The OSRS Herblore Guide is one of the most important resources for players who want to master potion-making in Old School RuneScape. Herblore is a members-only skill that allows you to clean herbs, combine ingredients, and create powerful potions. These potions are essential for PvM (Player vs Monster), PvP (Player vs Player), and skilling activities.
Whether you’re aiming for level 99 Herblore or simply looking for profitable methods to train, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know. From cheap training strategies to fast XP methods and Ironman-friendly approaches, you’ll discover the most effective paths to success.
Introduction to OSRS Herblore Guide
Herblore in OSRS is a skill that directly impacts combat effectiveness. Without access to potions like Super Restore, Saradomin Brews, or Super Combat potions, most high-level content becomes extremely difficult. Training this skill is often considered expensive, but with the right strategies, you can balance both profit and experience gain.
In this OSRS Herblore Guide, we’ll explore:
- The fastest training methods from level 1–99.
- Cheapest training routes for budget-conscious players.
- Profitable potion-making opportunities.
- Tips tailored for Ironman accounts.
- Quests and items that boost Herblore efficiency.
By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how to maximize your training while keeping costs under control.
Why Train Herblore in OSRS?
Many players wonder if Herblore is worth the time and gold investment. The answer is a resounding yes. Training Herblore provides both immediate combat advantages and long-term financial opportunities.
Benefits of High-Level Herblore
- Access to powerful potions like Super Combat, Extended Antifire, and Divine potions.
- Higher profits from potion-making and flipping supplies.
- Essential for raids such as Chambers of Xeric and Theatre of Blood.
- Respected skillcape perk – restores 50% of your Run Energy every minute when worn.
Role of Herblore in PvM and PvP
- In PvM, potions like Saradomin Brews and Prayer potions are crucial for survival during long boss fights.
- In PvP, Overloads aren’t available in OSRS, but Super Restore and Antidotes give players the edge against opponents.
- Without Herblore, you’ll spend far more gold buying potions from other players instead of crafting them yourself.
Herblore is more than just a support skill—it’s a cornerstone of advanced gameplay.
OSRS Herblore Training Guide Basics
Before diving into advanced methods, let’s cover the fundamentals of training Herblore.
Starting Herblore in Old School RuneScape
To begin training, you must first complete the quest “Druidic Ritual.” This unlocks the skill and allows you to clean herbs and make potions. From here, you’ll need:
- Herbs (clean or grimy)
- Secondaries (e.g., red spiders’ eggs, vials of water, limpwurt roots)
- Empty vials
Tip: Always keep track of herb prices on the Grand Exchange before starting training.
Essential Items for Herblore Training
- Vials of Water – needed for almost every potion.
- Pestle and Mortar – used to grind certain secondary ingredients.
- Herbs – the foundation of every potion.
- Secondary Ingredients – items like chocolate dust, unicorn horns, or snape grass.
Understanding these basics ensures that you’re fully prepared before investing GP into the skill.
Fastest OSRS Herblore Training Methods
Training Herblore from level 1–99 can be expensive, but with the right potion choices, you’ll achieve maximum XP rates. Below is a breakdown of the fastest training methods across different level brackets.
Level 1–15 Herblore Training Guide
The first levels are straightforward:
- Questing: Completing Druidic Ritual gives you level 3 instantly. Other quests like Jungle Potion and Heroes’ Quest provide early boosts.
- Attack Potions: Use Guam leaves and Eye of Newt. Cheap and easy, but XP rates are slow.
Estimated cost: 50k–100k GP
XP per hour: 10k–15k
Level 15–55 Herblore Training Guide
At this stage, you unlock more profitable options:
- Serum 207 (Level 15): Cheap training, but not stackable in the bank.
- Energy Potions (Level 26): Requires Harralander and Chocolate Dust. Decent XP and sells well.
- Prayer Potions (Level 38): One of the most in-demand potions in OSRS. Requires Ranarr and Snape Grass.
Estimated cost: 5M–10M GP
XP per hour: 30k–60k
Level 55–99 Herblore Training Guide
This is where things get expensive but efficient:
- Super Strength Potions (Level 55): Kwuarm + Limpwurt Root. Popular and consistent sellers.
- Super Restore Potions (Level 63): Snapdragons + Red Spiders’ Eggs. Great XP and demand is always high.
- Saradomin Brews (Level 81): Toadflax + Crushed Nests. High cost but essential for PvM.
- Super Combat Potions (Level 90): Combine Super Attack, Strength, and Defence. One of the most expensive but fastest XP methods.
Estimated cost: 100M–250M GP (depending on GE prices)
XP per hour: 150k–350k
Profitable OSRS Herblore Training Methods
Not everyone can afford the fastest methods. Luckily, there are ways to train Herblore profitably.
Making Potions for Profit
- Stamina Potions (Level 77): Requires Super Energy + Amylase Crystal. Always in demand for PvM and skilling.
- Antifire Potions (Level 69): Lantadyme + Dragon Scale Dust. Essential for dragon hunting.
- Extended Super Antifire Potions (Level 98): High demand for high-level PvM, with decent profits.
Cleaning Herbs for GP
Cleaning herbs may seem slow, but it’s a surprisingly profitable method. Players often prefer buying clean herbs, allowing you to profit from cleaning grimy ones. Herbs like Ranarrs and Toadflax are especially good.
XP per hour: 10k–20k
Profit per hour: 300k–1M GP
Daily Herb Runs and Farming Synergy
One of the best long-term ways to support Herblore training is through Farming. Daily herb runs give you:
- Consistent GP income.
- Herbs you can use directly for training.
- Passive XP gains from farming.
Combining Farming with Herblore drastically reduces training costs.
OSRS Herblore Training Costs
Training Herblore can be one of the most expensive grinds in Old School RuneScape. Understanding the costs helps you plan your GP spending wisely.
Cheapest Herblore Training Guide
If your goal is budget-friendly training, consider:
- Serum 207 (Level 15+) – low XP, but the cheapest method in the game.
- Energy Potions (Level 26+) – moderate XP and sometimes break-even on GE.
- Prayer Potions (Level 38+) – demand is so high that you often lose very little GP.
Cheapest path 1–99: 50M–70M GP (depending on prices).
High-Cost Fast XP Training
If you prefer speed over cost-efficiency, the fastest training methods include:
- Super Restore Potions – high XP, moderate loss.
- Saradomin Brews – expensive but fast.
- Super Combat Potions – among the priciest, but insane XP rates.
Fastest path 1–99: 150M–250M GP.
Useful Quests for OSRS Herblore Guide
Quests are an underrated way to boost Herblore levels early without grinding potions.
Quests that Grant Herblore Experience
- Druidic Ritual – 250 XP, unlocks Herblore skill.
- Jungle Potion – 775 XP.
- Heroes’ Quest – 1,325 XP.
- Shilo Village – 3,675 XP.
- Fairytale I – Growing Pains – 2,000 XP.
- My Arm’s Big Adventure – 10,000 XP.
Collectively, quests can push you to level 30+ Herblore without much effort.
Quests Unlocking Useful Potions
Some quests unlock crucial recipes for high-level PvM:
- Recipe for Disaster – unlocks various stat-boosting potions.
- Lunar Diplomacy – helps Ironmen with secondary gathering.
- King’s Ransom – pairs well with Farming for herb runs.
OSRS Herblore Training with Farming
Herblore and Farming are best trained together because herbs are expensive. Growing your own herbs significantly reduces costs.
Best Herbs to Grow for Training
- Ranarrs – used in Prayer Potions, high demand.
- Snapdragons – essential for Super Restores.
- Toadflax – great for Saradomin Brews.
- Torstol – used in Super Combat potions.
Combining Farming and Herblore XP
- Daily herb runs can yield 200k–500k GP profit.
- Farming provides a steady supply of herbs for training.
- Pair with herb boxes from NMZ for even more savings.
Herblore Boosts and Helpful Items
Boosts and utility items can speed up Herblore training significantly.
Portable Banks, Gloves, and Bonuses
- Portable banks (from POH or PvM areas) reduce banking time.
- Graceful outfit speeds up trips during herb runs.
- Varrock armour improves herb yield in patches.
Potions that Improve Training Speed
- Amulet of Chemistry – saves secondary ingredients when making potions.
- Amulet of Eternal Glory – speeds up banking in Edgeville.
- Stamina Potions – crucial for quick herb runs.
OSRS Herblore Guide for Ironman Accounts
Ironman accounts face unique challenges because they can’t buy supplies from the Grand Exchange.
Training Without the Grand Exchange
- Collect herbs from drops (Chaos Druids, Aberrant Spectres, etc.).
- Farm herbs regularly with Farming patches.
- Gather secondaries like limpwurt roots and snape grass manually.
Best Herbs to Collect as Ironman
- Ranarrs – essential for Prayer Potions.
- Snapdragons – for Super Restores.
- Torstols – needed for Super Combats.
Ironmen should expect slower training, but with steady self-sufficiency.
Herblore and Money-Making Methods
Herblore isn’t just a money sink; with the right strategy, it can be a strong money-maker.
High-Demand Potions to Sell
- Prayer Potions – always in demand for Slayer, PvM, and PKing.
- Stamina Potions – heavily used for skilling and long-distance travel.
- Super Restores – essential for raids and bossing.
- Antifire & Extended Antifire Potions – required for dragon hunting.
Selling these on the Grand Exchange guarantees quick profits.
Flipping Herblore Supplies
The Grand Exchange offers opportunities to flip:
- Grimy vs. Clean herbs.
- Potions vs. unfinished potions.
- Secondary ingredients like Red Spider Eggs, Limpwurt Roots, and Snape Grass.
Skilled flippers can make millions per hour with minimal effort.
Tips to Maximize Herblore Training Efficiency
Efficiency is key when grinding an expensive skill like Herblore.
Inventory Setup and Hotkeys
- Always keep 14 herbs and 14 vials of water for optimal mixing.
- Use bank fillers to speed up withdrawals.
- Enable OSRS hotkeys for quick banking and crafting.
Banking and Time-Saving Tricks
- Train at Varrock West Bank or Grand Exchange for fastest banking.
- Stockpile supplies before starting long training sessions.
- Use Herblore Habitat (RS3 style methods aren’t in OSRS)—instead, pair training with herb runs for extra efficiency.
FAQs on OSRS Herblore Guide
Q1. What is the fastest way to train Herblore in OSRS?
The fastest method is making Super Combat Potions from level 90–99, though it’s very costly.
Q2. What is the cheapest Herblore training method?
Serum 207 and Energy Potions are among the cheapest ways to train, though slower.
Q3. Can Ironman accounts train Herblore efficiently?
Yes, but Ironmen must rely on Farming herbs, monster drops, and gathering secondaries manually.
Q4. Is Herblore profitable in OSRS?
It can be if you focus on high-demand potions like Prayer or Stamina potions, especially when ingredient prices are low.
Q5. Do quests help with Herblore training?
Yes, quests like Jungle Potion and My Arm’s Big Adventure provide free XP boosts and potion unlocks.
Q6. How much does it cost to get 99 Herblore?
Depending on the method, between 50M–250M GP.
Conclusion – Mastering Herblore in OSRS
Herblore is one of the most useful yet costly skills in Old School RuneScape. Whether you aim for fastest XP methods, budget-friendly training, or Ironman efficiency, there’s a strategy for every player.
By combining quest rewards, daily herb runs, and smart potion choices, you can drastically cut costs while still gaining impressive experience. For wealthier players, Saradomin Brews, Super Restores, and Super Combats provide lightning-fast XP at a price.
In the end, the best OSRS Herblore Guide is one that balances efficiency, cost, and long-term usefulness. Mastering this skill not only makes you a stronger adventurer but also opens new doors for profit and prestige.