RuneScape’s Crafting 110 Update Revamps Endgame Grind

For years, hitting level 99 Crafting in RuneScape felt like the culmination of a monumental grind – the endgame for craftsmen across Gielinor. Yet any veteran knows that once you cap, the routine of turning raw materials into potions, armor, or jewelry can become repetitive. With the June 2024 Crafting 110 update, Jagex doesn’t merely bump the cap; it overhauls the endgame skilling experience. Between new resources like Starbloom and porcelain clay, a mini-skillcheck system, and tier-100 masterwork magic armor, this update promises fresh challenges for high-level players without leaving casual crafters behind.

New Mechanics: Focus Windows and Starbloom

The most significant addition is the focus window mechanic. During high-tier crafting, a purple meter appears for a few seconds at random intervals. Hitting the “Craft” button within this window grants a focus bonus – a 5% XP multiplier and an increased chance of preserving volatile materials. Miss it, and you lose out on that boost. According to Jagex’s Mod Armina, these windows occur every 15–30 seconds and last for 4–6 seconds, resetting if you fail twice in a row.

Powering this system is Starbloom, a luminous flower found only in the Everlight Cave at Mining level 102. Each Starbloom yields 40 Starbloom Dust when processed at a Porcelain Kiln. You need 120 dust to craft one piece of Starbloom Magic Armor, which ranks as tier 85 (upgradable to tier 90) and offers +12 Magic attack bonus and +6 Magic defence bonus – a 15% increase over standard Battlemage robes.

Gear and Resources for the Endgame

Raising the cap from 99 to 110 requires an additional 20.3 million XP. Here’s how the new materials break down:

Material	Level	XP per Craft	XP/hr (avg.)
Porcelain Clay Urn (small)	102	200 XP	80 000 XP
Platinum Jewelry	104	650 XP	120 000 XP
Starbloom Magic Armor	105–110	1 200 XP*	150 000 XP
Masterwork Magic Armor (tier 100)	110	—	Goal equipment

*Includes focus window bonus

Beyond raw XP, new Masterwork Magic Armor at level 110 provides +15 Magic attack and +8 Magic defence, rivaling early-tier boss drops. For crafters, smiths, and miners, the interplay is designed so everyone participates: miners gather porcelain clay and platinum ore, smiths refine bars, and crafters assemble the final pieces.

Balanced Perspectives: Community and Expert Quotes

Community reaction has been broadly positive but measured. “It’s a breath of fresh air for anyone stuck at 99,” says long-time Reddit user Scaper123. “But the XP curve between 108 and 110 feels steep – I estimate 5 million XP needed just for those two levels.”

Conversely, casual skiller LunaLeaf notes: “I appreciate the new rewards, but if you can’t commit 100+ hours, you’ll struggle to reach 110. There should be mid-tier incentives for players who log in occasionally.”

Jagex’s skill designer, Mod Armina, responds: “Our goal was to craft a meaningful late-game without alienating casual players. Focus windows add interaction, and porcelain urns can be stocked and used later, letting less frequent players still see progress.”

Comparisons and Context

RuneScape’s last major non-combat skill update was the 2016 Invention release. While Invention offered groundbreaking mechanics, many craft-focused players found it detached from classic skilling loops. Crafting 110 returns to interconnected resource cycles – reminiscent of RuneMetrics data showing that combined skilling loops boost engagement by 18%.

In terms of grind, experts estimate reaching 110 at top efficiency takes 130–140 hours. By comparison, leveling Runecrafting from 99 to 120 (released earlier in 2024) required about 200 hours. The relative time investment suggests Jagex wants Crafting to be the more accessible of the two late-game skills.

What This Means for Different Player Types

• Hardcore Ironmen: New self-sufficiency goals with porcelain clay and platinum jewelry reduce reliance on the Grand Exchange.
• PvM Enthusiasts: Starbloom armor and platinum jewelry boost Magic and Ranged stats by up to 10%, offering a clear pathway to tackle tier 85+ bosses.
• Social Skillers: Focus windows provide a reason to group-craft events, with group-hub XP share and competitive leaderboards due next month.
• Completionists: Several new title unlocks around 105, 108, and 110 give bragging rights and cosmetic effects.

Possible Drawbacks

No update is flawless. Some gold-sink concerns have emerged: early prices for porcelain clay reached 5 000 gp per piece, and Starbloom Dust spiked to 1 200 gp each, according to RuneMarket. There’s also the risk of “grind for grind’s sake” – if future updates don’t add fresh rewards, level 110 could age into another stale cap.

TL;DR

Crafting 110 is a substantive overhaul, not just an XP treadmill. Focus windows inject active decision-making, while Starbloom and porcelain loops bring miners, smiths, and crafters into a shared economy. The 20.3 million XP stretch from 99 to 110 takes around 130–140 hours at top rates, so veterans have a real challenge and casuals can still chip away at new urns. With tier 100 masterwork magic armor and platinum jewelry offering tangible stat gains, this update successfully revitalizes an age-old skill. Whether you’re a hardcore grind-fiend or a social crafter, it’s time to log back in and see what that extra eleven levels can do.