Creating an elder rune item at burial or plus-five status requires careful planning of raw material input, depending on the specific piece of gear you plan to smith on an anvil. Different armor and weapon pieces scale upward through various upgrade stages, requiring distinct total quantities of base bars from start to finish.
Understanding Elder Rune Plus-Five Requirements
Platebody Requirements and Scaling
The heavy elder rune platebody demands a massive investment of resources because of its large surface area and high defensive rating. Taking this specific piece all the way to the plus-five tier requires a total of one hundred sixty elder rune bars through the complete forging sequence. Players must carefully track their progress along the anvil heating stages to avoid wasting valuable smithing materials during long crafting sessions while pursuing high-level smithing goals across various game worlds.
Platelegs and Bottom Armor Pieces
Lower body protection pieces like platelegs follow a slightly smaller yet still substantial construction scale compared to upper torso variants. Forging a complete pair of elder rune platelegs up to the maximum plus-five enhancement tier calls for ninety-six individual elder rune bars. Blacksmiths frequently choose this specific item when balancing experience gains against total material costs on the grand exchange market, making it a popular choice for intermediate training routines.

Helmets and Shield Construction Costs
Protective headwear and defensive shields require a significantly reduced baseline of metal compared to full suits of armor. Completing an elder rune full helm or a matching round shield to the plus-five upgrade level utilizes sixty-four elder rune bars for each individual item. These smaller components provide a more accessible entry point for artisans who want to test upgrade workflows without committing massive stockpiles of refined metal right away.
Boots and Gauntlets Minor Equipment
Lighter accessories and foot coverings represent the smallest metal requirements within the entire high-tier elder rune smithing table. Producing either armored boots or matching gauntlets up to the plus-five stage requires only thirty-two elder rune bars per item. Many skilled smiths prioritize these smaller items when they need quick completion cycles or wish to maximize hourly output efficiency while managing limited storage space in their inventories.

Comparing Bar Consumption Across Equipment Types
Evaluating total bar expenditure helps players maximize efficiency when crafting high-tier gear on the anvil. Selecting the right piece depends on your current budget, available inventory space, and target experience goals within the game.
| Equipment Piece | Total Bars Required | Smithing Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Elder Rune Platebody + 5 | 160 Bars | 160,000 XP |
| Elder Rune Platelegs + 5 | 96 Bars | 96,000 XP |
| Elder Rune Full Helm + 5 | 64 Bars | 64,000 XP |
| Elder Rune Gauntlets + 5 | 32 Bars | 32,000 XP |
Actionable Steps for Smithing Preparation
- Verify your current smithing skill level matches the requirements before starting any project.
- Stockpile light animica and dark animica ores alongside standard rune bars beforehand.
- Utilize appropriate support items like the blacksmith outfit to boost total experience.
- Check live market prices on the RuneScape Wiki to ensure proper profit margins.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many total bars does a full platebody take at plus five?
A complete elder rune platebody upgraded to the plus-five tier requires one hundred sixty bars in total. This reflects the cumulative investment needed across all intermediate heating and hammering phases on the anvil.
Can you reclaim or salvage bars from plus-five items?
Items can be placed into a burial furnace or salvaged depending on your training goals. Salvaging typically returns a portion of the invested value rather than raw unrefined metal bars directly.

What level do you need to smith elder rune?
Smelting an initial elder rune bar requires level ninety in the smithing skill. Higher tiers unlock faster processing speeds and a chance to save valuable ores while forging.
Conclusion
Planning your bar requirements carefully ensures a smooth smithing experience whether you are aiming for maximum combat gear or training experience. Review the specific item totals above before heading to the nearest anvil to begin your next project.





