Yew trees always seemed such a distant goal when I was a kid, playing Old School RuneScape for the first time. Of course, back then it was not “Old School,” it was just known as RuneScape.
In the time since coming back to the game as an adult, I’ve learned better focus, and that’s allowed me surpass goals that seemed unattainable as a child. Some of these goals include level 70+ in a number of combat and other skills.
One of these skills is Woodcutting, since it’s a requirement for my current OSRS goal: the “Song of the Elves” quest. That being said, it was certainly a bit of a grind to level 70.
During such a grind, I decided to determine some of the best places to cut various trees, including yews. Are you also looking to discover the best place to cut yews in OSRS? Read on to see my findings.
Woodcutting Guild
The Woodcutting Guild, located near Hosidius on Great Kourend, is OSRS’s best place to chop yews. Speaking of Great Kourend, learning how to get to Catacombs in OSRS enables you to get the most out of the location.
The Guild contains 17 yew trees in very close proximity, a bank very close to the yew trees, and a shop where you can buy axes up to rune.
However, the Woodcutting Guild has a few requirements for entry. First, you must have level 60 Woodcutting, which is the same level you need to cut yews. Second, you need at least 75% favor with the Hosidius house.
Woodcutting Guild: Gaining Favor
Gaining this favor requires you to have completed the quests “X Marks the Spot” and “Client of Kourend.” Both quests are relatively simple and easy, since they were designed for brand new accounts. As such, I recommend doing both quests as early into a new account as possible.
With both quests completed, you unlock the Kourend favor system. Simply put, performing various tasks in each of Kourend’s five cities rewards you with favor. If you’ve ever played World of Warcraft or Destiny, it’s very similar to faction reputation.
To gain favor with Hosidius, you’ll need to start pushing and repairing the plows in the field east of the Farming patch. Once you have 5% favor, you can begin making the sulphurous fertiliser. You can make the sulphurous fertiliser by combining saltpetre and regular compost.
There’s a stall in the Hosidius square that sells various Farming supplies, including bulk packs of compost. The saltpetre you need to dig for with a spade, at deposits across the river just west of the Farming patch.
Then, simply use one ingredient on the other, and you will create all the sulphurous fertiliser in your inventory. Each bucket made will grant 0.1% favor. If starting from exactly 5%, you need to make 700 buckets of sulphurous fertiliser to reach 75%.
With enough buckets made, talk to the clerk in the middle of the saltpeter deposits. They will tell you how many buckets you need, and can take them directly from your bank. All you need to do is say yes.
Alternative Locations
Meanwhile, there are several alternatives to the Woodcutting guild if you don’t want to grind the favor. None of these places have more yews, or banks that are closer, though.
First, the area between Catherby and Seer’s Village is another great place to cut yews in OSRS. There are two banks on either side of the area, and a total of 11 trees.
If you’re looking for a peaceful place to train other skills, check out how to get to Entrana in OSRS, as well!
Best F2P Yew Spots
If you’re free-to-play, or simply on a low population world, you can try the yews in Varrock’s palace or Edgeville’s ruins. Each location only has 1-2 trees, but are very close to their respective banks.
Due to the low volume of F2P yew trees in OSRS, you’re always going to have competition for the logs, or you’ll have idle time waiting for trees to respawn – or both.
Final Thoughts
These previously mentioned locations provide some of the best places to cut yews in OSRS, whether on members or F2P. The Woodcutting Guild offers the highest number of trees, the closest bank, and an axe shop.
Alternatively, the woods between Catherby and Seer’s Village have a high number of yew trees, and two banks in close proximity. Finally, you can try the yews in Edgeville or Varrock, since they are also very close to banks. Varrock is quite useful for F2P players for both cutting yews, and it also has arguably the best place for cooking in OSRS as a F2P player too.
