High Level Alchemy

The OSRS Wiki also has an article on: osrsw:High Level AlchemyThe RuneScape Classic Wiki also has an article on: classicrsw:High level alchemy

This article has a calculator here. Calculators determine experience and costs based on real-time prices from the Grand Exchange Market Watch.

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High Level Alchemy
Release date						24 May 2001 (Update)
Members						No
Level						55
Spellbook						Normal, Daemonheim
Type						Skilling
Experience						65
Runes						51
Cooldown						3 seconds (5 ticks)
Description						Converts the targeted item into even more coins!
Animation
Advanced data
Struct ID						14770
Links						Struct14770

High Level Alchemy (high alch, or alching) is a non-combat Magic spell used to convert items into coins at the best price a player could sell them for at a speciality store. The amount of coins generated is precisely 60% of the item's value (its non-GE price). Excluding rounding errors, high alchemy produces 50% more coins than Low Level Alchemy, and 100% more coins than selling to a non specialised shop.

The cost of runes to cast high level alchemy is 881 coins but is reduced to 586 coins with a Staff of fire, Fire battlestaff, Mystic fire staff, Steam battlestaff, Mystic steam staff, Lava battlestaff, Mystic lava staff, any skeletal/necromancer versions of the above, Mindspike (fire), Mystical staff, Dragon staff, or Elemental battlestaff, as these staves supply unlimited fire runes. Alternatively, the Explorer's ring 4 and Radiant alchemist's amulet provides 15 free casts of High level alchemy per day, requiring no runes while still granting full XP. It can also be cast automatically by two machines in the Invention Guild, granting no XP: the Alchemiser, at a cost of 1,067 coins or the Alchemiser mk. II, at a cost of 784 coins.

High Level Alchemy is a popular way for mages to train their Magic level, by buying or making valuable items and nature runes, then casting the spell on the items. For example, a player might buy or make magic shieldbows to cast High Level Alchemy on them. Buying certain items may result in more coins being created than paid for the converted item. This is widely regarded as a major cause of inflation in the game.

In Daemonheim, High Level Alchemy will always yield double the shop price (twice what the smuggler will buy for).

Players can purchase an alternative animation for alchemy that replaces the current animation from Solomon's General Store for 33792 Loyalty Points.

Cost

Input	Cost
51	881
Combo runes
51	1,576
51	1,551
51	11,966
Staves
1	586
1	586
50.9	822.4
1	586
1	586
1	586

Efficient casting

High (and Low) Alchemy can be cast on noted items, saving much withdrawal time from the bank, simplifying the "click pattern", and allowing the spell to be used in almost any location. It is recommended to set up one's UI so that high alchemy can be cast without moving the mouse, and instead by clicking only. To do this, ensure that the magic spell book (or skilling-spells tab) is in the same UI window as the inventory. Next, drag the stack of items so that it is very near the High alchemy spell icon. If it is not possible to move the stack of items near enough to the spell icon, then the UI window may need to be resized.

It should be noted that High Alchemy always grants 65 experience (6.5 in Dungeoneering), regardless of the rarity or expensiveness of the item you are alchemising. For example, high-alchemising a Rune bar grants no more experience than high-alchemising a Bronze bar.

High Level Alchemy takes 5 game ticks, or 3 seconds, to cast. It can be cast up to exactly 1200 times in one hour which adds up to exactly 78,000 xp/hr, although in practice many people cast a little less, due to lag and timing inconsistency.

It is possible to use High Level Alchemy without disrupting other tasks, such as using battle spells or skill tasks like woodcutting, mining or running. If the alchemy spell is cast any time after 5 game ticks since the last alchemy cast, you can cast alchemy as low as every 6th tick without it disrupting the combat/task in any way, and continue battle as normal. If you click any time before 5 ticks since the previous alchemy cast, then it will disrupt your task. You can still cast alchemy and continue combat fluently, and have alchemy cast every 5th tick, but you will have to issue the combat command again in order to keep casting the battle spell or melee/ranged attack fluently. Auto retaliation can be effectively used to do this.

Players can also cast High Alchemy by dragging and dropping an item into their Money Pouch provided that they have the required runes. It will cast at the same speed and cooldown as if it was cast from the spellbook or action bar.

Restrictions

Certain items cannot be alchemised, such as untradeable quest items, Treasure Hunter prizes, Crystal equipment, and most Invention items. In addition, members-only items cannot be alchemised in a free-to-play world. The following areas also prohibit the use of alchemy spells:

• Soul Wars
• Pest Control
• The Great Orb Project
• Fist of Guthix
• Castle Wars
• Stealing Creation
• Fishing Trawler
• Big Chinchompa
• Barbarian Assault

Role in the economy

Since each item holds a fixed amount of coins gained from High Level Alchemy, this acts as a price floor on items, especially those that have turned relatively obsolete (e.g. earth battlestaff), which varies depending on the cost of nature runes. As the price of an item plummets below the point at which a profit can be made from alchemising it, the market demand for said item stabilises the price and prevents it from further decreases.

Essentially, players who wish to train magic through High Alchemy for experience or money tend to seek opportunities to profit. When an opportunity for a significant profit arises, players will exploit that opportunity, causing the price to rise, therefore providing a price floor. 

History

Casting alchemy spells on stackable items will only alchemise one at a time; in RuneScape Classic, the entire stack becomes alchemised.

Originally, users had to time this spell casting so that they could maximise the number of alchs/hour (similar to burying bones at double speed). However, Jagex implemented a spell-cast queue for this spell, so players can choose the cast option while the previous animation runs, so the character will automatically queue another cast. Note that the queue will only hold a single cast, and clicking the interface more than once every 3 seconds will simply cause some clicks to be discarded.

In the past, Castle Wars was a favourite location for casting this spell because the 20 minute time limit provided a reasonable amount of measurement. It was also enjoyable for the players to watch others fight. Due to player complaints about other players free-loading this way, this spell can no longer be cast inside Castle Wars. However, people still go along the walls of Castle Wars and cast alchemy spells, as you can still get somewhat of a show as you do it. Soul Wars was a very popular place to alch because there was a lack of random events.

During the week of 4 April 2008, Jagex altered the way High Level Alchemy and Low Level Alchemy function so as to render them inoperable while standing inside the Barrows crypt areas.

On 19 May 2009, Jagex updated low and high alchemy so that if a person clicks too early, the early click will not disrupt the alchemy process.

Some items, such as rares, are worth far more on the street than in the store. Prior to the 9th November 2009 update, it was inadvisable for players to carry such items in their inventory, as accidentally alchemising them would cause a major loss for the player. A warning message now appears if the player tries to cast high level alchemy on an item with a market value of 500k or more.

The items that you keep when you are killed used to be based on the amount of money the item alchemises for. You would keep the items with the highest alchemy value. There were many items which have higher alchemy values than items that are more expensive on the Grand Exchange, and you would keep the lower valued item because it has a higher alchemy value. This led to quite some controversy. Some players used this system of item-keeping to scam other players, such as luring them into the Wilderness and giving them or dropping for a player to pick up, an item which has a large alchemy value but a low G.E. value, such as a dragon battleaxe. A dragon battleaxe has an alchemy value of 120,000 coins, while the (formerly) very expensive abyssal whip has an alchemy value of 72,000 coins. If a player dies and has 4 dragon battleaxes and an abyssal whip in their inventory, even with the Protect Item prayer, they would keep the dragon battleaxes over the abyssal whip. As of 19 April 2011, this scam no longer works, and items kept on death depend on their Grand Exchange guide price instead.

Gallery

• 

  Using the explorer's ring high level alchemy.

• 

  Enhanced high alchemy animation.

• 

  Unstable high alchemy animation.

Transcript

This article has an associated transcript page. Click here for the transcript.

Update history

This information has been compiled as part of the update history project. Some updates may not be included – see here for how to help out!

• patch 7 June 2021 (Update):
  • You now receive coins after using Alchemy when borrowed power is set to High-alchemy and the Alchemist's amulet is in the Backpack.

• patch 18 March 2019 (Update):
  • Attempting to cast an alchemy spell on an unfinished smithing item will now return the correct message rather than the prior message which was inaccurate.

• patch 16 April 2018 (Update):
  • If you have your Borrowed Power set to high alchemy you can now use the explorer's ring to high alchemy again.

• ninja 7 August 2017 (Update):
  • Alchemy values for low-level wands and orbs/books have been re-balanced.

• patch 27 June 2016 (Update):
  • Alchemy spell sounds have been improved to better fit the animations and are now less jarring.

• patch 7 March 2016 (Update):
  • Players can no longer attempt to cast alchemy or superheat on NPCs.

• patch 22 February 2016 (Update):
  • Augmented equipment now gives a warning when attempting to cast alchemy on it.

• patch 25 January 2016 (Update):
  • Feedback messages when attempting to use low-level and high-level alchemy without sufficient runes are now displayed more prominently.
  • Dragging an item to the money pouch will now attempt to cast high or low alchemy on it. High alchemy is cast if you have sufficient level, first using a legendary pet's ability if available. If not, using the explorer's ring or the alchemist's amulet if available. Runes are used if neither of these are available.
  • You can no longer cast alchemy in the sawmill.
  • You can no longer cast alchemy during the big chinchompa D&D.
  • You can no longer cast alchemy in the dominion tower arenas.
  • Alchemy requires a bankpin check if you're casting it on high level items and you have the bankpin for high value drop setting on.
  • The following items can no longer have alchemy cast on them:
    • Jennica's ring
    • Items in the graveyard training area of the magic training arena
    • Progress hat (magic training arena)
    • Strange rocks and golden rocks
    • Clue scrolls
    • Castle wars tickets
    • The various "speak" amulets (amulet of ghostspeak, cramulet, camulet, etc)
    • The ring of fire, flame gloves and inferno adze
    • Gnome amulet
    • Glarial's amulet
    • Ring of Charos, Ring of Charos (a), Ring of charos (a)(i)
    • Armadyl pendant and Pendant of Lucien
    • Seal of passage
    • Lunar ring and Lunar ring (i)
    • Steel key ring
    • Crystal pendant (Regicide quest)
    • Cat training medal
    • Beacon ring
    • Clan battlefield items
    • Ornate katana
    • Trouble Brewing in minigame items
    • Circus reward items
    • Circus ticket
    • Big chinchompa reward tickets

• patch 24 August 2015 (Update):
  • Players can now consistently alchemise Quest Capes.

• ninja 3 August 2015 (Update):
  • Players can now use the alchemy spells with the loot window open.

• patch 8 June 2015 (Update):
  • It is no longer possible to cast Alchemy spells or craft protean hides while balancing on a Hefin serenity post.

• patch 5 May 2015 (Update):
  • It is now possible to use the alchemy spells inside various instanced areas.

• ninja 26 August 2014 (Update):
  • The animations for alchemy, super heat, enchant, charge orb, bones to bananas, and bones peaches have all been updated.

• patch 24 March 2014 (Update):
  • An issue with the Borrowed Power spell requiring the player to carry excess runes to cast High Level Alchemy has been corrected.

• patch 30 April 2013 (Update):
  • Players can now use Alchemy spells inside private God Wars dungeons.

• patch 4 March 2013 (Update):
  • Players will now hold staves securely in their hands while playing the high-alchemy animation.

• patch 14 January 2013 (Update):
  • Players can once again use High Alchemy with the greater runic staff.

• patch 4 December 2012 (Update):
  • Performing alchemy with a sheathed staff no longer uses the "staff" alchemy animation.

• patch 22 May 2012 (Update):
  • Borrowed Power now works correctly with High Alchemy.
    • Prior to this, it was possible to be able to cast High Alchemy on three astral runes to consume one astral rune and no charges.

• patch 1 November 2011 (Update):
  • The veteran emote "V" no longer disappears when casting High Alchemy.

• update 31 August 2011 (Update):
  • The list of spells available through the Borrowed Power spell now includes the following: High Alchemy, Bones to Peaches, Teleport to House, Vulnerability, and Magic Dart.

• patch 8 March 2011 (Update):
  • Trying to alchemise with too many coins in your inventory will no longer drop coins to the floor.

• patch 20 December 2010 (Update):
  • Casting alchemy spells while running will cause clipping issues with skillcapes less often.

• patch 2 November 2010 (Update):
  • The explorer’s ring's High- and Low-level Alchemy and Superheat Item spells now use a different interface to prevent confusion while alching.

• patch 21 September 2010 (Update):
  • Prevented alching of the explorer's ring.

• patch 13 May 2010 (Update):
  • Casting the High Alchemy spell with various items in your left hand will no longer affect the animation.

• update 24 May 2001 (Update):
  • Added to game.

Trivia

• In issue 14 of the god letters, Saradomin mentions that casting the High Level Alchemy spell is a serious crime.
• Upon reaching level 55 Magic, it would take approximately 197,967 casts of High Level Alchemy, roughly equal to 165 total hours of non-stop casting to reach level 99.
• If one chooses to alchemise gold pieces, the action will be denied, since the object is "already made from gold." However, one can still alchemise gold bars and jewellery.
• Alchemy spells formerly could not be used on Freneskae, but this was changed in a hidden update.

See also

• Calculator:Magic/High alchemy
• Dungeoneering/High alchemy table