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1.0 - Introduction
Herblore - an intricate art involving the use of plants, and plant extracts to produce brews, tonics and other useful concoctions.

For RuneScape members1, Herblore can see you on the way to a successful future. Making potions is not a necessity in being successful with the skill - simply collecting and selling herbs and second ingredients is a fantastic moneymaker. However, for those who wish to train Herblore at a high level, it can be quite costly. Conversely, it is possible to make a living off selling higher-level potions. The subsequent sections will assist you in every way possible, in enjoying your Herblore experience.

First, to begin Herblore, you must have completed the Druidic Ritual quest.

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1 :: RuneScape Members
Click here to go to RuneScape.com to subscribe.

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2.0 - Basics of Herblore
This section outlines the process involved in making potions; where to obtain Herblore tools, herbs, and second ingredients; as well as what to do to avoid boredom.

Herb Identification
Throughout your travels around RuneScape, you may come across unidentified herbs. Without the correct Herblore level, or prior knowledge, you will not be able to find out the herbs identity.

To identify an herb, simply left-click it and it will quickly change to the herb it represents.

Second Ingredients
There are many "second ingredients" that can be found throughout RuneScape, which you can add to your potions to complete them. All second ingredients are monster drops; they spawn at certain locations around RuneScape, or stores sell them.

You can find a complete set of the second ingredients available in the game here.

Vials [ Water and Coconut Milk ]
There are three methods to obtaining water filled vials. The first being: buy empty vials from a shop, and fill them up using the fountain near the west Falador bank. The second method involves emptying your useless potions (or creating 4-dose potions), then filling them up with water; or alternatively, buying plant cure from farming stores, emptying them, and then filling them with water later on. The final method is just to buy water filled vials from players, or one of the stores in the table below. This can take a lot of time however. You could also kill Water elementals (level-35) in the elemental workshop, as they drop water filled vials all the time. This isn't recommended though, as it does take a long time - the only plus is that they drop herbs as well. An alternative is to go to the Karamja, Entrana or Shilo Village general stores, as they sell water-filled vials.

A different procedure exists in the case of Extra and Super weapon poison and anti poison potions, in that the making of the potion requires a vial with coconut milk2.

Water-filled vials are the base-tool required to make most potions. Accordingly, most members face this major problem in training Herblore. The table below lists the most worthwhile locations where you can buy them.

Picture Location Item Cost Stock Nearest Bank
East Ardougne Water-filled vial 8-24gp 500 East Ardougne, north
Catherby Plant cure 40-80gp 100 Catherby
Mort'ton Water-filled vial 2-16gp 100 Burgh de Rott
Lighthouse Empty/ Water-filled vial 2-16gp 100/ 100 Seers' Village/ Fishing Guild
Taverley Empty vial 12gp 100 Falador west

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2 :: Coconut Milk
To make coconut milk, you must obtain a coconut.
These can be bought from players, or planted
with a palm tree seed, at level 68 Farming.
Crack the coconut with a hammer.

Greenman's Ale
There are three ways to obtain Greenman's ale:

Purchase it from the Dragon's Inn at west Yanille for 10GP.
At level 26 construction, grab three oak planks and eight greenman's ale and make a Greenman's ale barrel, for an everlasting supply.
Brew it in Keldagrim or Port Phasmatys; 4 harralander and 29 cooking required.
Note: Leave the Greenman's Ale to mature3, to double the effect.
This beverage temporarily raises your Herblore level by one, whilst reducing your attack, defense and strength by a percentage.

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3 :: Mature ales
For a higher chance of getting a brew to mature, use 'The Stuff' which is a reward from the Trouble Brewing minigame

Farming Herbs
While Herblore is generally a difficult and expensive skill to raise; it is possible to raise your levels through Farming herbs. The only cost is that of buying the herb seeds; or alternatively, stealing them from Master Farmer is free. You can find more information regarding the farming of herbs in the Herbs section of our Farming guide.

2.1 - The Process

Creating a potion is really quite simple.

All that is required, is a vial filled with water or milk, a second ingredient, and a primary ingredient, usually an herb.
Once you have the correct vial liquid, primary ingredient, and correct second ingredient, you will be able to make the potion.
Note that an update now makes potion making easier with a "Make X" option, so you don't have to click so many times.

Water filled Vial Primary Ingredient Unfinished Potion Second Ingredient Completed Potion
+ = + =

Note: If you have unfinished potions, and cannot remember which is which, right click and examine it. It will say, "You need another ingredient for this [herb-type] potion."

2.2 - Herb Givers
The NPC's listed below drop herbs. The bolded NPC's mean that they drop herbs commonly, and are therefore highly recommended.

Man (level-2), Woman (level-2), Cave Bug (level-6), Dark Warrior (level-8), Warrior (level-9, 24), Thug (level-10), Chaos Druid (level-13), Rogue (level-15), Skeleton (level-13, 21, 22, 25, 45), Zombie (level-13, 18, 24, 25), Bandit (level-22), Cave Crawler (level-23), Flesh Crawler (level-28, 35, 41), Banshee (level-23), Hill Giant (level-28), White Knight (level-31), tribesman (level-32), Druid (level-33), Black Knight (level-33), Speedy Keith (level-34), Black Heather (level-34), Donny the Lad (level-34), Air, Earth, Fire, Water Elemental (level-35, 34), Hobgoblin (level-28, 42), Chaos Druid Warrior (level-37), Cockatrice (level-37), Moss Giant (level- 42), Shadow Warrior (level-48), Earth Warrior (level-51), Ice Warrior (level-57), Paladin (level-59), Basilisk (level-61), Salarin the Twisted (level-70)4, Bloodvelds (level-76), Lesser Demon (level-82), Turoth (level-83, 85, 87), Fire Giant (level-86), Aberrant Specters (level-96), Kurask (level-106), Ice Queen (level-111), Blue Dragon (level-111), Black Demon (level-172), Black Dragon (level-227).

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4 :: Salarin the Twisted
By far, the best way of collecting herbs for those with 67+ agility.

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3.0 - Herb Varieties
There are many types of herbs in the game. Breaking tradition, Jagex brought nightshades and cactus spines into Herblore, used with the super and extra-strong antidote and weapon poison potions. Guam, Marrentill, Tarromin, and Harralander can be mixed in a mortar and pestle along with 15 swamp tar to be used as fuel for Swamp lizards and coloured salamanders in the Hunter skill. Additionally as an update, you make make the herb tars with a "Make X" option for faster training.

Name Picture Level to identify Experience gained
Guam leaf 3 2.5 XP
Marrentill 5 3.75 XP
Tarromin 11 5 XP
Harralander 20 6 XP
Ranarr weed 25 7.5 XP
Toadflax5 30 8 XP
Irit leaf 40 9 XP
Avantoe 48 10 XP
Kwuarm 54 11.25 XP
Starflower - -
Snapdragon5 59 11.8 XP
Cadantine 65 12.5 XP
Lantadyme 67 13 XP
Dwarf weed 70 13.75 XP
Torstol 75 15 XP
Cactus spine - -
Nightshade - -

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5 :: Snapdragon and Toadflax
These herbs are pre-identified when bought from Pirate Jackie the Fruit at the Brimhaven Agility Arena,
and when farming them. You can receive unidentified snapdragon as a reward for the Prison Pete random event,
or trade 30 points for a herb pack containing unidentified toadflax at the Void Knight Outpost.

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4.0 - Second Ingredients
For every primary ingredient, there is a second ingredient to make a potion. The table below outlines which second ingredient belongs to which potion, and where you can find them.

Name Picture Used in... Locations
Eye of newt Attack potion, Super attack potion Taverley: Jatix Herblore store.
Port Sarim: Betty's magic emporium.
Obtainable by killing monsters through the Creature Creation feature, after completing the Tower of Life.

Rogue's purse Relicym's balm Jogre dungeon cliff faces. [ Map ]
Snakeweed Relicym's balm Marshy swamp vines north of cairn isle; southern Karamja.
Unicorn horn dust Antipoison, Super antipoison Black unicorns: north-west of chaos altar; level 20 wild.
Unicorns: Catherby (two, north of bank); Varrock (two, south-east mine); Edgeville (two, south of Edgeville), Lumbridge Swamp. Unicows; Creature Creation feature, after completing the Tower of Life.

Limpwurt root Strength potion, Super strength potion Hobgoblins, Hill giants and Chaos druids drop (Edgeville dungeon, Hobgoblin peninsula, Hobgoblin Mine in the wilderness).
Ashes Serum 207
(Shades of Mort'ton) Extinguished fires. Commonly found at Seers' Village, or Draynor Village. Also dropped by many Slayer monsters.
Red spider's eggs Restore potion, Super restore potion, Extra-strong Weapon poison Varrock sewers near moss giants (2).
Karamja Volcano near deadly red spiders (1).
Obtainable by killing monsters through the Creature Creation feature, after completing the Tower of Life.
Edgeville Dungeon; by deadly red spiders (6).
Arandar pass near deadly red spiders (3).
Chocolate dust Energy potion Grand Tree: Second floor: east and west side: Hudo's store and Heckel Funch's store. Stocks up to 8 bars and dust (30 second spawn).
Nardah: Rok's Chocs Box (bars - 30).
Culinaromancer's Chest: Upto 50 depending on the number of Recipe for Disaster subquests you have finished.
Whiteberries Defence potion, Super defence potion Red Dragon isle: 3-4 spawns (level 36-42 wilderness)
Tirannwn: North of the Tracker; pass sticks (1).6
Toads' legs Agility potion Tree Gnome Stronghold: North-east of Gnomeball field
Taverley: South-east shore near the willow trees.
Ground Goat's Horn Combat Potion Dropped by Desert Goats found in the Kharidian Desert
Snape grass Prayer potion, Fishing potion South-west of Falador: Hobgoblin peninsula (3).
Waterbirth island (6+)
Uncommon drop by Chaos druids, Hobgoblins, and Chaos druid warriors.
Mort Myre fungi Super energy potion Mort Myre Swamp: Cast bloom spell near rotten logs. Must have completed the Nature Spirit quest.7
Kebbit teeth dust Hunter Potion Hunt down some Sabre-toothed kebbits and grind their teeth.
Yew roots Extra-Strong antipoison Farming: Grow a yew tree, chop it down, and dig up the roots.
Gorak Claw Magic Essence potion Fairy ring in Zanaris - kill a Gorak (level 145)
Dragon scale dust Weapon poison, Anti-fire breath potion Taverley dungeon by blue dragons (6). Dusty key or 70 agility required.
Nail beast nails Sanfew Serum Dropped by Nail Beasts during the Temple Trekking / Burgh de Rott Ramble minigame.
Wine of Zamorak Ranging potion Chaos Temple: North of a goblin village, north of Falador (telekinetic-grab the wine, or kill the Monks of Zamorak to attain it).
Potato cactus Magic potion Kalphite dungeon: Kalphite Queen's chamber (5).
Jangerberry Zamorak brew West of Yanille on a small island. Use a rope to get across the moat (level 30 Agility) or Cast telekinetic-grab.
Farming: Grow jangerberries at level 48.
Magic tree roots Super-strong antipoison Farming: Grow a magic tree, chop it down and dig up the roots.
Crushed Bird's Nest Saradomin brew While woodcutting a bird's nest may fall from the tree. Use a pestle and mortar to crush it.
Poison-ivy berries Super-strong Weapon poison Farming: Grow poison-ivy seeds at a bush patch.

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6 :: Whiteberries
Whiteberries spawn extremely fast; around four seconds.
The Tirannwn spawn is best if you have access to Lletya.
7 :: Mort Myre Fungi
A Silver sickle (b) is required to cast the bloom spell.
This will drain your prayer; You can recharge at the nearby nature altar in the Nature Grotto.

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5.0 - Potions
The table below shows how to make each potion, the level required, experience gained, as well as the effect of the potion.

Name Picture Level Primary ingredient Second ingredient XP Effect
Attack potion 3 Guam leaf Eye of newt 25 XP + 10-15% to attack level.
Antipoison 5 Marrentill Unicorn horn dust 37.5 XP Cures poison.
Relicym's balm 8 Rogue's purse Snakeweed 40 XP Cures disease.
Strength potion 12 Tarromin Limpwurt root 50 XP + 10-15% to strength level.
Serum 207 15 Tarromin Ashes 50 XP Heals the afflicted in Mort'ton.
Restore potion 22 Harralander Red spider eggs 62.5 XP Restores lowered combat stats (Excluding hit points and prayer).
Guthix balance 22 Harralander Garlic, Red spider eggs, silver dust 62.5 XP Heals, kills or enrages the vampires in Burgh de Rott.
Energy potion 26 Harralander Chocolate dust 67.5 XP Restores 10% energy.
Defence potion 30 Ranarr weed Whiteberries 75 XP + 10-15% to defence level.
Agility potion 34 Toadflax Toad's legs 80 XP + 3 agility levels.
Combat Potion 36 Harralander Ground Goat's Horn 84 XP + 3-12 Strength and Attack levels.
Prayer potion 38 Ranarr weed Snape grass 87.5 XP Restores 1/3 of overall prayer level.
Super attack potion 45 Irit leaf Eye of newt 100 XP + 20% to attack level.
Super antipoison 48 Irit leaf Unicorn horn dust 106.3 XP Cures poison and gives temporary resistance to further poison.
Fishing potion 50 Avantoe Snape grass 112.5 XP + 3 fishing levels.
Super energy potion 52 Avantoe Mort Myre fungi 117.5 XP Restores 20% energy.
Hunter Potion 53 Avantoe Kebbit teeth dust 120 XP + 3 Hunter levels.
Super Strength potion 55 Kwuarm Limpwurt root 125 XP + 20% to strength level.
Magic Essence potion 57 Starflower Gorak Claw 130 XP + 3 magic levels.
Weapon poison 60 Kwuarm Dragon scale dust 137.5 XP Poisons five arrows, 1 dagger, or 1 spear.
Super restore potion 63 Snapdragon Red spider eggs 142.5 XP Restores all lowered stats* by 33.8% (average). *excluding hit points
Sanfew serum 65 Super restore potion Ground unicorn horn, snake weed, and nail beast nails 160 XP Combines effects of super restore, anti poison and cure disease potions. Use as weapon against Nail beasts."
Super defence potion 66 Cadantine Whiteberries 150 XP + 20% to defence level.
Anti-fire breath potion 69 Lantadyme Dragon scale dust 157.5 XP Temporary resistance to fire breath (excl. King black dragon).
Ranging potion 72 Dwarf weed Wine of Zamorak 165 XP + 15% to range level.
Magic potion 76 Lantadyme Potato Cactus 172.5 XP + 4 magic levels.
Zamorak brew 78 Torstol Jangerberries 175 XP Lowers hit points and defence by 10%, while increasing strength, attack and prayer by 15-20%
Saradomin brew 81 Toadflax Crushed Bird's Nest 180 XP Lowers attack, strength, magic, and range by 10%, while increasing defence and hit points by 15-20%

5.1 - Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is used to make super, and extra strength antidotes and weapon poison potions.
The process of cracking open a coconut shell to obtain the milk is in the below image:

The table below shows these potions:

Name Picture Level Herb Second ingredient XP Effect
Extra-strong antipoison 68 Toadflax Yew roots, Coconut milk 155 XP Cures poison and gives longer immunity.
Extra-strong weapon poison 73 Cactus Spine Red spider's eggs, Coconut milk 165 XP Higher poison damage and effect lasts longer (p+).
Super-strong antipoison 79 Irit Leaf Magic tree roots, Coconut milk 177 XP Cures poison and gives the longest immunity out of all the antipoison potions.
Super-strong weapon poison 82 Nightshade Poison-ivy berries, Coconut milk 190 XP Very high poison damage and effect lasts longer then any other weapon poison (p++).

5.2 - Barbarian Potions
The barbarians up at the barbarian outpost have developed a means by which they are able to enhance the effects of regular potions. The enhanced potions restore 3-6 hit points per dose drunk! To be able to make these potions, you must speak to Otto Godblessed, who will first instruct you in the art of fishing with a heavy rod.

The ingredients required to make enhanced potions are the same as normal, except once you have made a normal potion, you need to add roe or caviar to it. Roe and caviar can only be added to 2-dose potions. The effects given by these mixes is exactly the same as other potions, except it also gives the hit points boost.

Name Picture Level XP Effect
Attack mix 4 8 XP + 10-15% to attack level.
Anti-poison mix 6 12 XP Cures poison and gives a small amount of immunity.
Relicym's balm mix 9 14 XP Cures disease.
Strength mix 14 17 XP + 10-15% to strength level.
Stat-restore mix 24 21 XP Restores lowered combat stats (excl. hit points and prayer).
Energy mix 29 23 XP Restores 10% energy.
Defence mix 33 25 XP + 10-15% to defence level.
Agility mix 37 27 XP + 3 agility levels.
Combat mix 40 28 XP + 3-12 Strength and Attack levels.
Restore prayer mix 42 29 XP Restores 7-31 Prayer points (7-33 when carrying the Blessed Wrench)
Super attack mix 47 33 XP + 20% to attack level.
Super anti-poison mix 51 35 XP Cures poison and gives temporary resistance to further poison.
Fishing mix 53 38 XP + 3 fishing levels.
Super energy mix 56 39 XP Restores 20% energy.
Hunter mix 58 40 XP + 3 Hunter levels.
Super strength mix 59 42 XP + 20% to strength level.
Magic Essence mix 61 43 XP + 3 magic levels.
Super restore mix 67 48 XP Restores all lowered stats* by 33.8% (average). *excluding hit points
Super defence mix 71 50 XP + 20% to defence level.
Extra strong anti-poison mix 74 52 XP Cures poison and gives temporary resistance to further poison.
Anti fire-breath mix 75 53 XP Temporary resistance to fire breath (excl. King black dragon).
Ranging mix 80 54 XP + 15% to range level.
Magic mix 83 57 XP + 4 magic levels.
Zamorak mix 85 58 XP Lowers hit points and defence by 10%, while increasing strength, attack and prayer by 15-20%

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6.0 - Strategies
This section outlines the money making, and leveling techniques involved with Herblore.

6.1 - Training
As a general rule whilst collecting herbs, keep ALL of the herbs you cannot identify. This will save you a LOT of time and money later on.

Level 3 to 12
To begin with, you must complete the Druidic Ritual quest. This quest gives 250 XP (level 3), which is the foundation of your Herblore career. At level three, your choice is limited to attack potions, which require one Guam leaf, one eye of newt and a water-filled vial.

To advance to level five, make eight attack potions. This is easy, higher-level players often drop Guam leaves, and eyes of newt are easily obtainable from Betty in Port Sarim, or Jatix in Taverley. If you make your way to the Chaos druids in Taverley dungeon, you should be able to pick up a few quickly.

At this point, you can collect marrentill if you wish to make some antipoison potions; however, it is not recommended, as its second ingredient - unicorn horn dust - is tedious to collect. Therefore, continue collecting Guam leaves, and eyes of newt; after making 47 more attack potions, you will be at level 12, at which point you can make strength potions.

Level 13 to 25
From now on, the golden rule is to collect, collect, collect! To become successful, you will be spending hours collecting herbs and second ingredients. Now, you should be making strength and attack potions, then restore potions. Continue collecting herbs from Chaos druids. I suggest delving into the wilderness; Edgeville Dungeon members wilderness has a mass of Chaos druids, at around level 1 to 5 wilderness. Training here is recommended, as Edgeville bank is not too far off, and depending on your combat level, you should not be in too much danger.

As you are now competent at Herblore, you may wish to tackle some of RuneScape's quests that give Herblore experience: Jungle Potion, Recruitment Drive, Digsite Quest, or Zogre Flesh Eaters. Together, these quests give a total 5,775 Herblore XP, which will get you to approximately level 25; advancing you to the next level-barrier.

Alternatively, continue making strength potions; if you currently have ~2,000 Herblore XP, making 50 strength potions will get you to level 20. From level 22, making 50 restore potions (harralander and red spider eggs), will get you to level 25. At level 25 Herblore, you are now eligible to do the Heroes Quest!

If you have 15 herblore, and have completed the Shades of Mort'ton quest, you can make the Serum 207 potion, which has a much easier to obtain second ingredient (ashes),while giving the same experience as a strength potion.

Level 26-38
Level 26 means you have around 8,800 Herblore XP, can identify up to ranarr weed, and can make up to energy potions. The best potion to make at this level is regular energy potions, as they are very useful in quests where you have to run around a lot.

To advance as quickly as possible, try out some of the more difficult quests; One Small Favour, Shades of Mort'ton, Eadgar's Ruse, or Heroes Quest. The first two quests can advance you to level 38, from 26. Alternatively, make around 330 energy potions, using harralander and chocolate dust.

Although at level 30, you have the ability to make defence potions, I do not suggest doing so. Making these will simply waste the Ranarr weed, which you could use to make prayer restore potions (which you can make at level 38), as they are much more profitable. Check your bank for any unidentified herbs, to make sure you do not have any ranarr hidden away.

Level 39-50
At level 39, you are now able to make prayer restore potions, identify irit with a greenman's ale, and are soon able to make super attack potions. Prayer restore potions are overall, the best experience maker for an herbalist. Not only do they sell for a lot, but also their second ingredient is easy to obtain. Killing higher-level monsters gives you an increased chance of obtaining ranarr, or higher-level herbs as drops. The best place to collect snape grass for these potions is on Waterbirth Island by Rellekka. Take the boat to Miscellania and Etceteria to bank the grass.

If you have not already, now would be a good time to finish up some of the Herblore-XP-giving quests, as these will greatly assist you in getting to the level requirement for the Legends Quest.

Level 50 +
From level 50, Herblore becomes much more expensive and time consuming. At level 52, super energy potions are a great way to level, as avantoe is not very expensive. At level 55, you can make super strength potions, and sell them to Player Killers at Edgeville, or to duelers at the Al-Kharid Duel Arena .

Ultimately, the best way to gain Herblore levels from now on is by fighting Salarin the Twisted, for Sinister keys.

6.2 - Money Making
Money making for Herbalists is a lot easier then you may think. Money can be made fast, by collecting your own herbs and second ingredients, and then selling the potions. Salarin the Twisted is an excellent herb giver for those with 67 agility, while chaos druids in Edgeville or Taverley dungeon are also great for collecting herbs. Empty vials can also be exceptional money-makers, selling for up to 250gp each, when water-filled. There is a wide ranged of stores that stock vials, and for cheap too!

Alternatively, if you wish to buy the herbs and second ingredients, read the below information.

Super sets are a fairly good way of making money, if you can find a buyer for around 10k each. An Irit Leaf for the super attack potion sells for 1.5-2k and an eye of newt sells for 5-15gp each. Kwuarm sells for around 2-3k, and limpwurt roots around 500gp each. Cadantine sells for around 3-4k each, and whiteberries sell for up to 1k each. If you can produce these on a large scale, that's breaking even, depending on how much you buy your ingredients for. If you collect the seconds yourself, you stand to make around 2k profit per super set, if you sell at 10k each.

Other potions which can make a fair sum of money include prayer restore, and anti-firebreath. Ranarr weed sells around 6.5k, and snape grass for about 200-500gp each. This means that you could make up to 1k profit per potion. Lantadyme sells for around 3-4.5k, and blue dragon scales sell for about 250gp each, while the potion sells for around 4-7k; quite a substantial profit.

As a general rule, the higher your Herblore level, the better potions you can make which means a larger profit!

6.3 - Collecting & Merchanting
To be able to do this method, you must be able to identify Tarromin herbs, though Harralander is preferred. You must also have over 100k cash, and the more cash you have, the more money you will make per day. With this relatively low level, you can gain around 200 of every herb in a day depending on the time of day and general luck. You must remember at all times, that herb collecting is potentially dangerous as scammers do take advantage of this. Just be aware of this and you will be fine.

The Method
Position yourself in a well packed bank, but not too packed. I would suggest a world with at least 1,000 to 1,500 people in it, in Seers' Village or Varrock. Keep a nice round figure of cash in your bank, like 1,000,000gp, and all your unidentified herbs in your bank. What you are aiming to buy is unidentified herbs, and these come in eleven different stacks. Some are more common than others, like Guam and Marrentil, while some are much sought after like Ranarr weed and Kwuarm. Stand in an open spot, and type something like `Buying all unid herbs 1k each`. Try and spell everything correctly, as people are more drawn to respectable language. Fairly soon you should receive a trade request. Be patient as people have to withdraw all their herbs, and this does take time. Assuming the trade is real, you should be presented with a screen much like this.

Now, you need to check a few things on the trade screen before accepting. First, make sure they are noted so you can see what stacks are what. If they are not, ask for them to be noted. Those who don't are probably hiding something, so keep an eye out for them. Secondly, they must all be 'Unidentified herbs'. If not, check. Some herbs may be of high value meaning added profit, but Guam Marrentil and Tarromin will result in a loss. Ask them to remove the herbs you don't want. Other sellers may offer vast quantities of herbs, but only one to four stacks. BE CAREFUL. They know what you are collecting and may be attempting to sell their cheap herbs for a big profit. Do not accept a trade like this. Another common scam or mistake are players selling 'Doogle leaves'. These look like unid herbs, but are worthless so watch out for those.

For most, you will have over five stacks of herbs, with random quantities. Count them using a calculator, and offer 1k per herb. For example, someone offers 56 noted unids of different quantities. You offer 56k and accept. Assuming the trade is accepted, you have your first herbs! Repeat these steps until you have spent all the money you wanted to. For example, you spent 1Mil gp on 1,000 herbs. Now you have a choice depending on your Herblore level. Take out one from every stack and identify all you can. If you can only identify Tarromin, identify those and below and keep them. For Harralander, do the same. If you have a higher level, only identify Ranarr weed. You could also go to Nardah (the best way being taking the magic carpet from Shantay Pass to Pollnivneach and crossing the river), and get your herbs identified in the herblore shop for 200 each. This is a risky move, but can make you money as well. Keep in mind that Nardah has a bank.

Now you need to sell the herbs, preferably using the Runescape, or Runescape Community forums. Post that you are selling unids, and how many stacks. List the stacks from highest to lowest and wait for the trades. You could also sell your Ranarrs and low level herbs in the same topic. You should get between 1.5k and 2.5k per unid, as long as you sell them all. Ranarrs should go for 6k to 7k, and lower leveled herbs will sell for less. Guams, Marrentil, Tarromin, Harralander will go for 300, 400, 600 and 1000 coins respectively. In some cases, you may receive unidentified Toadflax, Snapdragon, or even Torstol. These should be sold separately for a small profit.

Now you need to count your money. If you sold all, this is a rough estimate of what you would have.

Herb Name Herb Price Total Spent
100 Guam 300 30,000
100 Marrentil 400 40 000
100 Tarromin 600 60,000
75 Harralander 1,000 75,000
50 Ranarr 6,000 300,000
400 Unids 2,000 800,000
Total Earned Total Spent Total Profit
1,305,000 1,000,000 305,000

You could make 300k profit in one sale, and continuing to buy and sell can make you over 1,000,000gp per day, making it relatively easy to earn money for an average player. For a player with just 100k, divide that by ten. Depending on the amount you spend at a time, you will, on average gain more money much faster. Players are drawn to bigger sales of oh-so-important herbs.

Another method is exactly the same except you get the exact herbs you want. This takes time however, and is only recommended for experienced herb merchanters. This time, you will need one unid herb of every herb you want, noted, and in your inventory (you will need to know what unid stack is what, by identifying one from each, and keeping them in a set order). You then need your coins, and enough non-stackable items to fill the rest of your inventory such as logs, essence, ores or any other junk can be used. Before you trade anyone, check your inventory looks like this.

Buy your herbs as usual, one stack at a time though. If the stack is the one you want, the trade will work. If it is another type of herb then the trade will automatically decline telling you that you have no space. As stated earlier, this will take a while, especially finding someone willing to trade. Once you have a good number of herbs, identify them or sell them, depending on what they are. When selling specific unid stacks, never be suspicious. If you get something wrong, people will suspect you are scamming and stop the trade. A nice clean trade will get you your sale and keep respect amongst others.

Finally, if you want to obtain herbs this way instead of making money, simply identify everything you have bought and use them.

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7.0 Miscellaneous
This section gives a brief overview of Salarin the Twisted, and the many quests that give Herblore XP.

7.1 Salarin

Confined to a small room, Salarin the Twisted is an evil druid who is in the Yanille Agility Dungeon. Only the bold adventurer with level 67 agility may gain access to his hideout. Salarin is immune to all forms of attack - melee, ranged, most magic - except strike spells. Remember those weak little spells that you used to train with on chickens a long time ago? Yes, those strike spells. Salarin is found amongst four or five Chaos druids, who are also good for collecting herbs while waiting for him to spawn.

Every now and then, Salarin will drop a Sinister key, which opens the chest in the room just past the entrance with the balancing ledge. Whenever you open the chest, you will receive: 1 Torstol, 2 Harralander, 3 Ranarr weed, 1 Kwuarm, 1 Irit leaf, and 1 Avantoe, a total of 933.5 XP in herbs (or 758.5 XP excluding Torstol) this does not include identifying the herbs. Take note that in the process of opening the sinister chest, you will be poisoned, unless protected by the effect of an antipoison potion. If you have a number of keys to open the chest with, it is best to use a ring of dueling and a super anti-poison potion. Take three Sinister keys, two earth and two law runes, the ring of dueling and a slash weapon (battleaxe, scimitar, dagger etc). Teleport to the Watchtower, slash the web, go down the ladder, slide along the wall, then go through the pipe on the right hand side wall. Open the chest with the key, then teleport to the Castle Wars bank. Take a sip of an anti poison potion and then repeat the process as fast as possible.

7.2 Quests
Below is a list of all the quest that give Herblore XP:

A Fairy Tale Part II: 3,500 XP
Digsite Quest: 2,000 XP
Druidic Ritual: 250 XP
Eadgar's Ruse: 11,000 XP
Grim Tales: 5,000 XP
Jungle Potion: 775 XP
My Arm's Big Adventure: 10,000 XP
Recruitment Drive: 1,000 XP
Shades of Mort'ton: 2,000 XP
Note: Additional 335 XP for using the diary used in the quest on the Apothecary in Varrock.
Zogre Flesh Eaters: 2,000 Herblore XP

Quests with a choice Experience

A Fairy Tale Part II: 2,500 XP in any skill of your choice over level 30.
Great Brain Robbery, The: 5,000 XP for any skill you choose over level 30.
Heroes Quest: Possible 1,325 XP
Legends Quest: 7,650-30,600 XP (7,650 is given to 4 skills from a list of skills)
One Small Favour: 10,000-20,000 XP (2 x 10,000 lamps for any skill of your choice over level 30)
Recipe for Disaster: 20,000 XP (A Lamp to grant 20,000xp in a skill of your choice over level 50)
A Tail of Two Cats: Choice of 2,500 to 5,000 XP

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8.0 - Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I have many unidentified herbs. What do I do with them?
A: You can either sell them, or hold onto them until you get a higher Herblore level, at which point you may be able to identify them. Another option, is that you can take them to the herbalist in Nardah, who will identify any herbs you have on you, for a small fee of 200gp each. You do not get any Herblore XP for doing so however.

Q: What herbs are the best to collect?
A: Depending upon your level, the best way to level is to use harralander (energy potion), ranarr weed (prayer potion), avantoe (super energy) or kwuarm (weapon poison).