Drink Kovac's grog from the Giants' Foundry reward shop to boost your Smithing level by +4 in Old School RuneScape (OSRS).
This guide also covers the items that boost Smithing XP and speed, the Giants' Foundry and Blast Furnace rates Jagex publishes, and fixes for boosts that do not seem to work.
How to boost Smithing in OSRS with Kovac's grog
Kovac's grog is the Smithing level boost Jagex added with the Giants' Foundry update in June 2022. It gives a temporary +4 to Smithing, and the Foundry is members-only.
- Train Smithing to level 15, the requirement for the Sleeping Giants quest.
- Travel to the Giant Plateau east of Al Kharid, near Citharede Abbey, and speak to Kovac to start the quest.
- Finish Sleeping Giants to unlock the Giants' Foundry.
- Complete sword commissions for Kovac to earn Foundry Reputation.
- Spend the reputation on Kovac's grog in the Foundry Reward Shop.
- Drink the grog right before you start smithing, so the temporary +4 boost covers your session.
Utilizing Smithing boosting potions and items in OSRS
OSRS Smithing boosts come in three kinds: a level boost, an XP boost and a speed boost. Pick the one that matches what is holding you back.
| Your goal | Use this | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Reach a level requirement a few levels early | Kovac's grog | Temporary +4 Smithing boost |
| More XP per bar when smelting at a furnace | Smithing catalyst | Doubles the XP and halves the coal needed; one catalyst is used per bar |
| More XP per bar at the Blast Furnace | Smithing catalyst | Doubles XP for any bar made with coal, but the coal cost stays the same |
| Faster anvil smithing | Smiths' Uniform (gloves, boots, top, bottoms) | Each piece gives a 20% chance to save 1 tick; the full set averages a 15-20% speed gain |
| Gold bars at the Blast Furnace | Goldsmith gauntlets | Jagex estimates about 375,000 XP per hour with them, against about 150,000 without |
| Extra bars at the Edgeville furnace | Varrock Achievement Diary rewards | A 10% chance to smelt 2 bars at once, extended to higher bar tiers with each diary tier |
Experience-boosting items and gear stack in practice: a catalyst affects the bar you smelt, while the uniform affects anvil work and Foundry commissions.
Understanding Smithing in OSRS
Smithing in OSRS has two halves: smelting ore into bars at a furnace, and shaping bars into items at an anvil. Members also get two dedicated training areas.
| Activity | Where | What you produce |
|---|---|---|
| Smelting | Any furnace, including the Edgeville furnace | Bars from ore and coal |
| Anvil smithing | An anvil | Weapons, armour and other items from bars |
| Blast Furnace (members) | The Blast Furnace | Bars in bulk, including gold and steel |
| Giants' Foundry (members) | The Giant Plateau east of Al Kharid | Giant swords made from 28 bars' worth of metal, paid in XP and Foundry Reputation |
Importance of boosting Smithing levels in OSRS
A level boost and an XP boost solve different problems, and mixing them up wastes reward points.
| Boost type | Example | Lasts | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level boost | Kovac's grog (+4) | Temporary | Meeting a level requirement before you have trained to it |
| XP boost | Smithing catalyst (double XP) | One bar per catalyst | Raising XP per bar while smelting |
| Speed boost | Smiths' Uniform | Permanent while worn | More actions per hour at an anvil or in the Foundry |
Basic strategies for leveling Smithing in OSRS
Match the training activity to your level, your membership and how much coin you can spend. The right ores and items depend on whether you want speed or profit.
| Your situation | Focus on | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Below level 15 Smithing | Train to 15 | That unlocks the Sleeping Giants quest and its 6,000 XP reward |
| Member who wants steady XP and rewards | Giants' Foundry with Medium or High alloys | Jagex estimates about 135,000-195,000 XP per hour |
| Member who wants the fastest XP and can afford it | Gold bars at the Blast Furnace with Goldsmith gauntlets | The highest published estimate, about 375,000 XP per hour |
| You want to earn while training | Steel at the Blast Furnace with a coal bag, or 3-bar rune items | Both are marked as profitable in Jagex's estimates |
| Free-to-play account | Smelting and anvil smithing | The Giants' Foundry and its rewards are members-only |
Effective Smithing training methods and XP rates in OSRS
Jagex published these estimates with the Giants' Foundry update. They are averages, not guarantees.
| Method | XP per hour (estimate) | Average GP/XP | Profitable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold at Blast Furnace, no Goldsmith gauntlets | ~150,000 | 8.7 | No |
| Gold at Blast Furnace, with Goldsmith gauntlets | ~375,000 | 3.5 | No |
| Steel at Blast Furnace, with coal bag | ~90,000 | -12.3 | Yes |
| Giants' Foundry, Medium alloy | ~135,000 | -0.2 | Yes |
| Giants' Foundry, Highest alloy | ~276,000 | 6.6 | No |
| Creating 3-bar rune items | ~290,000-310,000 | -0.8 | Yes |
A negative GP/XP figure means the method earns coins. A positive one is the cost you pay for each XP point.
Best items to craft for quick experience in OSRS Smithing
At an anvil, items that use more bars per action give the most XP per hour. These are the efficient bars and products in Jagex's figures.
| Item to smith | XP per hour (estimate) | Average GP/XP | Profitable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-bar mithril items | ~190,000-210,000 | 3.7 | No |
| 5-bar adamant items | ~240,000-260,000 | 1.3 | No |
| 3-bar rune items | ~290,000-310,000 | -0.8 | Yes |
| Cannonballs with the Eight-Cannonball Mould | Not published | Not published | Doubles cannonball output per action |
The Eight-Cannonball Mould turns two steel bars into eight cannonballs at once, so it suits players who want cannonballs more than fast XP.
Smithing catalyst: how to double Smithing XP in OSRS
The Smithing catalyst is a Giants' Foundry reward. It is unstackable and is used up each time you make a bar.
- Buy Smithing catalysts from the Giants' Foundry Reward Shop with Foundry Reputation.
- Carry one catalyst for each bar you plan to smelt.
- Smelt bars at a furnace to get double XP and use half the usual coal.
- At the Blast Furnace, use catalysts from the Blast Furnace bank to get double XP on any bar made with coal.
- Restock catalysts before each session, since every bar consumes one.
Key quests for Smithing XP in OSRS
Sleeping Giants is the quest that most directly aids Smithing progress in OSRS, because it gives XP and opens the Foundry activities. It is a novice quest.
| Quest | Requirement | Smithing reward | Unlocks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleeping Giants | 15 Smithing | 6,000 Smithing XP | The Giants' Foundry, its reward shop and 1 Quest Point |
Start it with Kovac on the Giant Plateau east of Al Kharid. Events and quests that add Smithing content appear in the official OSRS news first.
Giants' Foundry: activities and minigames to accelerate Smithing
The Foundry is a non-instanced, non-combat safe area. A finished sword pays Smithing XP and Foundry Reputation, and higher quality pays more.
- Read the commission's two customer requests, such as narrow and spiked.
- Pick a mould from Kovac's Mould Library that matches both requests as closely as possible.
- Fill the crucible with 28 bars' worth of bronze, iron, steel, mithril, adamant or rune bars, or with metal items to recycle.
- Cool the preform at the Waterfall until it is cool enough for the Trip Hammer, then hammer it.
- Cool it to just below the yellow range and work it on the Grindstone; repeat with the hammer until the sword is almost complete.
- Cool it to the green range and finish it on the Polishing Wheel.
- Hand the sword to Kovac at 100% completion to collect XP and reputation.
Use the Lava Pool whenever a tool needs a hotter sword. Using the wrong tool, or the right tool outside its temperature range, lowers quality.
Furnace and anvil efficiency tips in OSRS
| Tip | What to do | Gain |
|---|---|---|
| Use the correct furnace | Complete the Varrock Easy diary and smelt at the Edgeville furnace | 10% chance of 2 bars at once, up to steel; Medium, Hard and Elite add mithril, adamant and runite |
| Use the Blast Furnace for bulk bars | Bring a coal bag for steel, or Goldsmith gauntlets for gold | Higher XP per hour than a standard furnace in Jagex's estimates |
| Optimize your Smithing sequence | In the Foundry, alternate cooling with the hammer and grindstone, then finish on the polishing wheel | Fewer quality losses and faster commissions |
| Enhance your anvil usage | Wear the full Smiths' Uniform | A 100% chance to save 1 tick per anvil action, about 15-20% faster |
| Additional tips: keep ice gloves | Combine Smiths' gloves with ice gloves | You keep both effects in one glove slot, and can split them again |
| Additional tips: repeat the last item | Press Space to smith the last item again | Since June 2022 this no longer types a space into chat |
Optimizing your Smithing workflow in OSRS
| Area | Workflow change | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Choose the right locations and equipment | Train at the Blast Furnace or Giants' Foundry with the Smiths' Uniform | Both are built for Smithing and the uniform speeds anvil and Foundry work |
| Efficiently gather and manage resources | Buy Ore Packs from the Foundry Reward Shop | They are mostly coal, with a small chance of other ores |
| Implement banking and material management strategies | Withdraw catalysts from the Blast Furnace bank during a run | You can use many catalysts in one trip |
| Utilize training methods wisely | Use Low or Medium alloys when you want profit, High or Highest when you want XP | Jagex marks only the Low and Medium alloy tiers as profitable |
| Automation and scheduling | Plan sessions around stocked bars and catalysts; never automate inputs | Jagex allows only approved third-party clients, and others may lead to permanent account action |
| Participate in events and quests | Complete Sleeping Giants and follow the official news for Smithing updates | New Smithing rewards and changes arrive through game updates |
Smiths' Uniform, Smithing skillcape and portable forges in OSRS
The Smiths' Uniform is the OSRS Smithing outfit, bought from the Giants' Foundry Reward Shop. The gear that speeds up training is the uniform, not a cape or forge.
| Item | Effect on training | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Smiths' Uniform, per piece | 20% chance to save 1 tick on anvil smithing and 20% chance of extra Foundry completion | Four pieces: gloves, boots, top, bottoms |
| Smiths' Uniform, full set | 100% chance on both effects, about 15-20% faster anvil work | Gloves can merge with ice gloves |
| Smithing skillcape | None while training | It is a reward for reaching level 99 |
| Portable forges | Not available | They are not among the Old School Smithing rewards |
Common mistakes to avoid when boosting Smithing in OSRS
| Mistake | Result | Do this instead |
|---|---|---|
| Drinking Kovac's grog long before you smith | Part of the temporary +4 boost is spent idle | Drink it at the anvil or furnace |
| Expecting a catalyst to save coal at the Blast Furnace | Coal cost stays the same there | Count on double XP only; the coal saving applies at a normal furnace |
| Running low on catalysts | Bars made without one give normal XP | Carry one catalyst per bar |
| Using a tool outside its temperature range in the Foundry | Sword quality drops and cannot recover | Check the HUD before each tool |
| Letting quality reach 0 | You must hand the sword back and start again | Cool or heat the sword before it leaves a tool's range |
| Choosing the Highest alloy to make money | Jagex lists it as unprofitable | Use Low or Medium alloys for profit |
Advanced Smithing techniques and strategies in OSRS
Once the basics are steady, these choices add XP or rewards per hour.
| Technique | How it works | Payoff |
|---|---|---|
| Mix alloys in the crucible | Combine two or more metals for one sword | Kovac rates alloy swords as better |
| Climb alloy tiers | Move from Lowest to Highest alloy as your level allows | Average XP per sword rises from ~2,400 to ~23,000 |
| Buy better moulds | Unlock higher-level moulds in the Reward Shop | Higher sword quality before you start shaping |
| Pair the uniform with commissions | Wear all four uniform pieces in the Foundry | Extra completion on every action |
| Target catalysts at coal bars | Use catalysts at the Blast Furnace only on bars that need coal | The double XP applies only to bars made with coal there |
How to check your Smithing boost is active in OSRS
- Open the Skills tab right after drinking Kovac's grog.
- Look at the Smithing entry: the current level should read 4 above your base level.
- Smelt one bar with a catalyst in your inventory and compare the XP drop with a bar made without one; it should be double.
- Check that a catalyst left your inventory, which confirms it was used on that bar.
Smithing boost not working in OSRS
No Smithing boost available on a free-to-play account
Kovac's grog, the catalyst and the uniform come from the Giants' Foundry, which is members-only.
- Train with standard smelting and anvil smithing on free-to-play worlds.
- Pick up the Foundry rewards once you have membership.
Kovac's grog or the Smithing quest rewards are locked
The Foundry and its shop open only after the Sleeping Giants quest.
- Train Smithing to level 15.
- Complete Sleeping Giants with Kovac on the Giant Plateau.
- Earn Foundry Reputation from commissions, then buy the grog.
Smithing catalyst items not boosting XP or saving coal
Each catalyst works for one bar, and at the Blast Furnace it doubles XP without cutting coal.
- Carry one catalyst for every bar you plan to make.
- Use them only on bars made with coal.
- Smelt at a standard furnace if you want the coal saving as well.
Additional resources and tools for boosting Smithing in OSRS
These official OSRS resources cover Smithing updates, your current XP and the approved tools you can play with. Use the Hiscores figure with the XP rates above as a simple experience calculator.
- Giants' Foundry update — Official details on Sleeping Giants, Foundry XP rates and every Smithing reward
- Achievement Diaries update — Varrock diary furnace rewards
- Old School Hiscores — Look up your Smithing level and XP to plan the remaining hours
- Third-party client guidelines — Additional tools: the only third-party clients Jagex approves
- Old School news archive — Community and guides: new Smithing changes and events
Smithing boost OSRS FAQ
How do you boost Smithing in OSRS?
Drink Kovac's grog for a temporary +4 Smithing boost. You buy it with Foundry Reputation in the Giants' Foundry Reward Shop, which opens after the Sleeping Giants quest. The Foundry is members-only.
What boosts Smithing level in OSRS?
Kovac's grog raises your Smithing level by 4 for a limited time. It is the level boost Jagex added with the Giants' Foundry in 2022. Other Foundry rewards, such as the catalyst and the Smiths' Uniform, boost XP or speed instead of your level.
How do you increase Smithing XP in OSRS?
Use Smithing catalysts to double the XP for each bar you smelt, and train with a high-XP method such as gold at the Blast Furnace with Goldsmith gauntlets. Jagex estimates that method at about 375,000 XP per hour.
Is there a Smithing boost in OSRS free-to-play?
The Giants' Foundry boosts, including Kovac's grog, the catalyst and the Smiths' Uniform, are members-only. Free-to-play players train with standard smelting and anvil smithing instead.
Which quest helps with Smithing in OSRS?
Sleeping Giants needs 15 Smithing and rewards 6,000 Smithing XP, 1 Quest Point and access to the Giants' Foundry. Kovac starts it on the Giant Plateau east of Al Kharid, near Citharede Abbey.
Which items boost Smithing in OSRS?
Kovac's grog gives +4 levels, the Smithing catalyst doubles XP per bar, and the Smiths' Uniform makes anvil smithing about 15-20% faster as a full set. Goldsmith gauntlets raise gold bar XP at the Blast Furnace.
Does the Smithing catalyst save coal at the Blast Furnace?
No. At the Blast Furnace a catalyst doubles XP for bars made with coal but does not cut the coal cost. The coal saving, half the usual amount, applies only when you smelt at a standard furnace.
Summing up: achieving max Smithing level in OSRS
Complete Sleeping Giants first, then use Giants' Foundry rewards: Kovac's grog for the +4 level boost, catalysts for double smelting XP and the full Smiths' Uniform for faster anvil work. The Foundry gives quest XP, a steady training method and every Smithing boost item in one place, so each hour spent there moves you closer to level 99.
