What to High Alch in OSRS: Best Items for Profit and Magic XP in 2025

High Level Alchemy, often called “High Alch” or simply “alching,” is one of the most popular methods in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) for training Magic while potentially earning gold—or at least minimizing losses. Unlocked at level 55 Magic, this spell converts items into coins based on 60% of their shop value, offering 65 Magic XP per cast. With the right items, you can turn a profit, break even, or train Magic efficiently without breaking the bank. In this guide, we’ll explore the best items to high alch in OSRS in 2025, factoring in current market trends, profit margins, and availability on the Grand Exchange (GE). Whether you’re a casual player, an Ironman, or a profit-driven mage, we’ve got you covered.

High Alching is a staple in OSRS because it combines convenience with utility. You can cast it anywhere, even while doing other activities like skilling or watching a stream, making it a low-effort way to level Magic. At roughly 1,200 casts per hour, you can earn up to 78,000 Magic XP per hour—pretty solid for a mid-level training method. Plus, if you pick the right items, you might even make some gold instead of just burning through runes. But the key is choosing wisely, as Nature Runes (currently around 100-150 GP each) and market fluctuations can eat into your profits if you’re not careful.

Understanding High Alch Mechanics

Before diving into specific items, let’s break down how High Alch works. You need 1 Nature Rune and 5 Fire Runes per cast—or just the Nature Rune if you use a Fire Staff, which provides unlimited Fire Runes. The spell turns an item into coins equal to 60% of its “shop value” (not its GE price), and the goal is to find items where this coin yield exceeds the combined cost of the item and the Nature Rune. For example, an item with a 10,000 GP shop value yields 6,000 GP when alched, so you’d want to buy it for less than 5,850 GP (assuming a 150 GP Nature Rune) to profit.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Items

• Profit Margin: Difference between alch value and GE price minus Nature Rune cost.
• GE Buy Limit: How many you can buy every 4 hours—higher limits mean less waiting.
• Availability: Items with high trade volume are easier to stock up on.
• Cost per Cast: Cheaper items let you alch longer with less upfront gold.

Top Profitable Items to High Alch in OSRS

Let’s get to the good stuff: the items that can make you money while you alch. Prices shift daily, so always double-check with tools like GE Tracker or Alchmate before buying in bulk. Here are some standout options based on profitability, availability, and buy limits as of April 2025.

Rune Items: Classic and Reliable

Rune armor and weapons are timeless alching choices due to their decent profit margins and commonality as Slayer drops. They’re especially great for Ironmen who can alch duplicates without worrying about GE prices.

• Rune Scimitar: Alch value 15,360 GP, GE price ~14,800 GP, profit ~400 GP per cast. Buy limit: 70.
• Rune 2h Sword: Alch value 38,400 GP, GE price ~37,500 GP, profit ~750 GP. Buy limit: 70.
• Rune Kiteshield: Alch value 32,640 GP, GE price ~31,900 GP, profit ~600 GP. Buy limit: 70.

Tip: These items have low buy limits, so they’re better for small batches or Ironmen. Regular players might need to hop worlds or wait out the 4-hour limit.

Battlestaves: High Volume, Steady Gains

Battlestaves are a favorite for their high buy limits and consistent margins. Crafters often sell them below alch value to offload stock quickly, creating opportunities for alchers.

• Air Battlestaff: Alch value 9,300 GP, GE price ~8,900 GP, profit ~250 GP. Buy limit: 11,000.
• Water Battlestaff: Alch value 9,300 GP, GE price ~8,850 GP, profit ~300 GP. Buy limit: 11,000.
• Fire Battlestaff: Alch value 9,300 GP, GE price ~8,950 GP, profit ~200 GP. Buy limit: 11,000.

Why They Work: With a buy limit of 11,000, you can stock up for hours of alching without interruption, making them ideal for long sessions.

Jewelry: Small Profits, Big Potential

Crafted jewelry like bracelets and necklaces can yield modest profits, especially when supply outpaces demand on the GE.

• Combat Bracelet: Alch value 15,780 GP, GE price ~15,400 GP, profit ~230 GP. Buy limit: 10,000.
• Onyx Ring: Alch value 121,200 GP, GE price ~120,000 GP, profit ~1,050 GP. Buy limit: 10,000.

Note: Onyx Rings require significant upfront gold, so they’re better for players with deep pockets.

Best Items for Breaking Even or Low Loss

Not every alching session needs to be about profit. Sometimes you just want to train Magic without losing too much GP. These items keep your costs close to zero or slightly negative, balancing XP gains with affordability.

Yew Longbows: The Classic Choice

Yew Longbow: Alch value 768 GP, GE price ~650 GP, loss ~50 GP per cast (with 150 GP Nature Rune). Buy limit: 10,000.

Yew Longbows are a go-to for Magic training because they’re cheap, widely available, and have a high buy limit. The small loss is worth it for the 65 XP per cast, especially if you’re fletching them yourself as an Ironman.

Magic Longbows: Budget-Friendly XP

Magic Longbow: Alch value 1,536 GP, GE price ~1,300 GP, profit ~80 GP. Buy limit: 10,000.

These offer a slight profit and are easy to source, making them a solid pick for low-effort training with a bonus.

High Alch Strategies for Ironmen

Ironmen can’t rely on the GE, so their alching strategy revolves around drops and self-made items. Fortunately, High Alch is a perfect way to turn excess loot into gold.

Slayer Drops to Alch

• Rune Med Helm: Alch value 11,520 GP—common from Gargoyles or Nechryaels.
• Adamant Platebody: Alch value 9,984 GP—drops from Greater Demons or Cyclopes.
• Dragon Dagger: Alch value 18,000 GP—occasional drop from Dragons or Chaos Druids.

Pro Tip: Bank these drops until you’re ready for an alching spree to maximize efficiency.

Crafting Your Own Items

Fletching bows or crafting battlestaves can net you items worth alching. For example, making Yew Longbows from logs and bowstrings costs less than their 768 GP alch value if you gather materials yourself, turning a profit while training multiple skills.

Advanced High Alch Tips and Tools

To get the most out of alching, use these strategies and resources to optimize your experience.

Where to Alch for Maximum Efficiency

• Fountain of Rune (Wilderness): No rune costs, but high PK risk—bring cheap gear.
• Explorer’s Ring 4: 30 free alchs per day, perfect for small batches.
• Duel Arena (Above Arena): Safe spot with no random events, great for AFK alching.

Tools to Find Profitable Items

Use these websites to stay ahead of GE price changes:

Tool	Features
GE Tracker	Live prices, profit margins, buy limits
Alchmate	High alch calculator, updated daily
OSRS Wiki	Static alch values for planning

Avoiding Common Mistakes

• Overbuying: Don’t sink all your gold into one item—prices can crash.
• Ignoring Rune Costs: Always factor in Nature Rune prices.
• Accidental Alchs: Set your valuable item warning to 50k+ to avoid losing rares.

Conclusion: Start Alching Smart Today

High Alching in OSRS is a versatile skill that can fit any playstyle—whether you’re chasing profits with Rune 2h Swords, grinding XP with Yew Longbows, or clearing bank space as an Ironman. The key is to stay informed about GE prices, use the right tools, and pick items that match your goals. As of April 2025, battlestaves and rune items remain top picks for profit, while bows offer a budget-friendly XP grind. So grab your Fire Staff, stock up on Nature Runes, and start alching your way to Magic mastery and a fatter coin pouch!