Look, I get it. You’ve just finished the Sleeping Giants quest, you’ve got a pile of Mithril and Steel bars, and you’re ready to actually enjoy Smithing for once. Giant’s Foundry is basically the best thing to happen to the skill since the Blast Furnace, but it’s remarkably easy to trap yourself in a bad reward loop. You walk up to Kovac’s shop, see a wall of molds, and think, "I'll just buy the one I can afford."
Stop. That is exactly how you end up grinding 20% longer than you need to.
Unlocking the right molds isn't just about a higher score; it's about the math of "Repute Per Increase" (RPT). You want the molds that give the biggest boost to your sword quality for the lowest cost. If you're chasing the Smith's Uniform or the Colossal Blade, your mold strategy determines whether you're finishing that grind in a weekend or a month.
The Strategy Behind the OSRS Giants Foundry Mold Unlock Order
Most people make the mistake of buying the Smith's outfit first. It looks cool, sure, and the speed boost is nice, but it doesn't actually help you earn more points per sword. Molds do. By increasing the base quality of your preform, you're essentially raising the floor of your XP and Repute.
The goal here is to prioritize molds that appear most frequently in the "Optimal Commissions." Kovac asks for specific traits—Spiked, Narrow, Heavy, etc. Some molds cover these traits so well that they become "BiS" (Best in Slot) for almost every sword you make.
If You Are Level 79+ Smithing (The Fast Track)
If you're already high level and just want to blitz through the collection log, you should prioritize the "Big Three." These are the heavy hitters that give a massive +4 average quality boost. Honestly, nothing else comes close.
- The Point! – This is your top priority. It has an incredible RPT. If you can use it, buy it.
- Spiker! – Tied for second place. It covers multiple commissions perfectly.
- Choppa! – Also tied for second. Between this and Spiker, it doesn't really matter which you grab first, but you want both before you touch anything else.
Once you have these, the gains start to diminish. You'll want to move into the mid-tier molds like Fleur de Blade and the Serrated Tip. By this point, you'll notice your points per sword jumping from the mid-130s to the 150+ range (assuming you're using decent alloys).
The Mid-Level Path (Levels 60 to 78)
Most of us aren't 99 Smithing when we start this. If you're in that 60-70 range, you can't even see the high-level molds yet. Don't let your points sit there rotting.
Start with the Flamberge Blade. It’s surprisingly versatile. Follow that up with the Serrated Tip and the Juggernaut Forte.
A quick tip: The Juggernaut Forte actually becomes slightly redundant once you unlock Spiker! later on. If you're a real stickler for efficiency, you could skip it, but honestly, it helps so much during those middle levels that I usually just grab it. It makes the "Heavy" commissions way less of a headache.
Why You Should Skip These Molds
There are a few "traps" in Kovac’s shop. Specifically, the Corrupted Point and the Juggernaut Forte (once you're high level).
Basically, some molds have stats that are so niche or so easily replaced by other, cheaper molds that they aren't worth the Repute until you're literally just finishing the collection log for the sake of completion. If you're trying to get your Double Ammo Mold or your Smithing Catalyst, ignore these.
Focus on the molds that hit the "green bar" stats the hardest. When you're in the mold selection screen, look at the numbers. If a mold isn't adding at least +3 or +4 to your total quality over the default option, it's probably not a priority.
When to Buy the Smith's Uniform
You've probably heard people say "molds before clothes." They're right. But there’s a sweet spot.
Once you have the top 5 or 6 molds for your level, the benefit of buying more molds starts to tank. This is when you pivot.
- Grab the Smith's Gloves first.
- Then the Boots.
- Then the Trousers and Tunic.
The reason we do this is that the outfit gives a 20% chance to speed up your actions (hammering, grinding, polishing). It doesn't give you more points, but it makes the rounds faster. If you're already hitting high scores thanks to your new molds, the outfit helps you "bank" those points quicker.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Grind
Don't just wing it. If you want to maximize your time in the foundry, follow this flow:
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- Check your level: If you're under 79, target the Flamberge Blade and Serrated Tip first.
- Ignore the Catalyst: Until you have your mold situation sorted, the Smithing Catalyst is a waste of Repute.
- Optimize your Alloy: Use the 14/14 Mithril and Steel method if you're low level, or 14/14 Adamant and Rune if you're 85+.
- Watch the "Easy Giant's Foundry" Plugin: If you're on Runelite, this is a godsend. It highlights the best molds you currently own so you don't have to do the mental math every single commission.
The difference between a "basic" mold setup and an optimized one is about 20-30 points per sword. Over the course of 70 to 99 Smithing, that is thousands of points and hundreds of thousands of XP saved. Buy the big molds, skip the fluff, and get that Colossal Blade.