If you’ve ever been standing at an anvil in Varrock, hammer in hand, only to realise you’re one level short of crafting that shiny new piece of gear, you might have experienced the heartbreak every smith in Gielinor knows. Luckily, Old School RuneScape offers a handful of temporary Smithing boosts that can give you enough of an edge to complete a quest, forge the armour, or tick off a diary requirement.
Smithing is a valuable skill in Old School RuneScape (OSRS), as it allows you to craft powerful armor, weapons, and items. But leveling Smithing skill can be a tough and slow grind; that’s where temporary skill boosts play their part to save the day. This guide will tell you every OSRS Smithing skill boost, how to get them, when to use them, and which one is best for your situation, whether you’re a free-to-play adventurer, a maxed-out veteran, or an Ironman living off your hard-earned resources.
How Smithing Boosts Work in Old School RuneScape
Smithing boosts in OSRS are visible boosts that allow your level to increase for a short period. It lets you:
- Meet quest and diary requirements
- Smith gear that normally requires a higher base level
- Access content like Giant’s Foundry recipes early
Most boosts last only a few minutes, and your boosted level drops by 1 every minute. Preserve Prayer extends this by 50%, which can make the difference between success and failure. You can use our OSRS Smithing skill calculator to view live, updated prices and other statistics.
Free-to-Play Smithing Boosts
Dwarven Stout
- Effect: +1 Smithing and +1 Mining
- Where to Get: Buy from the Falador Inn (2 coins), Barbarian Village pub, or via Grand Exchange
- Downside: -2 Attack, Strength, and Defence
For F2P players, the Dwarven Stout is the only good option. It’s cheap, quick to get, and great when you’re just one level away to make something like Steel platebodies for better money-making.
Tip: Bank your materials at Falador West Bank, drink the stout, and sprint to the anvil.
Members Smithing Boosts
Mature Dwarven Stout
- Effect: +2 Smithing and +2 Mining
- Where to Get: Brew yourself after Forgettable Tale of a Drunken Dwarf, or trade from other players
- Best Use: Good for a slight bump, but more than the basic stout.
Unlike the regular version, the mature stout can’t be bought in bulk from pubs, so plan it carefully.
Kovac’s Grog
- Effect: Guaranteed +4 Smithing
- Where to Get: Reward shop at Giant’s Foundry (300 reputation each) or buy from Grand Exchange at higher price
- Why It’s Good: Reliable, repeatable, and strong boost without relying on luck
If you’re already doing Giant’s Foundry for smithing XP, stockpile Kovac’s Grog as part of your training. It’s one of the most consistent ways to hit tougher level requirements. It lasts for 60 seconds, so use it accordingly.
Spicy Stew (Orange Spice)
- Effect: -5 to +5 Smithing (random each time)
- Where to Get: After Evil Dave’s Big Day Out and the Recipe for Disaster subquest, use Hell-Rat Behemoths to get orange spice and add it to stew
- Best Use: When you’re many levels short and willing to gamble
Spicy Stew with 3 orange spice can provide up to a +6 Smithing boost and is the only way to hit a +5 Smithing boost, but it’s RNG-heavy. So bring multiple stews, prepare all materials beforehand, and keep a bank nearby.
Ironman Tip: Farm Hell-Rat spices in bulk before attempting boosts to save a lot of time.
Smithing Skillcape
- Effect: +1 Smithing when operated
- Where to Get: Thurgo, south of Port Sarim, for 99,000 coins (requires 99 Smithing)
- Best Use: For maxed accounts who occasionally need a small push
Which OSRS Smithing Boost Should You Use?
| Levels Needed | Best Boost |
|---|---|
| +1 | Dwarven Stout (F2P/P2P) |
| +2 | Mature Dwarven Stout |
| +3–4 | Kovac’s Grog |
| +5 | Spicy Stew (Orange Spice) |
| Already 99 | Smithing Skillcape |
Tips to Maximise Boost
- Use Preserve Prayer to extend the boost time
- Have materials ready at a bank close to the crafting spot
- Avoid distractions as every second of boost counts
- For RNG boosts, always bring more attempts than you think you’ll need
Smithing skill boost in Old School RuneScape is a strategic tool. So plan, choose the right boost for your needs to never be left hammer in hand, staring longingly at the gear you almost had the stats to make.
Dominate in PvP or plan your perfect account built with this Old School RuneScape combat level calculator.
