OSRS Ironman Fletching Guide: Level 1-99 Fast & Efficient

Fletching is one of the most versatile and rewarding skills for Ironman accounts in Old School RuneScape (OSRS). As an Ironman, you’re restricted from trading with other players, making self-sufficiency key. This guide will walk you through the fastest and most efficient methods to reach level 99 Fletching on your Ironman account, while also providing practical tips for gathering resources and maximizing your time. Whether you’re fletching arrows for Slayer or crafting bows for profit, this comprehensive 1-99 Fletching guide has you covered.

Fletching isn’t just a skill to max out for the sake of completion—it’s a cornerstone of Ironman gameplay. From creating ammunition for Ranged combat to crafting mid-tier gear, Fletching directly supports your progression in Slayer, bossing, and even money-making through high alchemy. The stackable nature of fletching materials like feathers and arrow shafts makes it easy to train alongside other skills such as Agility, Farming, or Runecrafting, saving you valuable time.

Key Benefits of Fletching for Ironmen

• Ammo Crafting: High-level arrows and darts are essential for Ranged training and Slayer tasks.
• Gear Creation: Mid-tier Ranged armor and weapons can be crafted as you level.
• Profit Potential: Stringing bows and alching them provides a steady income source.
• Multi-Skilling: Train Fletching passively while working on other skills.

Getting Started: Levels 1-30

The early levels of Fletching are slow but manageable with basic resources. As an Ironman, you’ll need to gather your own logs and feathers, so combining Fletching with Woodcutting and combat training is a smart approach.

Level 1-5: Arrow Shafts

Start by cutting regular trees to gather logs. Use a knife to fletch these into arrow shafts, which grant 5 XP per log (or 0.33 XP per shaft). You’ll need about 78 logs to reach level 5, taking just a few minutes. This method is simple and pairs well with early Woodcutting training.

Level 5-20: Shortbows and Longbows

Next, fletch your logs into shortbows (u) until level 10 (12 XP each), then switch to longbows (u) until level 20 (25 XP each). You’ll need around 150 logs total for this stage. Chickens are a great source of feathers if you’re also collecting them for headless arrows later.

Level 20-30: Oak Shortbows

Chop oak trees and fletch the logs into oak shortbows (u) for 16.5 XP each. You’ll need approximately 300 oak logs to hit level 30. This is a good time to start banking feathers from chickens or fishing shops (feather packs cost 2 GP each).

Early to Mid-Game: Levels 30-52

At this stage, you’ll unlock more efficient training methods and start preparing for the real grind. Focus on gathering resources like willow logs and maple logs while building a stockpile of feathers and arrow shafts.

Level 30-40: Willow Longbows

Fletch willow logs into willow longbows (u) for 41.5 XP each. Chop willow trees near Draynor Village or Port Sarim for a steady supply. You’ll need around 700 willow logs to reach level 40. This method is semi-AFK and pairs well with Woodcutting XP.

Level 40-52: Maple Shortbows

Switch to maple shortbows (u) at 50 XP each. Maple logs can be obtained from Managing Miscellania (set your kingdom to gather maple logs after completing Throne of Miscellania) or by chopping maple trees in the Seers’ Village area. You’ll need about 1,200 maple logs to hit level 52.

Gathering Feathers Efficiently

Feathers are a bottleneck for Ironmen. Kill chickens for small batches (5-15 feathers per drop) or buy feather packs from fishing shops like Port Sarim or the Fishing Guild. At 40 Ranged, you can also buy arrow shafts from the Ranging Guild for 1 GP each, saving Woodcutting time.

The Broad Arrow Grind: Levels 52-99

Once you hit level 52, broad arrows become the fastest and most practical Fletching method for Ironmen. This method requires unlocking the “Broader Fletching” perk from a Slayer Master for 300 Slayer points, but it’s worth every point.

Why Broad Arrows?

• High XP Rates: Up to 450k XP/hour with full focus.
• Stackable Supplies: Feathers, arrow shafts, and broad arrowheads take minimal inventory space.
• Multi-Tasking: Fletch while training Agility, Farming, or questing.
• Accessible Materials: Buy broad arrowhead packs from Slayer Masters (50 arrowheads per pack).

How to Train with Broad Arrows

First, make headless arrows by combining feathers with arrow shafts (1 XP each). Then, attach broad arrowheads to the headless arrows for 10 XP each, totaling 11 XP per broad arrow. You’ll need 1,174,000 broad arrows to go from 52 to 99, costing around 76M GP if you buy all supplies at minimum shop prices. Expect to make 45,000 arrows per hour with moderate attention, or up to 60,000 with intense focus.

Resource Gathering for Broad Arrows

Item	Source	Cost/Availability
Feathers	Fishing shops (feather packs)	2 GP each
Arrow Shafts	Ranging Guild or chop logs	1 GP each or free from Woodcutting
Broad Arrowheads	Slayer Masters (packs of 50)	50-55 GP each

Pro Tip: Stock up on supplies daily by hopping worlds at Slayer Masters and shops to maximize your haul.

Alternative Methods for Levels 50-99

If broad arrows feel too expensive or you prefer a more AFK approach, here are some alternative methods to consider. These are slower but can be more sustainable depending on your resources and goals.

Wintertodt (Passive XP)

Subduing Wintertodt offers passive Fletching XP by turning bruma roots into kindling (0.6x your Fletching level per kindling). At level 50, you’ll get 30 XP per action, and with 350-370 kindling per hour, that’s 10k-11k XP/hour. Pair this with Firemaking training for early levels, but don’t rely on it past level 70 Fletching.

Maple Longbows (Profit Option)

Fletch maple logs into maple longbows (u) for 58.3 XP each, then string them with bowstrings (another 58.3 XP each). High alch the finished bows for 384 GP each. You’ll need bowstrings from Temple Trekking (up to 3,000/hour) or spinning flax from Zulrah drops. This method yields 100k-120k XP/hour and decent profit, though it’s slower than broad arrows.

Redwood Shields (Level 92+)

At level 92, fletch redwood logs into redwood shields for 216 XP each (108 XP per log). With excess logs from Woodcutting, you can hit 150k-170k XP/hour with minimal effort. This is a great AFK option if you’ve been farming redwood trees for other skills.

Tips for Efficient Fletching on Ironman

Maximizing your Fletching grind requires smart resource management and time-saving strategies. Here’s how to optimize your journey to 99:

Multi-Skill Whenever Possible

Fletching’s stackable supplies make it ideal for training alongside other skills. Make headless arrows or broad arrows while running Agility courses, doing farm runs, or even waiting out Slayer tasks. This “zero-time” training approach cuts down on dedicated skilling hours.

Banking XP Early

Store logs, feathers, and arrowheads in your bank as you gather them from PvM, Woodcutting, or shop runs. This “banked XP” ensures you’re ready for big fletching sessions later without scrambling for supplies.

Quest Boosts

Complete quests like Animal Magnetism (2,500 XP) or Big Chompy Bird Hunting (735 XP) to skip some early levels. These small boosts can save you time and logs in the 1-20 range.

Endgame Goals

At higher levels, craft amethyst darts (level 90) or dragon arrows (level 95) for bossing and raids. These are costly but provide top-tier ammo for your Ranged setup, making the grind worthwhile.

Reaching 99 Fletching as an Ironman in OSRS is a marathon, not a sprint. Broad arrows offer the fastest path, while alternatives like maple longbows and redwood shields provide flexibility for profit or AFK training. By gathering resources efficiently and multi-skilling where possible, you’ll hit that coveted skillcape while bolstering your account for endgame content. Happy fletching!