OSRS Mining and Smithing Guide for 2025 Fast Leveling and Profits
Welcome to the ultimate Old School RuneScape (OSRS) Mining and Smithing guide for 2025! Whether you’re a new player or a seasoned adventurer in Gielinor, this guide will help you level up these complementary skills efficiently while maximizing profits. Mining and Smithing go hand-in-hand, allowing you to gather ores and craft valuable items like armor and weapons. Let’s dive into the best strategies, locations, and tips to reach level 99 in both skills!
Mining is a straightforward skill where you use a pickaxe to extract ores, gems, and other resources from rocks. These materials are essential for Smithing, making Mining a core skill for self-sufficient players, especially Ironmen. Early levels are quick to progress, and starting right sets the foundation for efficient leveling.
Levels 1-15: Copper and Tin
Begin your Mining journey by extracting Copper and Tin ores, each granting 17.5 XP per ore. These are perfect for new players as they’re abundant and easy to mine.
- Best Locations:
- Lumbridge Swamp Mine: Quiet, beginner-friendly, close to a furnace for smelting.
- South-east Varrock Mine: Popular but crowded; bank at Varrock East for Smithing prep.
- Tip: Complete Doric’s Quest for 1,300 XP, boosting you from level 1 to 10 instantly.
Pickaxe Progression
Always use the best pickaxe you can afford to reduce mining time. Here’s a quick progression table:
| Pickaxe | Mining Level | Attack Level to Wield | Where to Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 1 | 1 | Free on Tutorial Island |
| Iron | 1 | 1 | Grand Exchange (~200 gp) |
| Steel | 6 | 5 | Grand Exchange (~400 gp) |
| Mithril | 21 | 20 | Grand Exchange (~1,000 gp) |
| Rune | 41 | 40 | Grand Exchange (~12,000 gp) |
Pro Tip: Equip your pickaxe to save inventory space, but you only need the Mining level to use it, not the Attack level.
Advanced Mining Strategies
Once you hit level 15, Mining becomes more strategic. You’ll focus on faster XP methods or profitable ores, depending on your goals. Here’s how to progress efficiently.
Levels 15-60: Iron Ore Power Mining
Iron ore, yielding 35 XP per ore, is the fastest way to level up in free-to-play and early pay-to-play. Power mining (dropping ores instead of banking) maximizes XP rates.
- Top Spot: Al Kharid Mine – Three iron rocks in one tile allow non-stop mining at level 41 with a rune pickaxe.
- XP Rates: Up to 50,000 XP/hour at level 41; 52,500 XP/hour at level 61 (100% success rate).
- Note: Beware of level 14 scorpions in Al Kharid if you’re low combat.
Levels 30-99: Motherlode Mine
Unlocked at level 30, the Motherlode Mine offers a less click-intensive alternative. You mine pay-dirt, clean it, and collect ores, making it ideal for semi-AFK training.
- Location: Falador, Dwarven Mines.
- XP Rates: 20,000–40,000 XP/hour (increases at level 72 for upper levels).
- Perks: Golden nuggets for the Prospector Kit, which boosts XP by up to 2.5%.
Levels 40-99: Gem Rocks (Pay-to-Play)
After completing the Hard Karamja Diary, mine Gem Rocks in Shilo Village for 65 XP per gem and decent profits.
- XP Rates: 50,000–60,000 XP/hour.
- Profits: Gems like sapphires and diamonds sell well on the Grand Exchange.
High-Level Profit: Runite Mining
At level 85, Runite rocks become available, offering 125 XP per ore and high profits (10,000–15,000 gp per ore).
- Spots: Wilderness Resource Area, Mining Guild, or Mor Ul Rek (pay-to-play).
- Tip: World-hop for faster respawns, but watch for PKers in the Wilderness.
Smithing Fundamentals
Smithing transforms ores into bars and bars into items like armor and weapons. It’s expensive but rewarding, especially for crafting high-level gear. Early levels are best skipped with quests for quick XP.
Questing for Early Levels
Complete these quests to skip the grind from level 1 to nearly 40:
- The Knight’s Sword: 12,725 XP (level 1 to 29, 10 Mining required).
- Sleeping Giants: 6,000 XP, unlocks Giants’ Foundry.
- Elemental Workshop I & II: 5,000 and 7,500 XP.
- The Giant Dwarf: 2,500 XP, access to Blast Furnace.
Total XP: ~36,982, enough for level 39. From here, smith 2–20 iron platebodies to hit level 40.
Levels 1-40: Anvil Smithing
If you skip quests, smith at the anvil south of Varrock West Bank for proximity to a bank. Focus on the highest-level item per metal tier for maximum XP per bar.
- Bronze Platebodies (Level 18): 62.5 XP each, 50,000 XP/hour.
- Iron Platebodies (Level 33): 125 XP each, 100,000 XP/hour.
Tip: Use energy potions to sprint, boosting XP rates by reducing travel time.
Efficient Smithing Methods
From level 40, Smithing gets faster but costlier. The Blast Furnace and Giants’ Foundry are your go-to methods for balancing XP and profits.
Levels 40-99: Blast Furnace Gold Bars
Smelting gold bars at the Blast Furnace is the fastest Smithing method, especially with goldsmith gauntlets (56.2 XP per bar).
- Location: Keldagrim, Blast Furnace worlds (dwarves operate for 72,000 gp/hour).
- XP Rates: 350,000–420,000 XP/hour with 0-tick banking and Smithing cape.
- Cost: ~10–15M gp to 99 due to gold ore prices (~500 gp each).
- Setup: Wear goldsmith gauntlets, switch to ice gloves after XP drop to collect bars.
Pro Tip: Hire runners to trade gold ore for bars if you’re wealthy, pushing XP rates higher.
Levels 30-99: Giants’ Foundry
Introduced in 2022, Giants’ Foundry offers engaging gameplay where you craft giant swords for Kovac, balancing XP and profits.
- Location: South of Piscarilius, unlocked via Sleeping Giants.
- XP Rates: 100,000–230,000 XP/hour (scales with skill and strategy).
- Profits: Smelt cheaper bars (iron to mithril) for gp, or use high-level bars for XP.
- Perks: Earn moulds and Smiths’ Uniform for faster anvil actions.
Free-to-Play Smithing: Platebodies
For F2P players, smithing platebodies remains the best XP method post-quests.
- Steel Platebodies (Level 48): 187.5 XP each, 150,000 XP/hour.
- Adamant Platebodies (Level 88): 312.5 XP each, ~215,000 XP/hour.
- Rune Armor (Level 99): Profitable if alched or sold, best for endgame F2P.
Tips for Maximizing Efficiency and Profits
To make your Mining and Smithing grind enjoyable and cost-effective, follow these strategies:
General Tips
Balancing Profit and XP
Mining Runite or smelting Runite bars (level 85 Smithing) can net up to 1M gp/hour, offsetting Smithing costs. For F2P, high-alch rune items from adamant platebodies onward to recover gp.
Ironman Considerations
Ironmen should prioritize Motherlode Mine for ores and Giants’ Foundry for Smithing, as both provide materials without relying on the Grand Exchange. Mine coal and iron early to smelt steel for training.
Final Note: Mining and Smithing are click-intensive but rewarding skills. Alternate between methods like Motherlode Mine and Blast Furnace to avoid burnout. With dedication, you’ll earn the Mining and Smithing Skillcapes, unlocking powerful perks like the Smithing cape’s coal-free smelting. Happy skilling in Gielinor!