Pay-to-play Fletching training

This article gives tips about training the Fletching skill. Fletching is a Members only skill.

Fletching in the correct environment
A one-click bank can provide a minor advantage while fletching. These bank chests are at:

At Yanille's bank in World 132, there was a player made fletching guild where people could fletch and talk. The population of the bank has since gone down because of the Unbalanced Trade Removal update on 2 January 2008 which has made it harder to trade supplies for longbows or sell longbows which used to be a popular method of training Fletching very quickly.

Fletching at one-click banks at activities is also a very good idea so if you get bored, you can have something to do right away to get away from Fletching.

Helpful quests
Some quests give Fletching xp as a one-time quest reward.


 * Big Chompy Bird Hunting—260xp


 * Animal Magnetism—1,000xp


 * Zogre Flesh Eaters—2,000xp


 * Fremennik Trials—2,813xp


 * Devious Minds—5,000xp


 * Catapult Construction—5,000xp


 * Temple of Ikov—8,000xp


 * In Pyre Need—12,500xp

Some other quests not listed give a generic xp lamp that could be used on fletching, although fletching is a fast skill so generic xp lamps are typically better used on other skills.

Levels 1–55
There isn't much to train at low level fletching. Simply cut or buy logs and make the following items:


 * Arrow shafts (levels 1-10 // 231 logs)
 * You can also use feathers to make these into headless arrows which makes more money and gives much faster fletching experience
 * Longbow (u) (levels 10-20 // 332 logs)
 * Oak shortbow (u) (levels 20-25 // 205 oak logs) (The best place to make oak shortbows is in the Tree Gnome Stronghold where you can find flax, oak trees, spinning wheels, and a bank)
 * Oak longbow (u) (levels 25-35 // 583 oak logs)
 * Willow shortbow (u) (levels 35-40 // 445 willow logs)
 * Willow longbow (u) (levels 40-50 // 1545 willow logs)
 * Maple shortbow (u) (levels 50-55 // 1306-1307 maple logs)
 * In total you need to buy or cut 563 logs, 788 oak logs, 1990 willow logs and 1292 maple logs

An excellent place to train is right outside the West entrance of Catherby. You'll find a good amount of regular trees, oak trees, and willow trees all located near a bank and near a general store. The products can be sold to a general store for small amounts of money or low-alched using your Explorers ring.

NOTE: If you have some spare Stealing Creation points, buy a morphic tool (20 points), and make it a sacred clay fletching knife for double experience per log fletched. It does not matter what level you are in Fletching.

Though this may cost a hefty coin to some, you can save the unstrung bows you make as 'junk' for junktrading, which involves using junk to balance out the trade. If you were trying to sell an item for a higher price than the trade limit allows, you can put this 'junk' up as a substitute for money, allowing your trading partner to cough up more dough.

It is a good idea to make willow short/longbows (u) because of the extremely low price of willow logs ( coins) and most players can buy 10,000 logs for 0 coins.

Commonly used methods involving bows
The following guide from 55 to 99 is the standard guide going from maple to yew to magic bows.

Experience rates stated are subject to change from person to person. Prices are subject to change as well.

Levels 55–70
The most common way to go from 55 to 70 fletching is cutting maple longbows (u). This can be done by buying 9803 Maple logs for coins each and cutting them into longbows.

Maple longbows (u) can be sold on the Grand Exchange for coins, thus making  coins per bow, however note they are usually very hard to sell, so they're commonly used as a -coin junk item, or invested for credits for use in Mobilising Armies.

Maple longbows (u) give 58.3 xp each (116.6 if using a sacred clay fletching knife); and can be cut at a rate of 1 per 1.8 seconds, or approximately 1700 per hour including banking and random events. This will earn 99k (198k) fletching experience and 0 coins.

Going from 55 to 70 fletching by fletching maple longbows (u) will take approximately 5.8 hours and use 9803 maple logs (or 2.9 hours and 4902 maple logs with sacred clay).

Stringing grants an additional 58.3 xp per bow, making a small profit/loss.

Note: Alternatively, you can sell a Maple longbow (u), to a General store. The starting price is 120 coins and the minimum price is 60 coins, so if you decide to sell them this way, you can make a profit in this range without having to wait for them to sell on the Grand Exchange.

Additionally, you can high alchemise your longbows, for a minimum loss and magic xp.

Levels 70–85/99
A common way to go from 70 to 85 fletching is fletching yew longbows, both cutting and stringing them. Each step gives 75 fletching xp, for a total of 150 per bow. One profitable way to get to 85 Fletching fast is to buy 1000 yew logs and 1000 bow strings, fletch the logs into Yew longbows (u), then string the long bows. This can get you around 400k, though it depends on Grand exchange prices changing.

The cutting step will consume a yew log ( coins) and produce a yew longbow (u) ( coins) for a loss/gain of coins per bow. The stringing step will consume a yew longbow (u) ( coins) and a bowstring ( coins) and produce a yew longbow ( coins) for a profit of coins per bow. Thus, the entire process is a profit of coins per bow.

Going from 70 to 85 fletching in this way would require 16807 yew logs and 16807 bowstrings. The total capital required to do this without buying supplies more than once is 10.572m. 10.958m worth of yew longbows will be gained back, for a total profit of 387k.

Bows can be strung at a rate of 1 per 1.2 seconds, or approximately 2200 per hour including banking and random events. Stringing 2200 and hour is very hard so anything between 1600 - 2200 is good. Thus, cutting yew longbows (u), gives about 180k fletching per hour at a cost of 115k per hour, stringing yew longbows gives about 130k fletching xp per hour at a profit of 64k per hour, and doing both for a given number of logs gives around 100k - 120k fletching xp per hour at a profit of 22k per hour. Going from 70 to 85 fletching by fletching yew longbows, both steps, will take about 17.2- 20 hours.

Note that stringing yew longbows is actually better in both xp per hour and profit per hour than cutting yew longbows. Doing both steps of the process is actually only done because of convenience or because people have not considered only doing one step of the process. Only stringing the bows, and thus using 33614 yew longbows (u) and 33614 bow strings to go from 70 to 85 fletching, is great option, although it requires more frequent banking than cutting bows.

Many players consider the best way of training fletching to make Yew Longbows with a sacred clay fletching knife until 99. Players prefer this method as it can also be used as a way to combine fletching with an enjoyable activity, so Stealing Creation is good because the rewards can help you train fletching. It is advisable to play several games of Stealing Creation, and stock up on knives for when they degrade completely. It is not recommended to use Volatile clay fletching knives, as they transform into a random tool when 10% of their charges are used.

Making a Profit
The only way to make a profit in Fletching that is faster than fletching logs, is to buy yew long bows(u) and string them yourself. The beauty of this is it is actually quicker to string a yew longbow than it is to fletch one, although you can only string 14 yew long bows an inventory.


 * An example of experience per hour for fletching is around 110,000 exp per hour on average.
 * An example of experience per hour for stringing is around 125,000 exp per hour on average.

The reason why this method would be more profitable than fletching the logs yourself is because yew long bows(u) sell for cheaper than yew logs in the Grand Exchange.


 * To buy a yew longbow(u) at the market price the price is coins.
 * To buy a bow string at the market price the price is coins.
 * To buy a yew longbow at the market price the price is coins.
 * Therefore a profit of per bow.

Training this way from level 70 to 85 generates a profit of coins, and training from 70 to 99 will generate  coins.

Levels 85–99
The most common way to go from 85 to 99 fletching is fletching magic longbows, both cutting and stringing them. Each step gives 91.5 fletching xp, for a total of 183 per bow.

The cutting step will consume a magic log ( coins) and produce a magic longbow (u) ( coins) for a loss of coins per bow. The stringing step will consume a magic longbow (u) ( coins) and a bow string ( coins) and produce a magic longbow ( coins) for a loss of coins per bow. Thus, the entire process is a loss of coins per bow.

Going from 85 to 99 fletching in this way would require 53,420 magic logs and bowstrings. The total capital required to do this without buying supplies more than once is 0. 0 worth of magic longbows will be had back, for a total loss of 0.

Cutting magic longbows (u) gives 220k fletching xp per hour at a loss of 286k per hour; stringing magic longbows gives about 150k fletching xp per hour at a profit of 7k per hour, and doing both for a given number of logs gives about 135k fletching xp per hour at a loss of 45k per hour. Going from 85 to 99 fletching by fletching magic longbows, both steps, will take about 55.7 hours - 60 hours.

Note that stringing magic longbows is actually better in both xp per hour and cost per hour than cutting magic longbows. Doing both steps of the process is maybe only done because of convenience or because people have not considered only doing one step of the process. Only stringing the bows, and thus using 106,840 magic longbows (u) and bowstrings to go from 85 to 99 fletching, is great option, although it requires more frequent banking than cutting bows.

It is possible to actually make money while fletching towards 99. You buy yew logs and fletch them into longbows(u). Then you string them and sell them for a modest profit.

Or, you can fletch magic longbows, but instead of buying bowstrings, buy flax and spin it. You will gain some crafting experience as well as make money.

Levels 55–99 (Profitable Method/Slower XP Gain Rate)
Buying maple logs from the grand exchange, cutting them into maple longbow (u)'s and then selling the bows at a general store is a profitable means of achieving 99 fletching for players who may not necessarily have the funding required to train with magic logs. Although the xp gained per hour is less than that of magic longbows, players do not need to wait for a buyer through the Grand Exchange, as they can sell them whenever they wish to a general store, which will always buy each bow for a minimum price of 64gp, meaning the player is able to purchase more supplies to continue their training straight away. This method would require the cutting of 222,028 maple logs.

The table above assumes the player sells all unstrung bows to a General Store at the absolute minimum price of 64 coins. Therefore this table underestimates the profit (or overestimates the loss) because a General Store buys unstrung bows at a price which begins at low alchemy (128 coins) and decreases to the absolute minimum (64 coins) as the player stock increases. To maximise profits, a player would have to sell each maple longbow (u) individually, waiting for the previous bow to disappear from the shop's stock before selling another. Obviously, selling one-by-one is an incredibly time-consuming method and is not recommended.

Alternative methods involving arrows or bolts
The following guide to 99 fletching is an alternative guide involving training with arrows or bolts instead of bows.

Experience rates stated are subject to change from person to person. Prices are subject to change as well.

Bolts
Regular metal bolts are made 10 at a time and do not have a make-x option. Mithril bolts are able to be made at level 54 fletching and give 5 xp per bolt, or 50 xp per set of 10 bolts. Adamant bolts are able to be made at level 61 fletching and give 7 xp per bolt, or 70 xp per set of 10 bolts. Runite bolts are expensive to make and not worth consideration here. Bolts below mithril could be used before 54 fletching but as 54 fletching is quite low they will not be discussed here.

Making mithril or adamant bolts requires adamant or mithril bolts (unf) and feathers. Both supplies can be bought on the Grand Exchange with a buy limit of 10k. Feathers can also be bought from Shantay's infinite stock at 6 coins each, which is the same as the Grand Exchange price before the shop update. It is recommended to buy from the shops with the new update.

Mithril or adamant bolts can be made 10 or 20 per 0.6 seconds by putting the unfinished bolts next to feathers in your inventory and using a method where you double click on each item. Making bolts continuously in this way is very clicking intensive and it is common to only reach 50k to 80k bolts per hour instead of the 110k+ theoretical maximum. Fletching mithril bolts continuously is thus 250k to 400k xp per hour, and fletching adamant bolts continuously is 350k to 560k xp per hour.

The cost of making either type of bolt is very variable. It is possible to get the xp for free, especially by waiting for good times to buy the unfinished bolts and for good times to sell the finished bolts, but it is also common for it to cost 1–3 coins per fletching experience for either type of bolt.

Instead of making mithril or adamant bolts continuously, they also can be made while training another skill. For example, it is possible to make over 20k bolts per hour (over 140k fletching xp with adamant bolts) while running at the Dorgesh-Kaan agility course, theoretically without losing any time at all (although in practice more mistakes will cause your lap time to increase by 2–10 seconds).

Some types of bolts are regular metal bolts that have gem tips attached to them. The type of gem bolt that is most useful for training fletching is diamond bolts. They are made by attaching diamond bolt tips to adamant bolts. 7 xp is gained per bolt made, or 70 xp per set. The sets are made with a make-10 option at a rate of 1 set per 0.6 seconds for 300-340k xp per hour. The profit or cost is extremely variable. Sometimes making diamond bolts loses money, sometimes it breaks even, and sometimes it can make hundreds of thousands of coins per hour.

One advantage of making bolts is that players can cut trees whilst making bolts

Another way to level would be to make diamond bolts by adding a diamond bolt tip to an adamant bolt. This yields substantial profit and a decent amount of experience. Note that for this method to work you must start off with a decent amount of money (2m+). Bear in mind there is a 5000 bolt limit on the GE everyday.

Dragon bolts can also be used to train fletching.

Arrows
Broad arrows can be made at 52 fletching after the ability to make them is bought using Slayer Points. They give 15 xp per arrow and are made in sets of 15 using a make-10 (sets) option, which makes 1 set every 1.2 seconds. They are made from broad arrowtips, bought from Slayer Masters for 50 coins each, and headless arrows, bought on the Grand Exchange for about 60 coins each. Broad arrows are untradeable, so the loss is 90 coins per arrow, or 6 coins per xp. Approximately 2500 sets of arrows can be made per hour for 563k fletching xp per hour at a loss of 2.25m per hour. Broad arrows are not very commonly made because of their great cost. Also, not many people have the ability to make them, and still others don't even know how fast xp they are. However, players with large amounts of money have been known to make broad arrows, sometimes even to 200m fletching xp. Fletching xp can essentially be "banked" by buying headless arrows on the Grand Exchange, which have a buy limit of 10k per 4 hours. This costs about 1/6 of the total cost of making the arrows. Once many headless arrows have been accumulated, the xp can be realised, and the remaining 5/6 of the loss taken, by buying the arrowtips.

Mithril arrows can be made at level 45 fletching. Making mithril arrows gives exactly 1/2 the xp of making broad arrows (mithril arrows give 7.5 xp per arrow and are made at the same speed as broad arrows). Their cost is variable but typically is 1.5-2 coins per xp.

Adamant arrows can be made at level 60 fletching. Making adamant arrows gives exactly 2/3 the xp of making broad arrows (adamant arrows give 10 xp per arrow and are made at the same speed as broad arrows). Their cost is variable but typically they result in a 10-15gp profit per arrow. However, players wishing to make adamant arrows should realise that, due to their potential to have a profit and give anywhere from 250k-400k experience per hour (depending on the speed of the player), Adamant arrowtips are in very high demand on the Grand Exchange. In light of this it may sometimes be quicker to pursue a different method of training, at least until you can get enough arrowtips.

Rune arrows cost far too much to make to be reasonable to fletch.

Mithril arrows or adamant arrows are thus alternative ways to train fletching.

Prices of arrowtips may vary greatly, and therefore may not be as cost effective if fletching supplies are bought on the Grand Exchange.

Darts
Darts are not very useful to train fletching with and are seldom used. Interestingly, making Dragon darts is the fastest fletching xp in the game, but is not a realistic method to use because of the magnitude of supplies and product involved relative to their rarity. If, and when, you decide to train using Dragon darts, you should have at least one million coins before considering this. Making 1 set (10) Dragon darts will give 250 exp, at a loss of 600 coins per set. To make Dragon darts, you need one feather for each Dragon dart tip. Using a feather with a tip will have a menu, in which you can make-1, make-5, or make-10. Many players complain that this requires more time, but Jagex claims it helps relieve tired fingers. The maximum amount of Dragon darts available for purchase every 4 hours is 10,000. Making 10,000 Dragon darts will give you 250k exp.