Guthix Rest vs Super Attack: OSRS Herblore 40-99 Training Guide

Game screenshots and facts are cited from the Old School RuneScape Wiki (strategy, equipment, drops, and related pages). Writing is original editorial, not a copy of the wiki article.

Herblore is one of those skills that can be either a money pit or a quiet profit engine depending on the method you pick. For mains training from 40 to 99, the classic debate is whether to spam super attack potions for speed or to brew Guthix rest for profit while still gaining XP. Both start with the same Druidic Ritual unlock, but they play very differently in terms of clicks, supply chains, and bank value.

This guide breaks down the two methods side by side, plus the alternatives you should know: cleaning herbs, Mastering Mixology, and quest XP. We'll cover realistic time-to-goal, where to get supplies, the common mistakes that drain your cash stack, and the honest case for buying gold or a service when your time is worth more than the grind.

Requirements and early levels

Before comparing methods, you need the skill unlocked and a plan to skip the early grind. Every account starts by completing Druidic Ritual, which rewards 250 XP and unlocks Herblore at level 3. From there, quest rewards can carry you well past the awkward low levels. The wiki's quest experience table shows a total of 171,850 Herblore XP available from quests, but many require high skill levels and long chains. For a focused main, the early wins are:

From level 40 onward, you are already past the worst of the early potion grind. If you have not done the early quests, go back and do them now. The XP is effectively free and the requirements are minimal for a main account.

The three core Herblore methods

Once you are in the 40s, you have three realistic training styles: making potions from unfinished potions and secondaries (fast), cleaning grimy herbs (slow but profitable), and the Mastering Mixology minigame (efficient at 60+). For the Guthix rest vs super attack comparison, both fall under the potion-making umbrella, but they differ in ingredients, level requirements, and market behavior.

The fastest method in the game is adding secondary ingredients to unfinished potions. According to the wiki, if you bank quickly after each inventory, you can expect to make around 2,500 potions per hour. This is the baseline for super attack potions at higher levels. Guthix rest is slower per hour because it requires more steps per inventory, but it can offset that with profit.

If you want an AFK or low-attention method, cleaning grimy herbs is the classic choice. It is profitable but slow, and it does not use the same supply chains as potion-making. For mains, cleaning herbs is usually something you do while banking or waiting for friends, not a primary route to 99.

Mastering Mixology at 60+

At level 60 Herblore and after completing Children of the Sun, you can start the Mastering Mixology minigame on Aldarin. The minigame becomes more efficient as you level, with the last unlock at level 81. Mixology does not require specific herbs or secondaries, and it grants more XP per herb than traditional potion-making. It is also the only source of powerful utility items like the Prescription goggles, Alchemist's amulet, Chugging barrel, and Potion storage. At 81 Herblore, players can expect up to 105k XP/hour. This is a strong option if you have a stockpile of high-tier herbs that you would otherwise waste on potions you don't need.

Super attack potions: the speed benchmark

Super attack potions are the standard efficient method for mains because they use a cheap, widely available secondary and a mid-level herb. At level 45 Herblore, you combine an irit potion (unf) with eye of newt to create a super attack potion. The XP per potion is solid, and the ingredients are easy to buy in bulk from the Grand Exchange or shops. Eye of newt packs from Betty in Port Sarim and other herblore shops keep the secondary cheap even on high-volume training days.

Because super attack potions fit the "add secondary to unfinished potion" method, a focused player can hit that 2,500 potions/hour mark with good bank standing habits: pre-make or buy unfinished potions, set up your bank with a single click withdrawal, and use the Make-X interface. The method is highly attentive but not difficult. You can also use an amulet of chemistry for a 5% chance at an extra dose when mixing potions, which effectively stretches your supplies and adds value per inventory without extra XP.

The main downside is cost volatility. Irit leaves and eye of newt are not immune to market spikes, especially around new content or when high-level players mass-buy for training. If you buy irits and newt packs for a week of training, you should monitor the GE and buy in stages rather than dumping your entire cash stack into one instant buy.

Step-by-step super attack potion setup

1. Buy or make irit potion (unf). You can buy them directly from the GE, or after completing the Desert Hard Diary, pay Zahur in Nardah 200 coins per potion to create unfinished potions from noted irit leaves and vials of water.
2. Buy eye of newt packs from Betty in Port Sarim or other herblore shops. Packs are more cost-effective than individual newts.
3. Set up your bank so that unfinished potions and eye of newt are adjacent in the first two slots. Use the Make-X interface to mix them quickly.
4. Wear an amulet of chemistry if you want a 5% chance at a 4-dose potion. It has no effect on XP but adds value.
5. Stay near a bank (e.g., Castle Wars or the Grand Exchange) and repeat. Bank your finished potions and withdraw 14 unfinished + 14 eye of newt each time.

This method is about as click-intensive as it gets, but it is the fastest realistic training for a main from 45 onwards.

Guthix rest: the profit play

Guthix rest is a tea that has historically been a quiet profit method for Herblore training because it uses two low-level herbs and a cup of hot water, and the finished product sells for more than the inputs. The method requires a lower Herblore level than super attack potions, so it can be started earlier, but the XP per hour is significantly slower because you are adding two herbs to each cup rather than one secondary to an unfinished potion.

Because prices can move quickly, the exact profit margin and XP per cup should be checked on the live Grand Exchange before committing a large supply purchase. The recipe and level requirement should also be verified on the wiki, as the method is not as standardized as super attack potions. That said, many mains use Guthix rest in the 40-60 range when irits are expensive or when they want to train Herblore without losing money.

If you do not care about profit and just want speed, super attack potions are almost always the better choice. But if you are on a budget or training while doing other activities, Guthix rest can be a pleasant middle ground that funds your next supplies.

How to brew Guthix rest

1. Gather the required herbs and cups of hot water. Check the wiki for the exact herbs and level requirement, as they can be easy to mix up.
2. Set up your bank with herbs and cups in quick-withdraw slots. Because you are adding two herbs per cup, the inventory fills faster, so bank more often.
3. Use the Make-X interface if available, or click manually. Expect a slower XP/hour than super attacks.
4. Keep an eye on the GE margin. Buy herbs and cups when cheap, and sell finished tea when the price is high.

This method is not the fastest, but it can keep your cash stack growing while you train. If you are a main with limited starting capital, it is a legitimate way to fund your later Herblore grind.

Cost and time comparison

Here is a direct comparison of the methods discussed, including cleaning herbs and Mastering Mixology for context. The XP numbers are intentionally qualitative because actual XP/hour depends on your Herblore level, bank speed, and current GE prices. Use the wiki's Herblore calculator for real-time numbers.

For a main account with a decent cash stack, super attack potions are usually the default from 45 to 81, then Mixology can take over if you have enough herbs. Guthix rest is a situational profit method, not a speed method. If your goal is 99 as fast as possible and money is not a concern, skip Guthix rest entirely and buy supplies for the fastest potion method you can afford.

Sourcing herbs and secondaries

Your choice of method depends heavily on how you get supplies. For mains, the Grand Exchange is the primary source, but understanding the underlying supply chains helps you buy low and avoid spikes.

• Herbs: Irit leaves come from farming, Slayer drops, and boss drops. If you are also training Farming, herb runs can supplement your supply and reduce GE dependence. Managing Miscellania with 10 workers on herbs is a passive source used by many players.
• Eye of newt: Buy packs from Betty in Port Sarim or other herblore shops. Packs are cheaper than individual newts and keep the secondary cost stable.
• Cups of hot water: For Guthix rest, you need cups of hot water. They are cheap but bulk supply can fluctuate; buy from the GE or make them if the margin is poor. Check the wiki for current gathering methods.
• Slayer drops: If you are training Slayer, many monsters drop herbs in bulk. Aberrant spectres, chaos druids, and various bosses drop mid-level herbs including irit. This can reduce your herb cost if you already have a Slayer task list.

If you want to be truly self-sufficient, combine herb runs with passive Miscellania and bank all irit leaves and eye of newt packs for a few weeks. Then train Herblore in one burst with a full bank of supplies. This avoids buying at peak prices.

Common mistakes that drain your bank

Herblore is expensive enough without making avoidable errors. Here are the mistakes I see mains make repeatedly:

• Not doing early quests: Skipping Druidic Ritual, Jungle Potion, and Recruitment Drive means grinding low-level potions for XP you could have gotten for free. Do the quests first.
• Buying supplies at instant-buy peak: If you dump a 100M offer into irits right after a content update, you are paying the panic premium. Use regular offers over a few days.
• Ignoring unfinished potions: Some players make unfinished potions themselves, which wastes time. For mains, just buy unfinished potions from the GE; the small extra cost is worth the time saved. Or use Zahur in Nardah after Desert Hard Diary to make unfinished potions for 200 coins each, which is often cheaper than buying them.
• Not using amulet of chemistry: Even if you are not going for profit, the 5% chance at a 4-dose potion adds value and can stretch your supplies. It costs a few charges per hour.
• Forgetting Mastering Mixology: At 81 Herblore, Mixology can be more XP per herb than traditional potions, and it rewards unique items. If you have a stockpile of herbs you would otherwise bulk-sell, check Mixology before committing to super attacks.

Realistic time-to-goal from 40 to 99

From level 40 to 99, you need roughly 13 million Herblore XP. If you use super attack potions at maximum efficiency, you might complete around 2,500 potions per hour, but the XP per potion determines your actual XP/hr. Assuming current rates and fast banking, many mains can reach 99 in 50-70 hours of active training. That is a long grind, and the supply cost can be hundreds of millions of GP depending on market conditions.

Guthix rest cannot match that speed. If you insist on profit, your time-to-goal will stretch considerably. A mixed approach often works best: use super attack potions from 45 to 81, then switch to Mastering Mixology if you have herbs, or continue with super attacks if you value speed over the minigame's unique rewards.

If you are aiming for a specific level, such as 81 for the last Mixology unlock or 90 for high-level potions, adjust your plan accordingly. You do not need 99 to be effective. Many players stop at 78 or 81 for the utility unlocks and then train passively through Mixology or combat potions.

When buying gold or a service is the honest shortcut

Herblore is one of the most buyable skills in OSRS because it is limited almost entirely by gold. If you have a maxed main or a real-life job, spending 60 hours clicking potions may not be the best use of your time. Buying OSRS gold to fund super attack potion supplies is not cheating; it is a legitimate player-to-player market transaction that respects your time. Many players do exactly this when they hit the high-level herblore grind.

Similarly, a Herblore boost service can handle the clicks for you while you work, sleep, or play other accounts. This is an honest shortcut if you value your time more than the in-game achievement. Just make sure to use a reputable marketplace and never share your password with untrusted sources. Always follow Jagex's rules regarding account sharing and RWT policies; this guide does not encourage breaking them.

If you decide to buy gold to fund your training, view live gold rates and compare them against the cost of supplies. Even a small gold purchase can shave hours off your grind by letting you buy unfinished potions and secondaries in bulk without waiting for GE offers to fill. For a related economic tradeoff in another skill, see our Smithing 40-99 guide on Blast Furnace adamant bars vs gold ore.

Sources

• Herblore training – OSRS Wiki
• Demonic Pacts League/Guide/Herblore – OSRS Wiki
• Ironman Guide/Herblore – OSRS Wiki