Darts are one of the most popular ranged weapons in Old School RuneScape (OSRS), beloved for their fast attack speed, one-handed usability, and versatility in combat. Whether you're training your Ranged skill, gearing up for slayer tasks, or stocking up ammunition for the Toxic Blowpipe, learning to make darts is a valuable skill for any member. Unlike some other ranged weapons, darts are straightforward to craft-all you need are the right materials, basic skills, and a bit of know-how. This guide breaks down everything you need to know to make darts in OSRS, from prerequisites to advanced tips. During this process, you will need to prepare a sufficient amount of OSRS gold.

Prerequisites to Make Darts

Before you start crafting darts, there are a few key prerequisites to meet. First, darts are a members-only item, so you'll need an active OSRS membership to access dart-making content. Second, you'll need two core skills: Smithing (to create dart tips) and Fletching (to attach feathers to the tips).

A critical quest requirement is completing the Tourist Trap quest. This quest is mandatory for smithing any dart tips-without it, you won't be able to use a furnace to turn metal bars into the pointed ends of darts. The quest is relatively easy and can be completed at a low level, making it a priority for anyone looking to craft darts.

Finally, you'll need the appropriate skill levels for the type of dart you want to make. Lower-tier darts (like bronze) require minimal levels, while high-tier darts (like dragon) demand high Smithing and Fletching levels. We'll cover specific level requirements later in this guide.

Essential Materials for Making Darts

Darts have only two core materials: dart tips and feathers. Every dart requires one dart tip and one feather, so you'll need to gather (or purchase) these in equal quantities. Let's break down each material and how to obtain them.

Dart Tips: Dart tips are made by smithing metal bars in a furnace. Each metal bar produces 10 dart tips-for example, one bronze bar makes 10 bronze dart tips, one rune bar makes 10 rune dart tips, and so on. The type of metal bar determines the tier of the dart, and each tier has a corresponding Smithing level requirement.

You can obtain metal bars by mining ore and smelting it yourself, or by purchasing bars directly from the Grand Exchange (GE) for convenience. For ironmen or players on a budget, mining and smelting your own bars is a cost-effective option, though it takes more time.

Feathers: Feathers are the second essential material, and they're easy to obtain. The most common method is killing chickens (found in Lumbridge, Falador, and other starting areas), which drop 1-3 feathers each. You can also purchase feathers in bulk from the GE, where they're usually very affordable (often 2-3 coins each).

Feathers are stackable, so you can carry thousands of them at once-perfect for bulk dart-making sessions. For ironmen, chickens are a reliable source, but you can also get feathers from other birds like seagulls or ducks.

Step-by-Step: How to Make Darts

Once you have your prerequisites and materials, making darts is a simple two-step process: smithing the dart tips, then fletching the feathers onto the tips. Here's a detailed breakdown:

Step 1: Smith the Dart Tips

First, head to a furnace-popular locations include Edgeville, Varrock, or Al Kharid, as they're easily accessible and have banks nearby. Open your inventory and right-click the furnace, then select the type of dart tip you want to make (e.g., "Bronze dart tip").

Each metal bar will produce 10 dart tips, and you'll gain Smithing experience for each batch. For example, smithing a bronze bar into 10 bronze dart tips gives 18 Smithing experience, while a rune bar gives 75 Smithing experience per 10 tips. Keep smithing until you have enough dart tips for your desired number of darts.

Step 2: Fletch the Darts

Once you have your dart tips, it's time to attach the feathers. You don't need any special tools for this-just open your inventory and right-click the dart tips, then select "Fletch" (or drag the feathers onto the dart tips).

Each dart tip paired with one feather will become one dart, and you'll gain Fletching experience per dart. The amount of experience varies by dart tier: bronze darts give 1.8 Fletching experience each, while dragon darts give 25 experience each. You can fletch in bulk by selecting the "Make All" option, which speeds up the process significantly.

Fletching darts can be done anywhere-you don't need a workbench or specific location. This makes it a great "afk" activity: you can fletch while waiting for a slayer task, traveling, or training other skills like Agility or Farming.

Dart Tiers: Levels, Materials, and Bonuses

OSRS has nine tiers of darts, each with different Smithing/Fletching requirements, combat bonuses, and costs. Here's a quick overview of the most common tiers to help you choose which darts to make:

Bronze Darts: Requires level 1 Smithing and 10 Fletching. Made from bronze bars and feathers. Lowest damage (+1 strength) but ideal for beginners or low-level training.

Iron Darts: Requires level 1 Smithing and 22 Fletching. Slightly better damage (+2 strength) and still very affordable. A good step up from bronze.

Steel Darts: Requires level 5 Smithing and 37 Fletching. Strength bonus of +3. These are popular for mid-level training due to their low cost and decent damage.

Rune Darts: Requires level 89 Smithing and 81 Fletching. Strength bonus of +26. Great for high-level training or combat, though they're more expensive to make.

Dragon Darts: Requires level 95 Smithing and 95 Fletching. Highest strength bonus (+35) and the best dart tier in the game. Perfect for endgame combat but costly to craft.

Tips for Efficient Dart-Making

To make the most of your dart-making sessions, here are a few pro tips:

Bulk Buy Materials: Purchasing metal bars and feathers in bulk from the GE saves time. The GE buy limit for dart tips is 100,000, so you can stock up on materials for large crafting sessions.

Use Fletching Boosts: Items like the Fletching cape (level 99 Fletching) or oak incense sticks can boost your Fletching level, allowing you to make higher-tier darts earlier.

Combine with Other Skills: Fletching darts is a passive activity-you can do it while training other skills. For example, fletch darts while waiting for your Farming patches to grow or during Agility laps.

Poison Darts for Combat: Once you've made darts, you can poison them with weapon poison to add extra damage. This is especially useful for slayer tasks or boss fights.

Why Make Darts in OSRS?

Making darts isn't just a way to get ammunition-it's also a great way to train two key skills: Smithing and Fletching. Fletching darts offers consistent experience gains, and Smithing dart tips is a reliable way to level up Smithing without expensive materials (especially for lower tiers).

Additionally, darts are the fastest ranged weapon in the game (3 ticks per attack), making them ideal for Ranged training. They're also one-handed, so you can wield a shield or god book alongside them for extra defense-a huge advantage in combat.

For ironmen, making darts is essential, as you can't rely on the GE to buy ammunition. For regular players, it's a cost-effective alternative to buying darts, especially if you gather your own materials. To facilitate the crafting process, it is necessary to purchase cheap RuneScape gold in advance.

In conclusion, making darts in OSRS is a simple, rewarding skill that benefits both your combat and artisan skills. With the right prerequisites, materials, and a bit of practice, you'll be crafting high-tier darts in no time. Whether you're a beginner or an endgame player, dart-making is a valuable addition to your OSRS toolkit.