OSRS Gold Bar Ironman Guide Boost Your Smithing and Crafting
In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), Ironman accounts thrive on self-sufficiency, making gold bars a valuable resource for training Smithing and Crafting. This guide dives into how Ironmen can efficiently gather, process, and utilize gold bars to maximize experience and progress. Whether you’re smelting for Smithing XP or crafting jewelry for profit, we’ll cover the best methods, locations, and strategies tailored for Ironman restrictions.
Gold bars are a cornerstone for Ironmen due to their versatility. Unlike other metal bars, they can’t be forged into weapons or armor but are essential for crafting jewelry, which can be enchanted or alched for profit. They also offer substantial Smithing XP when smelted, especially with goldsmith gauntlets. For Ironmen, who can’t rely on the Grand Exchange, gold bars provide a reliable way to train skills and generate wealth.
Key Uses of Gold Bars
- Smithing XP: Smelting gold ore into bars grants 22.5 Smithing XP (56.2 with goldsmith gauntlets).
- Crafting Jewelry: Create necklaces, amulets, and bracelets for Crafting XP or to enchant for teleports.
- Profit via High Alchemy: Crafted jewelry like gold bracelets can be alched for coins, crucial for Ironman expenses.
- Quest Requirements: Used in quests like Between a Rock… and Legends’ Quest for items like gold helmets.
How to Obtain Gold Bars as an Ironman
Ironmen must gather gold bars through mining, monster drops, or specific activities, as trading and the Grand Exchange are off-limits. Here are the most effective methods to stockpile gold bars.
Mining Gold Ore
Mining gold ore is the primary method for Ironmen to gather the raw materials for gold bars. You’ll need at least 40 Mining to mine gold ore, which yields 65 Mining XP per ore.
Best Mining Locations:
- Al Kharid Mine: Close to a furnace and bank, ideal for early-game Ironmen. Mine gold ore, smelt at the nearby furnace, and bank in Al Kharid.
- Mining Guild (Upper Level): Requires 70 Mining and expert mining gloves. Offers three gold ore rocks with faster respawns.
- Shilo Village (Underground Mine): Accessible after the Shilo Village quest. Contains multiple gold rocks and is less crowded.
- Concentrated Gold Rocks (Living Rock Caverns): Requires 80 Mining. Pair with Superheat Form for efficient XP and banking.
Monster Drops and Other Sources
Beyond mining, gold bars and ore can be obtained from monster drops and activities, especially for Ironmen focusing on PvM or Slayer.
Notable Sources:
- Zalcano (Prifddinas): Drops gold ore and bars, offering ~3,000 Smithing XP per hour. Requires access to Prifddinas and decent combat stats.
- Eclectic Impling Jars: Hunting eclectic implings (50 Hunter) can yield noted gold bars, a viable option for skillers.
- Tempoross Caskets: Rewards from Tempoross may include gold bars, ideal for low-level Ironmen.
- Gold Bar Spawns: Five spawns at Corsair Cove’s northern end are accessible but slow, requiring world-hopping. Use Telekinetic Grab (33 Magic) for efficiency.
Quest Rewards and Shops
Some quests and shops provide gold bars, especially for low-level or skiller Ironmen avoiding combat or mining.
Options:
- Goblin Diplomacy: A simple quest with no combat, rewarding items that can be exchanged for gold bars.
- Drogo’s Mining Emporium (Dwarven Mines): Sells gold bars, though stock is limited and restocks slowly.
Smelting Gold Bars for Maximum Efficiency
Once you’ve gathered gold ore, smelting it into bars is the next step. This requires 40 Smithing and access to a furnace. The Blast Furnace in Keldagrim is the go-to spot for Ironmen due to its speed and efficiency.
Blast Furnace Strategy
The Blast Furnace offers the fastest Smithing XP rates, netting over 230,000 XP per hour when smelting gold bars with goldsmith gauntlets.
Steps:
- Buy gold ore from Ordan at the Blast Furnace (if you have excess coins from PvM).
- Equip goldsmith gauntlets (unlocked via Family Crest quest) for 56.2 XP per bar.
- Smelt gold ore into bars, banking them for later use or crafting.
Tip: Use a coal bag to reduce trips if smelting other bars alongside gold, though gold bars don’t require coal.
Alternative Smelting Locations
If you don’t have access to the Blast Furnace, try these furnaces:
| Location | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Al Kharid Furnace | Near bank, ideal for early-game | Slower than Blast Furnace |
| Edgeville Furnace | Close to bank, good for F2P Ironmen | Requires Varrock Diary for efficiency |
| Port Phasmatys Furnace | Fast with Ectofuntus teleport | Requires Priest in Peril quest |
Crafting Gold Bars into Jewelry
Crafting gold bars into jewelry is a dual-purpose strategy for Ironmen, providing Crafting XP and items for High Alchemy or enchanting. You’ll need a furnace, molds (available in Al Kharid or Crafting Guild), and the appropriate Crafting level.
Best Jewelry to Craft
Not all jewelry is equal in terms of XP, profit, or utility. Here’s a breakdown of the best options for Ironmen:
| Item | Crafting Level | XP per Bar | High Alch Value | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Bracelet | 7 | 25 | 330 | Best for alching, low Crafting req |
| Gold Necklace | 6 | 20 | 270 | Decent alch value, early-game |
| Gold Amulet (u) | 8 | 30 | 210 | Enchant for teleports (e.g., Amulet of Glory) |
| Ruby Bracelet | 42 | 80 | 1,395 | High alch value, requires rubies |
Note: Gold bracelets are the most popular choice for alching due to their low Crafting requirement and decent profit margin.
Enchanting Jewelry for Utility
Instead of alching, consider enchanting jewelry for teleports or combat boosts. For example:
- Amulet of Glory: Requires 80 Crafting (to craft with dragonstone) and 68 Magic to enchant. Provides teleports to Edgeville, Draynor, and Al Kharid.
- Ring of Dueling: Craft with emeralds (27 Crafting) and enchant at 27 Magic for teleports to Duel Arena and Castle Wars.
Managing Excess Gold Bars
Mid-game Ironmen often accumulate thousands of gold bars from mining or PvM, as seen in Reddit discussions where players report stockpiles of 7,000+ bars. Here’s how to handle the surplus.
High Alchemy for Profit
High Alchemy (55 Magic) is the go-to method for converting gold bracelets into coins. Each bracelet alchs for 330 coins, netting a small profit after nature rune costs (~200 coins each). Alching 7,000 bracelets could yield around 1 million coins, though it’s time-intensive.
Giants’ Foundry for Extra XP
Use gold bars in the Giants’ Foundry minigame for additional Smithing XP and profit. This is slower but more engaging than smelting and offers commission rewards.
Bank and Save for Later
If you’re not ready to process your gold bars, bank them. Gold bars stack up quickly in mid-game content like Zalcano, and you’ll need them for high-level Crafting or quests.
Tips for Optimizing Your Gold Bar Strategy
To make the most of your gold bars, follow these Ironman-specific tips:
Pro Tips:
- Prioritize Family Crest: Unlock goldsmith gauntlets early for 2.5x Smithing XP when smelting gold bars.
- Combine Skills: Mine gold ore while training Mining, smelt for Smithing XP, and craft for Crafting XP to multitask efficiently.
- Use Superheat Item: At 43 Magic, cast Superheat Item to smelt gold ore without a furnace, saving time while training Magic.
- Monitor Rune Costs: For alching or enchanting, source nature and law runes via Slayer drops or Guardians of the Rift to minimize shop purchases.
- Leverage PvM: Focus on Zalcano or other gold-dropping bosses for passive ore/bar collection while grinding combat.
By strategically gathering, smelting, and utilizing gold bars, Ironmen can boost their Smithing, Crafting, and wealth while progressing through OSRS’s challenging self-sufficient mode. Start mining, smelting, or crafting today to make the most of this versatile resource!