Rune Dart Tips in OSRS: The Ultimate Guide to Crafting, Uses, and Profits

Rune Dart Tips in OSRS: The Ultimate Guide to Crafting, Uses, and Profits


In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), rune dart tips are a valuable crafting material for players looking to level up their skills, create powerful ranged weapons, or even make a profit in the Grand Exchange. Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a newcomer to Gielinor, understanding how to craft, use, and capitalize on rune dart tips can enhance your gameplay. This comprehensive guide dives deep into everything you need to know about rune dart tips in OSRS, from their creation process to their practical applications and economic potential.

Rune dart tips are an essential item in OSRS used to craft rune darts, a popular ranged throwing weapon exclusive to members. These dart tips are forged through the Smithing skill and later combined with feathers via the Fletching skill to create fully functional darts. Known for their decent damage output and versatility, rune darts are a go-to choice for many players training Ranged or tackling specific combat scenarios.

How Rune Dart Tips Fit Into the Game

Rune dart tips serve as a bridge between two key skills: Smithing and Fletching. They’re a mid-to-high-tier item, requiring significant skill levels to craft and utilize, making them a rewarding milestone for players progressing through OSRS. Beyond their utility in combat, they also play a role in the game’s economy, as their value fluctuates based on supply, demand, and in-game events.

Why Rune Dart Tips Matter

For players, rune dart tips represent an opportunity to train multiple skills efficiently while potentially earning gold. They’re also tied to specific in-game requirements, like completing the Tourist Trap quest, adding a layer of progression that ties into the broader OSRS experience.

How to Craft Rune Dart Tips in OSRS

Crafting rune dart tips is a straightforward process, but it comes with prerequisites that players must meet. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how to get started.

Requirements for Crafting Rune Dart Tips

  • Smithing Level 89: You need a high Smithing level to work with rune bars and craft these tips.
  • Tourist Trap Quest: Completion of this members-only quest unlocks the ability to smith dart tips of any kind.
  • Tools: A hammer and an anvil are essential, both of which are readily available in OSRS.
  • Materials: One rune bar yields 10 rune dart tips.

Step-by-Step Crafting Process

  1. Gather your materials: Obtain a rune bar, either by smelting runite ore and coal or purchasing it from the Grand Exchange.
  2. Ensure you have a hammer in your inventory.
  3. Head to an anvil—popular locations include Varrock West Bank or Prifddinas for faster smithing.
  4. Use the rune bar on the anvil, select “Dart Tips” from the smithing interface, and craft 10 rune dart tips per bar.
  5. Earn 75 Smithing XP per bar processed.

Tips for Efficient Crafting

To maximize efficiency, consider using the Prifddinas anvil, which reduces the time per inventory by 2 ticks compared to other locations. Additionally, banking rune bars in bulk can streamline the process, especially if you’re aiming to craft thousands of tips for profit or Fletching.

Turning Rune Dart Tips Into Rune Darts

Once you’ve crafted rune dart tips, the next step is transforming them into usable rune darts. This process involves the Fletching skill and adds significant value to the tips.

Fletching Requirements

  • Fletching Level 81: A moderately high level is required to fletch rune darts.
  • Feathers: Each rune dart tip needs one feather, easily obtainable from shops like the ones in Port Sarim or via chicken farming.

How to Fletch Rune Darts

  1. Have both rune dart tips and feathers in your inventory.
  2. Use the feathers on the rune dart tips (or vice versa).
  3. Craft 10 rune darts at once, earning 188 Fletching XP per set (18.8 XP per dart).

Why Fletch Rune Darts?

Fletching rune darts is one of the faster ways to train Fletching in OSRS, offering decent experience rates without the exorbitant costs of higher-tier items like dragon darts. Plus, the resulting darts can be used in combat or sold for profit.

Uses of Rune Darts in OSRS

Rune darts, made from rune dart tips, are versatile ranged weapons with specific strengths that make them valuable in various situations.

Combat Applications

  • Ranged Training: With a +26 Ranged Strength bonus, rune darts are effective for mid-to-high-level training.
  • Poison Potential: They can be poisoned (e.g., with weapon poison++) for additional damage over time.
  • One-Handed Advantage: Pair them with a shield or god book for extra defense in combat.

Specific Scenarios

Rune darts shine in situations requiring rapid attacks, such as Slayer tasks or PvP encounters. They’re also a requirement for a master clue scroll skill challenge assigned by Sherlock, adding a niche use for completionists.

Loading Into a Toxic Blowpipe

Unpoisoned rune darts can be used as ammunition for the toxic blowpipe, boosting its accuracy (+30) and strength (+20) while offering a 25% chance to envenom targets. This makes them a cost-effective alternative to higher-end darts like dragon darts for certain PvM activities.

Profits and Economy of Rune Dart Tips

Rune dart tips and their finished darts are part of OSRS’s bustling economy. Understanding their market dynamics can help you turn a profit or avoid losses.

Current Market Trends (April 2025)

As of April 08, 2025, rune dart tips typically fluctuate in price based on supply from players smithing them and demand from Fletchers or combatants. Smithing them often results in a loss (e.g., around -767 coins per set), but fletching them into darts can yield a profit depending on feather and dart prices.

Money-Making Potential

Method Hourly Output Profit/Loss (Coins)
Smithing Rune Dart Tips 9,000–10,000 tips -690,300 to -767,000
Fletching Rune Darts Variable (depends on speed) Small profit (check GE prices)

Note: Always check the Grand Exchange for live prices before investing heavily, as profitability can shift daily.

Factors Influencing Value

  • Bot Activity: Ban waves targeting bots (e.g., Vorkath farmers) can reduce dart tip supply, raising prices.
  • Game Updates: New ranged weapons or nerfs (e.g., blowpipe changes) affect dart demand.
  • Player Demand: High Fletching or Ranged training periods can spike interest in rune darts.

Tips for Maximizing Profits

Buy rune bars and feathers in bulk during price dips, craft and fletch strategically, and sell when dart prices peak. Alternatively, use rune dart tips as a stepping stone to train skills rather than focusing solely on profit.

Conclusion

Rune dart tips in OSRS are more than just a crafting component—they’re a gateway to skill progression, combat utility, and economic opportunity. Whether you’re smithing them at an anvil, fletching them into darts, or trading them on the Grand Exchange, these little items pack a punch in terms of gameplay impact. By mastering their creation and application, you can enhance your OSRS journey, level up efficiently, and maybe even pad your coin pouch along the way. So, grab a hammer, stock up on rune bars, and start crafting—Gielinor awaits!