The Complete Ironman Farming Run Guide in Old School RuneScape

Farming in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) can feel overwhelming-especially if you’ve taken a few years away from the game and don’t remember the patch locations or rotations. But with the right system, you can turn daily farm runs into a steady stream of herbs, secondaries, and valuable farming experience. While many players choose to buy OSRS gold to speed up their progress, Ironman accounts must rely entirely on farming efficiency and resource management. This guide will walk you through a full farming run from start to finish, focusing on the most efficient methods for Ironman accounts and near-maxed mains.

Preparing for the Run

The first step to a smooth farm run is preparation. Keep a dedicated farming tab in your bank. This should include:

· Seeds: Herbs, trees, fruit trees, bushes, cacti, and secondary seeds like limpwurt and whiteberry.

· Gear: Magic secateurs, seed dibber, spade, rake, and watering can (or Bottomless bucket if available).

· Teleportation tools: Portal nexus runes, explorer’s ring, ectophial, spirit tree access, fairy ring runes, and other location-specific items.

· Extra tools: Dragon pickaxe (if you plan to manage your Kingdom of Miscellania during the run) and crystal teleport seed.

· By consolidating everything into one tab, you avoid fumbling mid-run and save valuable time.

Starting at the Farming Guild

Most players either start or finish their run at the Farming Guild. Beginning here has one major benefit: you can complete a farming contract right away. These contracts often reward seed packs, which are invaluable for stacking up rare seeds over time.

While at the guild:

· Plant one tree and one fruit tree in the guild patches.

· Plant limpwurt roots, whiteberries, and cactus for consistent secondary yields.

· Check for any additional contracts you can complete quickly.

· Once you’ve cleared the guild, deposit tools like watering cans with the tool leprechaun to free up inventory space.

Herb Patch Rotation

Herbs are the core of every farming run. They’re fast-growing and provide critical supplies for Ironman accounts. A common order is:

1. Morytania (ectophial teleport)

2. Weiss and Troll Stronghold (via portal nexus or house teleports)

3. Harmony Island

4. Hosidius (via house portal)

5. Ardougne (using explorer’s ring or Ardougne cloak)

6. Catherby (via portal nexus)

7. Catherby is an excellent final stop for herbs since it positions you perfectly for tree and fruit tree runs.

Secondary Yields: Bushes, Cactus, and Whiteberries

While doing herbs, incorporate patches that provide potion secondaries:

· Cactus: Found in Al Kharid and Farming Guild.

· Whiteberry: South of Ardougne, plus one in the guild.

· Limpwurt root: Always worth planting for consistent Combat potion supplies.

· These secondaries save countless hours of monster grinding, especially for Ironmen.

Tree and Fruit Tree Runs

Tree runs take longer to grow but provide massive experience. After finishing herbs, switch to trees:

1. Catherby (fruit + tree)

2. Lletya (crystal teleport seed)

3. Brimhaven (spirit tree + calquat)

4. Stronghold (two fruit trees + one regular tree)

5. Catherby, Falador, Varrock, and Lumbridge (for standard tree patches)

6. Hosidius and Taverley

7.Don’t forget to include hardwood patches at Fossil Island and the newer additions in Kourend.

Fossil Island Add-ons: Hardwoods, Seaweed, and Birdhouses

No modern farming run is complete without Fossil Island activities. While there:

· Plant hardwood trees for strong long-term XP.

· Grow seaweed underwater for Crafting and Farming pet chances. 

· Run birdhouses with redwood logs for Hunter XP and nests.

· These activities fit seamlessly into a farming run and provide excellent multi-skill benefits.

Managing Miscellania

If you manage your Kingdom of Miscellania, include a quick approval boost during your run. Use the fairy ring code CIP to get there efficiently, mine or chop for approval, and return to your rotation. Keeping approval near 100% ensures maximum yield from the Kingdom’s passive gathering.

Wrapping Up and Daily Flax

At the end of your run, deposit your harvest back into the farming tab. If you’re an Ironman, finish with a quick stop at Seers’ Village to turn flax into bowstrings. This can be done once per day, up to 250 flax, and adds up significantly over time.

Final Thoughts

Farming runs in OSRS may seem complex, but once you establish a rhythm, they become one of the most rewarding daily activities in the game. A full run-herbs, trees, hardwoods, secondaries, seaweed, and birdhouses-can net up to 200,000 Farming XP in about 30 minutes, along with consistent supplies for Herblore, Crafting, and Fletching. Some players prefer to buy cheap RuneScape gold to fund their training, but dedicated farmers can achieve the same progress through steady daily runs. Farming might not be the flashiest skill, but it’s relaxing, efficient, and deeply satisfying-especially when you see your bank filling up with the fruits (and herbs) of your labor.