Old School RuneScape: How to Level Up Smithing Skill Fast

Smithing is one of the core production skills in Old School RuneScape, enabling players to turn raw ores into valuable bars and forge them into weapons, armor, and a wide range of useful items. Whether you’re chasing quest requirements, improving your economy, powering up an Ironman account, or pushing toward the prestigious level 99 cape, learning how to train Smithing efficiently can save you millions of OSRS gold and hours of time. Although Smithing is historically known as one of the more expensive skills, modern methods and the Blast Furnace update have made it significantly faster than in the past. This guide covers the most effective ways to level Smithing quickly from start to finish, while offering budget alternatives and Ironman-friendly routes.

Understanding the Benefits of Smithing

Before diving into the best training methods, it’s useful to understand why Smithing matters. The skill unlocks the ability to create gear up to rune tier, forge useful consumables like dart tips for Fletching, and craft items required for gameplay progression. Many major quests rely on Smithing levels, including Recipe for Disaster, Heroes’ Quest, and Dragon Slayer II. It also unlocks access to the Blast Furnace, one of the best goldmaking methods in the game for mains and Ironmen alike. For players aiming for account independence, such as Ironmen, Smithing is essential for crafting tools, armor, and ammunition without relying on shops or drops.

Early Levels: Getting From 1 to 29 Fast

Training Smithing at the early levels is straightforward and inexpensive. The first phase focuses on achieving level 29 to unlock steel, the first meaningful tier.

Levels 1–15

Start by smelting bronze bars using copper and tin ore, then smithing bronze items such as daggers or arrowtips. This early section passes quickly, and the cost is extremely low. New Ironmen can gather copper and tin right around Lumbridge, making this a smooth opening.

Levels 15–29

At level 15, you unlock iron. You can smelt iron bars, though without a Ring of Forging the success rate sits at only 50 percent. Luckily, the early XP curve is forgiving, so even a 50 percent success rate is acceptable. If you have Rings of Forging (created via Crafting and Magic), you’ll smelt iron bars with 100 percent success, speeding the process up significantly. Smith your iron bars into items like iron knives or arrowtips until level 29.

By level 29, you unlock steel bars, marking the start of efficient training.

Mid-Game Levels: Building Toward Faster XP

Once you reach level 29, your Smithing begins to open up with more flexible and rewarding methods.

Levels 29–40: Steel Bars and Steel Platebodies

This is the classic transitional period where most players smelt steel bars and smith them into steel platebodies. Steel bars require one iron ore and two coal, but they offer strong XP for their cost. The jump from 29 to 40 is smooth, and at level 40 you unlock one of the most important mechanics in the entire skill: access to gold smelting with Goldsmith Gauntlets.

This is where the skill transforms from slow and expensive to incredibly fast.

The Fastest Smithing XP in OSRS: Gold Bars at the Blast Furnace

Once you hit level 40, you gain access to one of the fastest skill training methods in the entire game: smelting gold bars at the Blast Furnace using Goldsmith Gauntlets. This method is the gold standard for reaching 99 quickly.

Why Gold Bars Are Best

Gold bars normally don’t give much XP, but with Goldsmith Gauntlets from the Family Crest quest, the XP per bar skyrockets. When paired with the Blast Furnace, which removes coal requirements for gold and triples efficiency, you achieve some of the best XP rates in OSRS.

XP Rates

This method typically produces between 300,000 and 400,000 XP per hour for high-effort players. Even casual players often achieve 250,000+ XP per hour. This makes Smithing one of the fastest buyable 99s.

Cost Considerations

The only downside is the cost. Gold ore fluctuates on the market, and players will often lose money while training this way. However, this expense is justified for anyone focused on reaching 99 as fast as possible.

How to Use the Blast Furnace

To perform the method properly, bring a full inventory of gold ore, deposit it into the conveyor, and retrieve the bars after the machine processes them. Wearing Goldsmith Gauntlets during collection ensures maximum XP. Players under level 60 must pay the foreman 2,500 coins every 10 minutes, making coins essential for early use.

While the method is click-intensive, it remains the most efficient path to 99 Smithing by far.

Alternative Fast Methods That Cost Less

Not every player wants to spend millions on gold ore. Fortunately, the game offers multiple alternatives that, while slower than gold at the Blast Furnace, still provide excellent XP without crippling your bank.

Steel Platebodies

Smithing steel platebodies is one of the most cost-efficient training methods in the mid-level range. You can profit depending on the market, and the XP is decent. This method typically offers around 90,000 to 130,000 XP per hour with reasonable effort.

Mithril Platebodies

From level 68 onward, mithril platebodies are a viable upgrade. They offer higher XP with a moderate cost increase. This method is perfect for players who want faster training without dealing with the intensity of the Blast Furnace.

Adamant Platebodies

At level 88, adamant platebodies become one of the best AFK Smithing methods. XP rates fall between 150,000 and 200,000 XP per hour depending on your speed. While the cost is higher than mithril, the convenience and AFK nature make this a popular choice for mid-budget players.

Rune Platelegs or Rune 2H Swords

At level 99, rune items can occasionally turn a profit, depending on market trends. These aren’t good for leveling, but they can generate long-term income once your Smithing journey is complete.

Ironman-Friendly Smithing Training

Ironmen approach Smithing differently because they must gather all their own resources. Although this makes the journey slower, it also provides excellent synergy with other gathering skills.

Bronze and Iron Early Levels

Ironmen follow the same path from 1 through 29, though they typically mine their own ore around Lumbridge, Al Kharid, or Varrock.

Steel Bars and Multi-Skilling

From levels 30 through 60, Ironmen often smelt steel bars by mining iron and coal. Coal Bag from Motherlode Mine greatly improves efficiency. Steel platebodies remain a strong option for boosting Smithing while generating items for High Alchemy.

Giants’ Foundry

Giants’ Foundry is one of the best Ironman-friendly methods in the game. It consumes low-level bars and spare items to produce steady XP without requiring large amounts of ore. It is slower than Blast Furnace gold, but extremely sustainable.

Late-Game Ironman Options

Once an Ironman collects large amounts of gold ore from Motherlode Mine or volcanic ash respawns, they can use Goldsmith Gauntlets at the Blast Furnace for extremely fast Smithing without spending GP. This method is ideal for maxing the skill on an Ironman account.

AFK-Friendly Smithing Options

While the fastest methods require high attention, many players prefer low-intensity training. Some of the best AFK methods include smithing platebodies across varying metal tiers, using Giants’ Foundry, or smelting bars at a regular furnace. These methods produce far less XP per hour but allow players to train while multitasking.

Profitable Smithing Options

For players more interested in making money than XP, several profitable paths exist. Cannonballs are slow but steady profit, rune items can yield GP at high levels, and certain dart tips offer profit depending on player demand. These methods won’t help you reach level 99 quickly, but they offer a strong economic foundation.

Final Recommendations for Fast Smithing

The fastest route to 99 Smithing in Old School RuneScape is simple: reach level 40 and smelt gold bars at the Blast Furnace with Goldsmith Gauntlets You can buy OSRS gold to get more. This strategy offers the best XP in the game at the cost of significant gold. For players who want a balance between efficiency, cost, and attention, steel, mithril, and adamant platebodies offer excellent alternatives. Ironmen should take advantage of Giants’ Foundry, Motherlode Mine, and Blast Furnace ore collections for sustainable long-term gains.

Smithing can be fast, expensive, cheap, profitable, or purely practical depending on the path you choose. The flexibility of the skill makes it one of the most customizable goals in the entire game. With the right strategy, tools, and preparation, you can reach 99 far faster than you might expect.