OSRS 99 Woodcutting: Sulliusceps vs 1.5-Tick Teaks 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.

Old School RuneScape's Woodcutting skill has two very different roads to level 99. One is a semi-attentive mushroom run through the Tar Swamp on Fossil Island, with fossil drops and a steady trickle of profit. The other is an intense, tick-perfect teak method that demands constant clicking but rewards you with some of the fastest XP in the game. Both can take you to the same cape, but they suit completely different players.

This guide breaks down sulliuscep mushrooms and 1.5-tick teaks side by side. You'll learn exact requirements, supplies, XP rates, attention demands, and the realistic time-to-goal for each. And when the grind stops being fun, we'll talk about the honest way to shortcut the process with gold or a service.

Two Roads to 99: Sulliuscep Mushrooms vs 1.5-Tick Teaks

Woodcutting is often seen as a relaxed gathering skill, but the gap between the top methods is enormous. Sulliuscep mushrooms in the Tar Swamp offer the best non-tick-manipulation XP in the game, around 100,000–110,000 XP per hour at level 99. They require you to move between six fixed mushroom locations, manage a bit of damage, and pay moderate attention, but you can still watch a show on the side.

1.5-tick teaks are a completely different beast. By using a clean herb and swamp tar between every chop attempt, you can skip the normal four-tick delay and roll for logs at roughly 1.5 ticks per cycle. This method is used at the Fossil Island hardwood patches and is one of the fastest Woodcutting training methods in the game, but it demands near-constant clicking, precise timing, and real stamina. A single missed tick can send your XP rate plummeting.

Sulliuscep Requirements and Setup

Before you step into the Tar Swamp, make sure you have everything needed to maximise XP and minimise interruptions.

Bone Voyage unlocks Fossil Island, where the Tar Swamp is located. The sulliusceps themselves require only 65 Woodcutting and grant 127 XP per yield. Felling axes add 10% more XP when used with Forester's rations, and the crystal felling axe is the best option if you have completed Song of the Elves. The lumberjack outfit provides a small XP boost and can be stored in the Forestry kit to save space.

What supplies to bring for a run

The Tar Swamp is hostile. Tar monsters hit up to 9, and spine mushrooms can hit 10 plus inflict poison. You'll want at least some food and antipoison if your HP is low. The wiki strongly recommends a minimum of 11 Hitpoints simply to survive, but most players find 65+ far more comfortable. Hoop snakes can be used to stun tar monsters and completely avoid their damage, which is a huge quality-of-life upgrade. Bring a few hoop snakes and a quick teleport out of the swamp for emergencies.

1.5-Tick Teak Requirements and Setup

This method is not for the faint of heart. You'll need to unlock Fossil Island hardwood patches, plant teak trees, and maintain a precise rhythm of herbs and swamp tar.

The Fossil Island hardwood patches are the classic 1.5-tick location. You can plant three teak trees there and cycle between them. Prifddinas and Ape Atoll are also notable for 2-tick teak methods using nearby rabbits or birds, but those are different rhythms. The 1.5-tick method focuses on using a clean herb on swamp tar every tick while chopping, effectively reducing the time between log attempts.

Bring plenty of clean herbs and swamp tar, as you will go through them quickly. The exact herb used depends on your Herblore level and what makes tar; most players use a cheap low-level herb to keep costs down. Since you will likely be dropping the teak logs to save time, expect no profit from this method.

Sulliuscep Rotation, Damage, and XP Rates

There are six sulliusceps in the Tar Swamp, but only one is choppable at any given time for each player. The active mushroom is unique to each player, so world-hopping won't change it. Once you chop one down, the next mushroom spawns in a fixed order that you can learn to minimise running time.

To train efficiently at sulliusceps:

1. Use a Magic Mushtree or rubber cap mushroom to reach the first sulliuscep quickly (the rubber cap can cause up to 50 damage if you haven't filled the mud pit, so Magic Mushtree is safer).
2. Follow the rotation from mushroom to mushroom. Each sulliuscep depletes with a 1/16 chance per successful chop.
3. Stun tar monsters with hoop snakes to avoid their max hit of 9.
4. Avoid spine mushrooms if possible; they max hit 10 and poison.
5. Chop until the mushroom falls, then move to the next active spot.

XP rates scale with your Woodcutting level. At level 65, expect around 80,000 XP per hour. That rises to about 97,000 XP per hour at level 90 and 100,000–110,000 XP per hour at level 99. The felling axe effect does apply to sulliusceps if you have the appropriate forester's rations to activate it. Cutting without collecting supplies will destroy fossils, so you may want to keep them for later.

1.5-Tick Teak Method: High-APM Cycle

The 1.5-tick teak method is a tick manipulation technique that shortens the time between log rolls. Normally a teak tree rolls for a log every 4 game ticks. By performing a 1-tick action (cleaning a herb or making swamp tar) at the right moment, you can restart the chopping cycle faster, achieving a roll roughly every 1.5 ticks.

Here's a simplified version of the cycle:

1. Click the teak tree to begin chopping.
2. As soon as the chop animation starts, click a clean herb and use it on swamp tar (or the reverse, depending on your setup).
3. Immediately click the teak tree again.
4. Repeat every 1.5 ticks, never letting the rhythm break.

This demands constant, precise clicking with almost no downtime. One missed tick can mean you lose the accelerated cycle and fall back to normal 4-tick chopping, slashing your XP rate. Traditional locations for 1.5t teaks are the three Fossil Island hardwood patches, but 2-tick methods in Prifddinas (using rabbits) and Ape Atoll (using birds) are popular alternatives with slightly different timings. Whichever you choose, expect a steep learning curve.

XP Rates, Attention, and Time-to-99 Comparison

To make an informed choice, compare the two methods side by side. The table below uses the wiki's published XP rates for sulliusceps and notes where you should verify exact numbers for tick manipulation.

The sulliuscep time estimate is based on cutting 97,778 mushrooms from level 65 to 99 while wearing the lumberjack outfit (or its stored version). Actual time depends on your attention, how often you stop to bank, and how efficiently you follow the rotation. The 1.5-tick teak method can be significantly faster, but for many players the real-world attention cost makes it slower in practice.

Loot and Supplies: Mushroom Caps, Fossils, and Teak Logs

Sulliusceps are not just fast XP; they also produce a steady stream of useful items. Each successful chop rolls the fossil pre-roll table first, which can grant numulite and unidentified fossils. If no fossil item is rolled, the main mushroom table is hit: 90% mushroom, 9% mort myre fungus, 1% sulliuscep cap. The sulliuscep cap is the big ticket, used in mushroom pies.

From level 65 to 99, the average player can expect around 978 sulliuscep caps, 264,000 numulite, and a large pile of unidentified fossils (small, medium, large, and rare). According to the wiki's calculation, the caps and numulite alone are worth about 21,170,262 coins at current GE prices, though that figure fluctuates. The fossils themselves are even more valuable for an Ironman or anyone chasing Kudos: turning them into the Varrock Museum exhibits rewards 120,000 total XP in lamps, and the leftover fossils can be calcified at the mycelium pool for a massive 2,031,750 Prayer XP.

In contrast, 1.5-tick teaks typically yield no meaningful profit. Most players drop the teak logs to maintain the rhythm, and the herbs and swamp tar are an ongoing cost. You may occasionally receive a bird nest or a beaver pet, but these are rare. The real payment is the XP rate itself.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Both methods have pitfalls that can quietly ruin your XP rates or send you back to Lumbridge.

• Forgetting Hoop Snakes at Sulliusceps: Without them, tar monsters will constantly interrupt you. Always bring a few and use them on every tar monster you pass.
• Low Hitpoints in the Tar Swamp: Dying to spine mushrooms or tar monsters wastes minutes and supplies. Train your HP first or bring high-healing food.
• Losing the Sulliuscep Rotation: If you don't learn the fixed sequence, you'll run around aimlessly. Study the rotation map before you start.
• Not Using Felling Axe Rations: The 10% XP boost from felling axes only works with Forester's rations. If you run out, you're losing a huge chunk of XP over the long grind.
• Sloppy 1.5-Tick Timing: Missing a tick or clicking too early/late drops you back to normal 4-tick chopping. Practice deliberately and avoid fatigue.
• Not Replanting Teak Trees: If you forget to replant after a tree falls, you'll be standing there with nothing to chop. Keep seeds in your inventory.
• Ignoring Fossil Banking: Sulliusceps produce many fossils. If you don't bank them or disable them at Peter, you miss out on free Prayer XP or slightly better mushroom drops.

Time vs Money: Honest Shortcuts for Leveling

The road to 99 Woodcutting is long. Sulliusceps will take you around 125–135 hours from level 65, assuming you keep up a decent pace and bank occasionally. 1.5-tick teaks can shave many hours off that, but only if you can sustain near-perfect clicking for sessions of an hour or more without burning out. For many players, the real cost is not GP but attention and wrist health.

This is where buying gold or a levelling service becomes an honest option. If you value your free time at more than what you'd earn per hour in-game, spending a little GP on supplies, membership, or even a trusted service to handle the grind can be a rational decision. The Woodcutting training guide itself notes that the skill's profit is low compared to other methods—so saving Woodcutting time to do more profitable activities can be efficient. Just make sure any service you use respects Jagex's rules and you trade through safe, verified channels.

Practical Next Steps

If you've read this far, you're ready to choose your method and start chopping. Here's a simple action plan:

1. Pick your pain: Sulliusceps for a more relaxed, profitable grind; 1.5-tick teaks for maximum XP if you can handle high APM.
2. Gather requirements: Complete Bone Voyage, get a good felling axe and rations, and either prepare hoop snakes or teak seeds and herbs.
3. Budget your time and GP: Set a daily XP goal. If you need extra gold for supplies or want to skip the grind entirely, check the marketplace before you commit.

Both methods will earn you the same Woodcutting cape, but the journey is very different. Choose the one that fits your playstyle, not just the theoretical XP rate. And if you decide to trade some GP for your time, make sure you do it safely.

Sources

• Pay-to-play Woodcutting training
• Sulliuscep
• Teak tree