Herblore Guide
Intro
Herblore is a members only skill. To start the Herblore skill you need to have completed the short Druidic Ritual Quest which starts in the Druids' circle above Taverly. This skill is dedicated to making different types of Potions (also known as Pots) for different uses throughout the game. Herblore involves mixing a herb and a secondary ingredient into a vial of water to make a potion. Certain potions have certain effects when drunk.
The higher your Herblore level the better potions you can make. Keep reading for details of how to make all the potions and what their effects are. A useful tip to note is that you can purchase "Greenman's Ale" from the Yanille pub (Dragon Inn) to temporarily increase your herblore level by one. It also can be purchased from Jossik the Lighthouse Keeper if you've completed the Horror from the Deep Quest. Finally, it can be brewed (see Cooking Guide) using 4 Harralander as the main ingredient.
Vials
The first thing every herblorist needs is a vial to mix and hold the potion. A vial is just like a bottle. You can get them either by crafting them (see the Crafting Guide), or by buying them from other players or from shops. The Herblore shops in Taverly and Entrana stock them, as well as the General Stores in Ardougne and Shilo Village. Then you will need to fill the vial with water by 'using' it with a fountain or sink. Look for a water source (the icon for this on maps is a water drop) close to a bank as this will offer the best speed.
Empty Vial |
Vial of water |
If you have a potion you don't want to keep, you can right-click it and choose the option to "Empty" the potion. This allows you to keep and re-use the vial.
Herbs
The first ingredient of a potion is the herb. Herbs are obtained as drops by killing monsters. Some monsters drop better than others. Search our bestiary for 'herb' for more information on those monsters and their locations. Herbs can also be grown using the Farming Skill.
When you pick an herb you've grown, it is already identified, but if you get an herb as a drop it is simply called an Herb. You must identify it by clicking on it while it is in your inventory. Certain herbs need certain levels to identify before you can 'use' them with a vial of water to make a half-complete potion.
If you really want your herbs identified but are not a high enough level, Zahur in Nardah will identify them for you at a cost of 200gp each. You do not get any of the experience associated with identifying herbs if you let her do this for you. The following table shows the levels needed to identify all the herbs:
 |
Guam Leaf |
3 |
2.5 |
 |
Marrentill |
5 |
3.75 |
 |
Tarromin |
11 |
5 |
 |
Harralander |
20 |
6 |
 |
Ranarr Weed |
25 |
8 |
 |
Toadflax |
30 |
8 |
 |
Irit Leaf |
40 |
9 |
 |
Avantoe |
48 |
10 |
 |
Kwuarm |
54 |
11.25 |
 |
Snapdragon |
59 |
11.8 |
 |
Cadantine |
65 |
12.5 |
 |
Lantadyme |
67 |
13 |
 |
Dwarf Weed |
70 |
13.75 |
 |
Torstol |
75 |
15 |
Identifying Jungle Potion Quest herbs (Ardrigal, Rogue's purse, Sito foil, Snake weed, and Volencia moss) requires level 3 Herblore and earns 2.5 xp each after completing the quest.
Before Farming, Toadflax and Snapdragon were only obtainable by paying Agility tickets for them at Brimhaven's Agility Arena.
Torstol was formerly only obtained by unlocking the Sinister chest in Yanille's Agility Dungeon. To do this you need the Sinister Key which is a semi-rare drop from Salarin the Twisted. He is right at the end of the Agility Dungeon and can only be killed by Strike spells which hit unusually hard against him. You will need 67 agility to access the area he is located in, or you can buy the key. The chest is in a part of the dungeon that requires 49 agility to access. In the chest, you will find the following 9 herbs: 2 Harralanders, 3 Ranarr weeds, 1 Irit leaf, 1 Avantoe, 1 Kwuarm, and 1 Torstol.
Secondary Ingredients
The second item you add to your half-complete potion is the secondary ingredient. When some ingredients are preceeded with the prefix 'Ground', this means they must be ground with a Pestle and mortar which can be bought at the Herblore shops in Taverly and Entrana, and at a few other general stores. Where to obtain the secondary ingredients and their details are all explained in the table:
 |
Eye of Newt |
Herblore shop in Taverly or Entrana, or in the Magic Emporium in Port Sarim. |
 |
Ground Unicorn Horn |
Kill unicorns and grind their horns. Good spot is in the east of level 22 wilderness. |
 |
Limpwurt Root |
Drop from Hill Giants, Hobgoblins and Druids. Can also be grown using Farming Skill. |
 |
Red Spiders' Eggs |
Red Spider Nests; at Karamja dungeon, Edgeville dungeon, Varrock Sewers and also by the road to the elven lands (south of the gate shortcut). |
 |
White Berries |
Red Dragon Isle around level 40 wilderness, and in Tirannwn near Lletya. Also dropped by the men and women of Canifis (in both normal and wolf form). Can also be grown using Farming Skill. |
 |
Snape Grass |
At Hobgoblins west of the Crafting Guild, and on Waterbirth Island north of Rellekka. |
 |
Ground Blue Dragon Scale |
In the middle of the Blue Dragons chamber in the Taverly Members dungeon. |
 |
Wine of Zamorak |
At the Chaos Temple above Goblin village. Use the Telekinetic Grab spell, unless you can kill every monk in the room. |
 |
Jangerberries |
On the Ogre Island just west of Yanille. You will need a rope to swing across (level 10 Agility) unless you use the Telekinetic Grab spell. Can also be grown using Farming Skill. |
 |
Toad's legs |
At the north end of the Gnome Stronghold (and Lumbridge Swamp, and in Taverly near the lake) there are spawns of toads. Pick up a toad and remove its' legs to get this ingredient. |
 |
Goat's horn |
In many locations within the Kharidian Desert, such as: near the entrance to the Kalphite lair, southwest and northwest of Nardah, north of Pollnivneach, and west of the agility pyramid. |
 |
Chocolate Dust |
Grind chocolate using a Pestle and mortar. You can get chocolate from food stores (Port Sarim, Yanille, Grand Tree), Chef's guild, Lost City, or Nardah. |
 |
Mort Myre Fungi |
Must have completed the Nature Spirit Quest to get this ingredient from Mort Myre Swamp. Use the Silver Sickle(b) obtained in that quest to Cast-bloom while standing near rotting logs. |
 |
Potato Cactus |
These spawn in the Kalphite Dungeon in the desert. Be careful! |
 |
Ashes |
Make a fire and leave it to die out. You will get some ashes. |
 |
Coconut |
Used in empty vial as base for extra-strong or superstrong antipoison or weapon poison. Use a hammer on it to crack it, then use on empty Vial. Grown using Farming Skill. Coconut milk is untradeable. |
 |
Cactus spine |
Grown using Farming Skill. |
 |
Yew roots |
Chop down a Yew tree that you grew using Farming Skill. Use a spade to quickly dig up the roots. |
 |
Star flower |
After starting Fairy Tale II Quest, use fairy rings to visit Star flower plane at coordinates c-k-p. |
 |
Gorak claw powder |
After starting Fairy Tale II Quest, use fairy rings to visit Gorak lair at coordinates d-i-r. Kill a Gorak and crush Gorak claws with Pestle and mortar. |
 |
Poison ivy berries |
Grown using Farming Skill. |
 |
Magic tree roots |
Chop down a Magic tree that you grew using Farming Skill. Use a spade to quickly dig up the roots. |
 |
Nightshade |
Grown from Belladonna seed using Farming Skill. Not tradeable. Also obtainable in Gu'Tanoth (see Watchtower Quest; requires re-obtainable Skavid map and light source such as Lit candle.) |
 |
Crushed bird's nest |
Get it by grinding a bird's nest with a pestle and mortar. The nests are not tradeable, but ground nests are! You can get a bird's nest from a woodcutting random event, hunting the giant mole and trading the skin and claws to Wyson the gardener or from the Managing the Kingdom mini game. |
Potions
Once you have your secondary ingredient, use it with your half-complete potion to complete the potion. Now it is ready for use! All potions come with 3 doses except Weapon Poison which comes with only 1.
Free players can make a 4 dose regular strength potion by paying the Apothecary in Varrock 5gp to mix a Limpwurt root and a Red spiders' eggs. This is the only potion free players can make or use. The table below shows the levels needed to make each potion, what is needed to make it and its' effects.
Note that the new extra-strong and super-strong antipoisons and weapon poisons are made with a Coconut milk base (not a Vial of water). Coconut milk can be obtained by smashing a Coconut with a Hammer, then pouring the milk into a vial.
- A useful tip is that when you have some potions with less than the four doses that a vial can hold, you can top it up from other potions. So you can take a dose from here and put it into there and so forth. This will help in emptying low dose potions to get vials back for re-use.
| 3 |
Attack Potion |
Guam Leaf |
Eye of Newt |
25 |
+12.5% Attack |
| 5 |
Anti-Poison Potion |
Marrentill |
Ground Unicorn Horn |
37.5 |
Removes poison |
| 8 |
Relicym's Balm |
Rogues Purse |
Snake Weed |
40 |
Heals disease; can only be made after Zogre Flesh Eater Quest. |
| 12 |
Strength Potion |
Tarromin |
Limpwurt Root |
50 |
+12.5% Strength |
| 15 |
Serum 207 |
Tarromin |
Ash |
50 |
Allows the people of Mort'ton talk to you. (Only if begun Shades of Mort'ton Quest.) |
| 18 |
Guthix Rest Tea |
2 Guam Leaf |
Marrentill |
59 |
Has three doses, cures some poisons, and if you are at full health, temporarily raises your hit points to your maximum plus 5. Made by heating water in a Bowl on a Range or fire, then using it on an empty cup. Requires 2 Guam leaf(s), 1 Marrentill, and 1 Harralander. (Can only be made after related segment of One Small Favour Quest.) |
| 22 |
Stat Restore Potion |
Harralander |
Red Spiders' Eggs |
62.5 |
Restores all combat stats (att, str, def, magic, range) to maximum level (or nearly); does not affect hit points, prayer or other stats. |
| 26 |
Energy Potion |
Harralander |
Chocolate Dust |
67.5 |
Restores 10% Energy. |
| 30 |
Defence Potion |
Ranarr Weed |
White Berries |
75 |
+12.5% Defence |
| 34 |
Agility Potion |
Toadflax |
Toad's legs |
80 |
+3 Agility |
| 36 |
Combat Potion |
Harralander |
Ground Goat horn |
84 |
+3 to +12 Strength and Attack, depending on level |
| 38 |
Restore Prayer Potion |
Ranarr Weed |
Snape Grass |
87.5 |
Restores 33% of your overall prayer level per dose |
| 45 |
Super Attack Potion |
Irit Leaf |
Eye of Newt |
100 |
+20% Attack |
| 48 |
Super Anti Poison Potion |
Irit Leaf |
Ground Unicorn Horn |
107.5 |
Removes, and gives temporary immunity against, poison. |
| 50 |
Fishing Potion |
Avantoe |
Snape Grass |
112.5 |
+3 Fishing |
| 52 |
Super Energy Potion |
Avantoe |
Mort Myre Fungi |
117.5 |
Restores 20% Energy. |
| 55 |
Super Strength Potion |
Kwuarm |
Limpwurt Root |
125 |
+20% Strength |
| 57 |
Magic Essence Potion |
Star flower |
Gorak claw powder |
130 |
+3 Magic |
| 60 |
Weapon Poison Potion |
Kwuarm |
Ground Blue Dragon Scale |
137.5 |
Poisons all Ranged ammo, daggers or spears. |
| 63 |
Super Stat Restore |
Snapdragon |
Red Spiders' Eggs |
143 |
Restores all stats to maximum level as well as some prayer. |
| 66 |
Super Defence Potion |
Cadantine |
White Berries |
150 |
+20% Defence |
| 68 |
Antidote+ |
Toad flax |
Yew roots |
155 |
Made with Coconut milk - Extra strong antipoison, cures poisoning and gives longer temporary immunity |
| 69 |
Anti-Fire Breath Potion |
Lantadyme |
Ground Blue Dragon Scale |
157.5 |
Full protection from Dragons' fire breath with anti-dragon shield. |
| 72 |
Ranging Potion |
Dwarf Weed |
Wine of Zamorak |
162.5 |
+(10%+3) ranged |
| 73 |
Weapon poison(+) |
Cactus Spine |
Red Spiders' Eggs |
165 |
Made with Coconut milk - Extra strong weapon poison |
| 76 |
Magic Potion |
Lantadyme |
Potato Cactus |
175 |
+4 Magic |
| 78 |
Zamorak Potion |
Torstol |
Jangerberries |
175 |
-10% Hits
-10% Defence
+15% Strength
+20% Attack |
| 79 |
Antidote++ |
Irit leaf |
Magic roots |
177.5 |
Made with Coconut milk - Super strong antipoison, cures poison and gives longest temporary immunity |
| 81 |
Saradomin's brew |
Toadflax |
Crushed bird's nest |
180 |
- (10%+2) Attack,strength
- (10%+2) Magic,range
+ (20%+2) Defence
+ (15%+2) Hits |
| 82 |
Weapon poison(s) |
Nightshade |
Poison ivy berries |
190 |
Made with Coconut milk - Super strong weapon poison |
Note: The percentage increases in your combat stats by the related potion are only temporary, and the percentage figures are only approximations.
Herb droppers
Some herblorists prefer to purchase their herbs from other people, while others prefer to battle monsters that drop them. This section of the guide mentions some of the better monsters to fight for herbs. Additionally, you can search our bestiary for a full list of monsters that drop herbs. The list below explains the best options.
- Men (level 2) and Women (level 2)
Easiest NPCs to kill, they drop herbs fairly often.
- Al-Kharid warriors (level 9)
Best for lower level players starting out on herblore. Al Kharid warriors drop a lot of herbs, are easy to kill, are close to bank - and kebabs can be bought to restore lost hit points.
- Thugs (level 10)
Low combat level and drop lots of herbs along with lots of runes and level 1 clues. Can be found in Edgeville Dungeon or just North East of Edgeville in the wilderness.
- Skeletons (levels 18-45)
Each type of skeleton drops approximately the same amount of herbs. Varrock sewer or Edgeville dungeon are both good and fairly close to a bank. Other locations can be found by searching our bestiary.
- Chaos Druids (level 13)
Found in the Members dungeon, Agility Dungeon in Yanille, Blood Rune Tower in Ardougne as well as Edgeville dungeon. Easy and fun to battle, they drop vials as well.
- Chaos Druid Warriors (level 37)
Located in the Agility Dungeon in Yanille, these drop a lot of herbs as well as useful secondary ingredients.
- Slayer monsters
Cave crawlers in the Slayer dungeon are wonderful. Quick and easy to kill and they drop a mix of Vials of water, Herbs and secondary ingredients. Far from a bank though. Banshees are also good, but check out our Slayer guide for more info on these monsters.
Poison
You can get poisoned from poisonous monsters, from traps when thieving chests, or from other people with poisoned weapons. Drink anti-poison potion or super anti-poison potion to be cured. You are also cured of poison after a while as it wears off, or instantly when you die and respawn in Lumbridge.
Using the weapon poison potion - you can poison 5 arrows or throwing knives or throwing axes or javelins or darts, or other weapons. You can also poison 1 spear or dagger which will stay poisoned thereafter. Poisoned weapons will have green tips and have a (p) after their name. You only get 1 dose with the Weapon Poison instead of the usual 3.
Dragon Dagger (p)
You can also clean the poison off your weapon/s should you wish to do so. Use some Karamja Rum on a piece of Silk to make a Cleaning cloth. Then you can use this to clean off your poison.
Special karambwan poison (kp) is available to those who have completed the Tai Bwo Wannai Trio Quest. This is made by cooking a Raw karambwan for a short time, then grinding it with a Pestle and mortar to make Karambwan paste. Karambwan poison does 6 damage to hit points instead of the usual 4 of regular poison, and can only be added to spears. Kp weapons are untradeable - the poison must be removed using the above Cleaning cloth before the item can be traded.
Extra-strong and super-strong weapon poisons inflict far more damage and their effects last for longer. The super strong weapon poison ((p++) after the weapon/arrow name) hits 6, while extra-strong poison ((p+) after the weapon/arrow name) hits for 4, and faster than other poisons. Extra-strong and super-strong anti-poison potions give much longer periods of immunity.
Trading
Herblorists make their living by selling their valuable 'Pots' to hungry blood thirsty PKers or duellers. These fighters will drink potions which increase their combat stats to get the upper hand against their opponent, so they are always on the lookout to buy pots. They usually buy Super attack, Super strength and Super defence potions, which together are referred to as a 'Super Set'. Rangers will also purchase Range pots. Dragon and Demon slayers will buy Prayer and Anti-firebreath pots so they can keep on protecting (from melee) while they fight.
Money can be made by selling to Herblorists. If they have the cash, they will be willing to pay for vials, vials of water, unidentified and identified herbs. Secondary ingredients are also purchased. This is all done to save time doing these tedious tasks themselves and focus on getting xp faster.
Goutweed Minigame
If you have completed Eadgar's Ruse Quest, you have an alternate method for obtaining herbs. Return to the Troll Stronghold basement storeroom, hide from the guards in the small niche areas between boxes, and properly time a mad dash across the room to grab a goutweed from the crate. After each grab, you are automatically kicked out of the room. Take all collected goutweed to Sanfew (upstairs in the Herblore shop in Taverly) who will exchange them for an equal number of unidentified herbs. Goutweed tubers from the Jungle Cleanup mini game can also be planted to grow goutweed using the Farming Skill.
