The Ultimate Guide: Best Way to Get Cannonballs Ironman in Old School RuneScape

For Ironman players in Old School RuneScape (OSRS), efficiency is paramount. Every action must contribute meaningfully to progression, and acquiring resources often presents unique challenges. One resource many Ironmen find themselves needing in large quantities is cannonballs. Cannonballs are crucial for various Slayer tasks, bossing encounters, and even certain skilling activities. This guide will explore the best way to get cannonballs Ironman accounts can utilize, balancing effort, time investment, and resource availability.

Understanding the Cannonball Demand

Before diving into methods, it’s important to understand why cannonballs are so valuable. The Dwarf Cannon, requiring level 25 Ranged to use, is a powerful tool that can significantly speed up Slayer tasks, particularly those involving multi-combat areas or monsters with low defense. For example, using a cannon while training Slayer at locations like the Chaos Temple or the Fremennik Isles can drastically reduce the time required to complete tasks. Furthermore, cannonballs can be beneficial for soloing certain bosses, such as the Dagannoth Kings, where the cannon can help deal consistent damage and manage multiple targets.

The Most Efficient Cannonball Production Method: Blast Furnace

Without a doubt, the best way to get cannonballs Ironman accounts can utilize is through the Blast Furnace. The Blast Furnace, located in Keldagrim, is a minigame that allows players to smelt ores at a significantly faster rate than traditional furnaces. While it requires some initial setup and a small fee per use, the speed and efficiency it provides make it the optimal choice for cannonball production.

Requirements for Blast Furnace

• 30 Smithing: This is the minimum Smithing level required to smelt steel bars, which are needed to make cannonballs.
• Coal Bag (Optional but Highly Recommended): The Coal Bag, obtained from the Motherlode Mine, allows you to store up to 27 pieces of coal, significantly reducing the number of trips you need to make.
• Ice Gloves or Goldsmith Gauntlets: These gloves negate the heat effect from the furnace, allowing you to work continuously without taking damage. Ice Gloves are generally preferred because they are cheaper and easier to obtain.
• Stamina Potions: Stamina potions are essential for maintaining run energy, as the Blast Furnace requires constant movement.

Blast Furnace Cannonball Production

1. Gather Resources: You’ll need iron ore and coal. The best place to gather iron ore is often the Mining Guild, which provides an invisible +7 Mining level boost. Coal can be obtained from various locations, including the Coal Trucks near Ardougne or from the Motherlode Mine.
2. Prepare Inventory: Fill your inventory with iron ore and coal, ideally with the Coal Bag filled.
3. Pay the Fee: Pay the Blast Furnace operator the required fee to use the furnace.
4. Smelt Steel Bars: Deposit the iron ore and coal into the furnace to produce steel bars.
5. Withdraw Steel Bars: Withdraw the steel bars from the dispenser.
6. Use a Furnace to Make Cannonballs: Use the steel bars on any regular furnace to create cannonballs. Each steel bar yields four cannonballs.
7. Repeat: Repeat steps 2-6 until you have the desired number of cannonballs.

By using the Blast Furnace, you can produce cannonballs at a rate significantly faster than any other method. This makes it the best way to get cannonballs Ironman accounts need, especially when preparing for extended Slayer grinds or bossing trips.

Alternative Methods for Cannonball Acquisition

While the Blast Furnace is the most efficient, there are alternative methods for acquiring cannonballs, which might be suitable depending on your current level, resources, and preferences.

Killing Monsters

Certain monsters in OSRS drop cannonballs as part of their loot table. While this method is generally slower than the Blast Furnace, it can be a viable option if you’re already killing these monsters for other reasons.

• Chaos Druids: Located in Edgeville Dungeon, Chaos Druids have a chance to drop cannonballs. They are relatively easy to kill and can also provide herbs.
• Hobgoblins: Found in various locations, including the Goblin Village, Hobgoblins have a small chance to drop cannonballs. They are very weak and easy to kill, making them suitable for low-level Ironmen.
• Dagannoth: Dagannoth, found in the Waterbirth Island Dungeon, can drop cannonballs. However, they are generally killed for their rings, so the cannonballs are more of a bonus than the primary reason for killing them.

Killing monsters for cannonballs is generally not recommended as the best way to get cannonballs Ironman accounts want, unless you are already planning to kill them for other valuable drops.

Cannonball Creation at a Regular Furnace

It’s possible to create cannonballs by smelting steel bars at a regular furnace. However, this method is significantly slower than using the Blast Furnace due to the longer smelting time. This option is only viable if the Blast Furnace is unavailable or if you have a very small number of cannonballs to produce.

Buying from Other Players (Not Ironman Compatible)

It’s important to note that buying cannonballs from other players via the Grand Exchange is not an option for Ironman accounts. Ironman accounts are restricted from trading with other players, making self-sufficiency a key aspect of the game mode. Therefore, the best way to get cannonballs Ironman accounts can depend on is producing them yourself.

Maximizing Efficiency at the Blast Furnace

To further optimize your cannonball production at the Blast Furnace, consider the following tips:

• Use a World with Fewer Players: Fewer players at the Blast Furnace means less competition for resources and a smoother production process.
• Utilize Mouse Keys: Mouse Keys can help you deposit and withdraw items more quickly.
• Stay Focused: The Blast Furnace requires constant attention and quick reactions. Minimize distractions to maintain a high production rate.
• Consider Using a RuneLite Plugin: Some RuneLite plugins can provide helpful timers and alerts to optimize your Blast Furnace efficiency.

The Long-Term Perspective

Investing time in efficient cannonball production early on can save you a significant amount of time and effort in the long run. Having a large stockpile of cannonballs allows you to tackle Slayer tasks and bossing encounters more efficiently, ultimately accelerating your progression as an Ironman player.

Furthermore, mastering the Blast Furnace is a valuable skill that can be applied to other resource gathering activities. The principles of efficiency and optimization learned at the Blast Furnace can be transferred to other areas of the game, helping you become a more effective and self-sufficient Ironman player. [See also: Ironman Efficiency Guide] [See also: Blast Furnace Guide]

Conclusion: Blast Furnace is the Best Way to Get Cannonballs Ironman Accounts Need

In conclusion, while several methods exist for acquiring cannonballs in OSRS, the Blast Furnace stands out as the undisputed best way to get cannonballs Ironman accounts can utilize. Its superior smelting speed and efficiency make it the most time-effective option for producing large quantities of cannonballs. By investing the time and effort to set up and master the Blast Furnace, Ironman players can ensure a steady supply of cannonballs, enabling them to tackle challenging Slayer tasks and bossing encounters with ease. So, gear up, gather your resources, and head to Keldagrim – your cannonball production journey awaits!