Herblore 3 to 99: Which Potions to Make and When

Herblore is the classic buyable skill: you can make 2,500 potions an hour, and the only real question is which potion loses the least per XP at your level. The method table below works that out from today's herb and secondary prices. Finish Druidic Ritual first, then sort the table by cost per XP and pick from the cheapest few at or below your level.

Herblore training route

Time to 9937 hr +some steps have no typical rate

XP still to gain13,034,431from level 1

Average rate352K xp/hr10 steps left

Levels	Method	XP/hr	XP needed	Hours
1–3	Druidic RitualRequired to make potions; 250 XP	–	174	–
3–19	Quests: Jungle Potion, Recruitment Drive, The Dig Site3,775 XP combined	–	3,799	–
19–26	Strength potions	125K	4,767	2 min
26–36	Energy potionsDo Eadgar's Ruse at 31 for 11,000 XP	169K	16,075	6 min
36–45	Combat potions	210K	36,697	10 min
45–55	Super attack potions	250K	105,124	25 min
55–63	Super strength potions	313K	201,963	39 min
63–76	Super restores	356K	967,844	2.7 hr
76–90	Magic potions	431K	4,009,889	9.3 hr
90–99	Super combat potionsSlower to make; compare cost per XP with magic potions	325K	7,688,099	24 hr
Total			13,034,431	37 hr

Cost per xp of every method

Open the Herblore calculator

Filter methods

Members methods

Action	Level	XP each	Profit each	GP/XP	XP/hr	GP/hr
Attack potionPotions	3	25	−416	−16.6	62,500	−1.04M
Clean guam leafCleaning herbs	3	2.5	+28	+11.2	–	–
AntipoisonPotions	5	37.5	−1,081	−28.8	93,750	−2.70M
Clean marrentillCleaning herbs	5	3.8	+66	+17.4	–	–
Clean tarrominCleaning herbs	11	5	+57	+11.4	–	–
Strength potionPotions	12	50	−516	−10.3	125K	−1.29M
Guam tarTars · Needs a pestle and mortar; makes 15 tar per herb.	19	30	−49	−1.6	–	–
Clean harralanderCleaning herbs	20	6.3	+96	+15.2	–	–
Compost potionPotions	22	60	−691	−11.5	150K	−1.73M
Restore potionPotions	22	62.5	−707	−11.3	156K	−1.77M
Clean ranarr weedCleaning herbs	25	7.5	+188	+25.1	–	–
Energy potionPotions	26	67.5	−468	−6.9	169K	−1.17M
Clean toadflaxCleaning herbs	30	8	+154	+19.3	–	–
Defence potionPotions	30	75	−6,336	−84.5	188K	−15.8M
Marrentill tarTars · Needs a pestle and mortar; makes 15 tar per herb.	31	42.5	−256	−6.0	–	–
Agility potionPotions	34	80	−2,552	−31.9	200K	−6.38M
Combat potionPotions	36	84	−559	−6.7	210K	−1.40M
Tarromin tarTars · Needs a pestle and mortar; makes 15 tar per herb.	39	55	−227	−4.1	–	–
Clean irit leafCleaning herbs	40	8.8	+169	+19.2	–	–
Harralander tarTars · Needs a pestle and mortar; makes 15 tar per herb.	44	72.5	−394	−5.4	–	–
Super attackPotions	45	100	−273	−2.7	250K	−683K
Clean avantoeCleaning herbs	48	10	+202	+20.2	–	–
SuperantipoisonPotions	48	106.3	−1,919	−18.1	266K	−4.80M
Anti-odour saltBest profitOther · Needs a pestle and mortar; makes 15 salt.	49	11	+2,722	+247	–	–
Fishing potionPotions	50	112.5	−2,759	−24.5	281K	−6.90M
Super energyPotions	52	117.5	−419	−3.6	294K	−1.05M
Hunter potionPotions	53	120	−1,762	−14.7	300K	−4.41M
Clean kwuarmCleaning herbs	54	11.3	+171	+15.1	–	–
Goading potionPotions	54	132	−8,560	−64.8	330K	−21.4M
Irit tarTars · Needs a pestle and mortar; makes 15 tar per herb.	55	85	−1,093	−12.9	–	–
Super strengthPotions	55	125	−311	−2.5	313K	−778K
Haemostatic dressingOther	56	100	−791	−7.9	–	–
Haemostatic poulticeOther	56	27	−21	−0.8	–	–
Clean huascaCleaning herbs	58	11.8	+183	+15.5	–	–
Clean snapdragonCleaning herbs	59	11.8	+224	+19.0	–	–
Weapon poisonPotions	60	137.5	−2,256	−16.4	344K	−5.64M
Super fishing potionPotions	62	140.5	−1,676	−11.9	351K	−4.19M
Super restorePotions	63	142.5	−351	−2.5	356K	−878K
Clean cadantineCleaning herbs	65	12.5	+259	+20.7	–	–
Sanfew serumPotions · All four steps in one: 192 xp per 4-dose super restore.	65	192	+9,845	+51.3	480K	+24.6M
Extreme energy potionPotions · 4-dose super energy plus 4 yellow fin.	66	84	−794	−9.5	231K	−2.18M
Super defencePotions	66	150	−535	−3.6	375K	−1.34M
Clean lantadymeCleaning herbs	67	13.1	+246	+18.8	–	–
Super hunter potionPotions	67	154	−1,877	−12.2	385K	−4.69M
Antidote+Potions · Antidote+ (unf) is coconut milk plus a toadflax.	68	155	−571	−3.7	388K	−1.43M
Antifire potionPotions	69	157.5	−1,043	−6.6	394K	−2.61M
Clean dwarf weedCleaning herbs	70	13.8	+174	+12.6	–	–
Weapon poison(+)Potions · Weapon poison+ (unf) is coconut milk plus a cactus spine.	73	190	−1,381	−7.3	475K	−3.45M
Clean torstolCleaning herbs	75	15	+205	+13.7	–	–
Magic potionPotions	76	172.5	−1,442	−8.4	431K	−3.60M
Stamina potionPotions · 4-dose super energy plus 4 amylase crystals.	77	102	−458	−4.5	281K	−1.26M
Antidote++Potions · Antidote++ (unf) is coconut milk plus an irit leaf.	79	177.5	−1,577	−8.9	444K	−3.94M
Battlemage potionPotions	80	155	−927	−6.0	388K	−2.32M
Surge potionPotions · Untradeable potion.	81	185	−3,746	−20.2	463K	−9.37M
Weapon poison(++)Potions · Weapon poison++ (unf) is coconut milk plus nightshade.	82	190	+1,406	+7.4	475K	+3.52M
Extended antifirePotions · 4-dose antifire plus 4 lava scale shards.	84	110	−860	−7.8	303K	−2.37M
Ancient brewPotions	85	190	−3,234	−17.0	475K	−8.09M
Extended stamina potionPotions · 4-dose stamina potion plus 4 marlin scales.	85	110	−418	−3.8	303K	−1.15M
Anti-venomPotions · 4-dose antidote++ plus 20 Zulrah's scales.	87	120	−107	−0.9	330K	−294K
Menaphite remedyFastestPotions	88	200	−2,253	−11.3	500K	−5.63M
Super combat potionPotions · Uses a clean torstol; a torstol potion (unf) gives the same xp.	90	150	+985	+6.6	325K	+2.13M
Forgotten brewPotions · 4-dose ancient brew plus 80 ancient essence.	91	145	−652	−4.5	266K	−1.20M
Super antifire potionPotions	92	130	+348	+2.7	325K	+870K
Anti-venom+Potions · Uses a clean torstol; a torstol potion (unf) gives the same xp.	94	125	+412	+3.3	313K	+1.03M
Extended anti-venom+Potions · 4-dose anti-venom+ plus 4 araxyte venom sacs.	94	80	+1,456	+18.2	147K	+2.67M
Extended super antifirePotions · 4-dose super antifire plus 4 lava scale shards.	98	160	−2,561	−16.0	440K	−7.04M

Profit each and GP/XP use current Grand Exchange mid prices, before the 2% GE tax. Negative numbers are a cost per action or per xp. XP/hr and GP/hr assume a typical efficient player.

How Herblore training works

Almost all Herblore XP comes from adding a secondary ingredient to an unfinished potion. You buy clean herbs and vials of water (or unfinished potions straight off the Grand Exchange), make the unfinished potions, then add the secondary. A good player gets through about 2,500 standard potions an hour, so a potion's XP times 2,500 is a fair XP/hr figure. Magic potions at 172.5 XP each work out at about 431,000 XP/hr; super attacks at 100 XP sit near 250,000.

Because the speed is fixed by the number of potions, the decision at every level is cost per XP. Some potions lose a lot per dose, some barely lose anything, and a handful turn a profit when prices line up. That is why the route below is a default, not a rule.

A sensible potion route

Levels	Potion	Ingredients	XP each
3-12	Attack potion	Guam potion (unf), eye of newt	25
12-26	Strength potion	Tarromin potion (unf), limpwurt root	50
26-36	Energy potion	Harralander potion (unf), chocolate dust	67.5
36-45	Combat potion	Harralander potion (unf), goat horn dust	84
45-55	Super attack	Irit potion (unf), eye of newt	100
55-63	Super strength	Kwuarm potion (unf), limpwurt root	125
63-76	Super restore	Snapdragon potion (unf), red spiders' eggs	142.5
76-90	Magic potion	Lantadyme potion (unf), potato cactus	172.5
90-99	Super combat potion	Torstol, super attack, super strength, super defence	150

If you do the quests in the next section first, start at strength potions. This is the low-cost path most players follow. Super attacks and super restores are both made in huge volumes, so you can sell your output without crashing the price. Magic potions from 76 have cheap ingredients for the XP they give and a steady market. Super combats lose more per potion but also sell in deep volumes. Check the current numbers in the herblore calculator before you buy several thousand herbs.

Super combat potions use four ingredients and run slower, at about 2,166 per hour, which is why they give fewer XP per hour than magic potions despite the similar XP per potion. Check their cost per XP against magic potions before you switch, since speed is not their strength.

Levels 1-19 without making a potion

Druidic Ritual gives 250 XP, enough for level 3 and the ability to make potions at all. Jungle Potion (775 XP), Recruitment Drive (1,000 XP) and The Dig Site (2,000 XP) then take you straight to 19. Shades of Mort'ton and Zogre Flesh Eaters each give another 2,000 if you need them anyway.

At 31, Eadgar's Ruse is worth doing straight away. Its 11,000 XP moves you from 31 to 36 and saves a few thousand potions' worth of energy potions.

Quest XP later on

Quest	Herblore XP	Herblore needed
Heroes' Quest	1,325	25
Eadgar's Ruse	11,000	31
My Arm's Big Adventure	10,000	31
Land of the Goblins	8,000	48
Grim Tales	15,000	52
Fairytale II	3,500	57
Song of the Elves	40,000	70

Song of the Elves is the big one, but it sits behind a long list of requirements. Do it when your account is ready rather than holding Herblore back for it.

Cutting the cost of 99

Buy unfinished potions when they are cheaper than herb plus vial. They often are for popular herbs, and buying them halves your clicks.
Zahur in Nardah turns clean herbs and vials into unfinished potions for 200 coins each once you have the hard Desert diary (or a Herblore cape). She also cleans grimy herbs for 200 coins each.
Prescription goggles from Mastering Mixology give a 10% chance to save the secondary ingredient on most potions. On expensive secondaries this pays for itself quickly.
The alchemist's amulet gives a 15% chance to make a 4-dose potion, which makes your output worth more when you sell it.
Herbiboar at 80 Hunter gives free herbs and 25 Herblore XP for each herb past the first. Worth knowing if you are also training Hunter.

Mastering Mixology (60+)

Mastering Mixology in Aldarin needs 60 Herblore and Children of the Sun. You turn herbs into mox, aga and lye paste, mix the pastes into potion bases, and finish them at the retort, agitator or alembic to fill orders. Each herb you put into the refiner gives 6 XP, and finished orders pay out in resin for the reward shop.

At 81, when every recipe is open, active play with all the speedups gives about 70,000 XP/hr and lazy play about 45,000. That is far slower than making potions, but it uses cheap herbs and the resin buys the prescription goggles, the alchemist's amulet, the reagent pouch and tradeable aldarium. For ironmen it is the best XP per herb in the game. For everyone else, a few hours for the goggles and amulet is the sweet spot.

Profitable and AFK Herblore

Cleaning grimy herbs is profitable but slow, and good for low-level accounts with time to spare. Some potions with cheap secondaries occasionally sell for more than their inputs, so watch the Herblore money makers list rather than trusting any guide's fixed number.

For AFK play, pick potions whose secondary stacks, such as amylase crystals for stamina potions or lava scale shards for extended antifires. One click works through a full inventory of 27 potions and you can look away for about 30 seconds. Stackables also allow tick manipulation: stamina potions from 77 and extended antifires from 84 can be made at roughly 4,500 per hour this way, nearly double the usual rate.

Selling what you make

You will finish 99 with tens of thousands of potions, and how you sell them matters almost as much as what you buy. Potions come out as 3-dose, and buyers usually want 4-dose. Bob Barter at the Grand Exchange decants for free, so convert before you list. Check the buy limit and daily volume on each potion's price page before you commit to a batch of several thousand. A potion that trades a few hundred a day will sit unsold for a week and drag the price down while it waits.

Buying in smaller daily batches also helps. Herb prices tend to rise when a large order lands, and spreading your buys across a few days usually works out cheaper per XP.

Ironman Herblore

Ironmen cannot buy their way through, so the bottleneck is herbs and secondaries rather than gold. Farming herb runs, herbiboar, Slayer drops and Mastering Mixology carry most of the load. Make potions you will actually drink (super restores, stamina potions, antifire potions and super combats) instead of chasing XP per potion, and spend Mixology resin on the goggles and amulet early, since every saved secondary is one less you have to gather.

High-level potions and unlocks

Herblore is mostly a means to an end. The milestones that matter are super restores at 63, antifire potions at 69, stamina potions at 77, extended antifires at 84, super combats at 90 and anti-venom+ at 94. Making your own super restores and super combats for PvM is where the skill pays you back. Boosts help reach a recipe a few levels early, see Herblore boosts.

Questions players ask

What is the fastest way to train Herblore in OSRS?

Make the highest XP potion you can afford at about 2,500 per hour. Magic potions from 76 give roughly 431,000 XP/hr. With tick manipulation on stackable potions such as stamina and extended antifire, rates get higher still, but that needs a lot of focus.

What is the cheapest way to get 99 Herblore?

Quest to 19, then make the potions with the lowest loss per XP at your level, usually super attacks, super restores, magic potions and super combats. Prices move, so sort the method table by cost per XP rather than following a fixed list.

Do you need a quest to start Herblore?

Yes. Druidic Ritual is required before you can make any potion. It has no requirements, gives 250 Herblore XP and takes about ten minutes. After it, Jungle Potion, Recruitment Drive and The Dig Site take you from 3 to 19.

Is Mastering Mixology worth it?

For the rewards, yes. Prescription goggles and the alchemist's amulet save money on every potion afterwards. As pure training it is slow, about 70,000 XP/hr at best, so most players do a few hours and go back to potions. Ironmen get the most from it.

How many potions per hour can you make?

About 2,500 standard potions per hour with 14 herbs and 14 secondaries per inventory. Super combats are slower at about 2,166 because of the extra ingredients. Tick manipulation on stackable potions roughly doubles the count.

By OSRS Math Team · 20 Oct 2026