Pair with agility or Slayer for zero-time training.
Profitable Route to 99: Making Gold While Training
If you’d rather earn gold than spend it, these methods balance XP with profit. They’re slower but wallet-friendly.
Stringing Bows (10-99)
Stringing unstrung bows is a classic, profitable approach. Buy unstrung bows and bowstrings from the GE, then sell the finished product or high-alch it. Here’s a level-by-level plan:
Level | Bow Type | XP per Bow | XP/Hour | Profit/Hour |
---|---|---|---|---|
10-20 | Longbow | 10 | 24,500 | ~50K GP |
20-25 | Oak Longbow | 25 | 61,250 | ~80K GP |
25-35 | Willow Longbow | 41.5 | 70,550 | ~100K GP |
35-50 | Maple Longbow | 58.3 | 142,700 | ~200K GP |
50-70 | Yew Longbow | 75 | 183,750 | ~300K GP |
70-99 | Magic Longbow | 91.5 | 224,175 | ~500K GP |
Total Time: ~60-70 hours. Total Profit: ~15-20M GP. This method is semi-AFK, requiring clicks every 16.8 seconds per inventory.
Tipping Bolts (55-99)
Once you hit level 55 and unlock Broader Fletching (300 Slayer points), tipping bolts becomes viable:
- Broad Bolts (55-76): 30 XP per set of 10, ~170,000 XP/hour, slight profit (~5 GP/bolt).
- Diamond Bolts (65-99): 70 XP per set of 10, ~189,000 XP/hour, ~450K GP/hour profit.
- Dragon Bolts (84-99): 120 XP per set of 10, ~324,000 XP/hour, variable profit/loss based on GE prices.
This method is click-intensive but pairs well with other activities like Wintertodt or farm runs.
AFK and Alternative Methods
For a more relaxed grind, these methods offer decent XP with minimal effort:
Cutting Bows (5-99)
Cutting logs into unstrung bows is super AFK, though less XP-intensive than stringing:
- Shortbow (5-10): 5 XP/bow, 8,500 XP/hour.
- Willow Longbow (35-40): 41.5 XP/bow, 70,550 XP/hour.
- Magic Longbow (85-99): 91.5 XP/bow, 155,550 XP/hour.
Total Time: ~90-100 hours. Profit varies, but expect ~10M GP if selling unstrung bows.
Battlestaves and Shields (40-99)
Alternative options include:
- Battlestaves (40-80): 80 XP/bark, ~110,000 XP/hour, ~10M GP loss.
- Redwood Shields (92-99): 112.5 XP/shield, ~168,000 XP/hour, ~5M GP loss.
These are niche but useful for Ironmen or players with specific resources.
Tips and Tricks for Efficient Fletching
Maximize your fletching grind with these pro tips:
Use Boosts
Dragonfruit Pies (+4 Fletching boost) let you access higher-tier methods early. They cost ~700 GP each and are worth it for efficiency.
Check Prices Regularly
GE prices fluctuate, so use a fletching calculator (like on the OSRS Wiki) to ensure profitability or minimize losses before committing.
Combine with Other Skills
Fletch darts or bolts during downtime in Agility, Hunter, or Slayer to double your productivity.
With this guide, you’re equipped to tackle fletching from 1 to 99 in OSRS, whether you’re chasing speed, profit, or a chill grind. Grab your knife, stock up on feathers, and start crafting your way to mastery!