OSRS Herblore Guide: A Comprehensive Approach (Updated 01/27/2026)

This comprehensive guide details efficient OSRS Herblore training, from levels 1-99, covering both free-to-play and pay-to-play methods.
It includes updated prices and recent changes!

Herblore is the skill in Old School RuneScape centered around the gathering, cleaning, and processing of herbs to create various potions and other useful items. It’s a crucial skill for many aspects of the game, offering significant benefits to combat, skilling, and overall player power. Training Herblore typically begins after completing the Druidic Ritual quest, which grants players a starting level of 3 in the skill.

Initially, Herblore focuses on creating basic potions with relatively simple ingredients. As players progress, the complexity of potions increases, requiring rarer and more expensive herbs. This progression necessitates efficient training methods and a good understanding of herb locations and prices. The skill isn’t just about making potions; it’s about understanding the market, optimizing your time, and strategically choosing which potions to create based on your goals and available resources. A well-trained Herblore level unlocks access to powerful buffs and consumables, making it an invaluable asset for any serious RuneScape player.

Why Train Herblore?

Training Herblore unlocks a wealth of benefits within Old School RuneScape, significantly enhancing a player’s capabilities. Primarily, it allows the creation of potions – powerful consumables offering temporary boosts to skills like Strength, Attack, Defence, and Magic. These potions are essential for tackling challenging bosses, completing difficult quests, and maximizing efficiency in various skilling activities.

Beyond combat enhancements, Herblore provides access to utility potions, such as anti-poison and super restore potions, crucial for survival and sustained gameplay. Higher Herblore levels also enable the creation of more potent and expensive potions, opening up opportunities for substantial profit-making. Furthermore, certain quests and areas of the game require specific Herblore levels for access or completion. Investing in Herblore isn’t merely about potion creation; it’s about empowering your character, increasing your self-sufficiency, and unlocking a broader range of gameplay options within the expansive world of Gielinor.

Herblore Requirements & Quests

Embarking on your Herblore journey begins with minimal requirements, but progression is heavily tied to quest completion. Initially, a Herblore level of 3 is needed to start, granted upon finishing the “Druidic Ritual” quest. This quest is fundamental, as it unlocks the ability to clean herbs – the cornerstone of potion making. Subsequent quests, while not strictly required, significantly enhance training efficiency and access to resources.

The “Desert Diary” is highly recommended, particularly the hard diary, as it provides a shortcut to Nardah, drastically reducing travel time for cleaning herbs. Other beneficial quests include those offering herb-related rewards or access to new areas containing valuable ingredients. While Herblore doesn’t have a lengthy questline directly tied to it, completing relevant quests streamlines the process and unlocks more profitable and efficient training methods. Remember, consistent herb cleaning and potion creation are key to leveling up!

Early Herblore Training (Levels 1-30)

The initial stages of Herblore training, levels 1-30, focus on foundational skills and establishing a consistent routine. After completing “Druidic Ritual,” begin by cleaning standard herbs like guam leaves, marrentill, tarromin, and harralander. These are readily available and relatively inexpensive, making them ideal for early experience gains. Prioritize cleaning herbs over making potions initially, as the experience from cleaning is more efficient at these lower levels.

Focus on consistently cleaning herbs to build up a stockpile for later potion making. While making basic potions like Strength Potions can provide some experience, the cost of secondary ingredients can outweigh the benefits. Utilize the Grand Exchange to buy and sell herbs, aiming to minimize losses and maximize profits. Consider utilizing the Lumbridge patch for free herb access, though it requires diligent tending. This early phase is about building a base and understanding the core mechanics of Herblore.

Mid-Level Herblore Training (Levels 30-60)

As you progress to levels 30-60, Herblore training shifts towards more profitable and efficient potion making. Introduce yourself to potions requiring higher-level herbs like irit and kadarant. Super Strength Potions become a viable option, utilizing cleaned irit and snapdragon. The Desert Diary, specifically the Hard Diary, significantly boosts efficiency by allowing quick access to the Nardah herb shop for snapdragon purchases, reducing travel time.

Focus on making potions in bulk to maximize experience and profit. Continuously monitor Grand Exchange prices for both herbs and secondary ingredients to ensure profitability. Consider investing in herb runs to secure a consistent supply of raw materials. At this stage, the balance between experience gain and profit becomes crucial. Experiment with different potion types to find the most efficient method for your playstyle and current market conditions. Consistent training and smart resource management are key to success.

Advanced Herblore Training (Levels 60-99)

Reaching levels 60-99 in Herblore demands significant dedication and a strategic approach. This range unlocks access to the most potent and profitable potions, but also requires substantial investment in both time and resources. Focus on high-level herbs like ranarr, torstol, and harralander, combined with expensive secondary ingredients. Super Defence Potions and Super Attack Potions become excellent choices for sustained training and profit.

Efficient herb gathering is paramount; consider utilizing boosted bags and optimal routes. The completion of the Desert Diary remains crucial for quick access to Nardah and reduced herb costs. Continuously monitor Grand Exchange fluctuations to capitalize on market opportunities. At these higher levels, maximizing experience rates often involves utilizing efficient methods like pulse cores and prioritizing consistent, large-scale potion production. Remember, patience and consistent effort are vital for achieving level 99 Herblore.

Herblore Training Methods ⎯ F2P

Free-to-play Herblore training presents unique challenges, limiting access to many herbs and efficient methods. Early levels (1-30) primarily involve cleaning common herbs like guam, marrentill, and tarromin. Focus on consistently cleaning herbs to build experience, even if profit margins are minimal. The Waterfall Quest offers a slight boost by granting access to more herb locations.

Beyond level 30, options become more limited. Continued herb cleaning remains the most viable method, but consider focusing on herbs with slightly higher experience yields. While slower than P2P methods, consistent effort will eventually lead to higher levels. Explore opportunities to gather herbs in free-to-play areas, maximizing efficiency by minimizing travel time. Remember that F2P Herblore training is a grind, requiring patience and dedication to overcome the limitations.

Herblore Training Methods ‒ P2P

Pay-to-play Herblore training unlocks significantly faster and more profitable methods. From levels 30-60, cleaning Ranarr weeds and making Strength Potions become highly efficient. Completing the Desert Diary (specifically the Hard Diary) is crucial, allowing for faster herb cleaning at the Nardah herb garden. This dramatically increases experience rates and reduces cleaning costs.

Levels 60-99 benefit from a wider range of options. Making Super Strength potions remains profitable, but consider diversifying into other high-level potions like Super Stamina or Super Defence. Utilizing the herb sack from the Farming skill provides convenient herb storage. The Tempora Kesters in the Wilderness offer extremely fast, albeit risky, training through potion making, but require substantial capital. Prioritize methods that balance experience gains with profit potential, adapting to fluctuating herb prices.

Cleaning Herbs: A Core Skill

Cleaning herbs is fundamental to Herblore, forming the initial step in almost all potion-making processes. Uncleaned herbs are unusable, so mastering efficient cleaning is paramount. Early levels necessitate manual cleaning, a slow and tedious process. However, access to cleaning stations, unlocked through quests like Druidic Ritual, significantly speeds up the task.

The Desert Diary, particularly the Hard Diary, provides a substantial boost to cleaning efficiency. Completing it allows players to clean herbs at a faster rate in Nardah. Utilizing herb sacks obtained through Farming provides convenient storage, reducing trips to the bank. Consider the cost of cleaning versus the potential profit from the resulting potions; sometimes, buying pre-cleaned herbs is more economical. Consistent herb cleaning is key to progressing through Herblore levels and maximizing overall experience gains.

Potion Making: The Heart of Herblore

Potion making defines the Herblore skill, transforming cleaned herbs and secondary ingredients into powerful concoctions. Each potion requires a specific herb and ingredient combination, dictated by the recipe. Successful creation grants Herblore experience, with more complex potions yielding greater rewards. Early potions, like Strength Potions, are relatively simple to craft, providing a foundation for skill progression.

As Herblore levels increase, players unlock access to increasingly potent and valuable potions, such as Super Strength and Ultimate Strength potions; These advanced potions demand higher Herblore levels and rarer ingredients. Mastering potion making involves understanding ingredient sources, optimizing crafting locations, and minimizing failures. Consider utilizing boosting items to temporarily increase Herblore level, enabling the creation of higher-level potions. Efficient potion making is crucial for both skill advancement and profit generation within Old School RuneScape.

Secondary Ingredients & Their Sources

Beyond herbs, potion creation demands a diverse range of secondary ingredients, each sourced from unique locations and methods. Common ingredients like vials can be purchased from general stores, while others require more dedicated effort. Items such as limpwurt roots are gathered through farming, offering a sustainable supply for dedicated players. Certain ingredients, like desert cactus, are exclusively found within specific regions, like the Kharidian Desert, necessitating completion of the Desert Diary for efficient gathering.

More advanced potions utilize rarer components, often obtained through monster drops or complex crafting processes. Obtaining these ingredients can be time-consuming and costly, impacting potion profitability. Understanding ingredient sources and market prices is vital for maximizing efficiency. Players can utilize the Grand Exchange to buy and sell ingredients, adapting to fluctuating demands. Efficient ingredient acquisition is key to sustained Herblore training and profitable potion production.

Super Strength Potions: A Popular Choice

Super Strength Potions consistently rank among the most popular Herblore creations, offering a substantial +13 Strength boost for intense combat scenarios. Their widespread demand translates into consistent profitability for dedicated potion makers. The core components are readily accessible: 4 limpwurt roots, 4 ipa berries, and a vial of water. However, maximizing efficiency often involves utilizing the Desert Diary to clean herbs directly in Nardah, reducing banking trips and significantly increasing production rates.

Players frequently utilize Super Strength Potions during boss encounters, challenging slayer tasks, and player-versus-player combat. The potion’s duration of 45 minutes provides ample time for extended engagements. While relatively inexpensive to create, the consistent demand ensures a steady stream of income. Mastering Super Strength potion production is a cornerstone of successful Herblore training and a reliable source of in-game wealth, making it a favored choice for many players.

Desert Diary & Herb Cleaning Efficiency

Completing the Desert Diary unlocks significant Herblore training efficiencies, particularly concerning herb cleaning. The diary’s “Easy” tier grants access to the Nardah herb cleaning station, allowing players to clean herbs directly without returning to a bank. This seemingly small change dramatically reduces downtime and boosts overall experience rates. The “Medium” tier further enhances efficiency by providing a teleport directly to the cleaning station, eliminating travel time altogether.

For dedicated Herblore trainers, completing the Desert Diary is almost mandatory. The time saved from reduced banking and travel translates into substantial gains, especially when mass-producing potions. Combining diary completion with efficient herb gathering methods, such as utilizing the farming patch for herbs, creates a streamlined and profitable Herblore experience. Prioritizing the Desert Diary is a crucial step towards maximizing Herblore XP and minimizing wasted effort.

Up-to-Date Herb Prices (2025/2026)

Herb prices in Old School RuneScape fluctuate constantly, influenced by demand, supply, and seasonal events. As of January 27, 2026, here’s a snapshot of current market values (prices are approximate and subject to change):

• Grimmy (Grimweed): 4-5 GP each
• Marrentill: 6-8 GP each
• Tarromin: 8-10 GP each
• Harralander: 12-15 GP each
• Ranarr Weed: 20-25 GP each
• Snapdragon: 30-35 GP each
• Torstol: 50-60 GP each
• Irit: 70-80 GP each

These prices represent raw, uncleaned herbs. Cleaning significantly increases their value. Monitoring the Grand Exchange is crucial for identifying profitable opportunities. Price tracking websites and community resources can provide more detailed and real-time data. Remember that bulk purchases often yield lower per-unit costs, while selling in smaller quantities can maximize profit.

Maximizing Herblore XP Rates

Achieving optimal Herblore experience rates requires strategic method selection and efficiency boosts. For lower levels, making the simplest potions repeatedly provides consistent XP. As your level increases, prioritize potions with higher XP yields, even if material costs are greater. Utilizing the Desert Diary for herb cleaning significantly reduces banking times, boosting overall XP/hour.

Consider utilizing boosts like the Herb sack from the Tithe Farm contract, which increases the amount of herbs received. Furthermore, wearing a Herbivore necklace provides a bonus to herb yield. Focusing on consistent, uninterrupted crafting sessions is key. Minimizing distractions and optimizing inventory management will dramatically improve your XP gains.

Experiment with different methods to find what suits your playstyle and budget. Remember to regularly check for updated strategies and community findings, as the most efficient methods can change with game updates.

Herblore & Profit Making

Herblore can be a surprisingly profitable skill, though it often requires initial investment. While training, focus on making potions with high market demand, such as Super Strength and Super Defence potions. These consistently sell well on the Grand Exchange. Cleaning herbs themselves can also yield a profit, especially rarer varieties like Ranarrs and Snapdragon, but requires monitoring market fluctuations.

Consider utilizing the Desert Diary for reduced herb cleaning costs, maximizing your profit margin. Investing in herb boxes can streamline inventory management and reduce banking trips, further increasing efficiency. Be aware that potion prices are subject to change based on supply and demand, so regularly checking the Grand Exchange is crucial.

Advanced Herblore, involving complex potions and elixirs, generally offers the highest profit potential. However, these require significant levels and access to expensive secondary ingredients. Consistent market analysis is key to successful Herblore profit-making.

Changes & Updates to Herblore (Recent Patches)

Recent updates to Herblore have significantly impacted training methods and profitability. A major shift occurred with adjustments to herb cleaning costs, particularly benefiting players who have completed the Desert Diary, offering substantial reductions when cleaning herbs in Nardah. Several new potion recipes were introduced, expanding the skill’s versatility and potential profit margins.

The efficiency of certain training methods, like making specific potions, has been rebalanced. Players should revisit established strategies to account for these changes. Herb prices have also experienced volatility due to increased demand for newer potions and alterations in drop rates. Regularly monitoring the Grand Exchange is now more critical than ever.

Furthermore, quality-of-life improvements, such as streamlined interfaces for potion making, have been implemented. These updates aim to make Herblore training less tedious and more accessible to a wider range of players. Staying informed about these patches is essential for optimal progression.