OSRS Herblore 1-99 Guide Fast and Cost-Effective Methods

Herblore in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a members-only skill that lets players craft potions from herbs and secondary ingredients, offering powerful buffs for combat, skilling, and quests. While it’s one of the most expensive skills to train, it’s also one of the fastest to max, with the right strategy. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to reach level 99 Herblore, including budget-friendly and fast methods, Ironman tips, and key milestones. Whether you’re a main account or an Ironman, we’ve got you covered with efficient pathways to that coveted skill cape.

Herblore is essential for high-level content in OSRS. Potions like Saradomin Brews, Super Combats, and Stamina Potions are game-changers for PvM, raids, and bossing. Additionally, several quests, such as Song of the Elves and Legends’ Quest, require specific Herblore levels, with level 70 needed for the Quest Cape and 90 for the Achievement Diary Cape. For Ironmen, Herblore ensures a steady supply of potions, making it a cornerstone skill for self-sufficiency. Training Herblore also unlocks profitable methods and enhances your overall gameplay experience.

Key Benefits of High Herblore Levels

• Combat Boosts: Potions like Super Combats and Overloads significantly improve your damage output and survivability.
• Quest Requirements: High Herblore levels unlock access to critical quests and diaries.
• Profit Potential: Certain potions, like Super Antifires, can be sold for profit on the Grand Exchange.
• Ironman Utility: Crafting your own potions reduces reliance on drops or shops.

Getting Started with Herblore

Before training Herblore, you must complete the Druidic Ritual quest, which unlocks the skill and grants 250 XP, boosting you to level 3. This quest is straightforward, requiring raw beef, raw chicken, raw rat meat, and raw bear meat, obtainable in Taverley Dungeon. Bring food if you’re low combat, as the dungeon has aggressive enemies. Once completed, you can start making potions or cleaning herbs to gain XP.

Herblore Basics

Herblore training primarily involves:

• Cleaning Grimy Herbs: Yields small XP but can be profitable, especially for low-level herbs like Guam or Tarromin.
• Making Potions: Combine an unfinished potion (herb + vial of water) with a secondary ingredient. This is the fastest XP method.
• Other Methods: Barbarian Mixes, Herbal Tars, and Divine Potions (post-Song of the Elves) offer alternative XP but are less common.

For most players, potion-making near a bank (e.g., Grand Exchange) is the go-to method. Buy unfinished potions and secondary ingredients from the Grand Exchange, combine them, and sell the potions to offset costs.

Useful Items for Training

• Amulet of Chemistry: 5% chance to create a 4-dose potion instead of 3-dose, saving ingredients. Check GE prices to ensure cost-effectiveness.
• Botanical Pie: Boosts Herblore by +4 temporarily, letting you make higher-level potions early (e.g., Prayer Potions at 34 instead of 38).
• Reagents Pouch: Unlocked via Mastering Mixology (level 81+), allows making 26 potions per inventory instead of 14, doubling AFK time.
• Herb Sack: Holds grimy herbs, ideal for Ironmen farming herbs. Obtainable for 750 Slayer points or 250 Tithe Farm points.

Fastest Pathway to 99 Herblore

The fastest way to 99 Herblore is by making high-XP potions, but it’s costly, ranging from 100-120M GP depending on GE prices. This method takes ~35 hours and yields up to 450,000 XP/hour at higher levels. Below is a step-by-step breakdown of the fastest potion-making progression, optimized for speed.

Level 3-38: Attack Potions

Start by making Attack Potions using Guam Potion (unf) and Eye of Newt. These are cheap and provide decent XP early on.

• XP/Hour: ~60,000
• Cost: ~100K to level 38
• Ingredients: Buy from GE or farm Guam (level 9 Farming) and purchase Eye of Newt from Betty’s Magic Emporium in Port Sarim.

Level 38-63: Prayer Potions

Switch to Prayer Potions using Ranarr Potion (unf) and Snape Grass. These are cost-efficient and in high demand, minimizing losses when sold.

• XP/Hour: ~210,000
• Cost: ~3M to level 63
• Tip: Use Botanical Pies at level 34 to access this method early, paired with Preserve Prayer to extend the boost.

Level 63-90: Super Restore Potions

Make Super Restore Potions with Snapdragon Potion (unf) and Red Spiders’ Eggs. This method balances speed and cost, with Super Restores being useful for PvM.

• XP/Hour: ~350,000
• Cost: ~72M to level 90
• Ironman Tip: Farm Snapdragons via herb runs and collect Red Spiders’ Eggs from Edgeville Dungeon or Tower of Life.

Level 90-99: Super Combat Potions

Finish with Super Combat Potions using Torstol Potion (unf) and four secondary ingredients (Irit Leaf, Kwuarm, Cadantine, Dwarf Weed). These offer high XP and can be profitable if sold.

• XP/Hour: ~300,000
• Cost: ~38M to level 99
• Profit: Up to 870,000 GP/hour if selling potions.

Alternative: Saradomin Brews (Level 81-99)

For the absolute fastest XP, make Saradomin Brews using Toadflax Potion (unf) and Crushed Bird Nests. This method is pricier but maximizes XP rates.

• XP/Hour: ~450,000
• Cost: ~110M for 60,232 potions
• Ironman Tip: Obtain nests via birdhouse runs or Giant Mole kills, and grow Toadflax via herb runs.

Fastest Herblore Training Summary

Level Range	Potion	XP/Hour	Approx. Cost
3-38	Attack Potions	60,000	100K
38-63	Prayer Potions	210,000	3M
63-90	Super Restore	350,000	72M
90-99	Super Combat	300,000	38M
81-99	Saradomin Brews	450,000	110M

Budget Pathway to 99 Herblore

If the fastest method is too expensive, a budget pathway costs ~35-50M and takes ~60 hours. This focuses on cheaper potions and herb cleaning, ideal for players with limited GP.

Level 3-38: Cleaning Herbs

Clean grimy herbs like Guam, Marrentill, or Tarromin for profit and XP. Auto-cleaning (post-2020 update) makes this less click-intensive.

• XP/Hour: ~88,000 (manual cleaning)
• Cost: Profit of ~8-20 GP per herb (e.g., Guam: buy at 20 GP, sell clean at 28 GP)
• Tip: Check GE prices before buying large quantities, as herb prices fluctuate.

Level 38-60: Prayer Potions

Make Prayer Potions, as they’re cheap and resell with minimal loss. Use the Amulet of Chemistry to save ingredients.

• XP/Hour: ~210,000
• Cost: ~3-5M to level 60

Level 60-99: Mastering Mixology

At level 60, participate in the Mastering Mixology minigame on Aldarin (requires Children of the Sun quest). This method uses no specific herbs or secondaries, offering up to 105,000 XP/hour at level 81 and unlocking items like the Reagents Pouch.

• XP/Hour: ~80,000-105,000
• Cost: Minimal, as reagents are provided
• Benefit: Ideal for Ironmen or low-budget players, with unique rewards.

Ironman Herblore Training Tips

Herblore is one of the toughest skills for Ironmen due to limited ingredient access. Here’s how to tackle it efficiently:

Questing for Early Levels

Complete quests for Herblore XP to skip early levels:

• Druidic Ritual: 250 XP (level 3)
• Jungle Potion: 775 XP
• Recruitment Drive: 1,000 XP
• Total: 9,350 XP from quests, reaching level 26

Gathering Ingredients

• Herb Runs: Farm herbs like Ranarr, Toadflax, and Snapdragon at Farming patches. Start early to stockpile seeds.
• Master Farmer Pickpocketing: At 94+ Thieving (with Ardougne Hard Diary), pickpocket Master Farmers for herb seeds.
• Slayer Drops: Nechryael, Aberrant Spectres, and Dagannoths drop herbs and seeds frequently.
• Birdhouse Runs: Yield bird nests for Saradomin Brews. Combine with Giant Mole kills for more nests.

Efficient Potion-Making

Make potions at the Grand Exchange’s southwest corner, noting potions via Bob Barter to save inventory space. Use the Hard Desert Diary perk to mix bulk Unfinished Potions, saving time. Focus on Prayer Potions and Super Restores, as their ingredients are easier to farm.

By following this guide, you’ll reach 99 Herblore efficiently, whether you’re chasing speed, saving GP, or playing as an Ironman. Check GE prices regularly, leverage quests, and consider Mastering Mixology for a low-cost alternative. Happy skilling!