Unlocking the Power of Varrock Armour: A Comprehensive Guide to its Bonuses
Varrock armour, a staple for many Old School RuneScape (OSRS) players, offers a range of bonuses related to mining and smithing. These bonuses scale with the tier of the armour, which is obtained by completing various levels of the Varrock Achievement Diaries. The primary benefit of wearing Varrock armour is the chance to obtain extra resources while engaging in these two skills. This can significantly increase the speed and efficiency of gathering materials and crafting items. The exact bonus and the types of resources affected vary with each tier, so understanding these differences is crucial. In essence, wearing Varrock armour is all about increasing your yield and optimizing your training, particularly for low- to mid-level players.
The Core Mining and Smithing Bonuses
The core bonus provided by Varrock armour centers around the chance of receiving extra resources. This effect is most notable in the following two areas:
- Mining: There is a chance, while mining, to receive two ores instead of one at the same time.
- Smithing: There is also a chance of smelting two bars at once when using a furnace, gaining the benefit of two bars with the input of just one.
The chance percentage and the type of ores/bars affected increase with the diary tier, making higher tiers more beneficial. This core concept remains consistent across all variants of the armour, ensuring that the Varrock armour can be a crucial piece of equipment for both new and seasoned players.
Varrock Armour: The Different Tiers
The Varrock armour is not a single item but a progression of increasingly powerful gear. The tiered system, achieved through Varrock achievement diary completion, dictates the bonus granted. Here’s a breakdown of each tier:
Varrock Armour 1
- Achieved by completing the Easy Varrock Achievements.
- Provides a 4% chance of mining two ores at once for copper, tin, iron, or coal.
- Provides a 4% chance of smelting an extra bar for bronze, iron, or steel.
- Can be claimed from Rat Burgiss.
- Member’s Only Item.
Varrock Armour 2
- Achieved by completing the Easy and Medium Varrock Achievements.
- Provides a 10% chance of mining two ores at once up to lovakite (with some exceptions), granting experience for both ores mined.
- Provides a 10% chance of smelting two bars at once up to mithril when using the Edgeville furnace.
- Allows you to change your Varrock Teleport location to just outside the Grand Exchange.
- Can be claimed from Reldo who upgrades the armour when brought to him from Varrock Armour 1.
Varrock Armour 3
- Achieved by completing the Easy, Medium and Hard Varrock Achievements.
- Provides bonuses to mining and smithing.
- Can be re-acquired from Vannaka.
- Stats are identical to a mithril platebody.
Varrock Armour 4
- Achieved by completing all Varrock Achievements, including Elite.
- Provides enhanced mining and smithing bonuses (exact percentages not specified).
- Is given out by Vannaka.
- The double ore effect can trigger when mining amethyst.
- Is hybrid body armour
Beyond the Basic Bonuses: Important Considerations
Besides the core mechanics, the Varrock armour interacts with the game in several unique ways. Here are some important considerations:
- Experience Gain: When the double ore or bar bonus triggers, you gain experience for both resources. This makes training both mining and smithing with the armour significantly faster.
- Free and Easily Re-Obtainable: The armour has no defense requirement and can be re-obtained for free, making it perfect for new accounts and pure builds.
- Exceptions to the Mining Bonus: The Varrock armour’s double ore effect does not work on certain items such as crashed stars (stardust), dense runestone, or at the Motherlode Mine.
- Stacking Effects: The Varrock armour’s mining bonus stacks with other effects, such as the Star Sprite bonus, allowing for the possibility of gaining three ores at once.
- Sandstone Bonus: When mining sandstone, the bonus effect activates, the second block of sandstone will be the same size as the first block.
- Gold Ore and Smelting: The Varrock Armour’s smelting boost works with Perfect Gold Ore.
- Guardian of the Rift: The double mining effect applies when mining for guardian fragments and essence at the Guardians of the Rift minigame.
Understanding these interactions can help you maximize the benefits of wearing Varrock armour in different situations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Varrock armour that players often have:
1. Does Varrock armour give double XP?
Yes, when you mine double ore or smelt double bars with Varrock armour, you get experience for both resources. This effectively boosts your XP gain in mining and smithing.
2. Is Varrock armour good for 1 Defence Pures?
Absolutely. The armour has no defence requirement, making it a highly desirable option for 1 Defence Pures, especially when engaging in melee combat or skilling activities such as mining.
3. Does Varrock armour work at Motherlode Mine?
No, the Varrock armour’s double ore effect does not work at the Motherlode Mine. The benefits are primarily designed for traditional mining areas.
4. Can you get multiple copies of Varrock armour?
Yes, it is now possible to get multiple copies of achievement diary equipment by talking to the relevant diary masters (Rat Burgiss, Reldo and Vannaka).
5. How does Varrock armour interact with stardust?
The Varrock armour’s double ore effect does not work on crashed stars to get double stardust. However the mining ability granted by a Star Sprite as a reward stacks with the Varrock armour, making it possible to mine three ores from a single rock if both effects occur.
6. Does Varrock armour work on dense runestone?
No, the benefits provided by Varrock armour do not apply when mining dense runestone.
7. How do you obtain Varrock armour 2?
Varrock armour 2 is obtained by completing the easy and medium Varrock achievements. Reldo upgrades your Varrock Armour 1 when brought to him.
8. Has there ever been double XP in OSRS?
Yes, OSRS has had double XP events, typically running every 6 months. These have been less common recently.
9. What is the Varrock armour Tier 3?
Varrock armour 3 is a reward from completing the hard Varrock diary. Its stats are identical to those of a mithril platebody and the armour is received from Toby.
10. Is Varrock armour a members-only item?
Yes, Varrock armour 1 is a member’s only reward. All subsequent tiers (2, 3 and 4) are members-only too.
11. Does Varrock armour count as prospector?
Varrock armor only gives a chance for double ore, up to “X, depending on diary level 1-4”. Only Varrock Armour 4 provides benefits comparable to the prospector jacket and the prospector top will always yield more xp. However, for ore quantity the Varrock armour offers greater hourly gains.
12. Does Varrock armour work at Guardians of the Rift?
Yes, the doubling effect of the Varrock armour applies when mining for guardian fragments and essence at Guardians of the Rift.
13. What is stardust used for in OSRS?
Stardust is used to charge the celestial ring and celestial signet, and can be traded for resources like soft clay.
14. Does Varrock armour 4 work on amethyst?
Yes, the Varrock armour 4 double ore effect can trigger when mining amethyst.
15. What gear should I wear while mining in OSRS?
Besides the Varrock armour, other equipment includes: Mining cape (for 5% extra ore chance up to adamantite), mining gloves (chance that the rock will not deplete), gem and coal bags (for convenience), and the amulet of glory (for maximizing gem gathering).
Conclusion
The Varrock armour is a powerful tool for optimizing resource gathering and training in OSRS, particularly for those focused on mining and smithing. Its tiered progression system ensures that players have a growing benefit as they complete various levels of the Varrock Achievement Diaries. Understanding how each tier affects the chance of receiving extra resources and how the armour interacts with other game mechanics is essential to unlocking its full potential. By using this guide and addressing the FAQs, you’re well-equipped to take full advantage of the bonuses that the Varrock armour offers. Happy skilling!