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All information based on Grand Exchange price data from: May 20, 2012. Note that the three-day delay in price updates is waived for RuneScoop members.
Herblore
Finishing Potions - Defence
Level 30
General Description: Finishing defence potions.
Creation/Revision Date: December 12, 2009
Skill Requirements: Herblore(30)
Quest Requirements: --
Equipment Requirements: --
Other Requirements: --
Additional Info: --
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Level-Specific Activity Details (P2P)
Level 30-46 (P2P)
Level 47+ (P2P)
Description
Finishing defence potions at Castle Wars Bank.
Finishing defence potions at Castle Wars Bank using a magpie familiar.
Location
Castle Wars Bank
Castle Wars Bank
Multitasking Suitability
2
2
Level-Specific Requirements
--
--
Activity Parameters (As Evaluated for Skill and Level)
Skills
Herblore(30-46)
Herblore(47+), Summoning(47)
Quests
--
--
Equipment
--
--
Familiar
--
Magpie
Other
--
--
Input and Output Items and Values
Total Input Value
4,636,400 gp
4,639,183 gp
Input Items and Item Values
Ranarr potion (unf)[1,730]
3,075,940
White berries[1,730]
1,560,460
Ranarr potion (unf)[1,730]
3,075,940
White berries[1,730]
1,560,460
Magpie pouch[1.8]
2,782
Total Output Value
692,000 gp
718,845 gp
Output Items and Item Values
Defence potion (3)[1,730]
692,000
Defence potion (3)[1,730]
692,000
Magpie foragings[1.8]
26,845
Herblore XP
Herblore XP Total
129,750
129,750
Herblore XP by Item
Defence potion (3)[1,730]
129,750
Defence potion (3)[1,730]
129,750
Skill Activity Ratings (Primary Skill)
Skill Activity Speed (SAS, XP/hr)
129,750
129,750
Skill Activity Profitability (SAP, gp/hr)
-3,944,399
-3,920,337
Skill Activity Efficiency for 100k gp/hr Opp. Cost (SAE100k)
-31.17
-30.99
Skill Activity Efficiency for 250k gp/hr Opp. Cost (SAE250k)
-32.33
-32.14
Skill Activity Efficiency for 500k gp/hr Opp. Cost (SAE500k)
-34.25
-34.07
Skill Activity Efficiency for 1M gp/hr Opp. Cost (SAE1M)
-38.11
-37.92
Analysis, Discussion and Tips for Success
General Discussion
Finishing potions is a way to get Herblore XP more quickly than making them from scratch, by starting with the herb already in a vial of water, and just adding the secondary ingredient. With standard potions, all of the XP is granted when you add the secondary to finish the potion, so this lets you earn XP about 60% faster. (It's not twice as fast, because the second step is slower than the first, and the second step is a bit faster if you have just made the unfinished potions and they're already in your inventory.)
Of course, nobody wants to waste time putting herbs in water to get no XP unless there's a financial reward. This means that usually, an unfinished potion costs more than a vial of water and an herb. When that is not the case -- because the GE is not updating prices properly -- so many herblorists are trying to buy the unfinished potion that you can't get any. So beware of this before planning to do a lot of leveling this way.
Defence potions are the complement of regular attack and strength potions -- they boost Defence by 10% of your level, rounded down, plus 3 (so 3 to 12 points). Unlike attack and strength pots, though, defence potions are almost never actually made. The reason is that they use ranarr, which is one of the most expensive herbs more commonly used for prayer potions. Even the white berries are pretty expensive...
Location and Access
You can make potions at any bank, but a one-click bank like Castle Wars is preferred.
Required and Recommended Equipment
No equipment is needed.
Required and Recommended Supplies
No supplies are required, aside from unfinished potions and secondary ingredients.
Familiar Suggestions
Summon a foraging familiar to earn extra money for you while you work -- I prefer the magpie, given the high value of rings and gems today. There isn't a really worthwhile forager below Summoning level 47, so I wouldn't bother with a familiar at lower levels.
Technique and Tips
Take out 14 unfinished ranarr potions and 14 white berries. Click one vial and then one berry, right-click the main message area and choose "Make All". Wait for the potions to be made, then bank and repeat.
All information based on Grand Exchange price data from: May 20, 2012. Note that the three-day delay in price updates is waived for RuneScoop members.
All information based on Grand Exchange price data from: May 20, 2012. Note that the three-day delay in price updates is waived for RuneScoop members. 
