Ironman Herblore Guide

Herblore is one of the hardest skills to train as an ironman - you cannot buy potions or ingredients from the Grand Exchange. Every herb, every secondary, every vial must be self-sourced. This guide covers every method from level 3 to 99: herb farming routes, secondary ingredient sources, quest XP shortcuts, and level-by-level training methods.

Why Herblore Matters

Despite being self-sourced, Herblore unlocks the most critical consumables in the game. These are the levels that change what content is accessible to you:

LevelUnlockWhy It Matters
38Prayer potionsEssential for all Prayer-based PvM content
63Super restoresSuperior to prayer potions; needed for bossing
66Super defenceRequired component for super combat potions
72Ranging potionsCore DPS boost for ranged combat
77Stamina potionsRequired for efficient raiding (CoX, ToB) and general mobility
78Extended antifire (with 84)Dragon tasks become far more manageable
81Saradomin brewsPrimary healing item for endgame PvM
87Anti-venomRequired for Zulrah
90Super combat potionsBest melee boost; CoX strongest overloads
94Anti-venom+Best venom protection for Zulrah, Araxxor
97Divine super combatMaintains max melee boost for 5 minutes

Chambers of Xeric (CoX) Herblore Requirements

CoX overloads are created inside the raid itself (no herbs needed outside). The tier of overload you can make depends on your Herblore level:

  • 60 Herblore - Weakest overload
  • 75 Herblore - Standard overload
  • 90 Herblore - Strongest overload (+5 + 13% to all combat stats, best boost)

The boost refreshes every 15 seconds for 5 minutes, then heals 50 HP. Higher Herblore = better raid performance and team contribution.

Obtaining Herbs

Farming Patches (Primary Source)

Herb farming is the backbone of ironman Herblore. All herb patches have a base growth time of 80 minutes. A full 9-patch run takes 5-10 minutes and yields 50-100+ herbs per circuit.

PatchRequirementsDisease-Free?
Falador (south)NoneNo
CatherbyNoneNo
Ardougne (north)NoneNo
Port PhasmatysGhosts Ahoy (partial)No
HosidiusEasy Kourend & Kebos DiaryYes
Troll StrongholdMy Arm's Big AdventureYes
WeissMaking Friends with My ArmYes
Farming Guild65 FarmingNo
Harmony IslandElite Morytania DiaryYes
Civitas illa Fortis16,000 Glory at ColosseumYes

Maximising Yields

  • * Always use ultracompost (or cast Fertile Soil with 83 Magic + Lunar spellbook) - minimum 6 herbs per patch, up to 14+
  • * Equip magic secateurs (from Fairytale I) for a 10% yield boost
  • * Note herbs with the tool leprechaun to save inventory space
  • * Log out at one of the harder-to-reach patches to start your next run faster

Monster Drops

MonsterNotable HerbsNotes
Chaos druids (level 13)All low-level herbsEasy to farm early, Edgeville Dungeon
Aberrant spectres (level 96)Ranarr, kwuarm, cadantine, lantadyme, dwarf weedExcellent mid-game source; use nose peg/slayer helm
Nechryael (level 115)Wide variety of herbsGood herb source on task
Dagannoth (various)Various herbsUseful during Slayer
Wilderness bosses (Callisto, etc.)100+ noted herbsHigh risk, high reward
ZulrahNoted herbs in bulkEndgame farming

Kingdom of Miscellania

After completing Throne of Miscellania (and ideally Royal Trouble): assign 10 workers to herbs, maintain at least 750,000 coins in the coffer and high approval rating.

  • * Yields up to 61 herbs per day (~427 per week)
  • * Herb types: tarromin, harralander, ranarr, irit, avantoe, kwuarm, cadantine, lantadyme, dwarf weed
  • * This is a major passive herb source - set it and collect weekly

Farming Contracts

Requires 45/65/85 Farming for easy/medium/hard contracts. Guildmaster Jane assigns a crop to grow; completing it awards a seed pack.

  • * Medium and hard contracts frequently reward high-value herb seeds (ranarr, snapdragon, torstol)
  • * Keep patches pre-grown to complete contracts quickly back-to-back
  • * This is the single best source of herb seeds for ironmen

Other Sources

SourceDetails
Master Farmer pickpocketingBest at 94+ Thieving or with hard Ardougne Diary; good for ranarr seeds
WintertodtDrops low-level herbs and seeds early game
Herbiboar (80+ Hunter)Fossil Island; yields herbs passively while training Hunter
Slayer monstersMany drop herb seeds as part of their table
XP lamps/booksPut ALL lamps and books of knowledge into Herblore

Secondary Ingredients

Every secondary ingredient must be self-sourced. Plan ahead - many secondaries take significant effort to accumulate in quantity. Start collecting secondaries before you reach the level that needs them.

SecondaryUsed InLevelHow to Obtain
Eye of newtAttack potion, Super attack3, 45Buy from shops (3gp each): Betty (Port Sarim, 300 stock), Jatix (Taverley, 800 stock), and 7 other shops
Unicorn horn dustAntipoison, Superantipoison5, 48Kill unicorns, crush horn with pestle & mortar. Wesley in Nardah crushes for 50gp
Limpwurt rootStrength potion, Super strength12, 55Farm at 26 Farming; Hill giants drop (11/128); Hobgoblins drop frequently
AshesSerum 20715Pick up anywhere fires are lit
Chocolate dustEnergy potion26Crush chocolate bars (buy from shops or Temple of Ikov chests)
Red spiders' eggsRestore, Super restore22, 63Forthos Dungeon (11 spawns), Edgeville Dungeon wilderness area (6 spawns), Temple spiders (3-8 noted, 8/100), Spidines (3-6, always)
Snape grassPrayer potion, Fishing potion38, 50Farm at 61 Farming; 27 spawns on Waterbirth Island; hobgoblin peninsula (3 spawns)
Toad's legsAgility potion34Catch swamp toads in Lumbridge Swamp; pick off legs
Goat horn dustCombat potion36Kill desert goats, crush horn
Mort myre fungusSuper energy52Cast Bloom near rotting logs in Mort Myre Swamp (drains 1-6 Prayer per cast). Morytania Hard Diary doubles yield. Also from sulliuscep woodcutting
White berriesSuper defence66Farm whiteberry bushes at 59 Farming; Kurask drop 12 noted (6/124); Isafdar/Lava Dragon Isle spawns
Dragon scale dustAntifire69Kill blue dragons; crush scales with pestle & mortar
Wine of zamorakRanging potion72Telegrab (33 Magic) from Chaos Temple; Deep Wilderness Dungeon (noted with hard Wildy Diary, ~6.6s respawn); Forthos Dungeon
Potato cactusMagic potion, Battlemage potion76, 80Farm at 65 Farming in cactus patches; Kalphite Lair spawn
Amylase crystalStamina potion77Buy amylase packs from Grace (10 marks of grace = 100 crystals). Need 4 crystals per stamina(4)
Crushed nestSaradomin brew81Bird nests from: birdhouse runs (Hunter), Giant Mole (drops nests), woodcutting. Crush empty nests with pestle & mortar
JangerberriesZamorak brew78Ogre area south of Yanille; Ape Atoll spawn
Zulrah's scalesAnti-venom87Kill Zulrah (100-300 per kill average)
TorstolSuper combat, Anti-venom+90, 94Farm at 85 Farming; Zulrah drops; Wintertodt
Crushed superior dragon bonesSuper antifire92Kill Vorkath; crush bones
Crystal dustDivine potions97Crush crystal shards with pestle & mortar
Coconut milk + magic rootsAntidote++79Coconuts from palm trees (68 Farming); magic roots from magic tree stumps (75 Farming)
Lava scale shardsExtended antifire84Kill lava dragons in Wilderness; crush lava scales

Training Methods

Ironman Herblore training is entirely secondary-limited. You train when you have herbs and secondaries, and you stockpile when you don't. The goal is to always be making potions you will actually use.

Levels 1-3: Druidic Ritual

Complete Druidic Ritual (no requirements). Awards 250 XP, unlocking the Herblore skill at level 3.

This is a required quest. There is nothing to make at level 1 - the quest itself is the method.

Levels 3-26: Quest Your Way Up

Complete these quests in order to skip early training entirely. Total ~9,685 XP, reaching approximately level 26 with zero potion-making. If you cannot complete all quests yet, make attack potions (guam + eye of newt, 25 XP) from 3-12, then strength potions (tarromin + limpwurt root, 50 XP) from 12 onward.

PotionLevelIngredientsXPNotes
Druidic Ritual (quest)1 - 250Unlocks Herblore at level 3
Jungle Potion (quest)3 - 775Running total: 1,025 (Lv 5)
Recruitment Drive (quest)1 - 1,000Requires 12 QP. Running total: 2,025 (Lv 9)
Zogre Flesh Eaters (quest)8 - 2,000Requires 30 Ranged, 30 Fletching. Running total: 4,025 (Lv 15)
The Dig Site (quest)10 - 2,000Requires 10 Agility, 25 Thieving. Running total: 6,025 (Lv 19)
Shades of Mort'ton (quest)15 - 2,335Requires 20 Crafting, 5 Firemaking. Running total: 8,360 (Lv 22)
Heroes' Quest (quest)25 - 1,325Requires 55 QP + multiple skills. Running total: 9,685 (Lv 26)

Fallback if quests are unavailable: Attack potion (Guam unf + Eye of newt, 25 XP) from 3-12; Strength potion (Tarromin unf + Limpwurt root, 50 XP) from 12 onward.

Levels 26-38: Energy Potions

Energy potions are the most accessible option here. Chocolate bars are bought from shops (no secondary farming required). Need approximately 178 energy potions to reach level 38.

PotionLevelIngredientsXPNotes
Energy potion26Harralander (unf) + Chocolate dust67.5~168k XP/hr. Chocolate bars from shops.

Alternative: Compost potions (22+, harralander + volcanic ash, 60 XP) if you have volcanic ash from Fossil Island.

Levels 38-45: Prayer Potions

Prayer potions are never wasted on an ironman - you will use every single one you make. Farm ranarrs and collect snape grass from Waterbirth Island (27 spawns) or the hobgoblin peninsula. Need ~94 potions to reach level 45.

PotionLevelIngredientsXPNotes
Prayer potion38Ranarr (unf) + Snape grass87.5Critical potion. Farm ranarrs + collect snape grass.

Snape grass sources: Waterbirth Island (27 spawns), hobgoblin peninsula, or farm at 61 Farming.

Levels 45-52: Super Attack & Fishing Potion

Eye of newt costs 3gp from shops and is always in stock. Make super attacks whenever you have irit. Start stockpiling super energy potions now - you will need them for stamina potions at level 77.

PotionLevelIngredientsXPNotes
Super attack45Irit (unf) + Eye of newt100Eye of newt costs 3gp from shops.
Fishing potion50Avantoe (unf) + Snape grass112.5Only if you have avantoe to spare.
Super energy52Avantoe (unf) + Mort myre fungus117.5Needed for stamina potions later. Start stockpiling.

Levels 52-63: Super Strength & Super Energy

Continue making prayer potions alongside these whenever you have ranarrs. Every prayer potion counts at this stage.

PotionLevelIngredientsXPNotes
Super energy52Avantoe (unf) + Mort myre fungus117.5Keep making these.
Super strength55Kwuarm (unf) + Limpwurt root125Useful for melee.

Levels 63-72: Super Restores & Super Defence

Super restores are the priority. Farm snapdragon seeds from Farming contracts and collect red spiders' eggs from Forthos Dungeon (11 spawns).

PotionLevelIngredientsXPNotes
Super restore63Snapdragon (unf) + Red spiders' eggs142.5Better than prayer potions (restores all stats).
Super defence66Cadantine (unf) + White berries150Needed for super combat potions at 90.
Antifire69Lantadyme (unf) + Dragon scale dust157.5Useful for dragon tasks.

Levels 72-77: Ranging Potions

Start telegramming wine of zamorak early. The Deep Wilderness Dungeon is fastest (noted wine with hard Wildy Diary, ~6.6s respawn). You will need many ranging potions.

PotionLevelIngredientsXPNotes
Ranging potion72Dwarf weed (unf) + Wine of zamorak162.5Essential for all ranged PvM.

Level 77: Stamina Potions

Each stamina(4) needs 4 amylase crystals. An amylase pack (10 marks of grace) gives 100 crystals = 25 stamina(4) potions. If you have been saving marks of grace from Agility training, this is where they pay off. Stamina potions can be tick-manipulated for faster XP (up to ~4,583 potions/hour). Workaround before 77: give a torstol to Dr Jekyll (random event) to receive a stamina potion.

PotionLevelIngredientsXPNotes
Stamina potion77Super energy(4) + 4 Amylase crystals102 (25.5/dose)10 marks of grace = 100 crystals = 25 staminas.

Levels 78-81: Zamorak Brew & Antidote++

Antidote++ is the base ingredient for anti-venom (required at 87 for Zulrah). Start preparing these now.

PotionLevelIngredientsXPNotes
Zamorak brew78Torstol (unf) + Jangerberries175Niche use.
Antidote++79Coconut milk + Irit + Magic root177.5Needed as base for anti-venom at 87.

Level 81: Saradomin Brews

Saradomin brews are the primary endgame healing item. Getting crushed nests: birdhouse runs (Hunter, best passive source, run every 50 minutes), Giant Mole (trade mole parts to Wyson for nests), or woodcutting (rare drops). Crush empty nests with pestle & mortar or pay Wesley 50gp each.

PotionLevelIngredientsXPNotes
Saradomin brew81Toadflax (unf) + Crushed nest180Primary endgame healing.

Levels 81-90: Saradomin Brews & Advanced Potions

Continue making Saradomin brews as your primary XP method. Prepare advanced potions as their materials become available.

PotionLevelIngredientsXPNotes
Extended antifire84Antifire(4) + 4 Lava scale shards110Kill lava dragons for scales.
Ancient brew85Dwarf weed (unf) + Nihil dust190From Nex/Nightmare.
Anti-venom87Antidote++(4) + 20 Zulrah's scales120Needed for Zulrah.
Menaphite remedy88Dwarf weed (unf) + Lily of the sands200From Tombs of Amascut.

Levels 90-94: Super Combats & Super Antifire

Super combat requires you to stockpile all three super potions (super attack, super strength, super defence) before combining them. This is a major ingredient bottleneck - plan ahead.

PotionLevelIngredientsXPNotes
Super combat90Super attack(4) + Super strength(4) + Super defence(4) + Torstol150Best melee boost. Requires stockpiling all three supers.
Forgotten brew91Ancient brew(4) + 80 Ancient essence145Niche use.
Super antifire92Antifire(4) + Crushed superior dragon bones130Full dragonfire protection.

Levels 94+: Anti-Venom+ & Endgame

You are now making the best potions in the game. Divine super combat maintains max melee boost for 5 full minutes without needing to sip.

PotionLevelIngredientsXPNotes
Anti-venom+94Anti-venom(4) + Torstol125Best venom protection (15 min).
Divine super combat97Super combat(4) + 4 Crystal dust - Maintains max melee boost 5 minutes.
Extended super antifire98Super antifire(4) + 4 Lava scale shards160Extended full fire protection.

Alternative: Mastering Mixology (60+)

The Mastering Mixology minigame requires the Children of the Sun quest and 60 Herblore. No herbs or secondaries needed - excellent when you run out of supplies.

  • * Up to 105k XP/hour at 81+ Herblore
  • * Rewards: Alchemist's amulet, Prescription goggles (10% chance to save secondaries), potion storage
  • * Best fallback method when herb supply runs low

Alternative: Herb Cleaning

Cleaning grimy herbs gives XP without secondaries. Low XP rates (~25k-150k/hr) but useful for extra XP from grimy herbs sitting in the bank. Can process ~10,000 herbs/hour manually.

HerbLevelXPXP/hr (10k herbs)
Guam32.525,000
Marrentill53.838,000
Tarromin115.050,000
Harralander206.363,000
Ranarr257.575,000
Toadflax308.080,000
Irit408.888,000
Avantoe4810.0100,000
Kwuarm5411.3113,000
Snapdragon5911.8118,000
Cadantine6512.5125,000
Lantadyme6713.1131,000
Dwarf weed7013.8138,000
Torstol7515.0150,000

Alternative: Herb Tar

Uses low-level herbs without needing rare secondaries. Makes salamander ammo. Decent XP for herbs you'd otherwise have no use for.

ProductLevelIngredientsXP
Guam tar (x15)19Guam + 15 Swamp tar30
Marrentill tar (x15)31Marrentill + 15 Swamp tar42.5
Tarromin tar (x15)39Tarromin + 15 Swamp tar55
Harralander tar (x15)44Harralander + 15 Swamp tar72.5

Quest XP Rewards

Total potential quest XP: ~171,850 XP - enough for approximately level 64 from quests alone if all are completed. Always prioritise quest XP over grinding potions early on.

QuestHerblore XPHerblore ReqOther Requirements
Druidic Ritual250None -
Jungle Potion7753 -
Recruitment Drive1,000None12 QP
Zogre Flesh Eaters2,000830 Ranged, 30 Fletching, 4 Smithing
The Dig Site2,0001010 Agility, 25 Thieving
Shades of Mort'ton2,3351520 Crafting, 5 Firemaking
Heroes' Quest1,3252555 Quest Points, multiple skills
My Arm's Big Adventure10,0003129 Farming, 10 Woodcutting
Eadgar's Ruse11,00031 -
Land of the Goblins8,0004838 Agility, 45 Thieving, 40 Fishing
Fairytale II (started)3,5005749 Farming, 40 Thieving
Grim Tales15,0005271 Woodcutting, 59 Agility, 58 Thieving, 45 Farming
While Guthix Sleeps75,00065180 QP, many skills at 60+
Song of the Elves40,00070Multiple skills at 70

Optimal Quest Order for Herblore

  1. Druidic Ritual (250 XP, level 3)
  2. Jungle Potion (775 XP)
  3. Recruitment Drive (1,000 XP)
  4. Zogre Flesh Eaters (2,000 XP)
  5. The Dig Site (2,000 XP)
  6. Shades of Mort'ton (2,335 XP)
  7. Heroes' Quest (1,325 XP) - level ~26
  8. Train to 31 with potions, then:
  9. My Arm's Big Adventure (10,000 XP) - also unlocks disease-free herb patch
  10. Eadgar's Ruse (11,000 XP)
  11. Continue training + questing as levels allow

Ironman Tips

Optimal Herb Run Route

A full run takes 5-10 minutes. Patches regrow in 80 minutes. Run this circuit every 80 minutes when actively playing.

#PatchTeleportDisease-Free?
1Troll StrongholdTrollheim TeleportYes
2WeissIcy basalt teleportYes
3HosidiusXeric's talismanYes
4FaladorExplorer's ringNo
5Port PhasmatysEctophialNo
6CatherbyCatherby teleport / CamelotNo
7ArdougneArdougne cloakNo
8Farming GuildSkills necklace / Fairy ring CIRNo
9Harmony Island - Yes

Stockpiling Strategy

Start collecting these secondaries before you reach the level that needs them. The secondary grind is the real bottleneck - herbs are plentiful compared to some of these.

SecondaryStart CollectingNeeded At
Snape grassASAP (Waterbirth spawns or 61 Farming)38 (Prayer potions)
Limpwurt roots26 Farming12/55 (Strength/Super strength)
Mort myre fungusAfter Nature Spirit52 (Super energy -> stamina)
Red spiders' eggsEarly Slayer63 (Super restores)
White berries59 Farming66 (Super defence -> super combat)
Wine of zamorakWhen you have 33 Magic72 (Ranging potions)
Marks of graceSave from Agility training77 (Stamina potions)
Crushed nestsStart birdhouse runs ASAP81 (Sara brews)

Level Targets for Content

TargetContentWhy
38General PvMPrayer potions enable sustained prayer usage
60CoX (minimum)Weakest overloads in Chambers of Xeric
63BossingSuper restores for Demonic gorillas, GWD
72Ranged PvMRanging potions for DPS
75CoX (standard)Standard overloads
77CoX/ToBStamina potions for raids
78Vorkath, dragonsExtended antifires (with 84)
81Endgame PvMSaradomin brews for healing
87ZulrahAnti-venom
90CoX (optimal)Strongest overloads + Super combat potions
94EndgameAnti-venom+ for best venom protection

Useful Tricks & NPCs

  • Dr Jekyll random event - Always carry a clean torstol. When Dr Jekyll appears, trade him a torstol to receive a stamina potion. Works before level 77 Herblore.
  • Zahur in Nardah - Makes unfinished potions for 200gp each. After Hard Desert Diary, she accepts noted herbs and vials - bulk-create unfinished potions without banking.
  • Wesley in Nardah - Crushes items (unicorn horns, bird nests, dragon scales, etc.) for 50gp each. Essential for processing secondaries in bulk.
  • Amulet of chemistry - 5% chance to create a 4-dose potion instead of 3-dose. Saves herbs over time - highly recommended.
  • Prescription goggles - 10% chance to save secondary ingredients. Obtained from the Mastering Mixology minigame.
  • Botanical pie - Boosts Herblore by +4 levels (visible boost). Useful for making potions slightly above your level.
  • Greenman's ale (m) - Boosts Herblore by +2 levels. Easier to obtain than botanical pie.
  • Herblore cape (99) - Acts as pestle and mortar; allows making unfinished potions directly from grimy herbs.
  • Making unfinished potions in bulk - 14 herbs + 14 vials per inventory. Use Zahur (Hard Desert Diary) for noted bulk creation. This separates the herb-collection grind from the secondary-collection grind.

Key Level Milestones

Every potion unlock from level 3 to 98. Highlighted rows are critical ironman milestones that meaningfully change what content you can access.

LevelPotionIngredientsXPSignificance
3Attack potionGuam + Eye of newt25First potion, minor Attack boost
5AntipoisonMarrentill + Unicorn horn dust37.5Cures poison
12Strength potionTarromin + Limpwurt root50Minor Strength boost
22Restore potionHarralander + Red spiders' eggs62.5Restores lowered stats
26Energy potionHarralander + Chocolate dust67.5Restores run energy
34Agility potionToadflax + Toad's legs80Boosts Agility by 3
36Combat potionHarralander + Goat horn dust84Boosts Attack and Strength
38Prayer potionRanarr + Snape grass87.5CRITICAL: enables sustained prayer
45Super attackIrit + Eye of newt100Boosts Attack by 5 + 15%
48SuperantipoisonIrit + Unicorn horn dust106.3Better poison cure
50Fishing potionAvantoe + Snape grass112.5Boosts Fishing by 3
52Super energyAvantoe + Mort myre fungus117.5Better energy restore; base for staminas
55Super strengthKwuarm + Limpwurt root125Boosts Strength by 5 + 15%
63Super restoreSnapdragon + Red spiders' eggs142.5Restores all stats including prayer; better than prayer pots
66Super defenceCadantine + White berries150Boosts Defence; needed for super combat
69AntifireLantadyme + Dragon scale dust157.5Partial dragonfire protection
72Ranging potionDwarf weed + Wine of zamorak162.5Essential ranged DPS boost
76Magic potionLantadyme + Potato cactus172.5Boosts Magic by 4
77Stamina potionSuper energy + Amylase crystals25.5/doseReduces run energy drain 70% for 2 min
78Zamorak brewTorstol + Jangerberries175Boosts Attack/Strength, lowers Defence/HP
79Antidote++Irit + Coconut milk + Magic root177.5Strong antipoison; base for anti-venom
81Saradomin brewToadflax + Crushed nest180Heals HP and boosts Defence; primary raid food
84Extended antifireAntifire(4) + 4 Lava scale shards11012-minute dragonfire protection
85Ancient brewDwarf weed + Nihil dust190Restores prayer, boosts Magic
87Anti-venomAntidote++(4) + 20 Zulrah's scales120Cures venom; needed for Zulrah
88Menaphite remedyDwarf weed + Lily of the sands200Stat restore for ToA
90Super combatSuper att/str/def(4) + Torstol150Best melee boost in one potion
92Super antifireAntifire(4) + Crushed superior dragon bones130Full dragonfire immunity
94Anti-venom+Anti-venom(4) + Torstol125Best venom protection (15 min)
97Divine super combatSuper combat(4) + 4 Crystal dust - Maintains max boost 5 minutes
98Extended super antifireSuper antifire(4) + 4 Lava scale shards160Extended full fire protection

Green rows are critical milestones that unlock key content. Data sourced from the OSRS Wiki, March 2026.

Continue the Ironman Journey

Herblore is one part of the ironman progression. See the full Oziris Efficiency Guide for the complete skill-by-skill and quest-by-quest roadmap.

View Full Ironman Guide →