OSRS Ironman Fletching Guide 1-99

OSRS Ironman Fletching Guide 1-99

Fletching is a vital skill for Ironman accounts in Old School RuneScape (OSRS), enabling players to craft ranged weapons and ammunition crucial for Slayer, bossing, and general combat. As an Ironman, gathering resources is a challenge, but fletching’s stackable materials make it a flexible skill to train alongside others like Agility, Runecraft, or Farming. This comprehensive guide covers the fastest and most efficient methods to reach level 99 Fletching on an Ironman account, with tips to optimize resource gathering and experience rates.

Fletching is essential for Ironmen due to its utility in creating high-level arrows, darts, and bolts for Ranged combat. It also provides mid-tier Ranged gear and can be a profitable skill through high-alching crafted bows. The ability to train fletching during downtime in other activities makes it a low-effort skill to level, despite the resource-gathering hurdle. Key benefits include:

  • Self-sufficiency: Craft your own ammunition for Slayer and bossing.
  • Profitability: High-alch maple longbows for consistent gold.
  • Flexibility: Train while doing other skills or quests.

Early Levels (1-52): Building the Foundation

OSRS 199 Fletching Guide  YouTube

Early fletching levels focus on low-cost, accessible methods that leverage readily available resources. Since Ironmen can’t rely on the Grand Exchange, gathering logs, feathers, and other materials is key.

Levels 1-5: Arrow Shafts

Start by cutting regular trees to gather logs, then use a knife to fletch them into arrow shafts. Each log yields 15 arrow shafts, granting 5 experience per log (0.33 experience per shaft). This method is slow but requires minimal resources.

  • Materials: Logs (78 needed for level 5).
  • XP Rate: ~5,000 XP/hour.
  • Tip: Cut trees near a bank, like Lumbridge, to minimize travel time.

Levels 5-20: Shortbows and Longbows

From level 5, fletch regular logs into shortbows (unstrung) for 5 experience each. At level 10, switch to longbows (unstrung) for 10 experience each. These methods are straightforward and use logs from woodcutting.

  • Materials: Logs (532 shortbows to level 20).
  • XP Rate: ~10,000-15,000 XP/hour.
  • Tip: Save unstrung bows for high-alching later if you have Magic levels.

Levels 20-35: Oak Bows

At level 20, chop oak trees and fletch oak logs into oak shortbows (unstrung) for 16.5 experience each. At level 25, switch to oak longbows (unstrung) for 25 experience each. Oak logs are faster to gather than regular logs.

  • Materials: Oak logs (~1,200 to level 35).
  • XP Rate: ~20,000-30,000 XP/hour.
  • Tip: Train at the Woodcutting Guild for a +7 Woodcutting boost if you have 60 Woodcutting.

Levels 35-52: Willow and Maple Bows

At level 35, fletch willow logs into willow longbows (unstrung) for 41.5 experience each. At level 50, switch to maple shortbows (unstrung) for 50 experience each, ideally using maple logs from Managing Miscellania. Unlock Miscellania by completing the Throne of Miscellania quest and assign workers to maple logs for a steady supply.

  • Materials: Willow logs (~2,000), Maple logs (~3,000).
  • XP Rate: ~40,000-60,000 XP/hour.
  • Tip: Combine with Woodcutting for efficiency; bank logs for later use.

Core Training (52-99): Broad Arrows and Beyond

From level 52, broad arrows become the most efficient fletching method for Ironmen due to their high experience rates and buyable supplies. Other methods, like maple longbows, offer profitability and AFK training.

Unlocking Broad Arrows

To fletch broad arrows, purchase the “Broader Fletching” perk for 300 Slayer points from any Slayer master. This requires completing early Slayer tasks, so prioritize Slayer training if you haven’t unlocked it.

  • Cost: 300 Slayer points.
  • Tip: Complete low-level Slayer tasks with Konar for a chance at brimstone keys, which yield fletching supplies.

Levels 52-90: Broad Arrows

Fletching broad arrows is the meta for Ironman fletching due to its speed and stackable materials. Each broad arrow grants 11 experience (including 1 experience from making headless arrows). Buy broad arrowhead packs (450 arrowheads) from Slayer masters, feathers from fishing shops (2 coins each), and arrow shafts from the Ranging Guild (1 coin each, requires 40 Ranged).

  • Materials: ~860,000 broad arrowheads, headless arrows (feathers + arrow shafts).
  • XP Rate: ~450,000 XP/hour (active), ~200,000 XP/hour (multitasking).
  • Cost: ~43M GP (broad arrowheads cost ~55 coins each).
  • Tip: Fletch while training Agility or Farming to maximize efficiency.
Level Method XP per Action Approx. XP/Hour
52-90 Broad Arrows 11 200,000-450,000
50-99 Maple Longbows (u) 58.3 100,000-120,000

Alternative: Maple Longbows (50-99)

For a more AFK and profitable method, fletch maple logs into maple longbows (unstrung) for 58.3 experience each. High-alch them for 384 coins each (requires 55 Magic). Source maple logs from Miscellania or chop them at the Woodcutting Guild.

  • Materials: ~150,000 maple logs.
  • XP Rate: ~100,000-120,000 XP/hour.
  • Profit: ~460,800 GP/hour (after nature rune costs).
  • Tip: Use OSRS Mobile for AFK fletching at work or during downtime.

High-Level Methods (90-99): Darts and Shields

At higher levels, Ironmen can opt for darts or redwood shields for faster experience or resource efficiency, depending on their goals.

Levels 90-99: Amethyst Darts

Fletch amethyst darts for high experience rates, ideal for Ironmen needing darts for the toxic blowpipe. Mine amethyst at the Mining Guild (requires 92 Mining) and smith dart tips. Complete The Tourist Trap quest to unlock dart fletching.

  • Materials: ~576,000 amethyst dart tips, feathers.
  • XP Rate: ~600,000-900,000 XP/hour.
  • Tip: Fletch on OSRS Mobile with two-finger tapping for faster rates.

Levels 92-99: Redwood Shields

If you have excess redwood logs from Woodcutting, fletch them into redwood shields at level 92. Each shield requires two logs and grants 216 experience (108 per log). This is an AFK method with decent rates.

  • Materials: ~60,000 redwood logs.
  • XP Rate: ~150,000 XP/hour.
  • Tip: Chop redwoods at the Woodcutting Guild for a steady supply.

Passive Fletching: Wintertodt and Multitasking

Ironmen can gain passive fletching experience through the Wintertodt minigame, which also trains Firemaking and Woodcutting. Fletch bruma roots into kindling for 0.6 times your Fletching level in experience (e.g., 60 experience at level 100).

Wintertodt Fletching

Start Wintertodt at level 20 Fletching for better experience per kindling. Each root yields 0.6-59.4 experience, with 350-370 kindling fletched per hour.

  • XP Rate: ~10,000-20,000 XP/hour (Fletching, depending on level).
  • Tip: Bank Wintertodt crates until higher levels for better scaled rewards.

Multitasking Strategies

Fletching’s stackable materials make it ideal for multitasking. Common activities include:

  • Agility: Fletch headless arrows or darts during rooftop courses.
  • Farming: Fletch between farm runs.
  • Questing: Fletch during travel or dialogue-heavy quests.

Tips for Resource Gathering

Resource gathering is the biggest bottleneck for Ironman fletching. Here are strategies to streamline it:

Feathers

Buy feather packs (2 coins per feather) from fishing shops like Gerrant’s Fishy Business in Port Sarim or the Fishing Guild. Alternatively, complete Bone Voyage for birdhouse trapping on Fossil Island, which yields feathers passively.

Arrow Shafts

Purchase arrow shafts (1 coin each) at Dargaud’s Bow and Arrow shop in the Ranging Guild (requires 40 Ranged). If Ranged is low, fletch shafts from willow logs at level 30 Woodcutting (45 shafts per log).

Bowstrings

Obtain bowstrings via Temple Trekking (up to 3,000/hour) or kill Zulrah for flax, then use the Spin Flax spell (level 76 Magic) for ~1,600 bowstrings/hour.

Logs

Maximize Miscellania for maple logs after 90 Herblore and 99 Construction. Chop yew or redwood logs at the Woodcutting Guild for higher-tier methods.

By following this guide, Ironmen can efficiently reach 99 Fletching while balancing resource gathering and multitasking. Whether you prioritize speed with broad arrows or profit with maple longbows, fletching is a rewarding skill that enhances your Ironman journey.