Does Varrock Armour Work on Cannonballs? A Comprehensive Guide
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The short answer is: no, Varrock armour does not affect cannonball production in Old School Runescape (OSRS). While Varrock armour provides several significant bonuses to mining, smithing, and smelting, the speed bonus it provides for smelting doesn’t apply to cannonball production. This means that wearing Varrock armour will not result in increased cannonball output or experience when making cannonballs.
Understanding Varrock Armour Bonuses
Varrock armour, obtained through the Varrock Achievement Diaries, is a popular item for players due to its beneficial effects. Let’s break down its various perks and where they apply:
Mining Benefits
Varrock armour provides a 4% chance of mining two ores at once for copper, tin, iron, and coal (Varrock armour 1). It also offers a 10% increase in mining experience. Additionally, the armour’s mining benefits now extend to mining tin, limestone, sandstone, and runite golem corpses. It provides an additional soft clay when mining with a bracelet of clay. These bonuses make it a valuable tool for those looking to level up their mining skill efficiently. Importantly, these bonuses do not work at the Motherlode Mine or on crashed stars for double stardust. You also do not need to wear the armour to get the mining benefits (except for the 1% bonus mining experience).
Smithing Benefits
The armour also enhances smithing activities. Varrock armour 1 offers a 4% chance of smelting an extra bronze, iron, or steel bar while smithing granting an additional bar, and a 4% chance of double progress per strike when smithing bronze, iron, or steel equipment. However, note that these bonuses DO NOT apply to cannonball creation.
Smelting Benefits
The Varrock armour provides a boost to smelting, but this boost is not applicable to making cannonballs. The smelting effect is designed to give a bonus when smelting ores into bars, and this doesn’t include the process of creating cannonballs. However, the Varrock Armour’s smelting boost once again works with Perfect Gold Ore. The fact that the smelting bonus is not for cannonballs means you cannot use Varrock armour to speed up the process.
Other Facts about Varrock Armour
- Varrock Armour 1 has the same stats as a steel platebody, with +5 higher relative ranged attack (-10 vs. -15) and weighs only 1 kg. It has no Defence requirement.
- Varrock Armour 3 is obtained by completing the easy, medium, and hard Varrock achievements.
- If lost, Varrock armour can be re-acquired from Vannaka (Varrock Armour 3) or relevant diary masters/Perdu.
- The armour bonuses work for tin, limestone, sandstone, and runite golem corpses.
Cannonball Production
Creating cannonballs is a smithing task that yields 25.6 Smithing experience and 4 cannonballs per steel bar. The process involves:
- Completing part of the Dwarf Cannon quest.
- Having a minimum Smithing level of 35.
- Possessing an ammo mould.
- Using a steel bar on a furnace.
The number of cannonballs you can produce per hour is dependent on the furnace you use: ranging from 2,160 to 2,400 cannonballs an hour. The Varrock armour, despite its smelting boosts for other processes, has no impact on this production rate.
Why Varrock Armour Doesn’t Work on Cannonballs
The distinction lies in how OSRS treats different smithing processes. The Varrock armour’s smelting bonus focuses on the creation of bars from raw ores, not the creation of a secondary item from those bars. Cannonball production doesn’t involve the smelting of ore; instead, it uses an already created steel bar to make the ammunition. This separation in the game mechanics is why the Varrock armour does not influence cannonball creation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can you make cannonballs in OSRS?
Yes, you can make cannonballs in OSRS once you’ve started the Dwarf Cannon quest, have a Smithing level of 35, possess an ammo mould, and use steel bars at a furnace.
2. How many cannonballs can I make per hour?
The number varies based on the furnace, with a potential range of 2,160 to 2,400 cannonballs per hour.
3. Do you get Smithing experience for making cannonballs?
Yes, you receive 25.6 Smithing experience for every 4 cannonballs made.
4. What is the purpose of cannonballs in OSRS?
Cannonballs are ammunition used with the Dwarf multicannon, a powerful ranged weapon.
5. What does Varrock Armour do?
Varrock armour provides several benefits, including an increased chance of mining multiple ores, increased smithing progress/chance of extra bars, additional soft clay when mining with a bracelet of clay, and boosts to smelting of Perfect Gold Ore. However, its bonuses do not apply to the making of cannonballs.
6. What type of ore does Varrock Armour affect?
Varrock armour has mining bonuses for copper, tin, iron, coal, tin, limestone, sandstone, and runite golem corpses.
7. Can I get multiple copies of Varrock armour?
Yes, you can get multiple copies of Varrock armour by speaking with relevant diary masters or Perdu.
8. Does Varrock Armour work at the Motherlode Mine?
No, the Varrock Armour effects do not work at the Motherlode Mine.
9. Does Varrock Armour work on crashed stars?
No, the double ore effect of Varrock armour does not work on crashed stars for double stardust.
10. Does Varrock Armour give extra mining experience?
Yes, Varrock Armour gives a 10% increase to mining experience. The bonus is received when wearing the armour, and it also has a 1% bonus when you’re not wearing it.
11. How heavy are cannonballs in OSRS?
Cannonballs weigh 0.2 kg each in OSRS.
12. Does Varrock armour work on gold?
Yes, the Varrock armour’s smelting boost now works with Perfect Gold Ore.
13. Does Varrock armour work on clay?
Yes, Varrock armour now provides an additional soft clay when mining with a bracelet of clay, rather than regular clay.
14. What are the Varrock armour levels?
There are three tiers of Varrock armour, 1, 2, and 3. Each provides an increased set of benefits with tier 3 offering the greatest effect. Varrock armour 3 is the reward given to players by Vannaka upon completion of the easy, medium and hard Varrock achievements
15. Does Varrock Armour have any combat benefits?
Varrock Armour 1 has the same stats as a steel platebody, apart from +5 higher relative ranged attack (-10 vs. -15) and a weight of only 1 kg.
Conclusion
While Varrock armour is a valuable tool for many activities in OSRS, it’s important to understand its limitations. When it comes to cannonball production, it provides no benefit. The best way to increase your cannonball production rate is to utilize the fastest furnace available and focus on efficient steel bar creation. Make sure to use all the correct techniques to maximize your overall hourly output. Focusing on the correct methods ensures you’re making the most of your time and resources when engaging with the vast world of OSRS.