Ironman Guide/Runecraft (2024)

Ironman Guide

Runecraft is mostly trained as normal, especially if training Runecraft through non-essence methods. However, essence-based training methods can be troublesome for ironmen due to lack of buying essence from the Grand Exchange and instead, ironmen would have to obtain large quantities of pure essences in bulk from other activities. Fortunately, ironmen can effectively reach 99 Runecraft through non-essence training methods.

Non-essence training methods[edit | edit source]

These are fast and recommendable methods to train Runecraft that don't require a supply of rune essence, pure essence, or daeyalt essence.

Early training: Quests[edit | edit source]

Rune Mysteries is required for unlocking the Runecraft skill, however it rewards no experience. Enter the Abyss is available immediately afterwards, and rewards 1,000 experience, enough for level 9 . This miniquest does require briefly entering low-level Wilderness, so hardcore ironmen should beware. At 10 Runecraft, the Temple of the Eye quest is available which grants a total of 9,210 experience during and after the quest, which is enough to reach the 27 Runecraft level requirement to do the Guardians of the Rift minigame.

• Enter the Abyss rewards 1,000 Runecraft experience.
• Temple of the Eye requires 10 , gives 4,210 Runecraft experience during the quest and rewards 5,000 Runecraft experience after the quest ( 9,210 Runecraft experience total)
• The Ascent of Arceuus requires Client of Kourend and 12 , rewards 500 Runecraft experience
• The Eyes of Glouphrie requires The Grand Tree, 5 , 46 , rewards 6,000 Runecraft experience

Levels 10–99: Guardians of the Rift[edit | edit source]

5000

1000

10000

The Guardians of the Rift minigame is a fairly efficient and much more engaging way of training Runecraft. In addition to Runecraft experience, the minigame also offers passive Mining and Crafting experience. The minigame is profitable and offers useful rewards, such as the colossal pouch for holding more essence and raiments of the eye set for crafting extra runes.

To participate in the minigame, players must have completed Temple of the Eye and it's fairly quick to get to 10 Runecraft to start the quest by completing Enter the Abyss and gaining few extra Runecraft experience from another quest or crafting runes.

There are also a number of quests that are very useful to have completed:

• Lunar Diplomacy to be able to cast NPC Contact to quickly repair essence pouches
• Lost City to craft cosmic runes
• Troll Stronghold to craft law runes
• Mourning's End Part II to craft death runes
• Sins of the Father to craft blood runes

For the fastest experience, ironmen should use the best pickaxe and all essence pouches available. The rune pouch is strongly recommended to save inventory space. Players who do not have the raiments of the eye outfit yet are advised to wear any tier of the Varrock armour to have a 10% chance to mine double guardian fragments at once. Ironmen may also make use of the celestial ring if they have it.

Ironmen who have the abyssal lantern should light it with redwood logs when possible, which can either be obtained by chopping redwoods at 90 Woodcutting (boostable) or opening Gold Chests in the Shades of Mort'ton minigame, which high combat level is recommended for as well as 80 Firemaking at minimum to burn fiyr remains on magic pyre logs for gold keys. This makes it so the player does not need to repair essence pouches via NPC Contact, which saves 1–3 inventory slots, depending on if the player is using a rune pouch. Ironmen who cannot use redwood logs or are wearing the Runecraft cape are advised to use yew logs for the contribution point boost it provides or willow/magic logs for extra runes crafted (blisterwood logs for blood runes).

Through Guardians of the Rift players can obtain the raiments of the eye set. It provides 10% more runes per piece worn and an additional 20% set bonus, for a total of 60% when wearing a full set, which is very useful for ironmen to obtain. The abyssal needle is used to combine essence pouches into the colossal pouch. It can hold up to 40 essence, making it the best essence pouch to use. Valuable runes obtained through the minigame can be kept for later use or sold for profit.

Experience rates are shown in the table below. The rates assume using all pouches available. From 85 Runecraft onwards, the rates assume doing the minigame in small coordinated teams for faster experience.

level	XP/h	XP/h	XP/h
40–50	25,000	2,300	1,200
50–75	40,000	3,700	2,000
75–85	50,000	4,700	2,500
85–99	65,000	6,200	3,200
99	70,000	6,600	3,500

Levels 1–77: Arceuus Library[edit | edit source]

Quest minimalists that only want to train Runecraft without completing Rune Mysteries or other quests can find books for customers in the Arceuus Library. This method offers relatively fast experience and does not require any pure essence. However, since each book turned in grants 5 times the current Runecraft level in experience, it is recommended to gain at least 20 Runecraft levels through conventional methods before utilizing the library unless if the player is a quest minimalist. Energy-restoration food, potions, and explorer's ring are recommended to increase the experience rate while running around the library.

With good performance and when using stamina potions, players can turn in up to around 160 books per hour, translating to 44,800 experience per hour at 70 Runecraft. This method is viable without stamina potions, but the player can only turn in up to around 100–110 books per hour.

Levels 77–99: Crafting blood/soul runes in Arceuus[edit | edit source]

From level 77 onwards the player can train Runecraft in Arceuus by crafting blood runes at level 77, or soul runes at level 90. It requires significantly less attention compared to other methods, and also provides some passive Mining and Crafting experience. Both methods are also profitable; blood runes offer better profit but slower experience, soul runes offer faster experience but are much less profitable.

Players will need a chisel (can be obtained at the runestone mine) and a pickaxe of any kind for this method. The type of pickaxe does not matter for mining dense essence blocks. It is also strongly recommended to have a high Agility level (78+ recommended) and the graceful outfit for faster run energy restoration. Level 73 Agility is required for the western rock scramble shortcut.

Completion of the medium Kourend & Kebos Diary will grant the player 5% chance to mine 2 dense essence blocks at once (but no additional crafting/mining experience is gained), which increases overall experience rates slightly. Players that have completed the elite tasks of the Kourend & Kebos diary will receive 10% additional blood runes, however no extra experience is given. A higher Mining level is also slightly helpful, as the essence stone depletes less frequently with a higher Mining level. The dragon or crystal pickaxe special attack can be used to boost the Mining level.

Wearing a ring of endurance with at least 500 charges is recommended should the player have one. The charged ring will reduce run energy drain, and without one it is possible to run out of run energy even at high Agility levels.

Blood runes are needed for barrage spells and they are very expensive when bought from a magic shop, so it is best to keep the runes for barrage Slayer. A lot of blood runes are also needed to use sanguinesti staff and scythe of vitur for high-level bossing. Soul runes are used for casting Blood Barrage when killing God Wars Dungeon bosses, and also to charge Tumeken's shadow. Players without these end game weapons may choose to sell excess runes for profit.

Experience and profit rates are shown in the table below. The rates assume the player has completed medium Kourend & Kebos Diary tasks. The profit rates for selling the runes assume the runes are sold to Ali Morrisane. The profit rates for using the runes assume the money saved if the runes would have been bought from the Wizards' Guild, buying full stock per world.

level	Method	XP/h	XP/h	XP/h	Runes/h	Profit/h (sell)	Profit/h (use)	Runes/h w/ outfit	Profit/h w/ outfit (sell)	Profit/h w/ outfit (use)
77	Blood runes (no diary)	37,000	6,100	4,500	1,515	303,000	682,000	2,424	485,000	1,091,000
77	Blood runes (diary)	37,000	6,100	4,500	1,666	333,000	750,000	2,575	515,000	1,159,000
90	Soul runes	45,000	5,900	4,400	1,484	223,000	501,000	2,374	356,000	801,000

Runecrafting and general tips[edit | edit source]

1. Starting at the Arceuus essence mine, mine a full inventory of dense essence blocks, use them on the Dark Altar to create dark essence blocks.
2. Run back to the essence mine and use a chisel on the dark essence blocks to create dark essence fragments while running back to the mine.
3. Mine a second inventory of essence blocks, use them on the Dark Altar.
4. Chisel 1 dark essence block and head to the runic altar.
5. Craft runes at the altar, chisel the second inventory of dark essence blocks into fragments, craft runes once more and return to the essence mine.

Players who have completed the elite tasks of the Lumbridge & Draynor Diary (players without the tasks done may carry a Dramen staff), and have a revitalisation pool and fairy ring in their player-owned house can alternatively use Teleport to house to make the procedure slightly faster and remove the need for the graceful outfit, this would allow players to wear Raiments of the eye and craft an additional 60% more runes. A construction cape or rune pouch with law runes, dust runes, and an empty spot for the crafted runes will allow for no lost inventory slots. For blood runecrafting, after making a second inventory of dark essence blocks teleport to your house, restore run energy with the pool, use the fairy ring CIS and run to the altar. For soul runecrafting, after crafting runes at the altar teleport to your house, restore run energy with the pool, use the fairy ring CIS and return to the essence mine.

Essence training methods[edit | edit source]

Acquiring essence[edit | edit source]

Acquiring a large stack of essence can be tedious if only mining in the rune essence mine and it isn't worth the time that way. Here are more efficient methods to acquire a large stack of essence.

High combat stats (80+) – Slayer, Zulrah, Chambers of Xeric[edit | edit source]

The best way to collect pure essence is through Slayer, as wyrms, gargoyles, Skeletal Wyverns and Fossil Island wyverns frequently drop pure essence in large quantities. Players can also collect pure essence daily from Wizard Cromperty after completing the medium tasks (or higher) in the Ardougne Diary. High-level players can also get a lot of pure essence from Zulrah and the Chambers of Xeric. Temple Trekking is also an option, as using route 3 with a medium or hard companion will net around 5,000–10,000 pure essence per hour.

Mid combat stats (60+) – Soul Wars Spoils of War[edit | edit source]

An option for mid and high level players is opening Spoils of war from Soul Wars. Pure essence rewarded here can be 5,000–15,000 depending on luck. Each game lasts 15 minutes, and the 30 zeal needed to buy spoils of war depends on the amount of participation. Low level players (below 60 combat) may need 2 games to obtain over 30 zeal, while higher levels can easily obtain 30–40+ zeal per game.

Low combat stats (40 or below) – Temple Trekking[edit | edit source]

Temple Trekking with an easy companion on Route 1 provides 50 pure essence per trip. Because all combat instances can be evaded, low level players can avoid combat entirely and focus on completing treks as fast as possible. In combination with Protect from Melee and/or Protect from Missiles, players are extremely unlikely to take damage. This is also a good early source of bow strings and the Lumberjack outfit. See the Temple Trekking page for more info on what enemies/encounters to avoid, how to get the Lumberjack outfit, and how to unlock Burgh de Rott Ramble for even faster trips.

Daeyalt essence[edit | edit source]

Daeyalt essence is only available after completion of Sins of the Father, in which players fight several extremely high level bosses. Recommended combat stats to effectively complete this quest are 80 and above.

Players can mine daeyalt essence at the mine beneath Darkmeyer, which can be used in place of pure essence and will grant 50% extra Runecraft experience. With tick manipulation, this becomes a good source of essence and experience.

Wizard Cromperty[edit | edit source]

With the medium Ardougne Diary completed, players can get 100 free noted pure essence a day from Wizard Cromperty. Completing the hard diary will give the player 150 free noted pure essence per day and completing the elite diary will give the player 250 free noted pure essence per day.

Level 1+: Abyssal runecrafting[edit | edit source]

The Abyss can be accessed after the completion of Enter the Abyss, and will grant access to every altar without a talisman or tiara. It can be reached via the Wilderness, or fairy ring code ALR.

The abyss typically offers worse experience rates than other methods due to the enemies and obstacles, however it can be valuable for access to remote altars to acquire specific runes the player needs (such as nature runes, law runes, etc.), or when a talisman is not available.

The abyss offers you the ability to choose which runes you want to craft and should be accessed using the Ferox Enclave Teleport which allows players to freely replenish run energy.

Levels 23–99: Lava runes[edit | edit source]

At level 23, players can craft Lava runes. Without access to the Lunar spellbook and 82 Magic for Magic Imbue (requiring Lunar Diplomacy) this method can be difficult to use for Ironmen due to lack of access to elemental talismans in bulk. Elemental talismans can be acquired from Guardians of the Rift but it's preferrable to do Ourania Altar runs instead.

Without spellbook: Fill an inventory with pure essence, a fire tiara, earth runes, and an earth talisman and use a ring of dueling to teleport to the Emir's Arena. A few steps north is the Fire Altar where the runes can be crafted. The ring of dueling can be used to teleport to Castle Wars for easy access to a bank, at which point the process can be repeated.

With spellbook: Equip a steam battlestaff, fill your inventory with essence pouches, a rune pouch filled with earth runes and astral runes, and pure essence. The goal is to cast Magic Imbue so that earth talismans are not necessary.

Players will need to make the emerald jewellery for crafting lava runes; however, high-level players may obtain significant quantities of binding necklaces while killing the Abyssal Sire for its unique drops.

Levels 23–99: Ourania Altar (ZMI Altar)[edit | edit source]

Players can craft random runes at the Ourania Altar starting at 1 Runecraft, but getting there is slow and inefficient without completion of Lunar Diplomacy for Ourania Teleport (requiring 71 Magic). Completion of the medium Ardougne Diary is also highly recommended for bonus runes. Players may take a slow, winding path or faster path filled with low to mid level enemies. Players will not be hit often on official Ourania worlds, but low levels should be cautious. Once the above requirements are met:

1. Set your spellbook to the Lunar spellbook by travelling to Lunar Isle. Remember to bring a Seal of passage if you wish to bank on Lunar Isle without completion of Dream Mentor. Quick transportation to Rellekka (and the boats to Lunar Isle) include Fremennik sea boots and Fairy rings nearby, DKS (north, Polar Hunter area) and AJR (Fremennik Slayer Dungeon).
2. Wield an Earth battlestaff or Staff of earth. Fill your inventory with the following: law runes, astral runes, mind runes (for payment to Eniola), essence pouches (small, medium, large, and/or giant), and pure essence.
3. Ourania Teleport to the altar. The official Worlds for Ourania Altar are 327, 480 (P2P).
4. Run toward the altar and take the ladder down, following the combat path to the altar, and craft your runes.
5. Teleport back to the altar with Ourania Teleport. Rinse and repeat, paying 20 mind runes to access the bank at the entrance.
6. Once run energy is depleted, replenish at Ferox Enclave, then head back to the altar.
7. When essence pouches decay, use NPC Contact to the Dark Mage to repair them for free.

Levels 95–99: Wrath runes[edit | edit source]

At 95 Runecraft and after completing Dragon Slayer II, players can craft wrath runes. They are mainly used for casting offering spells to train Prayer. Wrath runes are dropped by high-level monsters in relatively small quantities, so generally the best way to get them is to craft them.

To access the Wrath Altar, players will need to wear the Runecraft cape, get a wrath talisman dropped by Vorkath, adamant dragons, or rune dragons, use a catalytic talisman or tiara obtained from Guardians of the Rift, or attune a hat of the eye with a wrath tiara or catalytic tiara. Players will also need a lot of noted pure essence, which can be obtained through training Slayer. For the fastest rates, players will also need to get all the essence pouches for carrying more pure essence per lap. Having the ornate rejuvenation pool in the player-owned house is also recommended for restoring Hitpoints and run energy.

This method is potentially dangerous, as players will need to run past high-level dragons. It is strongly recommended not to store items at an Item Retrieval Service, as it is very possible to die to an untimely disconnection.

Experience rates can vary depending on the inventory setup and the available teleport to unnote essence. Players can gain up to around 27,000 experience per hour when wearing the Runecraft cape and using the Crafting cape to unnote essence at the Crafting Guild bank chest.