Snakeskin OSRS: Everything You Need To Know About This Versatile Material
Old School Runescape (OSRS) is a world brimming with diverse resources, and among the most intriguing and useful for adventurers is snakeskin. Far from being just a cosmetic item, snakeskin is a valuable crafting material that plays a significant role, especially for players looking to delve into ranged combat and efficient skilling. This comprehensive guide aims to shed light on everything you need to know about snakeskin in OSRS, from how to acquire it to its various applications and the benefits it brings to your gameplay experience. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a new player just starting your journey, understanding snakeskin can give you a distinct advantage. Snakeskin in OSRS isn't just a fancy name; it's a tangible, tanned skin derived directly from snakes found within the game world. It stands as a testament to the game's intricate crafting system, allowing players to transform raw materials into useful gear. This versatile crafting material is particularly sought after for its utility in creating snakeskin armour, a popular choice for lower to mid-level ranged training due to its accessibility and reasonable stat bonuses. Beyond armour, snakeskin also finds its way into other unique crafting projects, making it a staple in many players' inventories. 
Acquiring Snakeskin: From Hide to High-End Gear
Before you can craft impressive gear, you first need to get your hands on some snakeskin. The process begins with obtaining snake hides, the raw form of this valuable resource.Hunting for Hides
The primary method for acquiring snake hides is by hunting and defeating various types of snakes found across Gielinor. One of the most common and accessible sources is the bush snakes located on Karamja. These creatures are relatively easy to defeat for players with even modest combat stats, making them an excellent starting point for collecting hides. While bush snakes are a consistent source, snake hides are also dropped by other snake variants throughout the game. Interestingly, snake hides can also be obtained through less conventional means. During certain Temple Trekking events, players might have the opportunity to skin snakes, although this particular method can yield a different type of snake hide, which might have unique properties or uses. For the most part, however, focusing on combat drops from standard snakes will be your go-to strategy.Tanning Your Way to Snakeskin
Once you've amassed a collection of snake hides, the next crucial step is to transform them into usable snakeskin. This process, known as tanning, requires the assistance of a tanner NPC. You'll need a specific Crafting level to perform this conversion, with a minimum requirement of Crafting level 45 or higher to turn hides into snakeskin. Tanners are conveniently located in several key areas across OSRS, making them accessible to players regardless of their current quest progression or geographical location. You can find tanners in:- Al Kharid
- The Ranging Guild
- Varrock
- Taverley
- Prifddinas
- Canifis
- The Crafting Guild
Crafting with Snakeskin: Armour and Beyond
With your inventory full of tanned snakeskin, the real fun begins: crafting! Snakeskin is primarily known for its role in creating snakeskin armour, a popular set of ranged gear, but it also has other intriguing applications.Snakeskin Armour: Your Ranged Companion
Snakeskin armour is a player-made set of ranged armour that provides a good balance of defensive bonuses and affordability. All pieces of the snakeskin armour set require players to have a Ranged level of 30 and a Defence level of 30 to wear, making it an excellent choice for players transitioning into more serious ranged combat. The entire set can be crafted using the Crafting skill, with a full set requiring a Crafting level of 53 to make all components. Let's break down the individual pieces of snakeskin armour and their crafting requirements:Snakeskin Bandana
- **Slot:** Headwear
- **Wear Requirements:** 30 Ranged, 30 Defence
- **Benefits:** Provides the best balance between cost and effectiveness for a member seeking a ranged bonus from headwear. It's significantly cheaper than more powerful ranging helms and doesn't require any quests, making it an accessible option for new and experienced members alike.
Snakeskin Body
- **Slot:** Torso
- **Wear Requirements:** 30 Ranged, 30 Defence
- **Crafting:** Requires Crafting level 53, 15 snakeskins, and grants 55 Crafting experience.
- **Other Uses:** One snakeskin body is required in the "In Memory of the Myreque" miniquest to build Andiess Juip's statue.
Snakeskin Vambraces
- **Slot:** Hands
- **Wear Requirements:** 30 Ranged, 30 Defence
- **Crafting:** Requires Crafting level 47 or higher, a needle, thread, and 8 snakeskins. Grants 35 Crafting experience (approximately 4.375 XP per snakeskin).
- **Alch Value:** High alchs for 260 coins.
Snakeskin Chaps
- **Slot:** Legs
- **Wear Requirements:** 30 Ranged, 30 Defence
- **Crafting:** Made from tanned snakeskins using the Crafting skill.
Snakeskin Boots
- **Slot:** Feet
- **Wear Requirements:** 30 Ranged, 30 Defence
- **Crafting:** Requires Crafting level 45, 6 snakeskins, and grants 30 Crafting experience (approximately 5 XP per snakeskin).
- **Alch Value:** High alchs for 150 coins.
Snakeskin Shield
- **Slot:** Shield
- **Wear Requirements:** 30 Ranged, 30 Defence
- **Type:** Leather shield.
Beyond Armour: Other Uses for Snakeskin
While snakeskin armour is its most prominent use, snakeskin also plays a role in a couple of other interesting crafting recipes:- **Broodoo Shields:** Two snakeskins are used to transform tribal masks into Broodoo shields, adding a unique touch to this voodoo-themed item.
- **Spirit Cobra Pouches:** Although not directly using snakeskin, snake hide (the untanned version) is a tertiary ingredient for creating Spirit Cobra pouches. This requires a Summoning level of 63. These pouches are notable for being one of the highest experience-yielding pouches that can be produced from crimson charms for Summoning levels between 63 and 75, making them a valuable resource for Summoning training.
Balancing Crafting Experience and Profit
The discussion around snakeskin items often extends to their profitability and the experience gained from crafting them. Players are constantly looking for ways to balance their skilling efforts with potential monetary gains. There have been community discussions and suggestions regarding the current and proposed experience (XP) and high alchemy (alch) values of different snakeskin items. For instance, comparing the boots and vambraces:- **Snakeskin Boots:** Require 6 snakeskins, grant 30 XP (5 XP per snakeskin), and high alch for 150 coins. Crafting level 45.
- **Snakeskin Vambraces:** Require 8 snakeskins, grant 35 XP (4.375 XP per snakeskin), and high alch for 260 coins. Crafting level 47.
Final Thoughts
Snakeskin in Old School Runescape is more than just a material; it's a gateway to accessible ranged combat gear and a valuable component in the game's intricate crafting ecosystem. From hunting exotic serpents in the depths of the Karamja jungle to transforming their hides into functional armour and other unique items, snakeskin offers a comprehensive gameplay loop for players. It provides a reliable path for training Crafting, equipping ranged characters, and even contributing to other skills like Summoning. Understanding how to acquire, craft, and utilize snakeskin effectively can significantly enhance your OSRS journey, making it a truly versatile and essential resource for any adventurer.
Snakeskin armour - OSRS Wiki
Snakeskin boots - OSRS Wiki
Snakeskin boots - OSRS Wiki
