Introduction
Woodcutting is a skill that involves players cutting down different types of trees spread throughout Runescape. For each tree, a woodcutting level is required. The higher level needed to cut a tree, the better experience the player will get. When a player cuts a tree, in their inventory they will notice some logs. they can then light the logs with a tinderbox to raise firemaking, fletch them using the member's skill fletching, or can sell them.
Free players can only cut regular trees, oak trees, willow trees, and yew trees. However, even though there are no maple trees in the free world, members can bring maple logs to free worlds and both free players as well as members can trade them and burn them.
Woodcutting is a very popular skill, as selling the logs obtained by cutting the higher level trees can give players a great amount of money. Since members need logs to fletch, selling logs to members is a very popular thing to do.
How to Cut Trees
In order to cut a tree, players must have an axe. Axes are also known as hatchets or woodcutting axes. Axes are not to be confused with a battle axe, a weapon that players can use to fight.
Axes can be bought from Bob's Axes (located in Lumbridge) or smithed by players using the smithing skill. However, Bob only sells bronze, iron, and steel axes. Black axes cannot be smithed and can only be found in members' servers.
To cut a tree, players need a certain level. For example, players need a woodcutting level of 75 to cut a magic tree. A certain woodcutting level is also required to use a axe. For example, a woodcutting level of 41 is needed to use a rune axe. Also, if a player wants to wield an axe, then an attack level is required. For example, an attack level of 40 is required to wield a rune axe. Wielding the axe is recommended as this gives an extra space in the player's inventory.
To cut a tree, players have to click on it. When they've clicked on the tree, their character will chop it down. The player's woodcutting level affects how fast they will get logs. If a player has a low woodcutting level, then they will get logs at a slow rate. But if a player has a high woodcutting level, they will get logs at a fast rate. When the player is done cutting, they can then light the logs on fire with a tinderbox to obtain some firemaking experience, fletch them using the member's skill fletching to make bows, or sell them to other players.
Woodcutting Table
| Tree | Level Needed to Cut | Exp Recieved | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal Trees | 1 | 25 | Normal trees include dead trees and evergreen trees, as they give the same amount of experience. These trees are the most common in RuneScape, as they can be found almost everywhere. |
| Achey Trees | 1 | 25 | These are used for the members quest Big Chompy Bird Hunting. They are used to make Ogre bows. |
| Oak Trees | 15 | 37.5 | |
| Willow Trees | 30 | 67.5 | |
| Teak Trees | 35 | 85 | These can be found in Tai Bwo Wannai, a village on members' server. |
| Maple Trees | 45 | 100 | Maple trees can only be found in members' servers. However, the logs can be traded in and burned in free worlds by free players and members. |
| Hollow Trees | 45 | 100 | These are found west of Canifis, a member's village. |
| Mahogany Trees | 50 | 125 | These can be found in Tai Bwo Wannai, a village on members' server. |
| Yew Trees | 60 | 175 | These trees give the best experience for free players. |
| Magic Trees | 75 | 250 | These trees are member's only. Cutting these trees take time as they give logs at a very slow rate. |
Axe Table
| Hatchet | Woodcutting Level Needed to Use | Attack Level Needed to Wield | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze Axe | 1 | 1 | New players receive this axe when they start out. Bronze axes can can be bought from Bob's Axes in Lumbridge. They can also be smithed. |
| Iron Axe | 1 | 1 | Iron axes can be bought from Bob's Axes in Lumbridge. They can also be smithed. Iron axes are better than bronze axes. |
| Steel Axe | 6 | 5 | Steel axes can be bought from Bob's Axes in Lumbridge. They can also be smithed. Steel axes are better than iron axes. |
| Black Axe | 6 | 10 | Black axes cannot be smithed, but are not rare and can be bought from players. Black axes respawn in Ardougne Castle on members servers, though a thieving level of 62 is required to obtain one. |
| Mithril Axe | 21 | 20 | Mithril axes can be bought from players or smithed. Mithril axes are better than black axes. |
| Adamant Axe | 31 | 30 | Adamant axes can be from players or smithed. Adamant axes are better than mithril axes. |
| Rune Axe | 41 | 40 | Rune axes can be from players or smithed. Rune axes are better than adamant axes. |
| Dragon Axe | 41 | 60 | Dragon axes can be bought from players or obtained by killing Daggonoth Kings, level 302 monsters. These axes are members only. Their street value is 2,500,000 to 3,000,000 gp. The dragon axe is no better than the rune axe as it chops at exactly the me speed, which has been confirmed by JAGeX. |
Random Events
Random events are events that happen at random times. They were introduced to stop autoers, or people who use a program to do their work. Some random events include NPCs wanting players to do a task for them and rewarding them or a monster that will attack the player. In woodcutting, there quite a few of random events.
While cutting trees, a Tree Spirit may appear and will begin attacking a player. The combat level of the spirit depends on your level, but it will always be higher then the player's combat level. The Tree Spirit's combat level varies from level 14 to 170. The player can either kill it or run away from it. If a player kills a Tree Spirit, it can drop some axes, seeds for members, bananas, runes or nothing.
While cutting trees, the player's axe might split, causing the axe head to fly off. The head will land somewhere nearby, usually 3 to 10 squares away. When this happens, the player has to find the axe head quickly before someone else sees it and grabs it. When the player has found the axe head, they can use it with their handle to put the axe back together.
A tree can also turn into an ent. Players can notice this if the tree they are cutting starts shaking and has an angry face somewhere on it's trunk. As soon the tree starts shaking, players must walk away and wait for the tree to transform back into it's original state. If the player keeps cutting the tree, the ent will break the axe. To fix it, players will have to take the axe back to Bob, the owner of Bob's Axes, located in Lumbridge, to get it fixed for a price. Listed below are prices for fixing axes.
- Bronze: Free
- Iron: Free
- Steel: Free
- Black: 10 gp
- Mithril: 18 gp
- Adamant: 43 gp
- Rune: 427 gp
- Dragon: 1800 gp
If the player is a member, a nest may fall out of the tree they are cutting. They can either pick up the nest and search it or just leave it on the ground, though it is recommended that the player search it. When the player searches it, they will be given a random item, such as a gem, jewellery, some gp, or even a tree seed that can be used for farming. If the player's herblore level is 81, they can use the nest with a pestle and mortar to crush it and make a Saradomin Brew. If their herblore level is not 81, then the player can either put the nest in their bank or drop it.
Making Money
Woodcutting may seem like a very boring skill, but it is also a very profitable skill. Selling logs to players is a great way to make excellent money.
If players wish to sell their logs instead of burning them, it is recommended that they sell willow logs and up. Normal logs and oak logs are not bought often and are not worth much money.
Selling logs to a general store is not recommended, as general stores give you small prices. Players should sell their logs to other players, expecially members. Because of fletching, members need logs to fletch bows.
Logs have a street price, which is what price player buy or sell the logs for. These street prices are:
- Willow logs: 30 gp each.
- Maple logs: 100 to 200 gp each.
- Yew logs: 250 to 300 gp each.
- Magic logs: 800 to 1000 gp each.
It is important to remember that magic logs are members only. It is also important to note that prices change over time.
The best logs to sell are yews logs as there is a large demand for these logs and they can be sold for an excellent profit. However, it is recommended that players cut yews at level 76 woodcutting, because at this level players obtain yews faster. Magic logs are not recommended to sell as they take to long to cut. Willow logs are also good logs to sell.
The best place to sell or buy logs is in or around Draynor Village's bank. Falador's banks and Varrock's banks as well as the centre are also good places for buying or selling logs.
Free to Play Training
Here are some ways to raise a player's woodcutting level if they are a free player.
- Level 1 to 15 - Cut normal trees. There is a great forest between Lumbridge and Draynor where there are many normal trees. This is an excellent spot to get to level 15.
- Level 15 to 30 - Move on to oak trees. A good spot is east of Draynor Village's bank.
- Level 30 to 76 - Cut willow trees. While it is a long time until players start cutting yews, it is recommended they stay with willows as the logs are given at a quick rate. A good spot is beside Draynor Village's bank, as there are 5 willow trees there, though it is often crowded.
- Level 60 to 99 - Cut yew trees. However, this will be slow and players might become bored very quickly. Cutting willow trees at this level is recommended as players get better experience from them.
- Level 76 to 99 - Cut yew trees. However, cutting willow trees gives players slightly better experience, so it's up to the player what they want to cut. A good spot is behind Varrock castle, where there are 3 yew trees.
Pay to Play Training
Here are some ways to raise your woodcutting level if you're a member.
- Level 1-15 - Cut normal trees. There is a good forest between Lumbridge and Draynor where there are many normal trees, there is also a forest south of Varrock. This is a good spot to get your woodcutting level to 15.
- Level 15-30 - Move on to oaks. A good spot is east of Draynor Village's bank.
- Level 30-60 - Cut willows. A good spot is beside Draynor Village's bank, as there are 5 willow trees there or northwest of the Seer Village bank where there are 6 trees.
- Level 60-75 - Cut maples. There are 4 just north of Seer Village's bank and even more along the road to Relekka.
- Level 75-99 - Cut yews, a good place is south of the flax fields at Seer's, use the bank in Catherby. However, cutting willows give faster experience than cutting yews, so it's up to you what you want to cut.
- Level 85-99 - Cut magics, a good place is northwest of the Legend's Guild at the Sorcerer's Tower. There are also a few of them by the Mage Training Arena and in the elven lands by Lletya. However, since it takes a long time to get logs from these trees, it is recommended that you cut yews until level 99.
If you want money, then cut yew trees. If you want exp, then cut willow trees.
Canoes
On the Lum River, members can also cut down canoe trees to carve canoes, using the woodcutting skill. The different canoes range in neseccary level from 12 (a log) to 57 (a waka canoe). The canoes are: Log, Dugout, Stable Dugout, and Waka