1. Introduction to Alchemy

Alchemy is one of the most iconic and useful spells in Old School RuneScape. Available in the standard spellbook, these spells convert items directly into gold coins, making them essential for both money-making and Magic training.

What is Alchemy?

In OSRS, every tradeable item has a hidden "alchemy value" that determines how much gold you receive when converting it with an alchemy spell. This value is typically related to the item's store price and is completely separate from its Grand Exchange price.

The key to profitable alchemy is finding items where the Grand Exchange buy price (plus rune costs) is less than the alchemy value. When this happens, you can buy items from other players, alch them, and pocket the difference as profit.

Why Use Alchemy?

• Make Money: One of the few training methods that generates profit instead of costing money
• Train Magic: Consistent, reliable Magic XP at decent rates
• Multitask: Can be done while training other skills like Agility or Fletching
• Accessible: Low requirements make it available to most players
• Convert Drops: Turn PvM drops into instant cash without waiting at the GE

High Alchemy vs Low Alchemy

2. Requirements & Setup

Magic Level Requirements

• Low Level Alchemy: 21 Magic (2,411 XP from level 1)
• High Level Alchemy: 55 Magic (166,636 XP from level 1)

Getting to level 21 is quick - cast Strike spells on low-level monsters or complete early quests. Reaching 55 takes more effort but can be done through various combat spells, enchanting, or other methods.

Rune Requirements

Recommended Equipment

• Staff of Fire: Provides unlimited fire runes, eliminating that cost entirely. This is essential for profitable alching.
• Bryophyta's Staff: Has a 1/15 chance to not consume a nature rune. Costs more upfront but saves money over time.
• Explorer's Ring 4: Provides 30 free High Alchemy casts per day. Requires completion of Lumbridge & Draynor Elite Diary.
• Tome of Fire: Alternative fire rune source if using a different staff. Consumes burnt pages.

Initial Investment

To start alching, you'll need:

• Nature runes (~90-100gp each)
• Staff of Fire (~1,500gp) OR fire runes
• Items to alch (varies based on choice)
• Starting capital of at least 50,000-100,000gp recommended

3. Step-by-Step Tutorial

Setting Up Your First Alching Session

Pro Tips for Efficient Alching

• Use Noted Items:Noted items stack in one inventory slot so you don't have to keep moving your mouse.
• Position your cursor: Keep your mouse in one spot and move the inventory item there to minimize movement
• Find a rhythm: High Alch has a 5-tick (3 second) cooldown - don't click faster than needed

4. Progression Path

Levels 1-21: Getting to Low Alchemy

Before you can alch, you need at least 21 Magic. Here are efficient ways to get there:

• Quests: Witch's Potion (325 XP), Imp Catcher (875 XP), and others can skip early levels
• Strike spells: Kill chickens or cows with Wind/Water/Earth/Fire Strike
• Enchanting: Enchant sapphire jewelry for fast, cheap XP

Total XP needed: 5,018 (takes about 15-30 minutes)

Levels 21-55: The Low Alch Phase

Low Alchemy is rarely profitable, so most players use other methods to reach 55:

• Continue combat spells: Bolt and Blast spells on appropriate monsters
• Superheat Item: Turns ore into bars; can be profitable with the right ores
• Enchanting: Emerald, ruby, and diamond enchanting for steady XP
• Low Alch anyway: If you want Magic XP, alch items at a loss for the experience

Total XP needed: ~161,000 additional XP (from 21 to 55)

Levels 55+: High Alchemy Mastery

Once you unlock High Alchemy, the real money-making begins:

• 55-70: Focus on learning the rhythm and finding profitable items
• 70-85: Consider combining alching with other activities (Agility, etc.)
• 85-99: You can alch all the way to 99 if patient; will take ~180,000 casts

5. Advanced Strategies

Alching While Training Agility

This is the most popular alching combination. On rooftop courses, you have brief moments between obstacles that are perfect for casting High Alch:

• Works best on courses with longer gaps (Seers', Ardougne)
• Keep your alch items and mouse positioned for quick access
• Expect 600-800 alchs/hour while also gaining full Agility XP
• Great for Marks of Grace + Magic XP + Profit all at once

Alching PvM Drops

Instead of banking drops to sell later, many players bring nature runes and a fire staff to alch drops on the spot:

• Gargoyles: Alch rune/adamant drops for instant cash
• Slayer tasks: Keeps inventory clear for longer trips
• Boss hunting: Alch lower-value uniques you'd otherwise bank
• Compare alch value vs GE price - sometimes selling is better

6. Best Items to Alch

Item profitability changes constantly with the market. Here are categories of items that are historically good for alching:

Consistently Profitable Categories

• Yew & Magic longbows: High buy limits, usually profitable
• Rune equipment: Kiteshields, platelegs, platebodies - high alch values
• Dragonhide bodies: Green, blue, red, black d'hide are often profitable
• Battlestaves: Air, water, earth, fire battlestaves
• Jewelry: Gold and gem jewelry can be profitable

Using Our Calculator

For real-time profitability, always check our Alchemy Calculator. It shows:

• Current profit per alch (accounting for nature rune costs)
• Percentage margin (ROI)
• Buy limits and how long you can alch each item
• Potential profit based on your bankroll and time