OSRS Herblore Guide

Q: What's the fastest way to 99 Herblore?

Saradomin Brews (81-99) at 450k XP/hr. Total ~30 hours for 99, costs ~142M GP. Use Super Defence before that.

Q: How can I train Herblore for profit?

Mastering Mixology minigame! 80k XP/hr + 2.6M GP/hr. After unlocking items, spend reward resin on Aldarium or Chugging Barrel.

Q: What's the cheapest way to train Herblore?

Clean herbs 3-38 (often profitable), Prayer Potions 38-60 (~900k loss), then either Mastering Mixology (profit) or cheaper potions like Super Combat.

Q: Should I unlock Mastering Mixology items?

YES! Reagent Pouch doubles AFK time, Prescription Goggles saves 10% on ingredients, Alchemist's Amulet gives better 4-dose chances. All worth it!

Q: Do I need to complete a quest to train Herblore?

Yes! Druidic Ritual quest is required to start training Herblore. It's very short (~10 minutes) and gives 250 XP (brings you to level 3).

Q: Is cleaning herbs worth it?

At early levels (3-38), yes! Up to 150k XP/hr with Torstol at 75+. Often profitable when cleaned herbs cost more than grimy ones. Check prices first!

Q: How much does 99 Herblore cost?

Fastest path (Saradomin Brews): ~142M GP. Budget path with Mastering Mixology: Can profit while training! Mid-range: ~30-50M GP using cheaper potions.

Q: What's the best potion for profit training?

Stamina potions at 77+ are the most reliable profit potion due to high PvM demand. Prayer potions (38+) occasionally profit when Ranarr prices dip. Herb cleaning at any level can be profitable-check our calculator for real-time margins.

Q: Should I clean herbs or make potions?

Clean herbs at levels 3-38 for zero-risk profit (up to 80k XP/hr). At 38+, switch to prayer potions for 2.5x faster XP. If margins are tight, herb cleaning stays viable to 99 as a budget alternative.

Build a high-confidence Herblore training plan

Build Plan All Guides

Updated June 2026

Herblore is a pure tradeoff skill between speed and cost. Pick your lane first, target your next milestone, and use unlocks that improve long-run efficiency before committing to full 99 pace.

On this page

15 sections

What Is Your Best Herblore Method Right Now?

Choose route by budget and urgency: speed, balanced spend, or profit. Commit to one route through your next level checkpoint.

Choose Your Planning Track

Fastest XPSaradomin Brew RouteMaximum Herblore speed with high GP burn and tight banking loops.High
Budget MainCheaper Potion ProgressionControlled-cost progression with practical level breakpoints and lower spend.Low to Medium
Profit RouteMastering MixologyActive method with profit potential and permanent utility unlocks.Low
Utility UnlocksItem-First PlanningPrioritize reagent pouch, goggles, and amulet upgrades for long-term efficiency.Low

Build My Herblore Plan Start with prebuilt routes

Method Comparison Arena

Compare XP pace, cost profile, and effort so you can pick a route that fits your account economy.

High-Confidence Training Routes

Route 1Fast 99 RouteEarly setup -> super defence phase -> saradomin brew pushTarget: 99

Route 2Budget RouteLower-cost potion progression with milestone-focused planningOutcome: 99 at controlled spend

Route 3Profit RouteMastering Mixology sessions plus reward unlock optimizationOutcome: XP + GP growth

Route 4Hybrid RouteUse profitable methods early, switch to speed methods near capstoneOutcome: Balanced completion

Milestones That Matter

38: Prayer potion production unlocked.
55: Midgame potion economics improve.
60: Mixology and stronger options unlock.
81: Fastest high-tier route opens.
99: Final Herblore completion goal.

Execution Checklist

Pick route based on GP budget first.
Unlock efficiency items early when possible.
Set milestone targets before buying ingredients.
Re-plan at 60 and 81.

🎒 Essential Herblore Items

Amulet of Chemistry

5% chance to get 4-dose potion instead of 3-dose. Has 5 charges (5 extra doses).

5% Bonus

Where to Get: Buy from Grand Exchange

⚠️ Note: Check if amulet cost < 5x potion value before using!

Mastering Mixology Rewards (NEW!)

Best-in-slot items from the Varlamore Herblore minigame. Worth unlocking!

Alchemist's Amulet

Stores 100 Amulets of Chemistry, increases charges to 10 per amulet, boosts 4-dose chance to 15%!

Result: Way better than regular Amulet of Chemistry

Prescription Goggles

10% chance to NOT use secondary ingredient when making potions!

Result: Saves money on every potion you make

Reagent Pouch

Holds up to 26 secondaries. Make 26 potions per inventory instead of 14!

Result: Doubles AFK time from 15s to 30s per inventory

How to Unlock: Play Mastering Mixology minigame (requires 60 Herblore + Children of the Sun quest)

📚 Herblore Training Methods

1. Making Potions (Main Method)

Combine unfinished potions with secondary ingredients. 14 potions per inventory.

Mains: Buy unfinished potions from GE.

Ironman: First make unfinished potions (herb + vial of water), do herb runs!

2. Cleaning Grimy Herbs

Clean grimy herbs manually. Can be profitable! Up to 150k XP/hr.

Best For: Early levels or when clean herbs cost more than grimy.

3. Degrime Spell

Clean entire inventory at once. 120k XP/hr, sometimes 1M GP/hr profit!

Requirements: 70 Magic, Arceuus Spellbook, A Kingdom Divided quest.

4. Mastering Mixology (NEW!)

Varlamore Herblore minigame. 80k XP/hr + 2.6M GP/hr!

Requirements: 60 Herblore, Children of the Sun quest.

Best For: Making money while training.

📋 Cost-Efficient Training Path

Level-by-level potion progression that balances XP rates with GP efficiency. Start with the free quest, then follow the table through each tier.

Levels	Method	XP/Item	Total Cost
1-3	Druidic Ritual quest	250 XP total	Free
3-26	Attack potions	25 XP	~200k
26-38	Energy potions	67.5 XP	~500k
38-99	Prayer potions	87.5 XP	30-50M
90-99 (opt.)	Super Combat	150 XP	10-15M

Budget Option: Clean herbs from levels 3-38 instead of making potions. Often profitable and requires zero upfront investment. Check the Herblore Calculator for current margins before buying supplies.

💰 Budget Training Path (Save Money!)

Levels 3-38: Cleaning Herbs

Very fast at early levels (88k XP/hr). Often profitable!

Levels	Herb	XP/hr	Quantity	Cost	Time
3-5	Guam	25k	86	+4k	1 min
5-11	Marrentil	38k	256	+17k	4 min
11-20	Tarromin	50k	623	+41k	15 min
20-30	Harralander	60k	1,412	+64k	30 min
30-38	Toadflax	80k	2,131	Check GE	40 min

Levels 38-60: Prayer Potions

Cheap way to train! Combine Ranarr potion (unf) with Snape grass.

Alternative: Continue cleaning herbs to 60 if you want zero losses

210k XP/hr

~900k loss

Quantity: 2,781 Prayer Potions (takes ~1 hour)

Levels 60-99: Mastering Mixology 🏆

The new Varlamore Herblore minigame! Slow XP but HUGE profit.

Unlock Reagent Pouch, Prescription Goggles, and Alchemist's Amulet here!

80k XP/hr

2.6M GP/hr!

Requirements: 60 Herblore + Children of the Sun quest (access to Varlamore)

Location: Island of Aldarin (Varlamore)

Strategy: After unlocking items, spend reward resin on "Aldarium" or "Chugging Barrel" for 2M+ GP/hr

💡 Video Tutorial: Watch guide for Mastering Mixology mechanics and optimal strategies

Alternative: Skip Mastering Mixology

If you prefer faster XP over profit, make these potions instead:

Levels	Potion	XP/hr	Quantity	Cost	Time
60-77	Prayer Potions	210k	13,736	-5M	5 hrs
77-90	Stamina Potions	280k	37,949	-27M	14 hrs
90-99	Super Combat	320k	51,254	-500k	24 hrs

💡 Recommendation: Do Mastering Mixology until you unlock all items (~60-81), then switch to faster methods if desired!

💵 Profitable Herblore Methods

Not every method has to drain your bank. These training options can break even or turn a profit while you earn XP.

Herb Cleaning - All Levels

Clean grimy herbs manually. Margin-dependent but often profitable at every tier. Prioritize herbs where clean price exceeds grimy price.

50-80k XP/hr
50-100M profit to 99

Stamina Potions - Level 77+

High demand for PvM and skilling keeps stamina potion prices strong. Often breaks even or turns a small profit depending on daily GE margins.

280k XP/hr
Break-even or profit

Prayer Potions - Level 38+

Consistent demand for PvM means prayer potions occasionally turn a profit. Monitor Ranarr and Snape grass prices daily for the best windows.

210k XP/hr
Sometimes profitable

Guthix Rest Tea - Level 18+

Great for ironmen: all ingredients are self-sufficient. Harralander + marrentill, heated on a range. Decent low-level XP with zero GP cost.

60 XP/item
Ideal for ironman

⚡ Fastest Way to 99 Herblore

Speed over cost! Get 99 in ~30 hours for 142M GP at current prices.

Optimal Fast Path

Levels	Potion	XP/hr	Quantity	Cost	Time
3-38	Attack Potions	60k	1,210	-870k	30 min
38-55	Prayer Potions	210k	1,557	-586k	20 min
55-66	Super Strength	312k	2,637	-1.4M	1 hr
66-81	Super Defence	375k	11,311	-10M	4 hrs
81-99	Saradomin Brews	450k	60,232	-130M	24 hrs

Total Cost: 142M GP | Total Time: ~30 hours

Key Points

•Saradomin Brews are the fastest (450k XP/hr) but very expensive
•Use Reagent Pouch from Mastering Mixology to make 26 potions per inventory
•Wear Prescription Goggles to save 10% on secondary ingredients
•Use Alchemist's Amulet for 15% chance of 4-dose potions

💡 Tip: Spend some time at Mastering Mixology (81+ Herblore) to unlock Reagent Pouch before doing Saradomin Brews!

🎮 Mastering Mixology (Varlamore Minigame)

Why Play This Minigame?

Best Herblore Moneymaker

Up to 2.6M GP/hr while getting 80k Herblore XP/hr!

Essential Unlocks

Reagent Pouch, Prescription Goggles, Alchemist's Amulet - all BiS!

Requirements

• 60 Herblore minimum (higher level = better rewards)
• Children of the Sun quest (access to Varlamore)
• Located on island of Aldarin

How It Works

Basic Gameplay: Mix potions according to recipes using Mox ingredients

Rewards: Vale Offerings (for loot) and Research Points (for shop unlocks)

Strategy: Higher-tier potions = more offerings = better GP/hr

Unlock Priority:

Reagent Pouch (doubles AFK time when making potions)
Prescription Goggles (10% ingredient savings)
Alchemist's Amulet (15% chance of 4-dose potions)
Spend leftover resin on Aldarium or Chugging Barrel for 2M+ GP/hr

🎥 Video Guide: Watch detailed tutorial on YouTube: "Make 2.6M/hr with the NEW Herblore Minigame"

⚔️ Essential PvM Potions

These are the potions every PvMer keeps banked. Hit these level milestones to unlock critical combat supplies.

Level	Potion	Description	Use Case
38	Prayer Potion	Restores prayer points	Essential for bossing & slayer
45	Super Attack	Boosts Attack by 5-19	Melee accuracy in raids & bosses
55	Super Strength	Boosts Strength by 5-19	Melee max hit increase
65	Sanfew Serum	Cures poison + restores prayer	Poison-heavy boss fights
66	Super Defence	Boosts Defence by 5-19	Tanking at GWD & raids
72	Ranging Potion	Boosts Ranged by 4-13	Essential ranged DPS everywhere
77	Stamina Potion	Restores run + 30% rate for 2 min	Solo CoX, long boss trips, skilling
79	Antidote++	Cures poison + 12 min immunity	Araxxor, Zulrah, Vorkath
81	Saradomin Brew	Heals HP + boosts Defence	Healing at raids, GWD, & inferno
90	Super Combat	Boosts all melee stats at once	Pre-pot for every boss trip

📊 Herblore Calculator

Plan your Herblore training with our calculator:

Calculate:

✓ Potions needed for level goals
✓ Expected XP rates by potion
✓ Time to reach 99
✓ Cost/profit estimates (updated prices)
✓ Best potions for your budget

Features:

✓ All potion types
✓ Real-time GE prices
✓ Equipment bonuses
✓ Speed vs cost comparisons
✓ Custom level ranges

Open Herblore Calculator →

💡 Pro Herblore Tips

Amulet of Chemistry

5% chance at a 4-dose potion instead of 3-dose. Saves significant GP on expensive potions like Saradomin Brews and Super Combats.

Check GE Prices Daily

Herblore margins shift constantly. Use our calculator for real-time GE prices before bulk buying. A few GP per item adds up fast over thousands of potions.

Bank Presets

Set up 14/14 or 26/26 inventory splits between unfinished potions and secondaries. Clean bank tabs with fillers cut banking time in half.

Quest Early Levels

Druidic Ritual unlocks Herblore. Recruitment Drive, Jungle Potion, and Shades of Mort'ton reward XP that skips the slowest early levels for free.

Farm Your Own Herbs

Essential for ironmen. Run herb patches with ultracompost, plant the highest-tier herb you can, and harvest regularly for a self-sufficient supply chain.

Stamina Potion Profit Window

At 77+, monitor stamina potion margins weekly. When prices spike, this 280k XP/hr method can turn a profit instead of the usual loss.

Zahur's Unfinished Potion Service

Pay Zahur 200 GP per herb in Nardah to make unfinished potions instantly. Saves hours of manual combining for bulk training sessions.

Mobile Training

Making potions and cleaning herbs are both tap-friendly on mobile. Perfect for AFK training during commutes or downtime.

Always Check Prices First! Prices in this guide may be outdated. Use our Herblore Calculator for real-time GE prices or check the OSRS Wiki.

Frequently Asked Questions

01What's the fastest way to 99 Herblore?

Saradomin Brews (81-99) at 450k XP/hr. Total ~30 hours for 99, costs ~142M GP. Use Super Defence before that.

02How can I train Herblore for profit?

Mastering Mixology minigame! 80k XP/hr + 2.6M GP/hr. After unlocking items, spend reward resin on Aldarium or Chugging Barrel.

03What's the cheapest way to train Herblore?

Clean herbs 3-38 (often profitable), Prayer Potions 38-60 (~900k loss), then either Mastering Mixology (profit) or cheaper potions like Super Combat.

04Should I unlock Mastering Mixology items?

YES! Reagent Pouch doubles AFK time, Prescription Goggles saves 10% on ingredients, Alchemist's Amulet gives better 4-dose chances. All worth it!

05Do I need to complete a quest to train Herblore?

Yes! Druidic Ritual quest is required to start training Herblore. It's very short (~10 minutes) and gives 250 XP (brings you to level 3).

06Is cleaning herbs worth it?

At early levels (3-38), yes! Up to 150k XP/hr with Torstol at 75+. Often profitable when cleaned herbs cost more than grimy ones. Check prices first!

07How much does 99 Herblore cost?

Fastest path (Saradomin Brews): ~142M GP. Budget path with Mastering Mixology: Can profit while training! Mid-range: ~30-50M GP using cheaper potions.

08What's the best potion for profit training?

Stamina potions at 77+ are the most reliable profit potion due to high PvM demand. Prayer potions (38+) occasionally profit when Ranarr prices dip. Herb cleaning at any level can be profitable-check our calculator for real-time margins.

09Should I clean herbs or make potions?

Clean herbs at levels 3-38 for zero-risk profit (up to 80k XP/hr). At 38+, switch to prayer potions for 2.5x faster XP. If margins are tight, herb cleaning stays viable to 99 as a budget alternative.

📚 Related Guides

🌱

Farming Guide

Grow herbs for Herblore

👨‍🍳

Cooking Guide

Another buyable skill

📊

Herblore Calculator

Plan your training

Darren

Darren started playing the original RuneScape 2 back in the day and came back when Old School RuneScape launched. He's played on and off over the years and built OSRSToolkit to give players a single place to find reliable tools, calculators, and guides — all informed by real in-game experience.