Ultimate Free-to-Play OSRS Smithing Guide

Smithing in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a vital skill that allows players to create weapons, armor, and various metal items. As a free-to-play player, mastering this skill can significantly enhance your gameplay experience, offering both economic benefits and the ability to craft equipment for combat. This guide aims to provide comprehensive insights into the Smithing skill, from its basics to advanced techniques, ensuring you can maximize your efficiency while training.
Smithing is one of the essential skills in OSRS, categorized as a production skill. It involves the crafting of metal items, which is crucial for both combat and utility. Players can smelt ores into bars and then use these bars to forge weapons and armor at anvils. The skill can be trained by performing various actions, including smelting ores, forging items, and even using the Blast Furnace for efficient bar production.
The skill is leveled up by gaining experience points (XP) through different activities. The experience required to level up increases with each level, meaning that as you progress, you’ll need to engage in more complex and resource-intensive activities. The experience rates vary based on the method used, making it important to choose the most efficient training methods available.
Smithing is commonly divided into several stages based on the equipment you can craft. Starting with bronze and iron items, players can advance to crafting higher-tier materials such as steel, mithril, adamant, and rune. Each material requires different ores, and understanding the best methods to mine these ores is crucial for efficient training. Players can mine ores using the Mining skill, which complements Smithing training effectively.
In free-to-play, the highest items you can smelt and smith are steel items. To create steel bars, you’ll need to combine iron ore (2) and coal (1) at a furnace. This creates opportunities to craft steel weapons and armor, which are valuable for both high combat levels and general gameplay.
Additionally, players can utilize the Blast Furnace, although this requires membership. This facility allows for faster production of bars by smelting ores in bulk, providing significant experience and efficiency. Understanding the nuances of the skill, such as the best ores to use and the equipment required, can greatly enhance your training efficiency and overall gameplay experience.
Ultimately, mastering Smithing in OSRS will not only help you equip yourself with better gear but also allow you to profit from the in-game economy by crafting and selling items to other players. With dedication and the right strategies, you can achieve high Smithing levels and become a proficient smith in Gielinor.
3. Getting Started: Required Materials and Tools
Before diving into the world of Smithing in Old School RuneScape (OSRS), it’s essential to gather the necessary materials and tools. Having the right supplies will streamline your experience and help you level up faster. Here’s what you need:
- Ore: The primary material for Smithing. You can mine various ores, including Copper, Tin, Iron, Silver, Gold, and others. Each ore type corresponds to different Smithing levels.
- Bars: Once you’ve mined ore, you’ll need to smelt it into bars. The basic ores will yield corresponding bars (e.g., Iron Ore -> Iron Bar).
- Anvil: You’ll need an anvil to forge your bars into items. Anvils are located in multiple cities, including Varrock, Falador, and Edgeville.
- Hammer: A hammer is essential for the Smithing process. You can purchase a hammer from various general stores or get one from the tool leprechauns found near Farming patches.
Additionally, upgrading your skills can be beneficial:
- Mining Pickaxe: A pickaxe helps you mine ore more efficiently. Higher-tier pickaxes like the Rune Pickaxe will speed up the mining process.
- Smelting Furnace: For smelting your ores into bars, you can use furnaces located in towns like Lumbridge, Varrock, and Karamja.
With these materials and tools in hand, you’re ready to embark on your Smithing journey!
4. Smithing Process: Step-by-Step Instructions
Now that you have your materials and tools ready, let’s break down the Smithing process into simple steps. This will help you understand how to effectively turn your ores into valuable items.
- Mining Ore: Start by mining the required ores using your pickaxe. For beginners, Copper and Tin are the best choices. Head to a mining site and start collecting!
- Smelting Bars: Once you have enough ore, find a furnace. Right-click on the furnace and select the option to ‘Smelt.’ Choose the type of ore you want to smelt. Remember, you’ll need a Coal if you’re smelting Iron Ore.
- Collecting Bars: After the smelting process, you’ll receive bars. These are now ready to be crafted into items. Make sure you have enough bars for the items you wish to create.
- Forging Items: Head to an anvil with your bars in your inventory. Right-click on the anvil and choose the item you want to create, like a sword, armor, or tools. Select it, and your character will start forging.
- Claiming Experience: Each time you create an item, you’ll gain Smithing experience. Keep track of your experience points to know when you’ll level up.
And there you have it! Following these steps will help you master the Smithing skill in OSRS. Happy smithing!
Best Items to Smith for Experience
When it comes to maximizing your experience in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) smithing, choosing the right items to smith is crucial. Not all items yield the same experience, and some can help you level up much faster than others. Here’s a breakdown of the best items to smith for experience, especially in the free-to-play (F2P) world:
- Bronze Bars: Smithing bronze items is one of the first steps in your smithing journey. While the experience isn’t massive, it’s a good starting point.
- Iron Bars: Iron bars are a significant step up. They provide better experience and are essential for creating stronger items.
- Iron Plates: Crafting iron plates is one of the most efficient ways to gain experience. You can make up to 900 experience points per plate!
- Steel Items: Once you hit level 30 smithing, steel items become available. These are not only good for experience but also for later combat gear.
- Steel Plates: Similar to iron plates, steel plates offer a hefty experience boost, making them one of the best options when you reach the required level.
- Full Helmets and Kiteshields: These items are perfect for those looking to level up quickly while also gearing up for battles.
In summary, start with bronze and iron items, then transition to steel as you level up. Focus on plates for the best experience gain!
Tips for Efficient Smithing in F2P
Smithing can be a time-consuming skill to level up, especially in the free-to-play version of OSRS. Here are some handy tips to make your smithing efforts more efficient:
- Use the Right Equipment: Always wear the best equipment available to you. For F2P, this means using a hammer and having your inventory organized with ores and bars.
- Choose the Right Furnace: The Varrock furnace is the most popular choice due to its proximity to banks. This saves time on trips and helps maximize your smithing time.
- Banking Strategy: Use the bank in Varrock effectively. Withdraw ores in batches, so you can smelt and smith without constant banking.
- Plan Your Smithing: Focus on items that provide the best experience per bar. Make a list of items to smith and stick to it.
- Join a Clan: Being part of a clan can provide you with valuable tips and resources. Plus, it makes the grind more enjoyable!
By following these tips, you can streamline your smithing process, making it not only faster but also a lot more enjoyable!
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Smithing
When diving into Smithing in Old School RuneScape (OSRS), it’s easy to fall into a few traps that can slow your progress and drain your resources. Here’s a rundown of the common mistakes players often make and how you can avoid them:
- Not Planning Ahead: Failing to plan your training path can lead to wasted resources. Before you start smelting or forging, check the most efficient methods and materials required for your desired level.
- Overlooking Quests: Many quests offer Smithing experience and unlock useful recipes. Ignoring these can make your training longer and less enjoyable. Always keep an eye out for quests like “The Knight’s Sword” that can give you a significant boost.
- Using the Wrong Bars: Some players waste materials by smithing items that give low experience. Always focus on items that provide the best experience per bar. For example, consider making plates or higher-tier items instead of low-level weapons.
- Ignoring Profitability: Not all smithing activities are profitable. Before you start crafting items, check the Grand Exchange prices to ensure you’re not losing money. A little research can go a long way.
- Neglecting Equipment: Smithing with subpar equipment can significantly slow down your progress. Equip the best tools and gear available to you to maximize efficiency.
- Not Utilizing Bonuses: Make the most of experience-boosting items like the Varrock Armor or the Goldsmith Gauntlets. These can greatly enhance your training speed.
By avoiding these common pitfalls, you’ll find your Smithing journey much smoother and more rewarding.
Conclusion and Additional Resources
In conclusion, Smithing in OSRS can be a highly rewarding skill to train, offering both utility and profit. With the right strategies, you can turn your time spent smithing into a valuable asset for your account. Here are some key takeaways:
- Always plan your training path to maximize efficiency.
- Take advantage of quests that provide Smithing experience.
- Focus on high-value items for crafting to enhance profitability.
- Utilize experience-boosting gear and items whenever possible.
To further enhance your Smithing skills, consider these additional resources:
Resource | Description |
---|---|
OSRS Wiki | An extensive guide covering all aspects of Smithing with updated information. |
YouTube Guides | Visual guides that can help you understand the mechanics and strategies. |
Reddit Community | A place to ask questions and share tips with fellow players. |
Happy smithing, and may you forge your way to success in Gielinor!