OSRS Fletching Training: Every Method Compared

OSRS fletching training usually starts with cutting logs into unstrung bows. It’s one of the cheapest and calmest ways to level the skill. According to the Fletching training guide on the OSRS Wiki, you can cut about 1,800 bows per hour without a Fletching knife and about 2,700 with one. Stringing is the faster step at roughly 2,450 bows per hour, but it asks for more attention. Cutting is slower, yet you can keep an eye on chat while you train. The guide estimates about 48.6 seconds to fletch a full inventory and 16.8 seconds to string a single bow, which is why the Fletching knife is worth picking up early.

You don’t need much money to begin. Shortbows unlock at level 5 and give 5 XP each, while oak longbows at level 25 give 25 XP per unstrung bow, as listed in the Fletching experience table. Higher log tiers pay more, and magic longbows at level 85 award 91.5 XP each. Once you’re comfortable with bows, you can branch into darts, bolts, arrows or Vale Totems. Vale Totems is the Fletching activity that requires finishing the Vale Totems miniquest and uses eight totem sites in Auburn Valley. Each route trades speed, gold and clicking differently, so the best choice depends on your account type and your budget.

Key Takeaways

• Start with bows, because you can cut about 1,800 unstrung bows per hour in OSRS without a Fletching knife, or about 2,700 per hour with one, and that makes it one of the cheapest and calmest ways to level Fletching.
• Pick up a Fletching knife early, since the guide estimates it takes you about 48.6 seconds to fletch a full inventory and 16.8 seconds to string a single bow.
• Try darts if you want fast training, because you can fletch about 18,000 darts per hour with two-click actions that let you fletch while you wait for something else.
• Check the Grand Exchange before you buy, since you should compare the current price of each material against the XP it gives you, because a method that is cheap one week can be expensive the next.
• Head to dragon bolts at level 84 Fletching if you want a method with no Slayer unlock or quest, but remember that Ironmen have to get unfinished dragon bolts from drops like Nex, Vorkath, adamant dragons, rune dragons or the Leviathan.

Bow Making and Stringing: Training Without Big Spending

Most players begin with bows because the materials are cheap and the early levels come quickly. Shortbows at level 5 give 5 XP each, and longbows at level 10 give 10 XP each. At level 20, oak shortbows give 16.5 XP each, so you get a real boost before you reach the oak longbows.

Higher log tiers pay more per item. Maple longbows at level 55 give 58.3 XP each, and yew longbows at level 70 give 75 XP each. The XP climbs, but so does the cost of your logs, so check the Grand Exchange before you buy a big stack.

The long haul is magic longbows from level 85 to 99. The Grand Exchange-based estimate for that stretch is about 106,840 bows, with material costs near 69 million GP for cutting and 88 million GP for stringing. Those prices move over time, so treat them as a snapshot. Still, they show why many players split their training between bows and other Fletching products once gold starts to matter.

If you want something with a bit more variety, the Vale Totems page on the OSRS Wiki describes a different kind of Fletching. You need to finish the Vale Totems miniquest first, and then you can work through eight totem sites in Auburn Valley. Each totem is carved from a log with a knife, then decorated with four Fletching products made from the same wood. A willow-log totem with four willow shortbows (u) costs about 45 GP in materials, based on 21 GP per log and 24 GP for the four unstrung bows.

Varlamore: The Final Dawn added another option when it arrived on July 23, 2025. The Varlamore: The Final Dawn update introduced the Auburnvale Fletching activity, which gives you a new place to use what you’ve already cut and strung.

Bows make a good starting point because you only need logs, a Fletching knife and bow string to get going. You can train at your own pace, keep an eye on chat, and build the level you need for the next step.

Comparing Speed, Gold Cost and Click Effort

Those XP-per-hour figures are best-case numbers. They assume you click nonstop and restart each batch without a pause, so treat them as ceilings rather than promises. Real sessions run slower once you stop to check chat, bank or restock logs.

Method	Level to unlock	Training pace	Click effort	Slayer or quest requirement	Grand Exchange price sensitivity
Unstrung bow cutting	Level 5 (shortbows)	Up to 1,800 per hour, or 2,700 with a Fletching knife	Semi-AFK	None	Low, mostly logs
Bow stringing	Level 5 (shortbows)	Up to 2,450 per hour	Hands-on	None	Moderate, logs and bow string
Vale Totems	Set by the miniquest	Slower, with eight totem sites in Auburn Valley	Hands-on	Vale Totems miniquest	Moderate, log and product prices
Darts	Varies by tier	Fast two-click pace	Hands-on	Depends on the tier	Varies by tier
Arrows	Varies by tier	Close to bolts	Hands-on	Depends on the tier	High, tip and feather prices
Bolts	Varies by tier	Close to arrows	Hands-on	Depends on the tier	High, tip and feather prices
Broad arrows	Level 52	Estimated 3,000 actions per hour	Hands-on	Broader fletching Slayer reward	Moderate, depends on material prices
Magic longbows	Level 85	About 106,840 bows from 85 to 99	Hands-on	None	High, tens of millions of GP

Bolts and arrows sit close together because they share tip and feather mechanics, so a price jump on one often lands on the other. Darts stand apart because their two-click pace makes them quick to train, even though each action still needs your attention.

Gold per XP is the number that matters most, and it changes with supply and demand. The same method can be cheap one week and expensive the next, especially when a popular tip or log tier suddenly sells out.

Every price in this table is a snapshot, not a fixed cost. Check the Grand Exchange before you buy, and compare the current price of each material against the XP it gives you.

Darts: Fast Two-Click Training

Darts are the quick option in the Fletching lineup. You attach feathers to dart tips, and each action makes a set of 10. Bronze darts unlock at level 10, iron at 22, steel at 37, mithril at 52, adamant at 67, rune at 81, amethyst at 90, and dragon darts at level 95. Fletching darts doesn’t require The Tourist Trap, but smithing your own dart tips does, so most players who haven’t finished that quest buy their tips instead.

Speed is where darts shine. A practical rate is about 18,000 darts per hour, which works out to roughly 32,400 XP per hour on bronze and up to 450,000 XP per hour on dragon. Each action is a two-click job, so you can fletch while you wait for something else. That’s why many players treat darts as zero-time training rather than a dedicated grind.

Gold is the catch. Listed costs run from about 7.52 GP per XP for dragon darts to about 48.99 GP per XP for rune darts, and finished prices swing a lot, with dragon darts listed at 775 GP each and bronze at 28 GP. These are market snapshots, so the total cost to 99 depends on your route and the current Grand Exchange. Check the Grand Exchange Market Watch page for current prices before you commit to the top tiers.

At a glance

• Best for: fast training that fits around other activities
• Level Required: 10 for bronze darts, 95 for dragon darts
• XP per Hour: about 32,400 on bronze to 450,000 on dragon, at roughly 18,000 darts per hour
• Click Effort: two-click actions that can run during downtime
• Requirements: The Tourist Trap, only if you smith your own dart tips

Dragon Bolts: Speed Without Darts

Dragon bolts are where you turn bolt-making into real XP at level 84 Fletching. Use feathers on unfinished dragon bolts to make dragon bolts, which gives 12 XP per bolt, or attach a bolt tip to a finished bolt for extra XP. Any tip other than barbed or amethyst works, so you can pick the one that suits your budget.

This method is semi-zero-time rather than fully hands-on. You queue batches, then restart them every so often, so you can keep an eye on chat or wait for a skilling break in between. Published estimates put the rate at 48,000 to 282,500 XP per hour, depending on the tip. Opal gives 1.6 XP per bolt and onyx gives 9.4, based on 3,000 batches of 10 per hour.

Gold cost depends on the tip you choose. The training guide lists 27.62 GP per XP for ruby dragon bolts, 5.37 for dragonstone and 10.64 for onyx. When the Grand Exchange page was checked, its guide price for dragon bolts was 2,564 GP. Buying unfinished bolts can sometimes be cheaper than making them, so compare prices on the day you train.

You need no Slayer unlock or quest to fletch dragon bolts. The official poll states that using the bolts does not require Dragon Slayer II. Ironmen face one hurdle, because they can’t make unfinished dragon bolts. You need to get them from drops, such as Nex, Vorkath, adamant dragons, rune dragons or the Leviathan.

At a glance

• Level Required: 84 Fletching
• XP per Hour: 48,000 to 282,500, depending on the tip
• Click Effort: Semi-AFK, with batches restarted periodically
• Requirements: No Slayer unlock or quest; Ironmen must obtain unfinished dragon bolts from drops

Dragon Arrows: Fast Arrow Training at 90

Dragon arrows unlock at level 90 Fletching. You attach 15 dragon arrowtips to 15 headless arrows to make 15 dragon arrows, and each batch gives 225 XP. The Dragon arrows recipe on the OSRS Wiki lists no quest or Slayer unlock, so your level is the only gate.

The OSRS Math training guide estimates 675,000 XP per hour, assuming 3,000 batches of 15 per hour. The arrows stack, so you won’t need to bank after every batch, but you still have to repeat the fletching action again and again. Expect a hands-on method, not a semi-AFK one.

Gold is the main cost. On the Grand Exchange, a dragon arrowtip’s guide price was 2,440 GP and a headless arrow’s was 11 GP, so the tips make up nearly all of your spending. The Grand Exchange page for dragon arrows lists the arrow at 2,478 GP. Prices move, so treat any cost-to-99 figure as a snapshot. Ironman players can’t use the Grand Exchange, so they’ll need to gather tips themselves.

At a glance

• Best for: players already at level 90 who want steady arrow XP
• Level Required: 90 Fletching
• XP per Hour: About 675,000 (OSRS Math estimate at 3,000 batches per hour)
• Click Effort: Hands-on, with stackable materials that reduce banking
• Requirements: No quest or Slayer unlock listed

Diamond Dragon Bolts: Profit From a Smaller Market

Diamond dragon bolts are made by attaching 10 diamond bolt tips to 10 dragon bolts, which gives you 10 diamond dragon bolts and 70 Fletching XP per action. The crafting recipe on the OSRS Wiki lists level 84 Fletching as the only requirement, with no quest or Slayer unlock. Players want these bolts for boss fights because of their defence-ignoring effect, which is a big reason this smaller method gets attention.

The OSRS Math Team’s training guide lists about 210,000 Fletching XP per hour, 10.3 GP profit per XP and roughly 2.16 million GP profit per hour. Those are price-dependent estimates, not promises. Using the same price snapshot, training from level 84 to 99 projects about 101 million GP profit. That figure is profit, not what you spend to get there.

Gold is the real catch. The Grand Exchange listing showed a guide price of 2,764 GP for one diamond dragon bolt when it was checked. If more players start making these bolts, the profit per XP can fall, so a method that looks strong today may not stay that way.

Making the bolts takes active clicks, but the stackable method uses only three inventory spaces. That means you can fletch alongside activities that leave room in your inventory.

At a glance

• Best for: Players at level 84 Fletching who want a profit-focused method for boss prep
• Level Required: 84 Fletching
• XP per Hour: About 210,000 Fletching XP (price-dependent estimate)
• Click Effort: Active clicks, with the stackable method using three inventory spaces
• Requirements: Only your Fletching level, with no quest or Slayer unlock

Onyx Bolt Tips: Profit With a Big Risk Warning

Onyx bolt tips are one of the most talked-about Fletching methods, and they unlock at level 73 Fletching. You attach an onyx bolt tip to a runite bolt to make an onyx bolt, and each bolt gives 9.4 Fletching XP. There is no quest or Slayer unlock to meet, so your Fletching level is the only gate.

The listed rate is about 282,000 Fletching XP per hour, based on 3,000 actions of 10 bolts each. That number assumes you restart every batch the moment it finishes. Each batch of 10 bolts takes two game ticks (1.2 seconds), so you still need to keep clicking. The method is calmer than many fast options, but it is not hands-off, and you’ll need to restart batches regularly.

Gold is where things get tricky. The Onyx bolt tips page on the OSRS Wiki showed a Grand Exchange price of 8,687 coins per tip, with a buy limit of 11,000, when it was checked. The listed economics show a profit of 221 GP per bolt, but holding that rate from level 73 to 99 would imply roughly 278 million GP. That’s a snapshot, not a forecast, because a strong profit can fade as the market shifts.

Cutting an onyx into tips is a major loss. The same page shows a loss of 2,158,243 coins for making 24 tips from a cut onyx, so buying ready-made tips at a good price is the smarter route. Check both the bolt and tip prices before you start.

At a glance

• Best for: players who can buy tips at a good price or collect them from drops
• Level Required: 73 Fletching
• XP per Hour: About 282,000 at 3,000 batches of 10 per hour (theoretical)
• Click Effort: Semi-AFK, with batches restarted regularly
• Requirements: No quest or Slayer unlock; tips come from stone chests, ninja implings, infernal eels or elite Treasure Trails

Dragonstone Bolt Tips: Earn While You Train

Dragonstone bolt tips are a simple way to earn a little gold while you train. At level 71 Fletching, you use a chisel on one cut dragonstone to make 12 bolt tips, and that step gives 8.2 XP. You then attach each tip to a runite bolt, which also needs level 71 and gives 8.2 XP. The finished official Runite bolts listing, training from level 69 to 99 works out to roughly 44.2 million GP, including the 2% sale tax. Those numbers can shift quickly, so always compare the current price of feathers and bolts before you commit.

Ironmen face one extra step. You can make the unfinished bolts yourself if you have 88 Smithing and a runite bar. Finished runite bolts also have a use beyond training, since they are ammunition for ranged combat. Runite bolts are also the base for the onyx and dragonstone bolt tips covered later in this article, which makes this method a useful stepping stone.

At a glance

• Best for: Members who want a mid-level bolt step before moving on to bolt tips
• Level Required: 69 Fletching
• XP per Hour: Up to 300,000, at 3,000 sets per hour, assuming continuous active clicking
• Click Effort: Hands-on, with active clicks for each set
• Requirements: No Slayer reward or quest; Ironmen need 88 Smithing and a runite bar to make unfinished bolts

Ruby Bolt Tips: Chisel Work Before Bolts

Ruby bolt tips unlock at level 63 Fletching, and you need a chisel and rubies to start. Each ruby you cut with a chisel gives you 12 ruby bolt tips and 6.3 Fletching XP. The tips aren’t a dead end, because you attach them to adamant or dragon bolts later. That makes ruby tips a useful stepping stone toward the bolt methods that come next.

Your chisel decides how fast this goes. With a standard chisel, each ruby takes 5 game ticks, or 3 seconds, which is about 7,560 XP per hour at uninterrupted theoretical speed. A money-making guide on the OSRS Wiki estimates a more realistic 1,150 rubies per hour, or about 7,245 XP. Every ruby is its own timed action, so this is hands-on training, not AFK. A Jeweller’s chisel cuts in 2 ticks instead, which is a theoretical 18,900 XP per hour.

Gold is the tricky part. On one price snapshot, a ruby cost 866 GP and its 12 tips sold for 1,092 GP, a gross spread of 226 GP per ruby before fees. That margin looks good, but prices and supply shift, and the spread can shrink quickly. Getting from level 63 to 99 takes about 2,010,450 rubies. At that snapshot spread, the gross figure would be roughly 454 million GP. That isn’t a fixed training cost, though, and it assumes prices and supply stay the same.

Before you start, decide whether you want XP or profit, because the fastest XP rate and the best margin don’t always come from the same market conditions.

At a glance

• Level Required: 63 Fletching
• XP per Hour: About 7,245 with a standard chisel, up to 18,900 theoretical with a Jeweller’s chisel
• Click Effort: Hands-on, one timed action per ruby
• Requirements: A chisel and rubies, with no quest or Slayer unlock
• Unlocks: Ruby tips you can attach to adamant or dragon bolts

Amethyst Arrows: Quick Arrow Training at 82

Amethyst arrows unlock at level 82 Fletching, so they are a good step for players who have already worked through the lower arrow tiers. You attach an amethyst arrowtip to a headless arrow to make each finished arrow. Top pages describe a fast pace with frequent actions, which makes this a strong choice for steady arrow training.

Because each action is quick, you’ll spend most of your time clicking rather than waiting. That suits players who like a steady rhythm, but it also means you go through your materials faster. The method isn’t for players who want to bank less often unless they plan ahead. Stock up on headless arrows and tips before each session, or you’ll end up walking back to the bank in the middle of a batch.

Gold cost depends on the price of both the arrows and the tips, so keep an eye on each one. Buying tips can be the expensive part. Leaving a low buy offer on the Grand Exchange can help you pick them up at a better price, since prices change over time. A cheap tip can still lose value if the headless arrow price jumps.

Amethyst arrows are also useful as ammunition for ranged combat, so you have a reason to keep what you make instead of selling it all. Ironman players can’t use the Grand Exchange, so they’ll need to gather their own tips and headless arrows.

At a glance

• Best for: steady arrow training for players at level 82 who want ammunition they can use
• Level Required: 82 Fletching
• Click Effort: frequent, hands-on actions

Dragon Javelins: Arrow-Level XP at 92

Dragon javelins unlock at level 92 Fletching, just above dragon arrows. Top pages describe javelins as a comparison method, so the real question is whether they’re worth it next to arrows. They give the same XP rate as dragon arrows, and the OSRS Math estimate for arrows is about 675,000 XP per hour at 3,000 batches of 15. Like arrows, javelins are hands-on, so you’ll be clicking the whole time.

Javelins usually cost a bit more than dragon arrows, which makes arrows the better pick unless javelin prices drop. Your choice depends on the Grand Exchange prices on the day you train, not on training speed alone. A cheap week for javelin materials can flip the answer, while a price spike can make arrows the clear winner.

Javelins suit players who are already set up for javelin ammunition. If you don’t have those materials yet, dragon arrows are the simpler place to start. Ironmen can’t use the Grand Exchange, so they’ll need to compare the cost of gathering each set of materials themselves.

At a glance

• Best for: players already set up for javelin ammunition who want arrow-level XP
• Level Required: 92 Fletching
• XP per Hour: Same rate as dragon arrows, about 675,000 per hour in the OSRS Math estimate
• Click Effort: Hands-on

Amethyst Bolt Tips: Broad Bolts at 76

Fletching amethyst broad bolts means adding amethyst bolt tips to broad bolts. Ten tips go onto ten broad bolts in one action, giving you 10 amethyst broad bolts and 106 Fletching XP per set. This isn’t the same as making amethyst bolt tips, which is a Crafting step, so keep the two apart. You need level 76 Fletching and the Broader Fletching Slayer reward before you can start.

The finished bolts stack in your inventory, so you can run a batch, then go back to whatever else you’re doing. That makes this method less click-heavy than bolts and darts. The XP rate people often quote assumes you keep repeating actions nonstop, not idle AFK training, so expect a slower pace in a real session.

Gold is the big factor. Both the amethyst bolt tips and the broad bolts have to be bought or gathered, and their Grand Exchange prices can move a lot. The total cost to reach 99 depends on the day you train, so look up both prices on the Grand Exchange before you commit. The bolts are also useful ammunition, so you aren’t left with output that only sells for gold.

At a glance

• Best for: players who want a less click-heavy method with ammunition as a useful output
• Level Required: 76 Fletching
• Unlocks: the Broader Fletching Slayer reward
• Click Effort: less click-heavy than bolts and darts, with stacking output

Broad Arrows: The Ironman Slayer Unlock

Broad arrows unlock at level 52 Fletching, but you need one thing first: the permanent Broader Fletching Slayer reward, which costs 300 Slayer reward points. No quest is required. Each batch combines 15 broad arrowheads with 15 headless arrows to make 15 broad arrows, and each arrow gives 10 XP.

Published estimates list 450,000 XP per hour, but that assumes 3,000 actions per hour. Treat it as a best-case rate. It needs sustained, repetitive clicking, so this is active bankstanding, not AFK training. Broad arrows are untradeable, so every arrow you make stays in your bank with no sale value.

Cost depends on Grand Exchange prices. The Grand Exchange showed broad arrowheads at 52 coins each, while a Fletching calculator listed headless arrows at 9 coins each, which works out to roughly 6.1 GP per XP before prices change. If you make your own headless arrows first, those extra actions earn no broad arrow XP, so your overall XP per hour drops.

Ironmen can’t use the Grand Exchange, but Slayer equipment shops sell broad arrowheads for 55 coins each. You still need the 300-point unlock before you can fletch them, which makes Slayer the main requirement and a solid Ironman route once you have the points.

At a glance

• Best for: Ironmen who have earned 300 Slayer points and want fast, click-heavy XP
• Level Required: 52 Fletching
• XP per Hour: 450,000 best case, at 3,000 actions per hour
• Click Effort: Active, repetitive clicking
• Requirements: Permanent Broader Fletching Slayer reward, bought for 300 Slayer reward points

Broad Bolts: Fast Ironman Clicking at 55

You unlock broad bolts at level 55 Fletching, but first you need the permanent Broader Fletching Slayer reward, which costs 300 Slayer reward points. Once you have it, you combine feathers with unfinished broad bolts to make finished bolts in batches of 10. Each batch gives 30 Fletching XP, or 3 XP per bolt.

The speed is the main draw. A training table estimates about 90,000 XP per hour at 3,000 batches per hour, while a broad-bolt method guide puts the rate between 540,000 and 720,000 XP per hour when you make 3 to 4 batches per game tick. Those higher figures depend on nonstop clicking, so this is an active method, not an AFK one.

Gold is the other half of the picture. The Grand Exchange page showed a guide price of 55 GP for broad bolts and 59 GP for unfinished broad bolts when it was checked. A fletching calculator estimates about 84 million GP to train from 55 to 99, or 6.5 GP per XP. Those prices change often, and the 7,000-item buy limit means many players stock up overnight.

Ironmen can’t use the Grand Exchange, so they can buy unfinished bolts from Slayer masters with coins instead. That avoids the gold-market risk, but you still need the 300-point unlock first. Your total cost depends on what you pay for the unfinished bolts and feathers.

At a glance

• Best for: Ironmen with 300 Slayer reward points who want an early Slayer-unlocked method before the higher bolt tiers
• Level Required: 55 Fletching
• XP per Hour: About 90,000 at 3,000 batches per hour, up to 720,000 at 3 to 4 batches per game tick
• Click Effort: Active clicking, not AFK
• Unlocks: The permanent Broader Fletching Slayer reward, 300 Slayer reward points

Steel Bolts: Cheap Mid-Level Bolt Training

At level 46 Fletching, you add 10 feathers to 10 unfinished steel bolts and get 10 finished steel bolts. Each bolt gives 3.5 Fletching XP, so every batch of 10 is worth 35 XP. It sits in the middle of the bolt tiers, well before mithril bolts unlock at level 54.

Published estimates put the pace at 105,000 XP per hour, assuming 3,000 actions of 10 bolts each. Reaching that pace takes repeated active clicking, so steel bolts aren’t an AFK method. Expect a slower session once you stop to check chat or restock your feathers.

Steel bolts are cheap compared with the higher bolt tiers, and the wiki table lists about 3.43 GP spent per XP. That number follows the market, so it can rise or fall from week to week. Steel bolts trade in high volume, which makes bulk buying easy, but you can still check the official Grand Exchange listing for steel bolts for current prices.

You need no Slayer unlock or quest for this method. Ironmen can make the unfinished bolts themselves if they have level 33 Smithing and a steel bar. Steel bolts make a good starting point for bolt training, but they’re a short stop rather than a route to level 99.

At a glance

• Best for: cheap, high-volume bolt training in the middle of your Fletching levels
• Level Required: 46 Fletching
• XP per Hour: about 105,000 at 3,000 actions of 10 bolts per hour
• Click Effort: active, repeated clicking rather than AFK training
• Requirements: No Slayer unlock or quest; Ironmen need 33 Smithing and a steel bar to make unfinished bolts

Headless Arrows: The Ingredient Step

Headless arrows are the first real step in arrow training. You combine feathers with arrow shafts, and each action makes 15 headless arrows for 15 Fletching XP. You can start at level 1, so this is one of the earliest arrow steps you can reach.

The XP per action is modest, but it adds up. At the assumed rate of 3,000 actions per hour, headless arrows train about 45,000 XP per hour. The make-all option produces 10 sets of 15 at a time, so you can queue a large batch and step away for a moment. You still have to repeat the action for every batch.

Gold is the bigger question. A Fletching calculator estimates about 54.7 million GP to train from level 1 to 99, or 4.2 GP per XP, using Grand Exchange prices shown on November 6, 2026. Those prices change often, so treat that figure as a snapshot and compare the cost of feathers and shafts before you commit.

Ironmen can use this method as soon as they have the materials. There’s no Slayer reward or quest standing between you and your first batch. Keep in mind that headless arrows are the base for broad arrows, so the actions you spend making them earn no broad arrow XP.

At a glance

• Level Required: 1 Fletching
• XP per Hour: About 45,000 at 3,000 actions per hour
• Cost to 99: About 54.7 million GP (4.2 GP per XP) on Grand Exchange prices from November 6, 2026, which change often
• Click Effort: Batchable, but each batch still needs a repeated action
• Requirements: No Slayer reward or quest

Bronze Arrows: The Early Step Toward Darts

Bronze arrows are the simplest starting point for arrow training, and you can begin at level 1 Fletching. You attach bronze arrowtips to headless arrows, and each batch of 15 arrows gives 19.5 XP. The Bronze arrow page on the OSRS Wiki lists both the headless arrows and the arrowtips as inputs, so you need both before you start.

The listed best-case rate is 58,500 Fletching XP per hour, based on 3,000 batches per hour. That assumes you keep clicking nonstop. It’s a repeated, hands-on bankstanding method, not an AFK one, so your real pace will be slower once you stop to check chat or restock.

The gold cost is a snapshot, not a fixed price. A Fletching calculator estimated 13.1 GP per XP and about 169.1 million GP to train from level 1 to 99 with bronze arrows. Jagex’s Grand Exchange page listed bronze arrows at 5 GP each when checked, and bronze arrowtips are made from a bronze bar at level 5 Smithing.

No Slayer unlock or quest is listed, so level 1 is your only gate. That matters for Ironmen, who can’t use the Grand Exchange and need to gather their own headless arrows and tips. Bronze arrows also lead toward darts, since bronze darts unlock at level 10 Fletching. Once you reach that level, you can switch to the faster two-click pace.

At a glance

• Level Required: 1 Fletching
• XP per Hour: Up to 58,500 best case, at 3,000 batches per hour
• Click Effort: Hands-on, repeated bankstanding
• Cost to 99: About 169.1 million GP (13.1 GP per XP, calculator snapshot)
• Requirements: Level 1 Fletching is the only gate, with no quest or Slayer unlock

Dragon Fruit Pies: Boosting Your Early Start

Dragonfruit pies aren’t a training method of their own. Eating one gives your Fletching level a temporary four-level boost, which lets you start some higher-level methods early. For example, the boost lets you begin dragon darts at level 91 instead of the usual level 95. The pie itself gives no Fletching XP, so the XP per hour, click effort and gold per XP all depend on the item you make once the boost is active.

The boost loses one level per minute, so holding the full +4 means eating about 30 pies per hour. At the guide price of 339 coins per pie on the Grand Exchange item page when it was checked, that comes to roughly 10,170 coins per hour before you pay for any Fletching supplies. Making a pie needs level 73 Cooking, and the dragonfruit tree that supplies the fruit needs level 81 Farming.

Ironmen should count the full cost. Making pies means gathering the dragonfruit and baking the pies yourself, so that time and effort add to your session. The boost also doesn’t skip separate unlocks, so broad arrows still require the Broader Fletching Slayer reward. Treat the pie as a helper for starting early, not as a standalone route to level 99.

At a glance

• Best for: players who want to start dragon darts at level 91 and can keep up frequent pie bites
• Level Required: 91 Fletching for dragon darts with the boost, instead of 95
• Click Effort: depends on the item you make, and dart training is highly click-intensive
• Requirements: level 73 Cooking to make pies and level 81 Farming for the dragonfruit tree

Trouble Brewing: The Ironman Method With No Supplies

Trouble Brewing is a members’ minigame on the east side of Mos Le’Harmless. Teams work together to gather ingredients and keep their rum-brewing operation running. For Fletching XP, you skip the rum side and focus on Scrapey trees. Chop them, then use a knife on the logs to make Scrapey bark. Depositing the bark in the hopper also gives you Cooking XP, but that step is optional.

The rate is where older guides go wrong. In its January 2025 update, Jagex cut the reward for each Scrapey bark from 160 Fletching XP to 50. Any guide quoting the higher number is outdated. The OSRS Wiki’s Ironman Fletching guide reports over 30,000 XP per hour with a rune axe and 41 Woodcutting, but it warns that its section may be out of date.

You don’t need a Slayer unlock or any purchased supplies. The logs come from inside the minigame, and the knife is at its workbench, so there’s no Grand Exchange cost to track. You do need to finish Cabin Fever and have 40 Cooking before you can enter. That makes it a solid pick for Ironmen who want to avoid buying items, though it’s slower than it used to be. Compared with bolts and arrows, it’s a hands-on method, since every log and knife action needs your attention.

At a glance

• Best for: Ironmen who want Fletching XP without buying supplies
• Level Required: 1 Fletching for Scrapey bark
• XP per Hour: Over 30,000 in the OSRS Wiki’s Ironman guide, using a rune axe and 41 Woodcutting, though that section may be outdated
• Click Effort: Hands-on, with chopping and repeated knife use
• Cost to 99: No Grand Exchange cost, since the logs and knife come from the minigame
• Requirements: Cabin Fever and 40 Cooking; no separate Slayer unlock

Ironman, Budget and Speed Routes Compared

If you’re an Ironman with no spare gold, start with the cheapest steps and gather everything yourself. Bronze arrows and headless arrows need only a few inputs, and there’s no quest or Slayer unlock standing in the way. Once you have 300 Slayer reward points, the Broader Fletching Slayer reward opens broad arrows and broad bolts, which give you fast clicking without any Grand Exchange spending. If you’d rather not buy anything at all, Trouble Brewing lets you collect Scrapey bark for Fletching XP using only what the minigame gives you.

If you want steady XP on a budget, begin with bows and stringing, since the materials are cheap and the early levels come quickly. Steel bolts at level 46 are a good middle step because they trade in high volume. Buy in bulk when prices dip rather than when you’re in a hurry, and check the Grand Exchange before you stock up on feathers.

If you have the gold and want to train fast, darts are the quickest option, while dragon bolts give large XP with less clicking. At level 90, dragon arrows become the hands-on choice for players who like arrow training. For profit, onyx tips and runite-based tips can pay well, but your margin depends on prices on the day you buy.

Bolts and darts make a useful comparison. Darts are faster per click and need less of your attention, but the top tiers cost more. Bolts cost less per item and suit players who enjoy a steady rhythm of clicks.

Many players use mouse keys to handle the repetitive clicks these methods need. It’s a personal choice, so only use it in ways that follow the game’s rules.

You may also see record 99 times online that finish far faster than normal. Those runs depend on the route, prices and luck, so they show what’s possible for a few players, not what a typical player should expect.

Picking Your First Fletching Method

Start with bows if you’re new to Fletching. Grab a Fletching knife, cut shortbows from logs until you reach level 10, and move on to stringing once the rhythm feels comfortable. Watch your bank balance as you climb, because logs get pricier at each tier.

If you’re an Ironman with Slayer points saved up, your next goal is the Broader Fletching Slayer reward. It costs 300 Slayer reward points, and once you own it, you can fletch broad arrows at level 52 and broad bolts at level 55. Slayer equipment shops sell broad arrowheads for 55 coins each, so you can skip the Grand Exchange entirely.

Without Slayer points or spare gold, begin with headless arrows at level 1. You only need feathers and arrow shafts, and no quest stands in your way. Bronze arrows come next, giving 19.5 XP per batch of 15. Once you reach level 10, bronze darts give you a faster two-click pace.

If you have gold and want quick XP, aim for darts first and keep the Grand Exchange open while you train. Check prices before each restock.

Whichever route you pick, run it for a few sessions and track how many items you actually finish per hour. Then compare that number with the figures in this article before you spend more on materials.